Vision Panels

[wee brian]

As you have already spotted its impossible to define when a room is or isnt a room.

The key to the whole thing is to consider what the intention behingd the guidance is and apply it as best you can. The whole point behind modern fire legislation is that it prevents the barackroom lawyer types from blagging their way out of something that is necessary.

In the case of inner rooms the issue is that people should be aware of incidents that will prevent their escape. There is a presumption that enclosed circulation routes, such as stairs and corridors will be kept clear of fire risks but any other accomodation won't be.

[skwdenyer]

Thank you, wee brian, for that, very much. That does it for me! My aim is to be safe, not to find a loophole, but I'm keen to make sure I'm meeting the letter as well as the spirit of the rules.

Once again, my thanks to all for indulging my questions here on this. I recognise the frustration in dealing with something which one might otherwise imagine should be obvious!

[wee brian]

That's OK you not the first to struggle with this, I doubt you will be the last.

[Ken Taylor]

I would not want to propose a door- based 'blanket' test for the definition of a room, but, in the absence of clear (or any) useful guidance on the subject, have sought to interpret the safety and acceptability of individual situations. I would not dare to pontificate on the basis of the stick drawings but where the absence of a door presents a situation essentially similar in layout and operation to a single room with items of dividing furniture plus the direct and travel distances are acceptable as for a single room plus there is clear potential for interaction of occupants both sides of the dividing walls it would seem to be a reasonable judgement. That said, case 2 seems to be potentially the most acceptable with case 4 also posing questions about vision and travel distances. Please also note that I have not considered simply removing a door as acceptable in as much as it could be back again the next day. Removal of frames and opening up the doorway to form a 'through-room' but with walls remaining has been the action taken.