Retail unit ground and basement.
3 storeys above each with 1 flat.
Building built circa 1850's.
Standard construction (Bricks, mortar, stone, slate, tiles, etc.)
60min separation between shop & flat.
60min separation between basement & ground floor shop.
Timber stair has been underdrawn.
Separation between each flat - uncertain at this stage...looks to me like timber tongue and groove floors but ceilings have been underdrawn with gyproc plasterboard.
AFD (Part 1) in shop which has been extended to stairway of flats at bottom and top of stair.
AFD (Part 6) Grade D in each flat (smoke) with heat detector in kitchen linked to building fire alarm system.
There is independent access to the flats which is a single stairway which is only means of escape. This discharges on to the street. Shop has its own independent entrance/exit.
Looking at guidance, which says...
Several flats over a shop (3+ storeys) - 30 minute fire doors to each flat door. 60 minutes between floors. Internal doors should also be fire resisting thus giving a 60 minute fire resistance between the flats and the staircase. Clear exit route out to a place of safety.
The design of the building is such that there is only one door leading to/from each flat i.e. not a lobby approach.
So, using this as guidance, should the flats each have a FD60s door as there is no internal door as such?? Including the top flat?? Or will FD30s suffice?
If it helps, they are immediately opposite a manned Fire Station!
