Design of Fire safety in Multi Occupancy Residential Accommodation

Design of Fire safety in Multi Occupancy Residential Accommodation

Myth vs Reality Myth. Fire is bright Reality. It isn t. Flames are bright Outside fires have bright flames because of the availability of oxygen and because the products of fire can escape

Myth vs Reality Myth. Fires inside are dark Reality. Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and Complete darkness. If you wake up to a fire you may be blinded, disoriented and unable to find your way around the home you ve lived in for years. Note the handprints along the wall

Myth vs Reality Myth. You can always outrun a fire Reality. You can t. Fire can spread extremely fast In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire Most fires in the home occur when people are asleep

Myth vs Reality Myth. It s only hot near the seat of the fire Reality. Hot gases expand and rise very quickly If this it what happens to the plastic cover of an emergency light... The pressure inside the room where the fire starts builds up as the gases expand

Myth vs Reality Myth. Fire doors are an expensive waste of time. Reality. Early warning is probably more important but fire doors pay for themselves as well as saving lives The owner of this property doesn t think they are an expensive waste of time!

Myth vs Reality Myth. Fire is deadly Remember this ad campaign? Reality. It isn t a myth! Although many more people die from toxic fumes and inhalation of super heated gases than die from burns

Legislation Current fire safety design has developed from 2 separate pieces of Legislation The Building Regulations The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (The Fire Safety Order )

Legislation Why two separate pieces of legislation to deal with one hazard? The Building Regulations deal with the design and construction of such developments. The Fire Safety Order deals with fire safety issues in the common parts of all premises but does not apply to private domestic areas

Legislation The Building Regulations Means of escape Structural fire protection Surface spread of flame over walls and ceilings Detection and alarm Access for the fire service All dealt with through Building Control

Legislation The Fire Safety Order 2005 Places a duty to carry out a risk assessment Make premises as safe as reasonably practicable Dynamic changes depending on the risk Onus is on the responsible person Only applies to common areas but will need to take in account risk generated in private areas

Why the need for fire safety regulation? Estimated 4 out every 5 house fires go unreported 55,800 reported fires in residential properties attended by Fire and Rescue Authorities in 2006 373 deaths 11,200 recorded injuries

Guidance Approved Document B Volume 2 Buildings Other Than Dwelling Houses BS 9991 Fire Safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings

Approved Document B Traditional Build Approved Document B was developed for easy and forgiving masonry construction..

Approved Document B Internal planning of flats

Approved Document B Internal planning of flats

BS9991 Internal planning of flats Entrance from below Smoke alarm

BS9991 Internal planning of flats Entrance from above Smoke alarm

BS9991 Internal planning of flats Entrance from above Smoke alarm Heat Detector

BS9991 Internal planning of flats Consider this layout

Maisonettes with floor(s) at H>4.5m (Clause 9.5.2) Requirement for alternative escape(s) from non access level omitted if either; A protected stairway enclosure and an LD1 AFD system to BS 5839-6 subject to no floor >7.5 m above or below entrance level of maisonette); or A protected stairway enclosure and domestic sprinkler coverage in accordance with BS 9251 or BS EN 12845 within the unit. Flats with Galleries (Clause 9.6(e)) Additional limitation that gallery >50% of the area of the floor below should be treated as an inner room cannot be overcome by sprinkler protection in floor containing the gallery

BS9991 Open Plan Flats Single level only (and no galleries) Maximum 16m x 12m with an enclosed kitchen Maximum 10m x 8m with an open (but remotely sited) kitchen Minimum 2.25m floor to ceiling height Sprinklered (at least to BS9251) Fire detection and alarm to a LD1 Grade D standard (self contained fire detectors in all rooms and corridor)

BS9991 Typical Layouts (2 bed) 10m x 8m Open plan Inner bedrooms Increased detection Sprinkler protection

BS9991 Typical Layouts (3 bed) 12m x 16m AD-B compliant Open plan Inner bedrooms Increased detection Sprinkler protection

BS9991 General Requirements (Clause 5) Escape Windows / Doors (Clause 5.1(c)) Min opening size 0.33m2 / 450mm as per AD B Cill of dormer or rooflight 1.5m (1100mm in AD B) refers to Table 1 of BS 6180:2011 Permits the use of keys on escape windows and doors (advice to occupants) not inferred in AD-B

BS9991 Private Balconies Private balconies H<4.5m Enclosed balconies to be treated as an inner room Where balconies are enclosed and are contiguous with enclosed balconies to other flats, the fire resistance of the balcony structure and compartmentation to be maintained

BS9991 Private Balconies Private balconies H>4.5m Escape through not more than one access room Access room to be clearly visible from balcony Travel distance limits for single direction escape

BS9991 Communal Roof Gardens, Balconies & Terraces Single direction escape of 45m No limit on travel with alternative escape Protection of escape routes to conform with the requirements for either small buildings or single stair buildings >11m Need to consider evacuation of disabled where lift access is provided

BS9991 Common Escape Routes Balcony Deck Approach No limitations on travel distance on deck approach but all parts of the building need to be within 45 m of a fire main, measured along a line on which hose can be laid

Common Escape (Clause 7) Balcony Deck Approach (Clause 7.3 & Fig 5) Minimum fire resistance of 30 min Walking surface to be imperforate Down-stands depths were width of balcony is more than 2m between flats required( 0.3m-0.6m or be calculated). Need to prove that balcony will not be smoke logged if less than 1.8m from the building facade and single direction of escape. Manual calculations acceptable but CFD analysis may be most appropriate tool Single direction of escape further safeguarded by external balustrade to be imperforate. Wall, balcony soffit and balustrade should be of a Class 0 rating.

