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Technical Comps > FS Questions > Flashcards

FS Questions Flashcards

1
Q

What fire safety provisions would you expect to find in an office block?

A

Fire safety provisions for non-domestic premises are covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005:
- Two class A (water, water mist, foam, dry powder, wet chemical) fire extinguishers must be must be placed on every floor. BS5306 covers the selection of fire extinguishers. Responsible person must undertake monthly visual checks and also competent person should undertake annual inspection.
- Fire exits and proper signage of them (e.g., Exit signs pointing to them that can , function in a power failure)
-Installing fire alarm control panels for quick detection and warning of fire.

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2
Q

How are fire barriers formed in a suspended ceilings and what happens when services pass through the barriers?

A

Fire barriers can be installed in the ceiling void if the compartmentation line terminates before the suspended ceiling. Compartmentation must be achieved in accordance with Approved Document B. Service penetrations should be adequately fire stopped in accordance with Approved Document B and I would reccommmend engaging with a FIRAS accredited installer.

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3
Q

What are life saftey systems?

A

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems systems,

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4
Q

Explain the detail of a fire door?

A

Automatic closer, intumescent and smoke seals and fire rated glass

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5
Q

What does FDAS stand for?

A

Fire detection and alarm system.

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6
Q

What are the type of detectors that can be used to warn of fire?

A

Heat detectors, flame detectors, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

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7
Q

How many power supplies are required in alarms?

A

Typically, two, mains and a battery backup.

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8
Q

What is L category fire alarm system?

A

Automatic system for protection of life.

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9
Q

What is L1-L5 category fire alarm systems?

A

L1 – Life with automatic detectors with aim of earliest possible warning. Good for care premises, the whole building is usually covered.,
L2 – Life automatic detectors on escape routes and around escape routes. Good for medium sized premises.,
L3 – Life, designed to give early warning again around escape routes.,
L4 – Life, systems cover escape routes and circulation areas only.,
L5 – All other situations.

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10
Q

What is an M category fire alarm system?

A

Manual systems i.e hand bells or call points rely on occupants discovering fire

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11
Q

What are P1 and P2 category fire alarm systems?

A

System for protection of property. , P1 – All installed throughout building – i.e discover fire as early as possible to minimise damage and risk, P2 – Detection located in high risk areas.

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12
Q

Name some different types of FDAS systems.

A

Types – conventional systems, fire identified in zone on panel.
Addressable system – fire identified in exact area on panel.
Self - contained units.

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13
Q

What are fire detectors?

A

Heat, flame, smoke, carbon monoxide. Can be wired or battery operated.

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14
Q

Describe the different types of fire alarm

A

Optical – detect via light changes
Ionisation – smoke particles
Heat - heat
Multi-sensor - combination
Intelligent – can identify if some issues are false, reducing number of alarms.

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15
Q

Why is it important to detect carbon monoxide?

A

Odourless and tasteless but highly poisonous – occurs when a boiler doesn’t burn carbon fuel totally.

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16
Q

What are the design options to ensure fire safety?

A

Prevention – controlling ignition of fuel sources.
Communications – if ignition occurs informing the occupants.
Escape – ensuring safe route of exit.
Containment – Fire should be contained in smallest possible area.
Extinguishment – how fire can quickly be extinguished.

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17
Q

In fire safety, explain the prevention option in more detail.

A

Removal of ignition (as can’t really remove oxygen or fuel) therefore designing out of ignition sources. Human error is most common form of ignition. Other examples include technological failure.

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18
Q

Explain the fire communications option in more detail.

A

So communications may be in the form of alarm or fire panel showing the zone or area of fire.

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19
Q

Explain what the ‘means of escape’ relates to.

A

Approved document B defines means of escape as a structural means to escape from any point in building.

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20
Q

Describe some escape strategies

A

Egress – simple direct escape
Refuge – The use of fire containment to provide a place of safety
Rescue – last resource

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21
Q

Explain the containment options in more detail.

