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Building Regulations: Technical Standards

 

The standards

D1 Application of Part D

D1.1 This Part sets out the required standards for Regulation 12.

D1.2 The standards apply to all buildings.

 

D2 Fire resistance and non-combustibility

FIRE RESISTANCE

D2.1*

a. Every element of structure in a building must have a fire resistance of at least that in Table 1 to this Standard, applied or modified as specified for particular elements in Table 2, or as stated in any standard.

b. The period of fire resistance of a floor may include that of an associated suspended fire resisting ceiling where the fire resisting ceiling is either imperforate, with no openings, or complies with Table 3 to this Standard with no openings other than those permitted by D5.1 and D5.3, and any access hatch or door to the cavity formed by the ceiling maintains the fire resistance of the ceiling when closed. The fire resistance of the floor shall be the fire resistance of the floor/ceiling assembly.

c. Where an element of structure serves more than one purpose, or attracts more than one standard of fire resistance, the more onerous standard is to apply.

d. Where an element of structure provides support to another element of structure to which a higher standard applies it must meet that standard,

except -

i. a. above does not apply to a part of a single storey building which does not form part of, or supports -

A. a separating wall, compartment wall, or the enclosing structure of a protected zone; or

B. an external wall or part of an external wall which is allowed to form part of an unprotected area by D6; or

ii. a., c. and d. above do not apply to a suitably designed part of a steel portal frame in a single storey building.

Notes:

In determining fire resistance -

1. a beam which is built into, or forms part of a floor, is to be taken to be part of the floor;

2. a column which is built into, and does not project beyond either face of a wall, is to be taken to be part of the wall;

3. methods of verifying compliance with performance standards are given in the Appendix to this Part.

 

D2.1

Table 1 to D2.1: Periods of fire resistance for elements of structure in a building or compartment according to its height, depth, storey area and cubic capacity (See D3.2)

Purpose group or sub-group

Form of building or part of building

The lowest basement storey at a depth of [Note 5] (m)

The topmost storey of a building or the topmost storey of any compartment at a height of (m)

Area of any storey within building or compartment [Note 1] (m2)

Cubic capacity of building or compartment [Note 1] (m3)

Minimum period of fire resistance [Notes 6 and 7]

(mins)

1A

(flats and maisonettes)

any

§

<7.5

no limit

no limit

30

<4.5

<18.0

no limit

no limit

60

>4.5

>18.0

no limit

no limit

90 [3]

1B

(houses)

any

§

<7.5

no limit

no limit

30

any

>7.5

no limit

no limit

60 [4]

1C

(houses)

any

§

<4.5

no limit

no limit

30

2A

(institutional)

any

§

<7.5

<1500

<3000

30

any

>7.5

<1500

<8500

90

2B

(other residential)

any

§

<7.5

<2000

<4200

30 [2]

any

>7.5

<2000

<8500

60

any

>7.5

<2000

<14000

90

3

(offices)

any

§

<7.5

<4600

<4200

30 [2]

any

>7.5

<4600

<14000

60

any

>7.5

<4600

<28000

90

4

(shops and commercial) [Note 8]

any

§

<7.5

<2800

<2200

30 [2]

any

>7.5

<2800

<4200

60

any

>7.5

<2800

<7100

150

5A

(high hazard assembly)

any

§

<7.5

<1900

<4900

30 [2]

any

>7.5

<1900

<14000

60

any

>7.5

<1900

no limit

120

5B

(low hazard assembly)

any

§

<7.5

no limit

<5600

30 [2]

any

>7.5

no limit

<14000

60

any

>7.5

no limit

<21000

90

6A

(high hazard industrial)

single storey

§

any

<1400

no limit

30 [2]

§

any

<7000

no limit

60

§

any

<33000

no limit

120

more than one storey

any

any

<2800

<1700

60

any

any

<2800

<8500

90

any

any

<2800

<28000

120

6B

(low hazard industrial)

single storey

§

any

<9000

no limit

30 [2]

