Building Regulations: Technical Standards

INTERNAL FIRE SPREAD

(E6.1) a. Materials other than thermoplastic materials

The requirements of E6.1 for surfaces of walls and ceilings other than those of Thermoplastic materials will be met where such surfaces comply with the provisions in Table 1 to this standard. For this purpose surface means the surface of a substrate or lining material including any treatment thereof to restrict flame spread, but excluding site finishes applied for decorative purposes only. Site finishes must not consist of any structural element, including any form of sheeting or framework, with a class of surface lower than that specified in Table 1 to this standard.

Table 1 to (E6.1)a.: Internal fire spread

Notes 1, 2 and 8 are referred to in the Table. Notes 3-7 should be read with the Table.

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

2. Class 1 for ceilings.

3. For the purpose of Table 1 a wall includes the surface of glazing and any ceiling or soffit at an angle to the horizontal of 70° or more but excludes doors, skirtings and other facings. A ceiling includes the underside of rooflights but excludes ceiling hatches and facings.

4. External windows and internal glazing to rooms (but not protected zones or unprotected zones) may be fitted with plastics glazing materials complying with (E6.1)b.1.B, C and D.

5. Where a percentage of the aggregate area of the wall surfaces of a room is of a class higher than that required, an equal percentage of the wall surfaces may be of one class lower, but not lower than Class 3.

6. In a room any part of the wall surfaces may be of one class lower than that required (but not lower than Class 3) if the total area of those parts in any one room does not exceed either -

a. half the floor area of the room; or

b. in the case of a building of -

i. purpose group 1 or 2, 20m2; or

ii. any other purpose group, 60m2,

whichever is the lesser.

7. In a building solely housing livestock the surfaces of unprotected zones may be of any class not lower than Class 3.

8. Exceptions permitted on shop fronts—

a. structural timbers supporting glazing that forms part of a shop front, and

b. unit signs with a surface spread of flame rating of Class 1, 2, or 3 in accordance with British Standard 476: Part 7, and

c. stallboard risers

provided the non-Class 0 surfaces do not exceed 20% of the area of the shop front.

Table 2 to (E6.1)a.: Classifications for surface spread of flame

b. Thermoplastic materials

The requirements of E6.1 for ceilings, rooflights and surface mounted light fittings with diffusers of thermoplastic material which cannot be tested in accordance with BS 476: Part 6 or 7 will be met by complying with the following -

i. The area of plastics panels in ceilings, other than fire resisting ceilings, including plastics rooflights and plastics light diffusers, must be not more than 50% of the floor area of the room in which the ceiling is situated or, in the case of an unprotected zone, not more than 15%. They are not permitted in a protected zone.

These limitations on the use of plastics apply to -

A. a single-skin polycarbonate sheet less than 3mm thick or multi-skin polycarbonate sheet; or

B. thermoplastic material (see Note 1): a specimen of which when tested in accordance with BS2782: 1970 as amended in 1974: Method 508A, performs so that the test flame does not reach the second mark within 2 minutes, the specimen thickness to be between 1.5mm and 3.0mm,

except -

other than in a protected zone or in a fire resisting ceiling, there are no restrictions on the use of:

1. a plastics material of a class not lower than Class 3 when tested in accordance with BS476: Part 7: 1971 or 1987,

2. rigid PVC (uPVC); or

3. polycarbonate rigid sheet at least 3mm thick; or

4. Multiskin polycarbonate sheet at least 10mm thick overall of at least Class 1 when tested in accordance with BS476: Part 7: 1971 or 1987; or

5. rigid plastics which when tested to BS2782: 1970 as amended in 1974: Method 508A, perform so that the test flame does not reach the first mark and the duration of flaming or afterglow does not exceed 5 seconds following removal of the burner; or

6. ceiling fabric (see Note 2) supported on all sides in panels of not more than 5 m2.

ii. The upper and lower surfaces of any part of the ceiling which is not of plastics panels, and the surface of all other parts of the structure which enclose the void over the ceiling, should meet the provisions of Table 1 to (E6.1)a. (see Note 3).

iii. The material of any fabric covering an air supported structure or fabric covered framed structure must be PVC coated polyamides or unreinforced polyethylene more than 1 mm thick or a polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) membrane with woven glass fibre mesh. An unreinforced polyethylene film not more than 1 mm thick can only be used in an air supported structure (see Note 2 below).

Notes:

1. A thermoplastic material means for the purposes of Parts D and E any synthetic polymeric material which has a softening point below 200°C when tested to BS2782: Part 1: 1976: Method 120A. Specimens for this test may be fabricated from the original polymer where the thickness of material of the end product is less than 2.5mm.

2. Ceiling fabrics not more than 1mm thick should comply with the Type C requirements of BS5867: Part 2: 1980 when tested in accordance with BS5438: 1989: Test 2 with flame applied to surface of specimens for 5, 15, 20 and 30 seconds respectively, but excluding the cleansing procedure.

3. Plastics rooflights may be subject also to D6.7, depending on their boundary distance, which may affect in particular the minimum separation between rooflights.

MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEMS

(E7.6) The requirements of E7.6 will be met by a mechanical ventilation system designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of BS5588: Part 9: 1999, Section 3. In the case of hospitals the system should also meet the requirements of sections 5.82- 5.83 and 6.31 - 6.38 of HTM 81 "Fire precautions in new hospitals", (Scottish Health Service Firecode, 1999).

A hospital designed in accordance with HTM 81 "Fire precautions in new hospitals", (Scottish Health Service Firecode, 1999) will have sub-compartmentation and the enclosure of fire hazard rooms.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

(E7.7) The requirements of E7.7 will be met where emergency lighting is installed in -

a. cinemas, bingo halls, ballrooms, dance halls and bowling alleys, in accordance with CP1007: 1955; and

b. hospitals, in accordance with HTM 81 "Fire precautions in new hospitals", (Scottish Health Service Firecode, 1999): and

c. any other building, in accordance with BS5266: Part 1: 1988.

In the case of a building with a system of automatic smoke exhaust the emergency lighting should be designed so that it is not rendered ineffective by smoke filled reservoirs.

EMERGENCY ESCAPE WINDOWS

(E8.3) The requirements of E8.3 will be met by a window, or a door (french window) -

a. situated in an external wall or roof;

b. having an unobstructed openable area that is at least 0.33m2 and at least 450mm high and 450mm wide (the route through the window maybe at an angle rather than straight through); and

c. the bottom of the openable area should not be more than 1100mm above the floor.

BUILDINGS OF PURPOSE SUB-GROUP 1A

(E8.8) The requirements of E8.8 will be met by ventilators activated by smoke detectors fixed to the ceiling of the lobby or corridor so that -

a. they are evenly spaced and the distance between the detectors is not more than 20m; and

b. the detectors are not less than 500mm from any side of the lobby or corridor; and

c. the detector-sensing element is not less than 35mm and not more than 300mm from the soffit of the ceiling; and

d. a detector is situated within 5m of any change of direction in the lobby or corridor exceeding 45°.

Any part of a lobby or corridor divided from any other part by a beam or other obstruction projecting more than 600mm below the soffit of the ceiling shall be deemed to be a separate lobby or corridor.

(E8.9) The requirements of E8.9 will be met by ventilators complying with (E8.8).

FLATS AND MAISONETTES IN A BUILDING WITH ACCESSES COMMON TO ACCOMMODATION IN OTHER PURPOSE GROUPS

(E8.11) The requirements of E8.11b.iii. will be met by a system installed in accordance with clause 31 of BS5588: Part 1: 1990.

HOSPITALS (PURPOSE SUB-GROUP 2A)

(E8.19) The requirements of E8.19 for access from a hospital street will be met by a hospital street designed in accordance with HTM 81 "Fire precautions in new hospitals", (Scottish Health Service Firecode, 1999).

BUILDINGS CONTAINING AUDITORIA

(E8.20) The requirements of E8.20 for a suitably designed ventilation system will be met by a ventilation system which conforms to Clause 20 of Section 6 of BS5588: Part 6: 1991.

(E8.21) The requirements of E8.21b. for a suitable high level outlet over the stage will be met by conforming to the provisions of Clause 30.2.4 of Section 7 of BS5588: Part 6: 1991, and of E8.21c. for a suitable safety curtain by conforming to Clause 13 of Section 5 of BS5588: Part 6: 1991.

ACCESS

(E9.1) The requirements of E9.1 will be met where access facilities are provided -

a. in the case of a house, in accordance with item 1 of Table 1 to this specification, to within 45m of a door not less than 750mm wide giving access to the interior of the house; or

b. in any other case, in accordance with Tables 1, 2 and 3 to this specification, subject to the provisions of Note 1 below.

Table 1 to (E9.1): Dimensions of access routes for fire-fighting vehicles

Note:

1. The access should be to an operating space at least 3.7m wide, with its nearer edge at 2m and not more than 7m from the face of the building, and in accordance with Tables 2 or 3 to this specification, together with an unobstructed air space of at least 2.2m beyond the further edge of the operating space. Where the building has a storey at a height of more than 7.5m the operating space must be at least 5.5m wide with a ground loading capacity of not less than 7 kg/cm2. Consultation with the Fire Authority is advised as to the need to make provision for turntable ladders or hydraulic platforms.

Table 2 to (E9.1): Access provision to buildings fitted with fire mains

Table 3 to (E9.1): Access provision to buildings not fitted with fire mains

Notes:

1. Consultation with the Fire Authority is advised on all matters concerning fire access.

2. The total floor area is the aggregate of the floor areas of all the storeys in the building.

3. Any perimeter wall (elevation) to which vehicle access is provided should have a door, not less than 750mm wide, giving access to the interior of the building.

4. ‘Perimeter’ refers to the face of the total length of all exposed perimeter walls.

5. Abbreviated terms: pump = pumping appliance

high reach = turntable ladder or hydraulic platform.