A

Needs to contain both heat and smoke. Passive measures deal with the building structure active measures deal with things like openable vents on discovery of a fire.

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22
Q

What, under building regulations require fire protection?

A

Separating walls, compartment walls, external walls.

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23
Q

What are the methods for protecting the structure from fire?

A

Concrete encasement, Intumescent coating, Flexible blanket, Boxing in

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24
Q

What are the different types of intumescent coating?

A

Thick film , Thin film - primer (the part that reacts) and sealer

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25
Q

What should be considered when designing the means of escape?

A

Occupants in the room, storey and distances to nearest exit.

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26
Q

What is the role of fire officer?

A

Fire Officers inspect all manner of commercial premises to ensure that they comply with current fire safety legislation.

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27
Q

Describe some fire evacuation policies?

A

Stay put policies, evacuation.

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28
Q

What is a place of relative safety?

A

Place in which there is no immediate danger, but in which there could be future danger, from the effects of a fire i.e. protected escape routes, refuges.

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29
Q

What is a place of ultimate safety?

A

A place outside of the building and away from it, where people will be safe and unaffected by the fire or its effects.

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30
Q

What does the regulatory reform (fire safety) order require businesses and organisations to do?

A

Have a fire risk assessment carried out by a competent person (person must be qualified).

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31
Q

How many escape routes do you need?

A

Usually at least 2 but it depends on occupants in the room, storey and distances to nearest exit.

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32
Q

What is an AOV?

A

A vent provided for smoke control in common parts of buildings, which opens automatically when smoke is detected by smoke detectors.

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33
Q

What is a fire policy/strategy?

A

A number of planned and co-ordinated arrangements designed to reduce the risk of fire and to ensure the safety of people if there is a fire.

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34
Q

What is a PEEP?

A

A personal emergency evacuation plan.

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35
Q

What is a vision panel?

A

A transparent panel in a wall or door of an inner room enabling the occupant to become aware of a fire in the access area during the early stages.

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36
Q

Where can you find guidance on fire safety?

A

There is guidance on government website.

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37
Q

If you had steel beams in your building how would you fire protect these?

A

Box in, intumescent paint, encase in concrete.

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38
Q

What are the disadvantages of intumescent paint?

A

Single use.

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39
Q

What is a stay put fire policy and why would you have one?

A

Refuge in compartment waiting for fire to be dealt with (relative point of safety).

40
Q

What are the different durations for fire protection?

A

30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes.

41
Q

How many layers of plasterboard are needed for a 60-minute fire rating

A

Two

42
Q

How many layers of plasterboard are needed for a 30-minute fire rating

A

Single

43
Q

What is the feedback from Grenfell

A
  • Building regulations aren’t fit for purpose
  • There is a culture of cost driven race to the bottom.
  • Roles and responsibilities unclear
  • Poor record keeping

Recommendations:
- New regulatory framework focusing on higher risk residential buildings
- More rigorous enforcement powers

44
Q

What is a double knock fire alarm system?

A

An automatic FDAS that is capable of identifying when two elements go off within a single zone.

45
Q

What conditions are required for a fire to start in a building?

A

Oxygen, heat and a fuel source must be present

46
Q

How might a fire start in a building?

A

According to the National Fire Protection Association, the five most common causes of fire in commercial buildings are:
- Cooking equipment
- Heating equipment
- Electrical and lighting equipment
- Smoking materials
- Arson

47
Q

What is the fire point?

A

The temperature to which a fuel has to be heated for the vapours given off by the fuel to sustain ignition

48
Q

What is flashover?

A

When the flames reach the ceiling, the radiant heat transferred back to the surface of the fuel is dramatically increased. The remaining combustible materials will then rapidly reach their fire points, and ignite within 3-4 seconds.

49
Q

How can fires be contained by the structure of the building?

A

Fire compartments, Cavity barriers, Fire doors rated with fire seals

50
Q

What is a fire batt?

A

Fire batts are fire rated boards which can be used to seal larger service penetrations.

51
Q

What is a cavity fire sock?

