Sleeping Accommodation

psimmo · Post by **psimmo** » Fri May 17, 2019 7:56 am

Hi all,

Quick question. Does anyone have any experience on the pro-s and con's of emergency lighting within the bedrooms of sleeping accommodation (halls of residence type property)? Have been advised that the results of the fire risk assessment deemed it was not necessary, but just wondered if there was a power failure in the event of a fire in the middle of the night for example, would EL not be of benefit?

Not after anything technical or wishing to challenge anyone, just trying to broaden my knowledge and gain a better understanding of all things fire.

Thanks all for anyones help.

Post by **bernicarey** » Fri May 17, 2019 9:43 am

Emergency lighting is required on escape routes, not from individual rooms in sleeping areas.

From an individual's perspective, many would not want a bright green (or other colour, but often green) LED shining on their ceiling or above their doorway; they might interfere with it.
Who's going to go into all the individual rooms to do monthly functional and annual discharge checks?

To cite your example of a 'Power Failure' there's more likely to be a power failure due to distribution network problems than a fire in the building. So that means that every time there's a power failure, the residents have got lights coming on in their bedrooms... It's bad enough having your mains powered alarm clock disturbing your sleep, without the EL coming on perhaps several times during a thunderstorm....

See the FRA Booklet for Sleeping Accommodation,page 103.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... ion_v2.pdf

An emergency escape lighting system would usually cover the following:
•each exit door;
•escape routes;
•intersections of corridors;
•outside each final exit and on external escape routes;
•emergency escape signs;
•stairways so that each flight receives adequate light;
•changes in floor level;
•windowless rooms and toilet accommodation exceeding 8m2;
•firefighting equipment;
•fire alarm call points;
•equipment that would need to be shut down in an emergency;
•lifts; and
•halls or other areas greater than 60m2.

psimmo · Post by **psimmo** » Fri May 17, 2019 11:01 am

Thanks Bernicarey, a really useful and informative response and provides great thought as to why it wouldn't be required.

Much appreciated.

Post by **bernicarey** » Fri May 17, 2019 11:07 am

So great to see a response or acknowledgement posted fairly promptly by someone who has asked a question and had one or more answers.

Great Forum interaction, unlike those that ask something and then take weeks, if ever, to post a reply.

So Applause for psimmo

Post by **Alexis** » Sat May 18, 2019 11:16 am

bernicarey wrote: ↑Fri May 17, 2019 11:07 am So great to see a response or acknowledgement posted fairly promptly by someone who has asked a question and had one or more answers.

Great Forum interaction, unlike those that ask something and then take weeks, if ever, to post a reply.

So Applause for psimmo

Messy · Post by **Messy** » Sat May 18, 2019 11:38 am

Information request: 06:56
Answer provided....: 08:43
Acknowledgement..: 10:01

There we are ladies and gentlemen. Bernicarey & psimmo have set the standard. Can anyone else beat that?

I for one will be logging on every 60 seconds now to see if I can win that crown

psimmo · Post by **psimmo** » Thu May 23, 2019 7:55 am

This is an amazing forum with so much information, provided by people voluntarily, so a huge thanks to those of you who even take the time to respond to a question. It really is appreciated.

And now for another question!!

Is anyone aware of a system that would allow people to clock in and out of a sleeping accommodation building, so that in the event of a fire drill, there would be a printable roll call list for those present within the building at the time.

Swipe in and out boards, and sign in and out registers do not appear to be working!

Thanks

Post by **bernicarey** » Thu May 23, 2019 9:13 am

Nothing that you're going to get much joy from.
Even if you have a 'Swipe in' to open the front door, it's never going to work without a turnstile, as a group of people will enter or leave on one individuals swipe; before you know it an individual is In 10 times and only left twice.
Equally on activation of the Fire alarm, any turnstile will have to be overridden, so you won't know who left at that point and decided to go to the pub instead of waiting for a roll call.

psimmo · Post by **psimmo** » Thu May 23, 2019 1:23 pm

Thanks you Bernicarey. Was hoping there might be a system out there that could assist in establishing if anyone remains within the building, but to be honest it was more of a 'hope' rather than 'expectation'. Appreciate your thoughts though.

Tanks again.

Essex · Post by **Essex** » Thu May 23, 2019 3:34 pm

The FRA is your guiding document. If that is the recommendation then that is the recommendation.

Post by **bernicarey** » Thu May 23, 2019 5:18 pm

Essex wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2019 3:34 pm The FRA is your guiding document. If that is the recommendation then that is the recommendation.

...and as psimmo said

Not after anything technical or wishing to challenge anyone, just trying to broaden my knowledge and gain a better understanding of all things fire.

which is a highly admirable thing and totally inline with the ethos and raison d'etre of this forum. Their questions are to be encourage, not brushed aside.

If everyone questioned things they didn't understand in an FRA they had been given, perhaps the standard of FRAs would dramatically improve!

psimmo · Post by **psimmo** » Wed May 29, 2019 4:14 pm

Thanks Bernicarey, very much appreciate your response which is spot on. There is so much knowledge and experience on this forum to be shared and enjoyed by all.