HMO compliance is crucial for owners and managers to prevent injury and save lives. Norwich City Council has created a document called Private Sector Housing: Fire Precautions and Dwellings, which outlines the five areas that need to be covered: doors, detectors, emergency lighting, egress, and extinguishers.
To demonstrate compliance, owners and managers need to carry out an independent fire risk assessment and implement all the standards required for their particular type of house. The minimum requirements for a one or two-story HMO with six or less occupants are outlined on page five of the document.
Let’s take a closer look at the five areas that need to be covered:
Doors: Doors must be close-fitting and solidly constructed in a solid frame. Doors cannot be hollow or have panels as they won’t provide the required fire and smoke protection. Fire risk assessors and council inspectors take this view.
Detectors: The council’s document requires a Grade D, LD3 system, which means detectors in spaces on the escape route, typically cold doors and landings.
Emergency Lighting: Emergency lighting is required if there is no effective borrowed light.
Extinguishers: A fire extinguiser and blanket are required in the kitchen
Egress: The minimum standards require each bedroom to have a means of escape.
