Fire Equipment Required in Fully Enclosed Car Park

[wee brian]

If the building could be built today without any of those things then why would you provide them retrospectively?

If you would need them in a new building then you need to consider if the risk associated with not having them is bearabole or can be mitigated.

No doubt the fire service would love to see your client fit a load of stuff he doesn thave to (sometimes for good reason). thats OK so long as everybody is clear that its advice and not a requirement.

[AnthonyB]

Interestingly, since this discussion I have now completed fire risk assessments on 2 public open sided car parks, and my reports have been criticized by an involved contractor for not recommending that a 'fire alarm and automatic suppression system is installed'. Apparently I should have also recommended that dry riser systems are retro fitted. My assessment of the risks and understanding of current guidance did not find that any of this is ne.

I am now required to meet with the Local Fire Officer to justify my report.

Would that contractor be the one to supply and install said alarm, detection and risers by any chance?

[Owain]

If the building could be built today without any of those things then why would you provide them retrospectively?

Because Building Regs don't really take into account how a building is used; FRAs have to.

There may be a difference for example between a shopping centre car park which is only used by day visitors and is monitored by the centre CCTV and locked after hours, and a block of flats car park which is used 24 hours, not CCTV monitored, where residents may do their own car repairs involving hot work without permission, old bangers are left for months on end and may be vandalised or where arson is a risk.