Scottish Government

Edinburgh 4 bedroom tenement flat: 5 tenants; lounge used as 5 ^th bedroom; shared kitchen and bathroom.

Requirements: Install a mains wired smoke detector in every room; install a heat detector in the kitchen; Have a hard wire test carried out; Install door closers on every door leading to the hall and on the front door; ensure every door was 1/2 hour fire resistant; Apply intumescent strips on the internal doors; apply smoke seal and fire seal to main door; provide instructions on the use of fire extinguisher; provide instructions on the means of escape

Cost: About 3000 spent on upgrading works much of which was the fire resistant paint.

Views: Scale of fire safety works unreasonable. Sufficient to have had wired smoke detectors and 1/2 hour fire resistant doors. Taking doors off their hinges to apply the strips was very expensive as was the fire resistant paint.

Glasgow Flat: 6 bedsit rooms with in-room cooking facilities; one shared bathroom and shower room.

Requirements: Complete rewiring; installation of emergency lighting; smoke detectors in every room linked to a control board; a new fire resistant front door; replacement of a mortise lock with a yale lock on the front door; self closers on each door; fire exit signs (and an additional shower).

Costs: She imagined she spent around 3000 - 4000 on meeting the standards.

Views: The works were reasonable but the smoke detectors were a mistake. They " kept going off with toasters. The tenants now just ignore them but the Fire officer insisted they had to go in".

Dumfries & Galloway large detached house: Emergency accommodation for 12 homeless young persons; Half board provided.

Requirements: Upgrade corridor fire doors to 1/2 hour fire resistance as the corridors were means of escape; upgrade bedroom smoke detectors and add more; replace out of date control unit; provide heat detectors; remove security clamps on some bedroom windows as they restricted how wide the windows could open for escape. This safety factor was seen to be in conflict with the need for property and personal security.

Costs: " many thousands".

Views: Reasonable requirements as " fire safety is paramount".

Highland 3 storey terraced house: 7 bedsit rooms; registered under the previous HMO registration scheme.

Requirements: Confirmation of the test of fire extinguishers, sign changed from 'keep fire door shut' to 'keep fire door locked'; gaps in joints in a cupboard housing the main electricity board to be filled.

Costs: 1500

Views: Considered acceptable but the process could be improved by much greater clarity between what were obligations and what was advice. Particularly criticism of the fire officer's displeasure with the powder extinguishers to fight electrical fires because he said " tenants were not meant to fight fires".