Fire alarm - installation this time!

[ps]

I'd be interested in the range of views from you guys having having had an assessment done on some flat conversions recently, given your comments in previous post re the usefulness (or otherwise) of Fire alarms in common areas of residential properties. The consultants used have been a pain, often there have been factual errors in the docs, when we've challenged anything, they merely change the report to suit rather than justify their position! So I'm begining to loose faith in them.


The latest two in question are 30's builds, converted to flats in the 70s - both with smoke detectors in the common areas.

No basements - single escape way in each property to the final front door exit. 4 flats in each property, no fire history.

They recommend putting a fire alarm in each property for the common area - comments? 

They've not made any comments on the doors to the flats - so I'm going to get someone in to check that they are 1/2 hour fire resisting and have closers. and I'm thinking of changing the existing smoke alarm units to smoke alarm/e lighting units, however I can't see the benefit of a fire alarm as well, there are no risks in the common areas - no heaters, junk or anything like that?

Any ideas re the alarm?

[AnthonyB]

I suggest you change your consultants as they appear not to have looked at passive fire protection & compartmentation, which is one of the key factors in determining the need for common alarms.

Plenty of threads already running giving you the different options based on occupancy & structure.

The general rule is that if the conversion is to code and includes suitable compartmentation then part 6 smoke alarms to each flat would suffice with no common alarm.

The common alarm is used as a compensatory measure for failings in compartmentation where a structural upgrade is not practical.