Bsi bip 2007 2003

A Guide to Fire Safety Engineering Dr S D Christian A Guide to Fire Safety Engineering First publ ished 2003 © Dr S D Christian, 2003 BIP 2007 ISBN 0 580 41 896 0 The right of Dr S D Christian to be i[.]

Fire Safety Eng ineering

First publ sh d 2 0

© Dr S DChr ist i n, 2 0

BIP2 07

ISBN 0 5 0 418 6 0

Th r ig t of Dr S DChr ist i n t o be ide t ifie as t he a t hor of t his work h s be n as er t ed in

a cor da c wit h t he Copyr ig t , Desig s a d Pat ent s Act 19 8

Ac t alog e r ecor d for t his b ok is a ai able fr om t he Br it ish Libr ary

Co yr ig t subsist s in al BSI publ c t ions Ex ept as per mit t ed u der t he Copyrig t , Desig s

a d pat ent s Act 98 no e t ra t ma be r eprod c d, st or ed in a r et rie al syst em or

t ra smit t ed in a y form or by a y me ns – ele t r onic, phot oco yin , r ecor din or ot her wise

– wit hout p or wr it t en permis ion fr om BSI If per mis ion is gr ant ed, t he t er ms ma in lu e

roy lt y pa me t s or a l c nsin a r eeme t Det ai s a d a vic c n be o t aine fr om t he

Co yr ig t Ma a er, Br it ish St an ar ds Inst it ut ion, 3 9 Chiswic Hig Roa , Lon on W 4 4AL

Gre t c r e has be n t ak n t o e sur e a c r ac in t he compi a on a d pr epar at ion of t his

publ c t ion Howe er, sinc it is int en e as a g id a d not a d finit i e st at eme t , t he

a t hor a d BSI c n ot in a y circ mst an es a c pt r esp nsibi t y for t he r esult s of a y

a t ion t ak n on t he basis of t he infor ma on cont ain d in t he publ c t ion nor for a y er r or s

or omis ions This does not afe t your st at ut or y r ig t s

Typeset by Pr ogr es S rvic s a d Desig Limit ed, Es e

Th Const r uc on (Desig a d Ma a eme t ) Re ula ons 19 4 Th St at ion r y Ofic

Th Fire Pr ec u ons Act 19 1, Chapt er 40, Th St at ioner y Ofic

Th Fire Pr ec u ons (Wor kpla e) Re ula ons 199 , as ame d d Th St at ion r y Ofic

Th Fire Pr ec u ons (Wor kpla e) (A me dme t ) Re ula ons 19 9 Th St at ion r y Ofic

7 Go d q estions for those d alin with a fire safety e g ine rin d sig n 2

A ppe dix B – Intern tion l a d E rope n sta d rdiz tion a tivities

BS ISO/TR 133 7, Fire safetye gin eerin

Part 1: Applcatio offire p rorm an ce c n ce ts to desig o je tiv s

Part 2: Desig fire sc n arios an ddesig fires

Part 3: As esm en t and v rificatio ofm ath em atical fire m odels

Part 4 : In itiatio and de elo m entoffire an dg neratio offire eflu n ts

Part 5: Mov m ents offire eflu n ts

Part 6 : Stru tural resp n se an d fire spread b yo d the en closure oforigin

Part 7: Dete tio , activation and su pres io

Part 8: Life safety– Oc upan t b h avio r, locatio an dc n ditio

Oth r public tions

Be eF U Rep r t ‘Th p t ent i l be efit s of fir e safet y e gin er in in t he Eur ope n Union’

DG Ent er prise Cont r act ETD/01 5 34 0, 2 0

BR 18 Re ision of d sig p nciples for smok v n la on in e close sho pin c nt r es

CIBSE Te hnic l Memora d TM19: 19 5, Rela onships for smok cont rol c lc la ons

The Ch r t er ed Inst it ut ion of Bui din S rvic s En in er s, 19 5

Dir ec v (8 / 0 /E C) on t he ap r oxima on of laws, r eg la ons a d a minist r at i e

pr oc d res of t he Member St at es rela n t o const ru t ion prod ct s (Const r uc on Prod ct s