§

any

<93000

no limit

90

more than one storey

any

any

<7500

<8500

60

any

any

<7500

>84000

90

any

any

<7500

no limit

120

7A

(high hazard storage)

single storey

§

any

<100

no limit

60

§

any

<500

no limit

180

§

any

<1000

no limit

240

more than one storey

any

any

<500

<1000

60

any

any

<500

<2000

180

any

any

<500

<4200

240

7B

(low hazard storage)

single storey

§

any

<1000

no limit

30 [2]

§

any

<2500

no limit

60

§

any

<14000

no limit

120

more than one storey

any

any

<2800

<1400

60

any

any

<2800

<8500

120

any

any

<2800

<21000

180

7C

(open-sided car parks)

any

§

any

no limit

no limit

15

Notes:

[1] Except in the case of purpose groups 1 and 2, the storey area or cubic capacity, or both, may be doubled for a stated period of fire resistance if the building or compartment is provided with an appropriate fire control system. The stated period of fire resistance for elements of structure must not be reduced in this case (see Notes 6 and 7).

[2] At least 60 minutes for a compartment wall or a compartment floor to a compartment used as an alternative means of escape as provided for by E3.1.

[3] Reduced to 60 minutes for any non-loadbearing separating wall between flats or maisonettes.

[4] Reduced to 30 minutes for a floor wholly within a dwelling which does not contribute to the support of the building as a whole. No reduction for a basement storey.

[5] The floor over a basement storey, or if there is more than 1 basement storey the floor over the topmost basement storey, must meet the requirements for the ground storey and upper storeys where that period of fire resistance is higher than that for the basement storey. Otherwise the period of fire resistance of the floor over a basement storey must be that of the relevant basement storey.

[6] In a basement or part of a basement in a building of purpose group 3-7 other than purpose sub-group 7C with an appropriate automatic fire control system, the minimum period of fire resistance may where appropriate be reduced by 30 minutes to not less than 60 minutes.

[7] In a building or part of a building with an appropriate fire control system otherwise than in Note [6] above, the minimum period of fire resistance may where appropriate be reduced by 30 minutes to not less than 30 minutes, except for those elements of structure for which a minimum period of fire resistance is required in Table 2 (see Note [1] above), and the elements of structure which support those elements of structure (see D2.1c.).

[8] Unlimited storey area and cubic capacity in a building of purpose group 4 which has an appropriate fire control system and is either

i. single storey and complies with D7.2, or

ii. an enclosed shopping centre with a mall on one or two storeys which complies with D7.5.

Key:
< means not more than.
> means more than.
§ means that the minimum period of fire resistance for a basement storey is 60 minutes.

 

DIAGRAM TO TABLE 1 TO D2.1

Diagram

 

Table 2 to D2.1: Application and modification of particular requirements for periods of fire resistance

Element of structure

Minimum period (minutes)

Exposure

Loadbearing capacity[2]

Integrity

Insulation

1.

Structural frame, beam or column other than in a single storey building or single storey part of a building or a member forming part of or supporting only a roof structure(see D2.1e)

[1]

none

none

Faces exposed to inside

2.

Loadbearing wall which is not also an external wall, separating wall, compartment wall or the enclosing structure of a protected zone (see 4, 5, 6 or 9)

[1]

none

none

each side separately

3.

Internal loadbearing wall in a single storey building which is not also a seperating wall, compartment wall or the enclosing structure of a protected zone

none

none

none

Not applicable

4.

External wall other than any part of the wall which is permitted to be an unprotected area by D6

(a) any part which is less than 1m but not less than 500mm from a relevant boundary other than as provided for by D6.1

[1]

[1]

[1]

inside

(b) any part which is 1m or more from a relevant boundary other than as provided for D6.1

[1]

[1]

15

inside

5.

Separating wall

 

 

 

 

(a) General

[1] (min 60)

[1] (min 60)

[1] (min 60)

each side separately

(b) shared residential accommodation

min 30

min 30

min 30

each side separately

(c) a wall between a house and its garage

min 30

min 30

min 30

from the garage side

6.

Compartment wall

 

 

 

 

(a) General (see D3.2)

[1]

[1]

[1]

each side separately

(b) Place of special fire risk

[1] (min 60)

[1] (min 60)

[1] (min 60)

7.

