GROUND HYDRANTS
(E9.2) The requirement of E9.2 for suitably positioned and constructed ground hydrants will be met where the hydrants are positioned -
a. externally, for each building or common to more than one building -
i. within 70m of an entrance to the building; and
ii. not more than 150m apart; and
iii. so as to be accessible for use at all times; and
iv. so that there is a convenient route for the fire hose between the hydrant and the building; or
b. internally,
i. at ground level; and
ii. within 4.5m of, and visible from, an entrance to the building which has a notice clearly indicating the presence of the hydrant; and
iii. so as to be accessible at all times; and
c. are constructed in accordance with BS750: 1984; and
d the requirement for an alternative source of water will be met by -
i. a charged static water tank of at least 45,000 litre capacity; or
ii. a spring, river, canal, loch or pond, to which access and space are available for a pumping appliance, capable of providing or storing at least 45,000 litres of water for fire-fighting purposes.
Note: Consultation with the Fire Authority is advised on all matters concerning ground hydrants and water supplies.
(E9.4) (E9.7) (E9.8) The requirement of E9.4 for suitable stair pressure differential control, of E9.7 for ventilation and of E9.8 for smoke control will be met where pressurisation and ventilation is provided in accordance with Clause 8 of BS5588: Part 5: 1991.
(E9.9) The requirements of E9.9 for a lift of a suitable construction will be met where the fire-fighting lift complies with Section 3 of BS5588: Part 5: 1991; and of E9.9 for a suitable electrical supply where the supply complies with Section 4 of BS5588: Part 5: 1991; and of E9.9 for a suitable fire control system where the control system complies with Section 3, Clause 14 of BS5588: Part 5: 1991.
(E9.12) The requirements of E9.12 will be met where the mains are in accordance with BS5306: Part 1: 1976; and where there are landing valves for wet fire mains, they conform to BS5041: Part 1: 1987.
(E9.13) The requirements of E9.13 will be met where the mains are in accordance with BS5306: Part 1: 1976; and where there are —
a. landing valves for dry fire mains, they conform to BS5041: Part 2: 1987; and
b. inlet breechings for dry fire mains, they conform to BS5041: Part 3: 1975; and
c. boxes for landing valves for dry fire mains, they conform to BS5041: Part 4: 1975; and
d. boxes for dry fire mains, they conform to BS5041: Part 5: 1974.
VENTING OF HEAT AND SMOKE FROM BASEMENT STOREYS
(E9.20) The requirements of E9.20 for a suitable mechanical smoke and heat extraction system will be met by incorporating a powered smoke and heat exhaust ventilator which conforms to BS7346: Part 2: 1990.
The requirements of E9.20 for a suitable sprinkler system will be met by a sprinkler system which conforms to BS5306: Part 2: 1990.
(E9.21) The requirements of E9.21 will be met by a window, or a door (french window) opening on to a balcony -
a. situated in an external wall or roof; and
b. having a clear opening part at least 850mm high and 500mm wide, with the bottom of the opening not more than 1.1m and not less than 800mm above the floor and without any built-in obstruction in front of it externally or internally, nor a flight (of steps) in front of it externally or internally; and
c. which, if it is in a roof, is
i. either a dormer window or specially designed window to fit the plane of the roof, with or without an upstand; and
ii. constructed as shown in the diagram to this specification; and
iii. where necessary, counterbalanced to remain in the open position in an emergency; and
d. provided with fire brigade (ladder) access, either directly or by way of a balcony, access deck or flat roof which is in turn directly accessible from an area of cleared ground which -
i. is at least 2m x 2m in area with its centre not less than 2.7m and not more than 3m from the building; and
ii. has no overhead obstructions between it and the window it serves; and
iii. is either part of a public road or is accessible from one by a footpath, private road or similar accessway having a width of not less than 1.5m suitable for the carriage of a fire service ladder.
