Fire safety

Question 1

What are the types of fire alarm?
What do they mean?

Answer 1

L, P, M.
L: life protection (automatic detection); P: building protection; M: manual systems.

Question 2

What is an FRA?

Answer 2

RA of a building to identify fire risks and ways of preventing them.

Question 3

What are some key features of the Fire Safety Act 2021?

Answer 3

RP has to manage risk for the structure and external walls and sprinklers, additional responsibilities for RP.

Question 4

What does Approved Document B cover?

Answer 4

Means of escape, fire door ratings, fire spread.

Question 5

Who does the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 apply to?

Answer 5

All workplaces and common areas of buildings with two or more domestic premises.

Question 6

Who is the Responsible Person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and what are their responsibilities under the Order?

Answer 6

Typically the owner or landlord. Complete FRAs and establish general fire precautions.

Question 7

Note: PAS 9880 can be used as guidance to complete an FRAEW form.

Question 8

What is the purpose of the PD (BSA) role?

Answer 8

Ensures compliance with Building Regs in design phase.

Question 9

When was the role of PD (BSA) required?

Answer 9

From October 2023.

Question 10

When were BCAs required to be registered with Building Safety Regulator?

Answer 10

April 2024.

Question 11

What is the definition of a HRB?

Answer 11

18m, 7 storeys, 2 residential units.

Question 12

What does the BSA cover?

Answer 12

Fire safety and structure.

Question 13

What buildings does the BSA apply to?

Answer 13

All buildings requiring Building Regulations but stricter controls on HRBs.

Question 14

What is the purpose of the Building Safety Regulator (HSE)?

Answer 14

Improve safety standards of all buildings, set standards for design on HRBs.

Question 15

What are Gateways 1, 2 and 3 of the BSA?

Answer 15

Gateway 1: planning - fire safety to be incorporated into planning stage (HRBs only).
Gateway 2: BSR must sign off designs (HRBs only).
Gateway 3: after Building Control sign off, the BSR issues a completion certificate (signed by client PD and PC).

Question 16

Can you provide a couple of implications of the Building Safety Act on your role as a surveyor?

Answer 16

A PD (BSA) must be appointed (typically an architect but someone involved with the design), designs must be signed off by the BSR (Gateway 2).

Question 17

Can you tell me a couple of duties of the PD (BSA)?

Answer 17

Ensure works comply with Building Regulations, manage works during the design phase.

Question 18

Who appoints a PD (BSA)?

Answer 18

The client.

Question 19

What happens if they don’t appoint anyone?

Answer 19

They must carry out the PD (BSA) role [and Principal Contractor role if not appointed].

Question 20

Can you provide some examples of passive fire controls?

Answer 20

Fire doors, fire stopping, cavity barriers.

Question 21

What are the RIBA stages for Gateways 1 and 2?

Answer 21

Gateway 1: RIBA Stage 2.
Gateway 2: RIBA Stage 4.

Question 22

How did you consider fire safety on Windor Walk?

Answer 22

Ensured building regs were adhered to, RAMS, non-combustible materials.

Question 23

Did you liaise with anyone else aside from building control on this project?

Answer 23

Structural engineer (suspended ground floor).