Heritage buildings

[terry martin]

Hi all,

I am interested to find out if there is a guide, circular or agreement out there of any kind regarding FP in heritage buildings

obviously we can't walk in and expect them to bring the premises up to ADB for example. but we should expect the RP's to do their best to make the building safer circumstances permitting.

I suppose there’s my point, at what point does the balance between our building heritage and public safety tip one way or the other?

I know most matters are resolved by engineered solutions or other methods, but am interested to see if there is any guide or cordat available upon a dispute

maybe there is an advisory panel, or some other point of reference for disputes

[wee brian]

English Heritage have a fire bod and they have published some guidance that may help.

[nearlythere]

Hi all,

I am interested to find out if there is a guide, circular or agreement out there of any kind regarding FP in heritage buildings

obviously we can't walk in and expect them to bring the premises up to ADB for example. but we should expect the RP's to do their best to make the building safer circumstances permitting.

I suppose there’s my point, at what point does the balance between our building heritage and public safety tip one way or the other?

I know most matters are resolved by engineered solutions or other methods, but am interested to see if there is any guide or cordat available upon a dispute

maybe there is an advisory panel, or some other point of reference for disputes

Are you asking in relation to a specific type of building?

[John Webb]

The last major publication dealing with fires in Heritage Buildings is "Heritage under Fire" published by the Fire Protection Association in 1995 (2nd Edition, by Stewart Kidd, ISBN  0 902167 90-1), on behalf of the UK Working Party on Fire Safety in Historic Buildings.

This publication is obviously before the RR(FS)O; and I do not know if the Working Party still exists. I can tell you that the IFE is about to kick off a Special Interest group for those working in the heritage building area.

Appendix C of most of the Guides issued by CLG recognises that heritage buildings may not be suitable for physical alteration and that compensatory measures may be needed in terms of extra detection or close management, for example.

[Galeon]

Colin Packer was the man I met when he tested out some products we had , few years back now , very unusal tests not what you call the norm .
Very enlightening day we had though , don't know if he is still around .

[terry martin]

Hi all,

I am interested to find out if there is a guide, circular or agreement out there of any kind regarding FP in heritage buildings

obviously we can't walk in and expect them to bring the premises up to ADB for example. but we should expect the RP's to do their best to make the building safer circumstances permitting.

I suppose there’s my point, at what point does the balance between our building heritage and public safety tip one way or the other?

I know most matters are resolved by engineered solutions or other methods, but am interested to see if there is any guide or cordat available upon a dispute

maybe there is an advisory panel, or some other point of reference for disputes

Are you asking in relation to a specific type of building?

i'm sure you may not be suprised to hear that i can't really say. i think it would be inappropriate of me to do so.

[terry martin]

The last major publication dealing with fires in Heritage Buildings is "Heritage under Fire" published by the Fire Protection Association in 1995 (2nd Edition, by Stewart Kidd, ISBN  0 902167 90-1), on behalf of the UK Working Party on Fire Safety in Historic Buildings.

This publication is obviously before the RR(FS)O; and I do not know if the Working Party still exists. I can tell you that the IFE is about to kick off a Special Interest group for those working in the heritage building area.

Appendix C of most of the Guides issued by CLG recognises that heritage buildings may not be suitable for physical alteration and that compensatory measures may be needed in terms of extra detection or close management, for example.

thank you John.

[Tall Paul]

Terry,
Sorry to be so late in responding - haven't logged in recently.  You are right, English guidance documents are hard to come by - but the Scottish Technical Advisory Notes TAN 22 and TAN 28 will provide some very useful benchmarks.  Also Stewart Kidd has published some material online following work that he undertook in Europe which again is very helphul.

I find with all of the above that an understanding of the Functional Requirements of the BDoc are, identifying why a particular requirement is called for, will help in finding alternative messures to address the risk in a different way.  The use of people to perform tasks that elsewhere might be carried out mechanically (signage, door closers, hold open doors that open against the direction of travel, security devices, visual fire detectors etc) may be appropriate provided that a clear and robust management strategy is in place and reliable.

The key is - if you don't want builders marching in with 4x2 timber and 8x4 plasterboard then provide a management strategy that overcomes all of the risks within the building... or use the building for something else.

Hope this helps,
Paul

[terry martin]

your point regarding the functional requirements is a good one paul, thank you.

will look at the docs you suggested also. do you know where i can find them? save me trawling the web

[John Webb]

For the information of those with an interest in Heritage areas the IFE has initiated its Special Interest Group. It is chaired by Steve Emery of English Heritage and has formed a Steering Group which will be meeting again in December. There is a wide-spread knowledge base within the group which promises well. No doubt once we've settled down there will hopefully be dissemination of our activities in various ways.