Corridor ceiling

[davincey]

I have a residential sheltered housing block (not nursing home) with elderly and disabled residents.
In this building is a corridor of approximately 50m in length with no breaks. The ceiling of the corridor is open slatted pine planks with 6inch gaps between, pipework and loose cabling above that and topped off with stirling board flat roof covered in asphalt.
I am upgrading all of the internal doors in this (and every other) property that we manage with intumescent strips and letterboxes, new closer etc and fire stopping throughout.
My question is what should I do about this corridor? It seems to be far too large a space to be so easily compromised.
I would appreciate any suggestions!

[Allen Higginson]

I have a residential sheltered housing block (not nursing home) with elderly and disabled residents.
In this building is a corridor of approximately 50m in length with no breaks. The ceiling of the corridor is open slatted pine planks with 6inch gaps between, pipework and loose cabling above that and topped off with stirling board flat roof covered in asphalt.
I am upgrading all of the internal doors in this (and every other) property that we manage with intumescent strips and letterboxes, new closer etc and fire stopping throughout.
My question is what should I do about this corridor? It seems to be far too large a space to be so easily compromised.
I would appreciate any suggestions!

Is there smoke detection covering the corridor?

[afterburner]

Davincey a couple of questions: -
Where does the corridor go? (what is at either end of the corridor?)
What rooms open into the corridor?
are any of doors being fitted with intumescent strips rated as fire doors (and do the new letterboxes provide equal fire resistance as the door?)
what type of closers (can disabled people operate the door?)

[davincey]

There is smoke detection in the corridor.
The corridor connects two wings of the building and has a fire exit at each end and another 30m from one end.
Ther are two doors from a communal lounge into this corridor, cupboards, toilets and offices.
All doors are (or are being changed to) FR30S and all letterboxes being fitted are all BSEN rated for the same.
The closers also conform to standard and are being adjusted to suit individual needs of the occupants. (although some are proving tricky to sort out!!)

[afterburner]

sorry to keep on with the questions, but
the communal loungs contains furniture? electrical appliances? as this a residential housing block are there rules about smoking? and if there are such rules are they enforced?
do the available exit routes from te lounge only discharge into the corridor?
are the wings separated from the corridor by fire doors?

[davincey]

Feel free to ask whatever questions necessary!
There is furniture in the lounge and electrical appliances (tv,video etc) and smoking is only permitted inside the individual flats, not in any of the communal areas of the building and strictly enforced.
There is a fire exit in the lounge direct to the outside of the building.
There wings at both ends of the corridor are protected by fire doors.

[afterburner]

Thanks davincey,
 the following guidance comes from the Technical Standards for compliance with the Scottish Building Standards but I'm sure the English / Welsh standards will be similar. If the residents fall into the category of 'Very Slow Evacuation' (an this is the norm for disabled people) the maximum travel distance to a 'protected' route is 18 metres (more than one direction of travel). If the category can be assessed as 'slow evacuation' the travel distance improves to 32 metres (more than one direction). Therefore these Technical Standards suggest the corridor may need fire separation, not to protect evacuees from a fire in the corridor, but to protect them as they get away from a fire in the occupied rooms. Passive protection from properly installed fire doors would be greatly enhanced if the lounge and offices opening into the corridor were also included in the automatic system coverage area.

[davincey]

Thanks for that afterburner, that is pretty much what i was thinking. My main concern is the overhead space. With the wooden ceiling I am unsure of what I can reasonably do to prevent fire travel. As the roof itself is wooden, a fire could spread along it almost regardless of whatever fire stopping I can put in place. The only thing I can think of is to replace the ceiling itself in this section of the corridor with something that could protect the corridor below in the event of fire. Is this above and beyond what is reasonable though?

[afterburner]

If the corridor is fire separated and fire stopped at both ends and from the rooms adjoining, what is the residual risk in the corridor? Sources of ignition etc?
What rooms MUST exit via the corridor? would early detection get everyone out before any fire growth in the corridor creates a risk?
Have you considered automatic venting for the corridor?

[wee brian]

I think a plasterboard ceiling is going to be cheaper than a smoke control system.

[kurnal]

I agree with Wee Brian. Plasterboard ceiling and cavity barrier above.  You should also put a fire door half way or thereabouts to separate the storey exits.
The history of many of these places is interesting- in a number of cases I have encountered these extended corridors arose when an open verandah approach was later enclosed with glazing to create the enclosed corridors. They did the same with many schools of the open verandah design originally built in the 1930s- 1950s

[davincey]

Thank you for your input gentlemen, as always valuable and informed advice.