Defence Fire and Rescue Service

[Tom Sutton]

firescot10 it appears that the RR(FS)O applies to barrack blocks and ablution blocks what guidance do you use?

[Mr. P]

Tom,
England & Wales if there, Scotland if there, appropriate as we should do. Also they have 'Crown Fire Standards' (CFS), well old but, due to Crown being 'self insuring' there may be more stringent requirements either in the engineered fire strategy or elsewhere. i.e. AFD - L1 as opposed to L2 for sleeping risks. CFS directs the reader to relevant E&W or S guidance, bs' etc. but that is where it is old as 'some' bs' have changed 'a little bit'...

[JC100]

I served in the RAF Fire & Rescue Service although wasn't involved in fire safety back then.

So you get an idea of these buildings in case you aren't aware.

The majority of the older style barrack blocks are made up of private individual rooms that are fitted out with a bed, wardrobes and sink. Toilets and showers are shared meaning that these blocks are essentially classed as HMO's and are same sex. As such, fire alarms, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers is standard. It is also common that alternate exits are provided.

Newer style blocks are ensuite rooms meaning the loss of the communal shower/toilet areas but small communal areas are provided with microwaves etc (mixed sex). Even in these blocks, fire alarms, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers are provided. Again, alternate escape routes are common.

[firescot10]

Tom,
The standard document were the same as in civi street (AD'B', DCLG Guidlines, Common sense [on occassion]) along with the aforementioned Queen Fire Regulations.
We were the 'advising' authority at individual station level, with a bit of 'enforcing' authority also applied where necessary..... If the said advise was ignored, the problem would be raised to our local DFRMO HQ, where a suitably qualified DFRMO officer would then become the enforcing authority to the responsible person.
Responsible persons in the military are Senior NCO's or Junior Commissioned Officers, they are either 'volunteered' to become a particular buildings Officer in Charge, or they will volunteer themselves, as it helps on the slippery promotion ladder. The volunteering isnt hapahazard, its usually someone with a direct involvement with a particular building, or someones particular hobby in regards to the many small clubs occupying older buildings that are no longer needed.