Common Escape (Clause 7) Common Corridor Approach (Clause 7.4) Single stair buildings > 11m and multi stair building

Common Escape (Clause 7) Common Corridor Approach (Clause 7.4) Natural ventilation (Clause 26) or Mechanical smoke control system option in lieu of crosscorridor fire doors and natural vents in code compliant layouts. or Mechanical smoke control system option may be considered to facilitate extended corridor solutions (quantitative comparative design required) or If sprinklered throughout the block of flats (excl EC facilities), travel distances can be doubled on common escape (Clause 23.2) 7.5m 15.0m 30.0m 60.0m

Common Escape (Clause 7) Smoke Control in Common Corridors (Clause 7.4) Refers to Clause 26 for details of smoke control requirements. Vent to stairs must be an AOV (1.0m2) (Clause 26.1.3) Clause 26.1.3 (options a, b or c) all refer to requirements for common lobby / corridor immediately adjacent to the stair NOTE 3 The shaded area indicates the area requiring a smoke control system.

Common Escape (Clause 7) Common corridor in multi stair

Common Escape (Clause 7) Common corridor in multi stair condition Ex Fig 7 of BS 9991 BS 9991 Clause 26.1.4 refers to 26.1.3 for venting requirements. 26.1.3 specified corridor AOV of 1.5m2 / stair AOV 1.0m2. however... vents to the exterior of the building may also be manually operated.. (Clause 26.1.4) and 26.1.3 only refers to automatic venting over stairs

Common Escape (Clause 7) Common Corridor Approach: Small Single Stair < 11m (Clause 7.5 & Fig 8) Criteria largely as per AD B except for a few notable changes

Common Escape (Clause 7) Common Corridor Approach: Small Single Stair < 11m (Clause 7.5) Omits the requirement that ancillary areas and flats should not be on same floor level (Clause 12(b)(e)) Fig 8(b) design (two apartments per floor) stair ventilation must be by means of an AOV and not OVs (Clause 26.1.2) Not applicable to Open Plan living layouts (unless the lobby to the stair is maintained)

Extra Care / Special Housing (Clause 8) Scope of BS 9991 code expanded to cover extra care and other special housing Max 9m travel within EC unit or provide alternative escape. Max 7.5m travel from flat door to storey exit or cross corridor door retained Need to consider adequate refuge space requirements in corridors / stairs Evac lifts to BS9999: 2008 where deemed necessary Free swing / hold open devices to be used in common circulation routes where self closers present an obstacle to movement Extra care facilities to be sprinkler protected (Clause 23.1)

Mist Systems

Access for Fire Service (Clause 18-21) Vehicular Access no internal fire main (Clause 19.1.2) Access to all parts of dwellings within 45m (AD-B: Block of flats with no fire main requires access to within 45m of every point on the projected plan area to individual units) Can be increased on foot of sprinkler protection and where arrival time of fire service is not more than 10mins to 90m for houses (H<4.5m) to 75m for houses / flats (not more than one floor above 4.5m) Arrival time subject to consultation with Fire Service

Access for Fire Service (Clause 18-21) Residential Fire Fighting Shaft (Clause 19.2) Stair door to be FD60S Apartment corridor to serve as fire fighting lobby Can use additional fire mains in escape stair to meet coverage requirements; 60m from outlet in fire shaft 45m from outlet in escape stair

Active Fire Protection (Clause 22-26) Fire Alarm System (Clause 22) No requirement for common AFD system (Clause 22.1) other than to initiate smoke control systems Clause 26.2.3.4 Unless a simultaneous evacuation arrangement is deemed appropriate, there should be no sounders attached to the smoke detectors within common parts. NOTE 2 The purpose of smoke detectors is to operate the smoke control system, not to raise an alarm Only non residential areas in mixed use buildings need have AFD fitted Risk assessment approach considered appropriate in determine AFD requirements for communal areas / roof gardens associated with sheltered housing

Active Fire Protection (Clause 22-26) Sprinkler & Watermist Systems (Clause 23) Sprinklers recommended for Buildings > 30m (and possibly H>18m) BS EN 12845 Extra Care developments Sprinkler protection trade-offs (discussed already) 3 storey house with open plan ground floor (Clause 6.3) 4 storey house with no 2 nd means of escape (Clause 6.4) Open plan flats (Clause 9.7) Increased distance vis vehicular access (Clause 19.1.2) Increased travel in common corridors (Clause 7.4) Reduced boundary distance by half (Clause 29.4.2)

Active Fire Protection (Clause 22-26) Sprinkler & Watermist Systems (Clause 23) Watermist gets conditional approval in BS9991 subject to agreement of the relevant enforcing authority (Clause 23.1) Needs specific scenario testing to prove viability and effectiveness of each system

Active Fire Protection (Clause 22-26) Manual Fire Fighting equipment (Clause 24) Not required in common areas (unless risk assessment dictates otherwise) Employed in higher fire risk areas in sheltered housing Special Risk Protection (Clause 25) Where a common stair forms part of the only escape route from a flat, unless it is designated as a small single-stair building in accordance with 7.5, it should not also serve any covered car park, boiler room, fuel storage space or other ancillary accommodation of similar fire risk. At odds with 13.2 which permits sprinklered basement car park for single stairs buildings > 11m?

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