fireguard?

[Hayleycm]

i have a gas fire in y living room it is never ever used, and dont have a fire guard, this has not been an issue before, do you this will be an issue on inspection day? you have to click the thing down and turn it to turn it on, i struggle to do it, i dont beleieve a child could turn it on.

but putting a fireguard really compromises space in my living room.

It is as much an issue of access - can they touch the coals or the glass?

Can they fall on the tiled or stone hearth?

its built into the wall no coals or glas or hearth just a wide grid with them old while tile type thing? they may put a hanf through but if the hand wasnt in a fist it owuld come out again. should i do a separate risk assesmnet for the fire? to show the thought i have out in to keep children safe, none have ever touched it.

*hand! really sorry about spelling!

If you don't use it I'd be tempted to cover it with a thin MDF Cover

I don't think on accessible gas fire is acceptable - sorry

thats rubbish, no way my fella will let me cover it hes allready fed up with me taking over spare room for resources :D

not sure what to do. got a lady coming to help me prepare for my inspection on thursday so will ask her what to do

i would cover it will something painted but he said no. hmmmm not good

with* argh multitasking!

I would cover it

access to controls of any kind is a no-no really

Sorry to be amother doom-monger

another

arf at us both multitasking

im not going to be able to, very small front room. this is gutting

Could you put a piece of furniture in front of it?

no we only have to sofas in the room and they wont fit accross, think i might have to work my the boyfriend and beg him to let me cover it, i dont want to childmind if its considered dangerous. hes very proud of our first house.

If it's not used... would it not be best to have it ripped out? Could then use the hole for something else - storage perhaps.

again the boyfriend-apparently we might need it one day. i wanted to get it disconnected, but again he said no. hmmm i will talk to ofsted, then re consider it all and probably beg boyfriend :D

otherwise ill be looking for nursery work!

sounds fine as it is to me. I presume you're not going to be leaving very little ones in the room alone ( who couldn't turn it on anyway) and older children need to learn rules ( eg. touch the fire and you're in big trouble! ).
If the worst comes to the worst, get some MDF to lean against it when the children are there, then hide the MDF behind the settee when they leave and the BF comes home.

If I was you I'd add it to your Risk Assessment and say how you'd mitigate the risk (not leave children unattended or whatever, could you also get a lock for the switch/dial like for a gas cooker?). I was so worried about many aspects of my house pre-inspection (i.e. 3 steps to garden - children to be accompanied when using; large open drains - now have planters over; big open ex-fireplace thing with grill above it - now filled with toy box) and the inspectors only said how impressed they were with the thoroughness of my RAs!

well ive thought a way to go about it and thanks for thehelp im going to do through risk assessment.

if i put a plant accross the top of the opening, about 6 inches accross then you cant gain access to the switch thing to turn it on, not even me and if i had bendy ars, so im going to do that, can always take it off if i need the fire.

i dont leave little ones in there we all go where i go as i plan day as well as i can.

saying this, i do not have lock on my gas cooker, but again i dont have a problem, this risk is included in my fire talk.

i will do a more through risk assessment to do with the cooker i think

and also the steps outside, i want to put white lines on the edges, would i just use gloss on a dry day, to show where the edge of the steps are?

I didnt have a fireguard up last year when I was inspected - you dont need one unless you use the fire while minding, which I told inspector I didnt and she was fine with that. Agree risk assessment though, just to show you have thought about it.

Wouldnt bother with the white lines on the steps - you are in inspection overdrive . Been there, got the t-shirt - and survived the inspection. Remember, your setting is also your home.

well, had my lady round today she said fire is fine as is, but i cried when she was tweaking all my paperwork, think im stressing too much!

she said i need to gear my planning more towards the 7 1/2 month old i have, as ip lanned for my kids too so all can sit to all actitvies and all be included.

i need a break i only got 60 on my last essay for my degree!

i need a drink but im tea total so lots of tea it is :D
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if you lot can do it so can i

Hayleycm - please don't paint white lines on your steps your DP's gonna run a mile.

If you really must tape some gaffer tape on then at least if you do change carrears your not left with painted lines all over the shop.

WRT fire guards, I live in victorian house and have marble fireplaces in two of the playrooms, I don't have a guard on either as my mindees are old enough now and understand what they can touch and what they can't, obv they are not switched on at all. But I have guards which I put on if we have younger mindees. I would certainly have a cover on for a 7 mth old. Its more the hearth that worries me than the coal bits TBH, incase of falls etc, how about putting a toy box on it or a big wicker storage chest if you really can't cope with a big guard.

i dont have a hearth at all its just a fir on the wall, the most they could do would be get a large toy jammed in the front?

i love my job and anyone who i mind for loves the work and support i offer, i have ended up friends wth all parents and often meet for coffee on days off , but am considering going back to caring less paperwork!!

There is so much ive had to change and i only moved in 8 months ago,