A

Provides a cavity barrier to restrict the spread of smoke and flames within the cavity of external masonry walls

52
Q

What is an intumescent coating?

A

When exposed to temperatures of around 250 degrees, these coating swell and provide a protective layer of low conductivity char

53
Q

What is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?

A

Applies to all buildings, places and structures other than individual private homes. The responsible person has the duty of ensuring the structure meets the required standards and all employees are provided with adequate fire safety training.

54
Q

What are the minimum widths of escape routes and exits?

A

Up to 60 people: The minimum width is 750 mm
110 people: The minimum width is 850 mm
220 people: The minimum width is 1050 mm
More than 220 people: The minimum width is 5 mm per person
Wheelchair users: The minimum width is 900 mm

55
Q

What is Regulation 38?

A

Regulation 38 is a requirement of the Building Regulations for England and Wales to provide fire safety information to the ‘responsible person’. The responsible person should have all the information they need to:, Understand and implement the fire safety strategy of the building, Maintain any fire safety system, Carry out an effective fire risk assessment

56
Q

When does Regulation 38 apply? (Providing relevant info to the responsible person)

A

The regulation applies where building work –, a) involves the erection or extension of a relevant building (i.e. a building to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies, or will apply, or , b) a relevant change of use of a building is undertaken where the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 will apply under the new material change of use

57
Q

What other forms of guidance can be used in complying with the requirements of Part B of the Building Regulations?

A

Building Bulletin 100 for schools, A risk-based approach using BS 9999, BS 9991 for residential buildings, A fully fire-engineered approach (e.g. using the suite of documents in BS 7974, or the SFPE Handbook) with a complete qualitative review of the design using risk assessments, calculations, smoke modelling etc

58
Q

What is the difference between a dry riser and a wet riser?

A

A dry riser is a system of pipes used to transport water from a fire engine to upper storeys in the event of fire, whereas a wet riser has its own water supply. Dry and wet risers are found in buildings over 18 metres. Wet risers required in buildings over 50 metres.

59
Q

What are the key changes to Approved Document B following the Grenfell Fire Tragedy?

A
  • Blocks of flats with their top storey more than 11m above ground level should be fitted with a sprinkler system throughout the building.
    -Wayfinding signage for the fire service should be provided in all blocks of flats with a top storey more than 11m above ground level.
  • Floor identification signs should be provided on every landing of a protected stairway and every protected corridor/lobby into which a firefighting lift opens.
  • Flat indicator signs to identify flat numbers should also be used and supplemented by arrows where necessary. Guidance is given on the location, font and size of signage.
60
Q

What is the ‘Golden Thread’?

A

This is the trail of uneditable information that shows how a project has been designed, constructed and handed over in accordance with the Building Regulations.

61
Q

After the fire, cracks appear in the brickwork, what could this be?

A

The bricks have heated causing them to expand and then contracted when they have been cooled. This movement could cause cracking. Also if it is a framed building then the frame then the structure could have been weakened by the fire causing movement which would cause the brickwork to crack

62
Q

In respect to Fire Insurance Valuations, what is a day one assessment? Is it subject to VAT?

A

The current valuation will represent the reinstatement cost at today’s date, or Day One of the insurance policy. During the year building reinstatement costs may rise by an inflationary amount, therefore under a standard policy of insurance you will need to estimate the likely inflation during the year and add this to your valuation otherwise if a loss occurs on the final day of the policy year your sum insured may not be adequate and Insurers will apply average to their payments.,

Under the Day One Basis of Insurance, Insurers provide insurance up to a fixed percentage above your Day One valuation, usually 15%. This should ensure that the sum insured is adequate when a loss occurs. The only condition is that your declared Day One valuation must accurately represent the reinstatement cost at day one of the policy otherwise average will again apply. This policy does cost more premium than standard cover but dispenses with the problem of guessing inflation levels that will apply during the next 12 months

63
Q

What are the maximum distances of escape routes?

A

One direction - 18m
Two directions - 45m

64
Q

What did the Fire Safety Act 2021 introduce?

