London Fire Safety Guidance for Houses in ... - Harrow Council

Parts 20-23, relating to load-bearing capacity, integrity and where appropriateinsulation for less than 30 minutes or for such longer period as may berequired in the case of that construction.Fire test report means the documentation received from a UKAS testinghouse detailing a test carried out to BS 476 on a particular product orconstruction and the fire resistance performance achieved by theproduct/construction in that test.Higher risk room means a room or other area which, because of its functionand/or contents, presents a greater risk of fire occurring and developing thanelsewhere, this will usually include all non-domestic uses.Inner room means a room from which escape is possible only by passingthrough an access room.Independent second stairway means a second standard stairway within abuilding (not being a secondary means of escape) which is protected to thesame degree as the first i.e. a two staircase building. To fall within thisdefinition the two staircases must be fully independent with no necessity topass through one to get to the other.Means of escape: there is at present no statutory definition of whatconstitutes “means of escape from fire” but the standards laid down in thisguidance are based on the definition contained in section 5(5) of the FirePrecautions Act 1971 as amended by the Fire Safety and Safety of Places ofSport Act 1987, which states “escape in relation to premises means escapefrom them to a place of safety beyond the building which constitutes orcomprises the premises and any area enclosed by it or enclosed with it”.Protected lobby means a lobby having an adequate degree of protectionfrom fire and forming part or the whole of the horizontal component of aescape route or affording additional protection to an escape route.Protected route means a route having an adequate degree of protection fromfire including walls (other than any part that is an external wall of a building)partitions and floors separating the route from the remainder of the building.Secondary means of escape an alternative protected route from a buildingleading to a final exit. Usually via an external staircase or an adjoiningbuilding.Separating wall means a wall separating buildings.Standard risk room means a room or other area which, because of itsfunction and/or contents presents a risk of fire but does not fall into thedefinition of higher risk room, e.g. bedsitting rooms, living rooms, bedrooms,ordinary domestic kitchens, small domestic boiler rooms, cupboards and smalldomestic stores. Bathrooms/WCs containing no fire risk and all parts of theprotected route are excluded.London Fire Safety Guidance for Houses in Multiple OccupationVersion 2: 06/06