Floor

 

 

 

 

(a) lowest floor of a building

none

none

none

not applicable

(b) floor of upper storey of house of purpose sub-group 1C (but not over a garage) and any floor within a maisonette, but not if the floor contributes to the support of the building

30

15

15

underside

(c) a floor between a house and its garage

min 30

min 30

min 30

from the garage side

(d) separating floor

[1] (min 60)

[1] (min 60)

[1] (min 60)

underside

(e) gallery

none

none

none

not applicable

(f) catwalk or openwork floor

none

none

none

not applicable

(g) any other floor (including a compartment floor other than a floor to a place of special fire risk, access deck, and a floor over a garage)

[1]

[1]

[1]

underside

(h) compartment floor to a place of special fire risk

[1] (min 60)

[1] (min 60)

[1] (min 60)

inside risk place

8.

Roof or access deck

 

 

 

 

any part forming an escape route (see E3.2)

min 60

min 60

min 60

from the underside

9.

Enclosing structure of a protected zone not being a roof or an external wall but including the floor other than that of the lowest storey -

(a) General (see D3.3)

min 60

min 60

min 60

walls:each side separately floors: from the underside

(b) Shared residential accommodation (see D7.1)

min 30

min 30

min 30

walls: each side separately floors: from the underside

10.

Protected enclosure (see D3.4)

none

min 30

min 30

each side separately

11.

Fire-fighting shaft

[1] (min 60)

[1] (min 60)

[1] (min 60)

from side remote from shaft

12.

Smoke venting shaft

[1]

[1]

[1]

each side

13.

Enclosing structure of a lift well not being in a protected zone

[1]

[1]

[1]

each side separately

14.

Enclosing structure of a lift well within a protected zone

30

30

30

inside lift well

15.

Cavity barrier

 

 

 

 

(a) cavity barrier 1m x 1m or larger

none

30

15

each side separately

(b) cavity barrier less than 1m x 1m

none

30

none

each side separately

16.

Fire resisting ceiling dispensing with cavity barrier

none

30

30

underside

17.

A wall or screen dividing a corridor for smoke control

none

30

none

each side separately

18.

Fire door

none

none

Each side separately when fitted in its frame, other than lift doors (from outside only)

(a) in a separating wall between a flat or maisonette and a protected lobby or a protected zone

30[S]

(b) in a separating wall not described in (a) above

 

[3][S]

 

 

(c) in a compartment wall or compartment floor (hatch or trap-door)

[3][S]

(d) in an enclosing structure of a protected zone

 

[3][S]

 

 

(e) to an external escape stair or open access balcony where an external escape route passes the fire door to the exit of the dwelling

30

(f) dividing a corridor for smoke control

 

20[S]

 

 

(g) within a dwelling of purpose sub-group 1A or 1B where there is a fire resistance requirement

20

(h) in an enclosing structure of a lift well where the lift well is not in a protected zone

[3]

(i) in an enclosing structure of a lift well between a lift well and protected zone

30

(j) to a fire-fighting shaft

 

[3][S]

 

 

(k) in an enclosing structure of an accommodation stair or escalator within an un-compartmented building or compartment

30[S]

(l) in any other situation including a door in a cavity barrier

 

30[S]

 

 

 

 

 

 

19.

Fire shutter actuated by a fusible link

none

[3]

[4]

each side separately

20.

Wall or floor separating private solid waste storage accommodation from the rest of the building in purpose group 1

none

30

30

walls:from each side separately floors: from the underside

Key
[1] Period of fire resistance set out in Table 1.
[2] Applies to loadbearing elements only.
[3] Period of fire resistance for the wall or floor (see D3.7 c. iii.) in which the fire door or fire shutter is situated. Where the period of fire resistance for the wall in which the fire door is situated does not exceed 120 minutes, the period of fire resistance for the wall. Where the period of fire resistance
for the wall exceeds 120 minutes, half the period of fire resistance for the wall but not less than 120 minutes. This concession does not apply to fire shutters.
[4] Where in a wall the fire shutter requires to be insulated the minimum period of insulation must be that for the wall (see D3.6).
[S] Smoke control fire door.