A

The Fire Safety Act 2021 amends the Fire Safety Order 2005 (FSO) to clarify that, in buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises, the FSO applies to these two elements:

  • the structure and external walls of the building, including cladding, balconies and windows;
  • all doors between the domestic premises and the common parts (e.g. entrance , doors to individual flats which open on to common parts).

The effect of the Act will be to require fire risk assessments of buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises to be updated to take account of structure external walls and doors, as described above, if they have not already done so.

65
Q

What is the Building Safety Act?

A

Legislation introduced in the wake of Grenfell. Intended to improve the design, construction and management of higher-risk buildings

66
Q

What is the principal legislation that describes the responsibilities of building owner or manager?

A

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO)

67
Q

What is a Fire Safety Order?

A

Places the responsibility on individuals within an organisation to carry out risk assessments to identify, manage and reduce the risk of fire

68
Q

What is the purpose of a Fire Risk Assessment?

A

To identify potential fire hazards. (Identify the fire hazards. Identify people at risk. Evaluate, remove or reduce the risks)

69
Q

Would a chartered building surveyor be competent to undertake a Fire Risk Assessment?

A

If they have had the relevent training and are competent

70
Q

Give examples of passive fire protection in a building?

A

Fire doors, fire stopping, compartmentation.

71
Q

What are the typical maintenance requirements of a sprinkler system?

A

Annual service. Weekly checks.

72
Q

How would you know if a building owner or manager is taking their fire safety responsibilities seriously?

A

Up to date FRA, PEEPS, Fire Warden, relevent training etc

73
Q

What are the key components of a fire door?

A
  • Door closer
  • 3nr hinges
  • Vision panels should be fire resisting glazing (Kite mark)
  • Intumescent strip and cold smoke seal to resist the passge of smoke and fire
  • Door iromongery should include emergency exit device, such as deadlock that releases the door even if locked from the outside
74
Q

What were the requirements that the doors needed to comply with?

A

Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified that flat entrance doors must be considered in the Fire Risk Assessment mandated by the Fire Safety Order (Regulation 10). 4mm max gap to edges.

75
Q

How can you tell if they were certified?

A

Check your door’s test certification – look for British Standard (BS) 476 Part 22 or the European equivalent BS EN 1634 Part 1. Sticker on the top of the door or a coloured plug.

76
Q

How did your report for The Point differ to a fire risk assessment?

A

A FRA looks specifically at fire risks, evaluating occupants and mitigation methods. The condition survey carried out identifed specific fabric defects requiring repair.

77
Q

What were the regulatory requirements for the walls? How did the contractor breach them?

A

Walls were designed to be 60min compartments. Building regulations on protected stairs, Approved Document B and BS9999.

78
Q

What remedial works were proposed at Ruskin Square and how did they comply with regulations?

A

Install of a Blue60 product. This had been tested for use with the BM Trada door sets.

79
Q

How did you scrutinise the contractor’s design whilst also protecting the client and your own design responsibility?

A

Requested details of product, test information and indipendant fire engineers advice. All reviewed with approved inspector to ensure it was suitable.

80
Q

How did you determine gaps were over the permissable allowance? Where does the permissible allowance come from? What is the permissibvle allowance?

A
  • Gaps could be measured with a gap checker tool
  • BS 8214:2016: Code of practice for fire door assemblies and BM Trada data sheets set out the permissable gaps.
  • 2mm to 4mm around door, 10mm gap below.
81
Q

Why is expanding foam not acceptable as fire stopping? Is it ever acceptable?

A

It typically emits a black smoke when burnt or heated. Some products are tested systems which can be installed where tested for example Blue60 with BM Trada door sets.

82
Q

How did you assess the compartmentation vs. the fire strategy?

A

The fire strategy plans identified the construction of the risers which could be cross checked on site.

83
Q

How did you determine if installed materials were suitable?

A

Check of relevent certification, specification sheets and sign off sheets vs that installed on site.

