Building Regulations Fire Safety (Part B) - General/Procedural FAQs

 

This web page covers general Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) relating to Approved Document Part B. Further FAQs relating to Volume1 and Volume 2 can be accessed by using the links in the panel on the left.

 

 

• Which volume of Approved Document B should I use when dealing with fire precautions in Self Catering Holiday Homes?
  
  

In many cases premises which are similar to a family home can be designed in accordance with Volume 1 (Dwelling houses). However, such premises are subject to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and it may be necessary to take account of the duties imposed under that Order in the design of the premises.

The Department’s leaflet, Do You Have Paying Guests? provides some useful guidance on the application of the Fire Safety Order to B&Bs, guest houses and self catering properties. Regardless of the design guidance that is adopted it will still be necessary for Building Control Bodies to consult with Fire and Rescue Authorities on work relating to buildings where the Fire Safety Order is (or will be) applicable. This should ensure that any potential problems can be identified before building work is started.

Further guidance on the consultation process is given in the Department’s publication, Building Regulations and Fire Safety Procedural Guidance.

• What is needed to demonstrate compliance with Regulation 16B?

 

Where a building is erected or extended, or has undergone a material change of use, and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order applies to that building or extension, Regulation 16B of the Building Regulations requires that, a package of fire safety information - ‘as built’ information which records the fire safety design of the building or extension - must be assembled and given to the person responsible for the premises.

The fire safety information provided should include all fire safety design measures in appropriate detail and with sufficient accuracy to assist the responsible person to operate and maintain the building in reasonable safety. Where a fire safety strategy or a preliminary fire risk assessment has been prepared these should also be included.

The exact amount of information and level of detail necessary will vary depending on the nature and complexity of the building’s design (further guidance on what information should be provided is given in Appendix G of Approved Document B – Volume 2).

 

• Does the inclusion of fire suppression systems in Requirement B3(3) now mean that all buildings should have a sprinkler system fitted? 

 

No. Requirement B3(3) requires, where reasonably necessary, subdivision of the building with fire resisting construction and/or the installation of a suitable automatic fire suppression system.

What is considered reasonable in any particular case will depend on the size and intended use of the building. In some cases either sprinklers or compartment walls and floors will be necessary and other cases it may be necessary to provide both or neither. Guidance on where sprinklers should be provided is given the Approved Document. 

 

• What role does the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RR(FS)O) play in the design process?

 

The RR(FS)O does not regulate the building design process. However, there may be circumstances where building work is found to be necessary once the building is occupied to meet the requirements of the Order which would not have been required by Building Regulations...

This can be avoided if proper consideration of how the building will be used and how fire risks will be managed is made at design stage. The Building Control Body is required to consult the enforcement authority for the RR(FS)O (in most instances the Fire and Rescue Service) and any comments and advice they provide can help with this consideration process.

Guidance on the interaction between the building control process and fire safety is given in the Building Regulations and Fire Safety Procedural Guidance a fourth edition of which was published in July 2007.

 

• Will the Local Acts be repealed?

 

The subject of local acts is currently being considered as part of a wider review.  No decisions have yet been taken. However, any action that the Department does eventually propose would be subject to consultation.

 

• Now that BS 9999 has replaced the BS 5588 series of standards which standard should I now use?

 

When an Approved Document makes reference to a named standard, the relevant version of the standard is the one listed at the end of the publication. However, if this version of the standard has been revised or updated by the issuing standards body, the new version may be used as a source of guidance provided it continues to address the relevant requirements of the Regulations.

Volume 2 of Approved Document B currently refers to the guidance in several of the BS 5588 series of standards as a means of showing compliance with the requirements of Part B (Fire safety) of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations. Until such time as the Approved Document is amended, these references remain part of the guidance approved under section 6 of the 1984 Building Act. As such, compliance with the guidance referred to would confer a legal presumption of conformity with the relevant requirements of Part B. Following any other guidance would not confer that legal presumption.

Where designers elect to follow the relevant guidance in BS 9999 they will need to satisfy themselves and the building control body that this guidance adequately addresses the requirements of Part B. It is strongly recommended in such cases that designers discuss their proposals with the building control body before starting work.

Withdrawn BS standards are readily available from:

The BSI Knowledge Centre
British Standards Institution
389 Chiswick High Road
London, W4 4AL
Email: knowledgecentre@bsigroup.com
Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 7004