Good Evening colleagues
I have been presented with a situation which has me stumped. Hands up, I am stumped and need guidance.
A Trust have purchased two domestic flats in a four storey residential block. The building in which the flats are located was formerly used by the Press and is of substantial construction having accommodated some very heavy printing equipment and machinery. A steel framed building with concrete walls and floors.
The two flats purchased by the Trust are at ground and first floor levels in the block. A common stairway enclosure serves all floors and also has a lift. Access to the respective flats is available at both ground and first floor levels direct from the stairway enclosure as you would expect.
However the flats are linked internally by a steel spiral stairway. So it is possible to enter one flat at one level and leave the premises at a different level. You will still end up of course in the common protected stairway enclosure. No issues so far.I am aware that because the flats are internally linked that they are actually now one larger premises but for the purposes of explanation I will refer to them as individual flats.
My dilemma is that one self employed person who works for the Trust occupies the premises as their private dwelling and whilst they sleep in the lower flat, they cook and bathe in the upper flat. They do not confine their domestic activities to any particular floor is what I am pointing out.
The Trust are involved in Meditation and up to 16 relevant persons can attend at the premises for meetings in a meeting room at first floor level. In addition a bedroom in the ground floor flat is used for meditation where persons lie on mattresses on the floor and go into a trance like state of relaxation. Much as you are probably doing having read this far.
Both ground and first floor flats have a large open plan living room area with two bedrooms each. The upper flat having a bathroom.
I have a situation where a premises is being used as a dwelling, by a self-employed person who works for a Trust. The Trust offers education in meditation in the premises and spreads its activities between the ground and first floors. The resident also spreads their activities of normal everyday living over both floors.
Both ground and first floor flats are equipped with hard wired automatic detection and the common stairway enclosure also.
Can anyone (if you still have the will to live having read this far) offer any guidance (constructive guidance gentlemen) on what kind of standard of fire safety measures I should apply in this instance?
Should I, for example, inform the Trust that if they wish to run this as a business then they should confine their activities to one particular floor level in the premises (Ground floor) where the spiral inter connecting stairway is separated by a door from first floor level and this part of the premises could be upgraded as required to accommodate their business. Move the meeting room downstairs and the self-employed person's bedroom upstairs?
I would be grateful for any advice, guidance or recommendations (within reason)as to how I may best approach this issue.
Thankyou in anticipation of some assistance.