Dir ec v ) Europe n Commu it i s (O No L 4 1 Febr uar y 19 9)

Dir ec v (8 /3 1/E C) on t he int r od c on of me sur es t o e coura e impr ov me t s in t he

safet y a d h alt h of wor ker s at wor k (He lt h a d S fet y Fr amewor k Dire t i e) Eur ope n

Commu it i s (O No L 18 2 Ju e 19 9)

Int er pr et at i e Doc me t No 2 S fet y in c se of fir e, S pt ember 19 1

DRYSDAL , D.D A n int r od c on t o fir e d n mics 2n Edit ion Wi e , 2 00

FIRECODE HTM 81 Fir e pr ec u ons in n w hospit als (NHS Est at es)

The St at ion r y Ofic , 199

FIRECODE HTM 8 Fir e safet y in h alt h c re pr emises – Ge er al fir e pre a t ions

(NHS Est at es) The St at ion r y Ofic , 19 4

FIRECODE HTM 8 Fir e r isk as es me t in hospit als (NHS Est at es)

The St at ion r y Ofic , 199

Fir e S fet y – An Employ r’s Guid Th Home Ofic , S ot t ish Ex c t i e,

The Depar t me t of t he Envir onme t (Nor t her n Ir ela d) a d t he He lt h a d S fet y

Ex c t i e Th St at ion r y Ofic , 19 9

He lt h a d S fet y at Wor k et c A ct 19 4, The St at ion r y Ofic

Th Bui din A ct 9 4, Th St at ion r y Ofic

Th Bui din Re ula ons 198 , Th St at ion ry Ofic

Th Bui din Re ula ons 2 0 , Appr ov d Doc me t B Fir e safet y 2 0 Edit ion

The St at ion r y Ofic

Th Bui din Re ula ons (Nor t hern Ir ela d) 20 0 Te h ic l Bo klet E, as ame d d

The St at ion r y Ofic

Bibl og raphy

This bibl ogr aphy is int en e t o dir ect r ea er s t o t he re ulat ory g ida c , st and r diz t ion

a d t o basic fire safet y e gine rin g id n e, ha db oks a d fire scie c /e gin er in

t ext books It is l mit ed t o a sele t ion of t he g id n e most r ele a t t o t he UK a d is not

int en e t o be compr ehe siv

BSI public tions

BS 4 6, Fire tests o buidin g m aterials an dstru tures

Part 3: External fire e p sure ro ftest

Part 4 : No -c m bustibi tytestfor m aterials

Part 6 : Meth od oftest for fire pro agatio for products

Part 7: Meth od oftest to determ in th e clas ification ofth e surac spread offlam e

ofprodu ts

Part 10: Guide to th e prin iples an dap lcatio offire testin g

Part 1 : Meth od forasesin g th e h at em is io fom buidin g m aterials

Part 12: Meth od oftest forign itabi tyofproducts bydire t flam e im pin gem en t

BS 5 8 , Fire pre autio s in th design , c n stru tio and use ofbuildin s

Part 0: Guide to fire safetyc des ofpractic forparticularprem isesap lcation s

Part 4 : Code ofpractic for sm ok c n trol usin g presure diferen tials

Part 5: Code ofpractic for firefigh tin stair an dlfts

Part 7: Code ofpractic for th in corp ratio ofatria in b idin gs

Part 8: Code ofpractic for m eans ofescape fordisabled p ople

Part 9: Code ofpractic for v n tiation an dair c n dition ing du twork

Part 10: Code ofpractic for sh op ing c m ple es

BS 7 7 :2 01, Ap lcatio offire safetyen gin erin g prin iples to th e desig ofb idin gs

– Code ofpractic

PD 7974 , Ap lcatio offire safetyen gin erin g prin ciples to th e desig ofbuidin gs

Part 0: Guide to desig fam ework an dfire safetye gin eerin prin ciples

Part 1: In itiatio an d de elo m en toffire within th e en closure oforigin (Sub-system 1)

Part 2: S read ofsm ok an dto ic gases within and b yon dth e en closure oforigin

(Sub-system 2)

Part 3: Structural resp n se an d fire spread b yon dth e e closure oforigin (S b-system 3)

Part 4 : Dete tio offire an dactivation offire prote tio system s (S b-system 4 )

