New guidance on fire safety in specialized housing

[kurnal]

This topic on lifts in old residential blocks may be relevant to the new guidance covering sheltered housing et al. Included here for sake of completion. I will later summarise the content of this whole thread if it becomes a mishmash, and summarise it as a shopping list for Colin.

 In the meantime if you wish to add a comment on the topic of old lifts in residential buildings please do so in the original thread. Thanks.
https://www.crisis-response.com/forum/index.php?topic=7058.msg75368#msg75368

[kurnal]

The increased use of mobility scooters and their storage considerations should be included in the new guidance and a posting by Dinnertime Dave is included in order to catch relevant topics as a temporary measure so I can later give Colin a summary of potential issues raised. Any replies to the thread On mobility scooters should be within the original thread please.

https://www.crisis-response.com/forum/index.php?topic=7071.msg75509#msg75509

[colin todd]

Suppers. You asked the publication date. For the English version the anticipated date is April 2017.

[William 29]

Are we talking guidance on supported/assisted living "domestic type" preemies? i.e. single occupancy domestic with support either add hoc or 24/7 and 2-6 unrelated persons sharing a "domestic house" with 24/7 staff on site. We have done 100's of FRAs in such premises.

Also, extra care or supported where a "care package" is provided to a resident(s) and if the RRFSO could be applied to the whole premises and not just the common parts (due to care being provided). My current view is that the RRFSO only applies to the common areas of such premises and not the flats themselves even though resident(s) may not be able to self evac their own flats.

[colin todd]

Wullie, the scope is roughly specialised housing as defined in BS 9991.

[kurnal]

Those of you who are registered on linked in might be interested to view a thread on the fire risk management group entitled "Opinions please" . The query concerns standards in a very small 2 storey  small care establishment catering for up to 5 service users with mental health issues. The responses cover a vastly diverse range from doing nothing to installing an additional staircase and installing sprinklers. Such diversity of opinion from fire safety professionals, all members of professional bodies, makes me wonder what is going on, how this must look to the client RP and above all illustrates the need for the new guidance document.

[Dinnertime Dave]

Sorry to go back a few weeks

Connection of the part 6 alarm to the ARC is only via a social intercom that gives no priority for fire alarms over social interactions and this has been a significant factor in at least one fatality?

Don't know why it didn't work, hopefully find out.

http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/News/Demand-for-fire-alaram-failure-death-inquiry-29112013.htm

With regards to kurnal's point, this may be true of the older systems but talking to our M&E guys today the new system we are putting in differentiate between fire alarms and other general traffic.

[colin todd]

Suppers, it is not the differentiation that is the problem, it is the prioritization and the queing arrangement.

[Dinnertime Dave]

Suppers, it is not the differentiation that is the problem, it is the prioritization and the queing arrangement.

Sorry Colin, these new system prioritize them also, or so l am told. I am looking into it 

[Fire Monkey]

Hello,

Very glad to hear of this development as this could impact on how my company deals with fire management and safety in several different buildings and new developments - Colin can you offer any timescale of when this document will become available?

Thank you,

[colin todd]

Target is April 2017.

[xan]

There used to be a time when small 'group' homes aka Supported housing ,i.e. up to 6 beds in converted houses etc,were not registered with CQC (although the care provider will have been). I have recently been inspecting quite a few of these homes (residents with learning difficulties,severe autism etc) and found that these homes are now being registered with CQC as 'Residential Homes'- which, on the face of it, takes them out of the scope of the Specialized Housing Guide-not very helpful or what was intended. I have already had a dodgy builder decide to get the provider to register a Home as he did not want to comply with guidance within the new guide.It did not matter because a helpful BCO stopped him in his tracks (he built before consultation). So we are now in the apparent position where we would like to point providers in the direction of the new guide with all its good guidance,but it clearly states that it is not in the scope of Residential homes,which they are now registered as.
Perhaps some clarification/alteration of the guide might be helpful!I note paras 3.16, and the final para of the foreword on page 6,but in these circumstances,they are not helpful.