DIAGRAM TO (E9.21)
Diagram
AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION IN DWELLINGS
(E10.1) a. The requirements of E10.1 will be met by an automatic fire detection and alarm system complying with BS5839: Part 1: 1998: Type L3.
b. The requirements of the exception to E10.1 will be met by a smoke alarm with a standby supply, complying with BS5446: Part 1: 1990 and installed in accordance with the provisions of i.-v. below -
i. The standby power supply for the smoke alarm may take the form of a primary battery, a secondary battery or a capacitor. The capacity of the standby supply must be sufficient to power the smoke alarm when the mains power supply is off for at least 72 hours while giving an audible warning of mains power supply being off. There must remain sufficient capacity to provide a warning of smoke for a further 4 minutes.
An audible warning must be given at least once every minute if the capacity of the standby power supply falls below that required to satisfy the recommended standby duration when the mains power supply is on; or persist for at least 15 days when the mains power supply is off.
ii. A smoke alarm must be located -
A. in a circulation area which will be used as a route along which to escape, within 7m of the door to a livingroom or kitchen and within 3m of the door to a bedroom, the dimensions to be measured horizontally;
B. where the circulation area is more than 15m long, within 15m of another smoke alarm on the same storey;
C. if designed for ceiling mounting, at least 300mm away from any wall or light fitting, or if designed for wall mounting, not less than 150mm and not more than 300mm below the ceiling;
D. not less than 300mm away from, and not directly above, a heater or air conditioning outlet; and
E. on a surface which is normally at the ambient temperature of the rest of the room or circulation area in which the smoke alarm is situated.
Note: The above provisions are broadly in line with the recommendations of BS5839: Part 6: 1995 for a Grade D Type LD3 system.
iii. Where more than one smoke alarm is installed in a dwelling they must be interconnected so that detection of a fire by any one of them operates the alarm signal in all of them.
iv. A smoke alarm must be permanently wired to a circuit. The mains supply to the smoke alarm must take the form of either -
A. an independent circuit at the dwelling’s main distribution board, in which case no other electrical equipment should be connected to this circuit (other than a dedicated monitoring device installed to indicate failure of the mains supply to the smoke alarms); or
B. a separately electrically protected, regularly used local lighting circuit.
Note: If smoke alarms are of a type that may be interconnected, all smoke alarms should be connected on a single final circuit.
v. Any smoke alarm in a dwelling which forms part of residential accommodation with a warden or supervisor, must have a connection to a central monitoring unit so that in the event of fire the warden or supervisor can identify the dwelling concerned, and the system must comply with the recommendations in BS5839: Part 6: 1995 for a Grade C Type LD3 installation.
AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION IN ENCLOSED SHOPPING CENTRES WITH MALLS
(E10.2) In enclosed shopping centres with a mall on two or more storeys or having a total storey area greater than 5,600 m2 a suitable fire detection and alarm system is one where:
a. automatic detection must be provided to the L2 standard, complying with BS 5839 Part 1 :1998;
b. the fire alarm must also be activated upon the operation of the sprinklers, or manual call points (complying with BS 5839: Part 2: 1983);
c. on the activation of the alarm in a shop, evacuation may be restricted to the shop concerned for a grace period not exceeding 4 minutes, unless during that time there is further detection in the mall, in which case the evacuation of the shopping centre must be commenced;
d. notwithstanding this grace period, immediately upon activation of the alarm a message must be sent to an appropriate fire station or manned agency;
e. in the case of the activation of the alarm anywhere other than in an individual shop,or on activation of sprinklers anywhere within the shopping centre, evacuation must be commenced immediately and there is no grace period;
f. occupants of the mall areas must be alerted using a voice alarm system complying with BS5839 Part 8, 1998, however individual shops may use conventional sounders;
g. provision must be made for a priority system of public address for use by the fire brigade;
h. the fire alarm system must be interfaced with other fire safety systems, to operate in the correct zones;
i. on the operation of the fire alarm:
i all escalators must come to a controlled halt and lifts must return to the ground floor (or exit level);
ii all systems within the mall or shops which play amplified music must be silenced;
iii any smoke dampers required to prevent the siphoning of smoke must be activated; and
iv (subject to the grace period if appropriate) all air-moving systems, mains and pilot gas outlets, combustion air blowers and gas, electrical and other heating appliances in the reservoir must be shutdown;
j. the main fire alarm system control panel must be within the control room; and
k. indicator panels must be provided at each of the fire fighting accesses.