BS9999 – Fire Safety

Paul EggletonMLM – Building Control

paul.eggleton@mlm.uk.com

Planned Reviews

BS 9999

BS 9999

Code of practice for fire safety in the design,

management and use of buildings

Came into effect on 6th

October 2008

BS 9999

Means of Warning and Escape

B1 The building shall be designed and constructed so that there are appropriate provisions for the early warning of fire, and appropriate means of escape in case of fire from the building to a place of safety outside the building capable of being safely and effectively used at all material times.

BS 9999

BS 7974

BS 5588 Series BS 9999

ADB

Where does it fit?

Compliance with Building Regulations B1, B2, B3, B4, B5

A Co-ordinated Package

BS 9999

It incorporates four main fire safety measures;• fire safety management• the provisions for means of escape• the structural protection of escape facilities and the

structural stability of the building in the event of a fire• the provision of access and facilities for fire-fighting

BS 9999

Planning

Construction

Use of Building

Maintenance

Extend/Alter

Change Use Demolition

BS 9999

Risk Profile Concept

The guidance on the provision of means of escape and on construction has been developed to reflect

• the nature of the occupants

• the use of the buildings as well as the likely fire growth

• resulting risks associated with that use

BS 9999

Table 2 – Occupancy Characteristics

BS 9999

Table 3 – Fire growth rates

BS 9999

Occupancy characteristics

Office – A2

Retail B2

Hotel C2

BS 9999

Occupancy risk profiles

BS9999

Variation of risk profile

• Sprinklers (suppression – not extinction)

• Fire growth reduced (normally 1 level)

• May apply only to the part of building covered- Effective fire resistant separation required

• The outcomes could be;- Unsprinklered Office was A2 & with sprinklers becomes A1- Unacceptable A4 situation becomes A3 with sprinklers

BS 9999 V Approved Document B

Base standard travel distances

BS 9999

BS 9999

ADB – Table 4

4 x 60 = 240

BS9999 – Table 13

(A2) 4 x 195 = 780

(A1) 4 x 222 = 888

BS 9999

Stair Widths - Simultaneous evacuation –Table 15

* 10-15% increase in Capacity

BS 9999

Fire detection & alarm systems – minimum level (table 8)

BS 9999

Additional Fire Protection Measures

Such as;» Ventilation (self-break windows, doors)» Enhanced fire detection & alarms (voice)» High ceilings

Can lead to potential benefits;» Lower periods of fire resistance» Larger compartment sizes» Longer “travel” distances» Narrower escape routes (doors, corridors, stairs)

BS 9999

“Where a clear benefit resulting from the addition of detection and warning systems is demonstrated and is appropriate to the circumstances, a 15% increase in allowable travel distance and a 15% reduction in door width, corridor width and stair widthcan be applied”.

Enhanced Automatic Fire Detection

BS 9999

Approved Document B(Office) +/- L1 AFD

BS9999 (A2)

BS9999 (A2) + L1 AFD

18/45 metres

22/55 metres

25/63 metres

Travel Distances

BS 9999

Table 16 - Effect of Ceiling Heights

BS 9999

Approved Document B(Office) +/- L1 AFD

BS9999 (A2) + L1 AFD+ High Ceiling

18/45 metres

26/75 metres

Maximum Travel Distances

BS 9999

Fire Resistance

BS 9999 discusses fire resistance in a very similar fashion to ADB;

» Protection of life in and around building and to fire fighters» Load bearing & non-load bearing capacities

• Including certain exemptions as per Approved Document B» Tables 24 & 25 are the basis for determining fire resistance in

the traditional fashion» Table 26 & 27 introduces ventilation

BS 9999

Table 27 Ventilation conditions for use with Table 26

BS 9999

Table 26 – fire resistance based upon ventilation provisions

BS 9999

Table 6 – Corresponding Expected Management Levels

BS 9999

BS 9999

Schools

BS9999 BB100

Risk Profile A2 (Office)

-Manual Fire Alarm -Manual Fire Alarm

-No Compartmentation -Compartmentation

-No Sprinklers -Sprinklers?

-Travel Distance 22/55 -Travel Distances 18/45

Thank You For Listening

Any Questions