Block of flats mains room location.

[Leesparkykent]

I'm starting a block of 15 flats Wednesday, the building is being converted from an old care home. The original wooden staircase is staying in place throughout in the communal area. I've just received a revised set of drawings which shows the mains room mostly situated under the staircase leading to the 1st floor. I'm not entirely comfortable with this location due to the staircase being wooden. There isn't really any other suitable location big enough else where...The room will be pink fire boarded, fire doors and intumescent strips and also a smoke detector off the fire alarm system throughout. What's your thoughts? Would you be happy with the above setup?

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Theres being happy and then complying with the regs...
If it ticks all the boxes and you can show youve risk assessed or the developer has as required then what more can you do?
Only other thing i can think of was when installing cctv in a converted old psychiatric hospital. They had similar. The bottom of the wooden stairs had metal sheet on them. Then fireboarded. The demarcation and distribution all went in there had all the electrics, comms and heating system. They effectively created a metal box. It also had a fire suprescant thing that if i recall correctly throws out smoke/spray foam to suppress any fire.
Could be an option?

 

[bigspark17]

Yes no problem with that..

 

[westward10]

It can be difficult if not impossible for historic buildings to meet all current requirements where material changes take place. Does the fire alarm system extend into the dwellings so if the detector is activated at the intake alarms are sounded in the dwellings.

 

[Wilko]

I like the idea of creating a fire rated containment for your works. Maybe they should get a signed off design for it?

 

[The Ghost]

I think the only thing I would be unhappy about with that arrangement is access and maintenance as well as installation. But firewise I expect local enforcing authorities may have some input on that. I might raise some mild objection as it is under the stairs and is the only escape route just for the record at least. I do find working understairs a good yoga exercise I expect the stairs are pretty large?

 

[Pete999]

I'm starting a block of 15 flats Wednesday, the building is being converted from an old care home. The original wooden staircase is staying in place throughout in the communal area. I've just received a revised set of drawings which shows the mains room mostly situated under the staircase leading to the 1st floor. I'm not entirely comfortable with this location due to the staircase being wooden. There isn't really any other suitable location big enough else where...The room will be pink fire boarded, fire doors and intumescent strips and also a smoke detector off the fire alarm system throughout. What's your thoughts? Would you be happy with the above setup?

You could voice your concerns to the Site Supervisor / Site Agent, or whatever they are called these days, but ultimately the onus for safety lies with the designers of the building works.
If they have carried out all the required RAs etc, and you do your electrical work to comply with all the fire Regs, and BS7671, you will have done your duty, in my opinion.

 

[Nigel]

Fire compartmentalisation is outside your scope no? I would just make sure the builder is aware that all cable fire stopping is down to them.

 

[Leesparkykent]

It can be difficult if not impossible for historic buildings to meet all current requirements where material changes take place. Does the fire alarm system extend into the dwellings so if the detector is activated at the intake alarms are sounded in the dwellings.

Yes mate the fire alarm has been specified as heat with sounder base in each flat, smokes, sounders and break glasses throughout communals and an AOV on top floor of the communal with yellow break glass and firemans override switch by the panel.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I think the only thing I would be unhappy about with that arrangement is access and maintenance as well as installation. But firewise I expect local enforcing authorities may have some input on that. I might raise some mild objection as it is under the stairs and is the only escape route just for the record at least. I do find working understairs a good yoga exercise I expect the stairs are pretty large?

Yes you actually step down in to the cupboard under the stairs as the new floor is blocking up the entrance to the basement that's being closed off. Has to be big enough for the switch disconnector, head, ryefield, switch fuses, meters etc.

 

[plugsandsparks]

I think its relatively easy to make it fire resistant long enough for 15 flats with just electrical gear in there, as long as they dont use it to store loads of other stuff, like paint, cleaning products, old bicycles, spare bog rolls, you get the picture... lol

 

[The Ghost]

basement that's being closed off.

Wow that's quite astonishing. Would have been better all the gear in the basement. But even so surprised they did not fit another few flats in there, think of the money!

 

[Leesparkykent]

Wow that's quite astonishing. Would have been better all the gear in the basement. But even so surprised they did not fit another few flats in there, think of the money!

It's tiny down there...I'm not exactly the tallest and I have to duck. The developers a sensible guy and I'm sure he's explored the options of digging it out etc and prob not cost effective.