Question:
The company I work for will be moving to new premises over the Christmas period. Having viewed the new property myself and introduced to my proposed new office, a question of fire regulations occurred to me.

Due to insurance reasons, all windows in the building must be barred, so for myself there is no option of escaping fire via window and the only door to my office leads into another office (which is connected to another office and small corridor). I was just wondering if there is any conflict in safety regulations here? If, say, a fire did occur in the office directly outside mine, I would have no escape route. This concerns me.

I would be very grateful if you could let me know where I stand on this matter or for any advice/comments you could offer.

Answer: 1. can't see a reason for bars being fitted "for insurance reasons", sounds like you are on the ground floor and it is a security measure - although that may have been done following discussion with insurance co, it would normally be an area covered by a PIR off the security system. Perhaps there is a reason for keeping something in as well as keeping unauthorised persons out ?

2. Fire detection will probably be by an addressable detector in each room using the detector has its own unique identity and the alarm panel will be able to identify the room where the alarm is raised rather than a section, wing or floor as with more basic systems. Being that far from the corridor with a number of intervening doors you will probably have a sounder fitted in each room. If that is your defined fire exit route then this will have been approved by the local fire officer or environmental health officer to enable a fire certificate to have been granted allowing a Christmas move in.

3. you should discuss your worries with your company safety officer and immediate manager/director, especially if you or anyone working in these areas have disabilities which would impede their or other people from being able to vacate the roome(s) in the event of an alarm

4. as to a fire occurring in the intervening room, this is something that should have been considered in 2 above, there should be a trained fire warden available who is able to carry out first action with the appropriate extinguisher and ensure the rooms are cleared immediately