Safety within Houses in Multiple Occupation

Guidance on the provision of satisfactory Fire Safety Precautions within a House in Multiple Occupation is contained within a Home Office Guide - 12/92 'Guidance to local Housing Authorities on standards of fitness under section 352 of the Housing Act 1985.'

Peterborough City Council has agreed standards with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service on the implementation of this guidance and further advice promulgated by the Home Office.

The Authority consults with the Fire Authority in all cases where notices or schedules of work are to be issued which contain requirements for fire safety work to be undertaken.

A fire safety scheme for a house consists of many elements, which together form an overall solution. For this reason the following are applied principals only and should not be considered in isolation. Definitive advice must be sought from the Senior Home Improvement Officer (HMO) before any works are carried out.

 

A fire protected corridor is to be provided inside the house, reaching from the room door furthest from the exit (normally an upper floor bedroom), to the final exit from the house (normally the front door). This corridor will be built from fire resisting materials, and all doors, other than bathrooms and WC's will be half-hour fire resisting self-closing doors.

All fire doors will comply with British Standard 476 and will be fitted with cold smoke seals and intumescent strips. Hydraulic overhead automatic door closers will also be fitted. (Chain/spring type closers are not acceptable).

Wall, ceiling and floor finishes will be such that they will not assist fire spread.

Locks on doors, other than single occupancy bedroom doors, on the escape route will not need keys to open them from the inside. ( there may be instances where 'push-bar' type fastenings will be more appropriate.

External staircases will be protected in accordance with the provisions of the current Building Regulations.

Window exits, even at ground floor level, are acceptable only in exceptional circumstances.

Ladders, patent escape devices, ropes or other devices are never accepted.

The means of escape includes the ability to walk away from the building after leaving it. Escape routes terminating in enclosed gardens and yards are not acceptable.

 

Every house in multiple occupation will be provided with an automatic fire detection and alarm system complying with British Standard 5839. The exact type will depend on the size, use and layout of the building. As a general rule, a system of interlinked self contained smoke or heat detectors, operated from a mains supply and having a 10 year lithium battery back up is required in single and two storey houses. A more sophisticated system incorporating manual call points will be required in all other buildings.

Systems incorporating 'staging' of the alarm are normally required in self contained flats, allowing flat occupiers to resolve a nuisance alarm before the rest of the house is alerted.

 

A system of emergency lighting, to British Standard 5266, will be required in all common parts of the building. This is a three hour system, normally non-maintained. In certain cases, for example where there is no natural light, maintained units will be required.

 

Fire extinguishers, usually 2kg Dry Powder types, and fire blankets will be required in kitchens, and additional extinguishers will be required in the hallway and corridors on upper floors.

 

Depending on the type and use of the house, fire signs and notices will be required.

 

Peterborough City Council has produced a logbook in order to promote good practice and to assist landlords to meet their legal obligations with regard to maintaining safe conditions in Houses in Multiple Occupation. The logbook gives a brief description of relevant legislation and guidance for landlords and provides forms to enable the recording of essential safety information.

 

 

 

 

 Fire, Gas and Electrical Safety Log Book (pdf: 241Kb/26 pages)