Fire curtain

[lyledunn]

Small restaurant/bar with fast food carry out at the front door. The carry out has a line of deep fat fryers and is an obvious risk. The passage past the counter is 1200mm. There is a second MOE. 100 people max with travel distances much less than max, L2 FA etc. On seeking an entertainment licence Council require that a fire curtain is installed across the line of fryers to protect the passage past the counter to the front door. I can see their point but I thought that generally control measures assumed a fire in one location only?

[Golden]

Exactly why an alternative is provided so that you can turn your back and walk away! I'd question their reasoning, assuming modern fryers with thermostatic control, good maintenance, hoods, lids on fryers when not in use, staff training, etc. in addition to the TD and AFD benefits that you've already mentioned. I'd also ask what guidance they are referring to when making these requirements - or if they've any fire engineering personnel in the team that consider it necessary. Unfortunately the lack of FS knowledge extends past the fire service and into the local authorities, common sense unfortunately left the building many years ago - hence you'll get increasing demands like this.

[nearlythere]

Does Council know of the alternative Lyle?

[jayjay]

I thought fire safety was taken out of licensing and into the RRO fire risk assessment ?

[Dinnertime Dave]

I thought fire safety was taken out of licensing and into the RRO fire risk assessment ?

Assuming Ireland.

[nearlythere]

I thought fire safety was taken out of licensing and into the RRO fire risk assessment ?

Assuming Ireland.

It should be but we still have the 4 1/2 day expert approach to fire safety by licensing officials.

[Phoenix]

Sounds like nonsense.  Before you can recommend that they follow the council's guidance you should see their rationale.  I would be asking why anyone would want to go that way when the frier is alight.   

On the other hand, if the ceiling is low then there could be a possibility that lateral spread of hot smoke will be quicker than in higher ceilinged premises and so, even if everyone is using the alternative exit, the people at the back of the queue could be at risk from the hot smoke and could start panicking and pushing.  But the usual answer for that problem is auto-suppression over the range (e.g. Ansul).

[lyledunn]

I am digging deeper but not there yet. Apparently on the back of some recent building work BC asked client for a fire strategy. She, through her architect, engaged the local office of "one of Europes leading fire engineering consultancies". It was they who made the call so I think there is more to this than an over-eager EHO with a NEBOSH fire risk qualification.