Part 5: Fire servic in terv ntio (S b-system 5)

Part 6 : Evac ation

1

Part 7: Pro abiistic fire risk as es m en t

DD 2 0, Fire safetyen gin eerin g in buildin s

2

Part 1: Guide to th e ap lcatio offire safetyen gin eerin g prin ciples

Part 2: Com m entary o th equation s giv n in Part 1

BS EN 19 1 1 2:2 0 , Euro ode 1 Action s o stru tures

– Part1-2: Gen eral actions – Action s o structures e posed to fire

1

n pr epar at ion

This doc me t aims t o pr ovid a int rod c on a d init i l u d r st an in of t he prin iples of

fir e safet y e gin er in a d it s r ela onship t o fir e pre a t ions It also su g st s why su h

e gin ere solu ons mig t be ofer ed in a hie in t he o je t i e of sa sfa t or y safet y le els

in c se of fir e

This doc me t does not aim t o pr ovide a d t ai e u derst an in of fire safet y

e gin ering It is a basic g id for t hose who ar e n w t o t he subje t a d also pr ovid s a

g ide t o wh r e fur t her, mor e d t ai e infor ma on c n be fou d S c d t ai e g id n e is

a ai able fr om ma y difer ent sources, some of whic ar e l st ed in t he bibl ogr aph

T he term ‘fire preca utions’ s g n ral y a c pte to in lu e ma tters tha t a re th subje t of leg al

req ireme ts u d r spe ific fire pre a utions le isla tion T hese in lu e T he Bui din R eg la tions

2 0 , The Fire Pre a utions (Work pla ce) R eg ulations 19 7 (a s ame d d) a nd T he Fire

Preca utions Act 19 1 (a s ame d d) In North rn Irela nd th Fire S rvic s (North rn Irela nd)

Ord r 19 4 (a s a me d d) is in use More g en ra lly, th re ex ists h a lth a nd sa fety le islation

in lu in th Hea lth a nd Sa fety at Work etc Act 19 4 a nd reg ula tions ma de u d r tha t Act

Fire pr ec ut ions le isla on d als wit h g n r al fir e pre a t ions Th se includ :

• me ns t o pr ovid st r uct ural st abi t y; a d

• me ns t o resist t he spr ea of fire wit hin a d bet we n bui din s

Th Fire Pr ec u ons (Wor kpla e) Re ula ons 199 also in lu e a re uir eme t or

employ r s t o u d r t ak a as es me t of t he fir e r isks Th t er m ‘fir e r isk’ s g n r al y

a c pt ed t o col e t i ely d scr ibe b t h t he r isk of fir e oc ur r in a d t he r isk t o people in t he

e e t of fir e

The ‘r isk as es me t ’is a org niz d as es me t of t he wor k a t i it i s a d as ociat ed

h z r ds in t he wor kpla e t hat could c use h r m t o peo le It is int en e t o as es wh t her

a e uat e pr ec u ons t o a oid or re u e t he r isk of h r m ha e be n t ak n or whet her mor e

a t ion is n c s ar y

In t his cont ex ‘ha ar d’a d ‘risk’ are d fine in ISO/TR 13 8 - as fol ows

• A‘h z r d’ s t he pot en al for los of l fe (or injury) a d/or d ma e t o pr oper t y by fire

• A‘risk’ s t he p t en al for r eal z t ion of a u wa t ed e e t , whic is a fu c on of t he

h z r d, it s pr obabi it y a d it s conse u nc s

Th prese t st at ut ory d t y imp se up n employ rs re uires t hat t he employ r c r ry out a

fir e r isk as es me t of t he wor kpla e Considera on must be giv n, amon st ot her t hin s, t o

t he n e s of al employ ees a d al ot her peo le who ma be afe t ed by a fir e in t he

wor kpla e Ad q at e pr ovision must also be ma e for a y peo le wit h disabi t i s or wit h

spe ial n e s who ma use or be pr ese t on t he premises

The Fir e Pr ec u ons (Workpla e) Re ula ons 19 7 re uir e t hat t he as es me t is k pt

u d r r eview a d is r evise as ne es ar y Th Re ula ons pla e a st at ut or y dut y on t he

employ r, whic wi be r elat ed t o t he pr ovisions of a y fir e safet y e gin er ed solu on

