C/minders some advice re fireguards please.

[fizzfagins]

Hi
Please could someone advise me whether fire guards are strictly necessary, re regulations etc when the fire is not in use. Let me start at the beginning.
I have a through lounge/diner about 30ft in length which Ofsted have registered for childminding use because until a couple of years ago I used the whole of the room for minding. However, two years ago when we had some building work done we had half glazed oak french doors installed (properly by a builder FMB receipts to show for it) thus creating 2 rooms but with the option of opening them up for big room again. It is the back part that I use for young ones as a dedicated play room during the day. In the front part we had a limestone fireplace (& new gas, brass trim fire) installed which is a real feature of the room. We'd saved for this(nearly 2K) and as a result didn't want it ruined by a fireguard scraping against it. Parents were happy because we still had big kitchen/diner & garden to use. I am thinking about using front room too (at least for the 'rising 5's & up) now that my numbers are increasing. We have full central heating so the fire is never on during the day. Do you think I can get away without having to use a fireguard? As I said Ofsted happy with big room, my choice to only use divided (back) part of it. I would take this into account in risk-assessing.

Further to the above, I forgot to mention that before we had the building work done, there was a traditional (brass coloured) rectangular fire guard around the old fire (which Oftsted saw) but the problem was it was constantly getting rubbed against the old wooden hearth & surround - that although a pain, wasn't too bad to deal with (just touch up with a tin of varnish), but like I said we just don't want anything to damage the new solid limestone hearth & surround.
I don't look after babies anymore, youngest mindee is 2.5yrs and has never used front room to play.

cant see ofsted having a problem with it as long as its risk assessed, i no longer use my fireguard for the same reasons

The way it was explained to me was that children should not be able to access the fire controls as well as any hot surface / flame.

Although i've always been of the understanding (from our Area Child Protection Team) that fire guards are appropriate for children up to five years. (Just as safety gates are suitable for up to 2 yr olds).

Having said that, last year i restored my gas fire back to a cast iron grate. When ofsted inspected the guard was around the front, but not secured to the wall at either side. The inspector accepted my rational that there was no point attaching the guard until the decorator had come and done the remidial decorating around the fireplace.

In my view the principle risk is that of the granite hearth. I've no guard there at the moment as i only have rising fives and above, but before my new baby starts i will be putting it back as i find it far less ugly than the cushioning edge tape that you can buy.

In my play room i do still have a fire guard over my gas fire despite the fact it is never turned on because of the chance children might 'mess' with the gas supply.

can the child access the controls? and are there any corners/edges that might harm if a child fell onto it?

if you risk assess it should be fine - do your house rules state no running indoors for eg

Thanks for the above thoughts.

Ref the controls, they are concealed behind a brass ornate cover (think it might be called a 'fret' but can't remember), this has a knob to pull away and reveal the controls which are quite stiff and definately a simultaneous two-handed operation, eg you need to turn on the gas control (push in hard & turn clockwise) with your right hand whilst pushing the ignition button with you left, then you hear the fire 'click' on.
The hearth is solid stone, just about 12" from the wall. I would have to explain about 'tripping' hazards, but as I would only allow 'rising 5's' & older in there, I wonder if it would be sufficient to explain about being careful (and incorporate something into Behavour policy/house rules. What do you think?

I was told by ofsted inspector that you only 'need' to use a fireguard if you use the fire during your working day. I had one for the first couple of years - while own ds was little - and the kids just made a game of 'posting' toys behind it!!!

Not had one for 3yrs and children learn not to go near the fire and hearth.

Perhaps my just be easier to get put one up rather that wrangle with inspector?
From your description probably something like a nursery fire guard would fit around the surround without damaging?
Have a look at the nursery fire guards here