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guide: fire resistance and smoke control »
Fire is one of the most
fundamental performance criteria for doors and doorsets and
Part B of the Building Regulations sets out requirements
related to the escape of building occupants and access for
fire-fighters. However, insurers and advisory organisations
are also particularly concerned with the protection of
property and the Fire Protection Association’s Design
Guide provides relevant information. Other
application-specific recommendations are also available
including BS 5588, ‘Fire precautions in the design,
construction and use of buildings’. In addition, the
‘Regulatory Reform (Fire safety) order’ came into
force during 2006, which will consolidate over 100 existing
pieces of legislation with fire safety provisions and
eliminate fire certificates. This will require information on
fire precaution measures, including fire doors, to be made
available to a ‘responsible person.’
At the time of publication of this guide,
schools are included within the current Part B. However, the
whole situation is likely to change with the publication of
a new Part B based on the recently issued draft which states
that:“where the life safety guidance in (Building
Bulletin 100 ‘Fire’) is followed, Part B will be
satisfied”. BB 100 ‘Fire’ is itself in
draft form having been issued for consultation: refer to the
Leaderflush Shapland guide ‘Doorsets for School’
for more information. Similarly, while the current Part B
refers to the NHS guidance document HTM 81 ‘Fire
precautions in new hospitals’, the new draft Part B
would be satisfied by following HTM 81:refer to the
Leaderflush Shapland guide ‘Doorsets for Health’
for more information.
Part B refers to fire doors in terms of tests
carried out to BS 476, in parallel with a new European
standard BS EN 1634 which will eventually replace it.
Achieving the same fire protection levels in the real world
as for laboratory tests and related assessments remains a
challenge that is being met by independent conformity
schemes. It is now generally acknowledged that, in the event
of fire, it is smoke that is the major risk to occupants.
Only ambient (or “cold”) smoke is identified in
Part B of the Building Regulations, which refers to testing
in accordance with BS 476 : Section 31.1. and a new European
standard. Smoke control shall be determined by testing to EN
1634-3 and classified in accordance with EN 13501-2.
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All new buildings and material changes of use to
existing buildings are governed by Part B.Designers
may also consider guidance from the insurance
industry or other organisations, and
buildingspecific information (notably for healthcare
and schools) for both new and existing buildings. |
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The contents of
this guide represents Leaderflush Shapland's interpretation
and opinions of the documents discussed. No responsibility
or liability can be accepted for any loss or damage arising
from any error or omission contained in this guide.
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