A ppr ov d Doc me t B, Fir e safet y, 2 0 e it ion, r efers t o a d u l z s wit hin it s g id n e a

larg n mber of Br it ish St an ards – t ypic l y t he BS 4 6 ser ies of doc me t s In ord r t o

fa i t at e h r moniz t ion a d t he a o t ion a d use of n w Europe n t ec nic l spe ific t ions

a d sup ort i g st an ar ds un er t he a spic s of t he Const ru t ion Prod ct s Dir ec v (se

ab v ), it h s be n n c s ar y t o ame d t he 2 00 e it ion of Ap rov d Doc me t B

The ame dme t t o Ap r ov d Doc me t B e sur es t hat const r uc on pr od ct s t est ed by

t he Eur ope n har moniz d fir e t est met hods c n be use in En la d a d Wales as r eq ir ed

un er t he Const r uc on Pr od ct s Dir ec v In pr ac c l t er ms t his wi l t en t o r eq ir e

in r ease per forma c for pr odu t s t est ed t o BS 4 6

Th Const r uc on Pr od ct s Dir ec v , t hrou h t he use of h rmoniz d t ec nic l

spe ific t ions a d sup ort i g st an ar ds, aims t o bre k down t he t ec nic l barr ier s t o t r ad ,

as ociat ed wit h t he mov me t of const r uc on pr odu t s bet we n Member St at es

At t he pr ese t t ime, CEN TC/ 27 h s now publ sh d al t he n c s ar y t ec nic l

spe ific t ions t o e able t he Commis ion S r vic s t o publ sh t heir formal Commis ion

De ision on t he clas ific t ion of const r uc on pr od ct s a cor din t o t heir r ea t ion t o fire

a d fir e r esist in pr oper t ies Th Te h ic l Commit t ee is st il a dr es in t he n e for fur t her

h rmoniz d t ec nic l st and rds u der a dir ect st and r diz t ion ma d t e fr om t he

Commis ion These t ec nic l st an ar ds now provid t he me ns of impleme t i g t he

Es e t i l Re uir eme t s of t he Dire t i e in r espe t of r ea t ion t o fir e a d fir e resist an e

t est i g of const ruc on mat erials, t hereby providin t he h r moniz d Eur ope n St an ar ds

t hat ar e ne d d t o ma e p s ible t he impleme t at ion of n t ional laws, r eg la ons a d

a minist r at i e pr oc d r es

Any for mal Eur ope n p sit ion would t ak int o consid r at ion al publ sh d doc me t s

on t he subje t These would in lu e ISO/TR 133 7, BS 7 74 a d PD 7 7 Th y would

also in lu e consid r at ion of a y ot her doc me t s publ sh d by a y ot her Member St at e It

is probable t her efor e t hat on e t he Fir e Re ulat ors Gr oup, wit h t he ap rov l of t he St an in

Commit t ee, h v est abl she a ‘Eur ope n’posit ion, CEN TC/ 2 ma be ask d t o pr epar e

t he Eur ope n v rsion of ISO/TR 13 8 u d r t he e ist i g ma d t es

Es ential Requirement ‘Safety in ca se of fire’

In a doc me t (Int er pr et at i e Doc me t 2) descr ibing t he pr ovisions of t he Es e t i l

Re uireme t , ‘S fet y in c se of fir e’publ sh d in 19 1, t he q est ion of a e gin er in

ap r oa h in t he field of fir e safet y was a dr es e Ac ordin t o t his doc me t , fir e safet y

e gin er in cov r ed t he wa in whic fir e safet y in a const r uc on wor ks is e alu t ed by

t he me ns of c lc la on met hods, t akin a cou t of t he peror ma c a d efe t of pr od ct s,

i e pas iv a d a t i e fire pr ot ec on me sur es

It was also ma e cle r t hat fire safet y e gin erin in lu e a n mber of a t i it i s of

wid sco e, whic influe c d fir e safet y in use of const r uc on pr od ct s This in lu e t he

use of c lc la on met hods for d t er minin t he de elo me t a d spr ea of fir e a d smok ,

