From 1st January 2016 the Welsh government are extending the requirements for the provisions of fire suppression system to cover new and converted dwelling and flats. Since 30th April 2014 the requirements applied to care homes, children’s residential homes, boarding house, halls of residences and hostels other than temporary accommodation.
Amended Versions of Approved Documents B (Fire Safety) Volume 1 Dwelling houses and Volume 2 buildings other than Dwelling houses reflect the introduction of the requirements for dwelling houses and flats.
Amendments to Approved Document B (Fire Safety) Volumes 1 (Dwelling houses) and 2 (Buildings other than dwelling houses)
Changes to the Building Regulations to require automatic fire suppression systems in residential buildings (regulation 37A).
The main changes are:
B1 – Residential Automatic Fire Suppression Systems: A new section 2 provides guidance on the installation of and the type of properties which require residential automatic fire suppression systems.
- This regulation does not apply to buildings which are:
(a) listed in accordance with section 1 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990;
(b) in a conservation area designated in accordance with section 69 of that Act; or
(c) included in the schedule of monuments maintained under section 1 of the Ancient
Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, where installation of a fire suppression system would unacceptably alter their character or appearance.
This regulation does not apply to temporary buildings with a planned time of use of two years or less.
- Fire Alarms: The standard for smoke alarms has been updated to BS EN 14604:2005 Smoke alarm devices.
Fire sprinkler systems: The standard for domestic and residential occupancies has been updated to BS 9251: 2014.
B5 – Vehicle access: Guidance on vehicle access for a pump appliance has also been amended as follows:
- There should be vehicle access for a pump appliance to within 60m of all points within the dwellinghouse (45m if not provided with an automatic fire suppression system).
Appendix F
The new Appendix F provides guidance on the maintenance of residential automatic fire suppression systems.