Car park not protected!

[Benzerari]

A basement car park not protected at all, under the council's management, the above floors Gd + 1st, are owned by a different tenant, they have their own fire alarm system, and have an exit to the basement car park too, which they are entitled to use too.

The question; for fire safety measures, is that acceptable to keep the car park not protected at all?

[Big_Fella]

Is the building sprinklered, i.e all floors inc. car park..?

Is the car park open to the public or is it for private use by the persons within the building above?  Potentially could the public have access to the car park..?

[Benzerari]

Is the building sprinklered, i.e all floors inc. car park..?

Is the car park open to the public or is it for private use by the persons within the building above?  Potentially could the public have access to the car park..?

The car park is private and no public use for what so ever, it has some rooms as well; boiler room, gas room, stores.... and none of them is protected.

My concern; is that because it's under different management, that would stop enforcing fire safety issues?

[Phoenix]

You should find that there is at least 60 minutes fire separation between the garage and the accommodation above.  If there isn't then there should be.  If this 60 minute separation is there then, theoretically, there isn't much to worry about.

Sometimes it's difficult to ascertain the level of fire resistance if the building is getting on a little.

Stu

[Benzerari]

You should find that there is at least 60 minutes fire separation between the garage and the accommodation above.  If there isn't then there should be.  If this 60 minute separation is there then, theoretically, there isn't much to worry about.

Sometimes it's difficult to ascertain the level of fire resistance if the building is getting on a little.

Stu

Not sure how that 60mn can be measured, but just some additional; the car park has some rubbish (combustible materials); old chairs, desks…etc in corners....

[Phoenix]

Hi Benz, Without looking at the building it's difficult to know how best to advise making a judgement about the adequacy of the separation.  If the building is old then you can assume that it's probably not there.  Other issues to take into consideration normally are the provision of potential ventilation for the basement (i.e. windows that might break in a fire, etc.) and how it interfaces with the premises above (particularly the means of escape). 

With what you say, I would be inclined to advise the occupiers above to extend their fire alarm system down into the basement area with a heat detector located there.  It will cost them, but not much, and it will be in their interest.  With it, they will be able to act well before the fire breaks through to their premises.  Without it they wont even know about it until the fire starts to break through causing damage to their premises.

Stu

 

[Benzerari]

Hi Benz, Without looking at the building it's difficult to know how best to advise making a judgement about the adequacy of the separation.  If the building is old then you can assume that it's probably not there.  Other issues to take into consideration normally are the provision of potential ventilation for the basement (i.e. windows that might break in a fire, etc.) and how it interfaces with the premises above (particularly the means of escape). 

With what you say, I would be inclined to advise the occupiers above to extend their fire alarm system down into the basement area with a heat detector located there.  It will cost them, but not much, and it will be in their interest.  With it, they will be able to act well before the fire breaks through to their premises.  Without it they wont even know about it until the fire starts to break through causing damage to their premises.

Stu

The car park has naturel ventilation in and out through the gate itself, and the back (grid windows) open to the air, the idea of heat detectors seems to be grate but still no even sounders in car park linked to the above system...

[Phoenix]

The suggested heat detector is for the benefit of those in the premises above.  Small car parks are often simple enough in layout and small enough not to require any fire alarm system in their own right.  So, provided yours is small-ish and simple-ish, if there are people in it we can rely on someone shouting "fire" to raise the alarm and there is no requirement for an alarm with sounders within the car park.

Stu

 

[kurnal]

If the boilers and plant rooms serve the buildings above theres more than likely to be pipe and power ducts rising through the building from the plant rooms, and over the years the fire stopping at basement ceiling level is likely to be in poor condition or missing all together. Detection is no alternative to effective fire stopping but if it is likely to be in poor condition heat detectors in the plant rooms may be a wise addition.