Building Regulations in Approved Document B has reduced the trigger height for sprinklers and water mist systems, making fire suppression mandatory for a wider range of properties.
The Government response to the consultation (between 5 September and 20 November 2019 ) on the statutory guidance to the Building Regulations with regards to fire safety (Approved Document B), shows that there is support for the provision of sprinkler/water mist systems and consistent wayfinding signage.
It has been recognised that fire suppression systems installed in buildings can reduce the risk to life and significantly reduce the degree of damage caused by fire within a building. Therefore, new mandatory requirements have been put in place and will be in effect from today and identifies:
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***Blocks of flats with a top storey more than 11m above ground level (see Diagram D6) should be fitted with a water sprinkler / mist system throughout the building in accordance with Appendix E.
NOTE: Sprinklers should be provided within the individual flats, they do not need to be provided in the common areas such as stairs, corridors or landings when these areas are fire sterile.
Fire safety: Approved Document B
Building regulation in England covering fire safety matters within and around buildings.
Published 7th Dec 2010 - Amended 8th April 2020 by Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
Now in effect from 26th November 2020
Summary of Doc B.
Where required, active fire suppression systems should be provided throughout the building or separated part, unless acting as a compensatory feature to address a specific risk. They should be designed and installed in accordance with the following:
For residential buildings, the requirements of BS 9251.
For non-residential buildings, or residential buildings outside the scope of BS 9251, the requirements of BS EN 12845, including the relevant hazard classification together with additional measures to improve system reliability and availability as described in Annex F of the standard.
NOTE: Any active fire suppression installed to satisfy the requirements of Part B of the Building Regulations should be provided with additional measures to improve system reliability and availability and is therefore to be regarded as a life safety system. However, there may be some circumstances in which additional measures to improve system reliability and availability specified in Annex F of BS EN 12845 are inappropriate or unnecessary.
If the provisions in a building vary from those in the below documents, sprinkler/mist protection can also sometimes be used as a compensatory feature.
BS 9251 makes additional recommendations when sprinklers/mist are proposed as compensatory features.