 

Table 3 to D2.1: Suspended fire-resisting ceiling contributing to fire resistance of a floor

Height of topmost storey of building or compartment (m)

Type of floor

If the required fire resistance of the floor/ceiling assembly is (minutes)

Then the construction and performance of the ceiling must be as below

Not more than 11

non-compartment

not more than 60

surface of ceiling exposed within the cavity not lower than Class 1; no requirement for supports for the ceiling

compartment

not more than 30

surface of ceiling exposed within cavity not lower than Class 1; ceiling and supports and fixings for the ceiling non-combustible

not more than 60

surface of ceiling exposed within the cavity not lower than Class 0; ceiling and supports and fixings for the ceiling non-combustible

More than 11

any

not more than 60

surface of ceiling exposed within the cavity not lower than Class 0, imperforate ceiling; and supports and fixings for the ceiling non-combustible

No limit

any

more than 60

ceiling non-combustible and imperforate; supports and fixings for the ceiling non-combustible; no access panel permitted

Note:
The surface classification of materials is given in Table 2 to (E6.1).

NON-COMBUSTIBILITY

D2.2 Every part of a building specified in the table to this Standard must be of non-combustible materials,
except -

a. a part specifically excepted in the table; or

b. a floor finish, wall or ceiling lining, or an external cladding, which does not contribute to the minimum fire resistance required for the part it covers.

 

Table to D2.2: Non-combustible materials

Part required to be constructed of non-combustible materials

Exceptions

Compartment floor complying with Table 1 to D2.1

None

Compartment floor complying with D3.2

in a building of purpose sub-group 2A other than a hospital

Separating floor

1. in a building of purpose sub-group 1A or shared residential accommodation with no storey at a height of more than 11m, other than over solid waste storage accommodation.

2. between a shop or office and a dwelling above the shop or office in the same occupation and where -
a. there is no other dwelling above the shop or office;
b. the building has no storey at a height of more than 11m; and
c. the area of the shop or office is not more than 11/2 times the area of the separating floor.

3 above a pend in a building of purpose group 1, where the ceiling of the pend is constructed of non-combustible materials and the floor immediately above the pend has at least 60 minutes fire resistance.

4. between dwellings and shared residential accommodation.

Compartment wall in a building of purpose sub-group 2A

in a building of purpose sub-group 2A other than a hospital

Compartment wall or a compartment floor separating a lift well from the remainder of the building

None

Separating wall

a wall in a building with no storey at a height of more than 11m, containing a structural frame of combustible material and any insulant if any surface exposed to a cavity is Class 1 and the internal lining has a surface Class 1 or higher and the wall contains no pipes, wires or other services, and is between -

a. houses or houses and their ancillary garages or shared residential accommodation; or

b. flats or maisonettes, where the wall does not form part of the enclosure to a common stair or the enclosure of solid waste storage accommodation; or

c. flats or maisonettes and an escape stair enclosure, where the wall is constructed of masonry or concrete on the stair side of the wall.

d. between dwellings and shared residential accommodation.

External wall on or less than 1m from a relevant boundary

1. a wall in a building of purpose group 1 or in shared residential accommodation with no storey at a height of more than 11m containing a structural frame of combustible material with a non-combustible external cladding.

2. any thermal insulation in a wall in a building.

Enclosing structure of a protected zone

1. in shared residential accommodation.

2. in any other building where it comprises -
a. an external wall at least 1m from the boundary; or
b. a roof; or
c. the floor of the lowest storey;

3. in a building of purpose sub-group 1A where a wall, not being a separating wall, enclosing an escape stair is constructed of masonry or concrete on the stair side.

Escape stair or ramp including the floor of a protected lobby

1. any handrail on an escape stair

2. an escape stair which complies with E4.6(a) or (b).

Notes:

1. A beam or column which forms part of a wall or floor that is required to be non-combustible, and any supporting structure, must also be non-combustible.

2. The surface classification of materials is given in Table 2 to (E6.1).

 

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