Note: Scope of competency

84
Q

How did you assess works quality during these monitoring visits? Quality/suitability of materials?

A

Inspected works against the benchmark (Which had been signed off by BM Trada and Building Control). Regular BM Trada visits were undertaken and their reports checked.

Materials were signed off by BM Trada as door manufacturer and the AI.

85
Q

What are the Fire safety (England) Regulations 2022?

A

Added additional requirements to the RRFSO for high rise buildings including:
- requirement for responsible peron to provide fire service copies of building floor plans and details of external wall system
- monthly lift & firefighting equiment checks
- info boxes on site and wayfinding signage
- In 11 storey or more buildings, undertake annual checks of flat entrance doors and quarterly checks of all fire doors in the common parts

86
Q

What is the Joint Fire Code Policy?

A

Typically required on projects over £2.5m. Refers to a document called ‘Fire Prevention on Construction Sites: The Joint Fire Code’. Covers all activities from design through to construction.

87
Q

What does the joint fire code policy describe?

A

a series of simple precautions and safe working practices to ensure that adequate detection and prevention measures are incorporated during the design and planning stages and that work on a site is undertaken to the highest standard of fire safety.’

88
Q

What considerations were given to the selection of the Contractor who installed the fire stopping to the doors?

A

BM Trada certified (Q mark scheme for fire doors)

89
Q

Can you name the fire extinguishers and their colours?

A

Red - H2O (Water)
Cream - Foam
Black - Carbon Dioxide
Blue - Dry Powder
Yellow - Wet Chemical
Green - Lithium Battery

90
Q

What are the number of escapes required for varying occupancy levels?

A

Single means of escape: Max 60 people
Two means of escape: Max 600 people
Three means of escape: Over 600 people

91
Q

Can you produce a fire strategy?

A

No. This needs to be produced by a fire engineer.

92
Q

What is BS9999?

A

Takes a more holistic view to fire safety, BS 9999 allows compensatory measures to offset, e.g. travel distances and/ or total escape door width, based on risk profiles.

An example is the provision of a sprinklers resulting in an increased allowance for travel distance or reduction in escape door width.

93
Q

What is your understanding of the principal accountable person?

A

Manage the fire and structural safety risks of a high-rise residential building. Is the point of contact for the BSR and must register the building.

94
Q

In high risk buildings, what is the responsibility of the principal accountable person?

A

Responsible for ensuring that fire and structural safety is being properly managed for the whole building. Also must:
- register existing high-rise buildings with the Building Safety Regulator
- register all new buildings and receive a completion certificate before they are lived in

95
Q

What guidance has the RICS published regarding external cladding?

A

Cladding for surveyors

96
Q

What changes were made to the fire safety regulations following the Grenfell enquiry part 1?

A
  • Fire safety Act 2021 - External walls and flat doors added to RRFSO, buildings over 11m req sprinklers)
  • Building Safety Act 2022 - More stringent regulations for the design, construction and operation of buildings
  • Fire safety regs 2022 - Info boxes, fire door checks to 11m buildings, firefirighting equiptment checks, providing plans and info to fire brigade
97
Q

What is the Hackitt review?

A

Commissioned by the government in response to the Grenfell Tower fire to assess and improve the regulatory system governing building safety, particularly for high-rise residential buildings. Key recommendations from the Hackitt Review include:

  • A New Regulatory Framework: Proposing a more robust regulatory system with clearer responsibilities for those involved in the design, construction, and management of buildings.
  • Golden Thread of Information: Ensuring that accurate and up-to-date information about a building’s design, construction, and maintenance is available throughout its lifecycle.
  • Resident Engagement: Enhancing the role of residents in the safety of their buildings, ensuring they have a voice and access to safety information.
  • Competence: Improving the competence of those working on high-rise buildings through better training and accreditation.
  • Product Testing and Certification: Strengthening the testing and certification processes for construction products to ensure they meet safety standards.

The review highlighted significant flaws in the existing system and called for a cultural shift within the construction industry to prioritize safety and accountability.

Technical Comps (9 decks)

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