t he t ime for u t enable con it ions t o be r ea h d a d e a u t ion t ime

In a ful y int egr at ed ap r oa h, fir e safet y e gin er in was also jud e t o in lu e t he

comple int er ac on bet we n t he peror ma c of pas iv a d a t i e fir e pr ot ec on me sur es

a d t he const r uc on wor ks For e ample, t he de elo me t of l fe-t hre t enin at mosph re

a d h ma be a iour t o a hie e safet y in t he most le ible a d cost -efe t i e wa must be

consid r ed This e gin er ed ap roa h re uire t hat t he r ele a t c ar act er ist i s of pr od ct s

are pr ovid d a d c lc la on a d d sig pr oc dur es ar e v l d t ed on a a r ee a d

h r moniz d basis

2

Fir e safet y e gin er ing is t he pr ovision of a e u t e fir e safet y pr ec u ons in a comple

bui din or st r uct ur e t hat a commod t es a d par t ur e fr om t he pr escribe per forma c s in

a y spe ific ar ea by t akin ot her hig er or compe sat or y me sur es in a ot her are Th re

could be t r ad -ofs bet we n pas iv a d a t i e fir e pr ot ec on me sur es t hat eit her al ow t he

desig er t o use mat er ials in a nov l ap l c t ion or al ow t he bui din user t o ma e o t imum

use of t he spa e a ai able

Fir e safet y e gin er in c n be consid re u d r se er al h a in s

• Th proc s of fir e safet y e gine r in is ab ut me sur eme t s a d rela onships, ba k d

by scie t ific st ud , for e gine r in ap l c t ion t o t he r eq ir ed pr oblems, but wh r e

e per ie c a d ju g me t c n cont ribut e, as in ot her e gin er in discipl n s

• Th c n te tof fir e safet y e gine r in is t he n e t o e alu t e fir e h z rd a d r isk a d t o

ofer fir e safet y st r at egies a d desig s base on per forma c not pr escr ipt ion

• Th to lssup or t ing fir e safet y e gin ering ar e t he c lc la on met hods (some mes

c l e mod ls) t hat d scr ibe t he me sur eme t s, rela onships a d int er ac ons a d a y

n c s ar y t est r esult s

• Th in putsare t he ph sic l d t a for t he c lc la on met hods, d riv d fr om me sur eme t

met hods (t est s, et c.)

• Th fam eworkof fir e safet y e gin er in comp ses t he es e t i l cor e, a d t r ansfer, of

k owle g , whic permit s a e gin er in ap r oa h, t he e u a on a d t r ainin of user s

a d t he profes ion l r ecog it ion of t he discipl n

A s a result of t he subst an al incre se in fire r ese rch d r in t he last d c d s, ma y

comp n nt s a d syst ems ar e be omin mor e ame able t o a aly c l a d comput er

mod l n Conse u n y, ma y n t ional bui din r eg lat or s, par t ic la y in t he UK, h v

mov d fr om a prescr ipt i e ap r oa h t o a per for ma c -base ap roa h

T he fir e safety e gin e n ap r oa h ma h v e be efits ov er the pr esc ptiv e ap roa h

It ak es into a cou t h e tir e fir e safety pa k ag a d prov id s a mor e fu d me tal a d

some mes e onomic solution tha tr adition l ap r oa h s to fir e safety It ma be the only

v iable me ns of a hiev in a satisfa tory lev el of fir e safety in some larg a d comple sy stems

For most bui dings t he pr escr ipt i e r ecomme d t ions on d sig in e ist i g cod s a d

g ides, as giv n in BS 55 8-0, ma be fou d t o be a e u t e Howe er, BS 79 4 is int en e

for use t o de elo a d as es fir e safet y e gin er in pr op sals Th use of a fir e safet y

e gin er ing ap r oa h e ables a mor e pr ecise d sig ne es ar y for t he as es me t of new

a d comple pr oje t s In a dit ion, alt hou h pr escr ipt i e r eg la ons ha e serv d us wel

in t he past , it is wid ly r ecog iz d t hat t he are infle ible in c r t ain circ mst an es a d

t her efor e u able t o e olv q ic ly e ou h t o me t t he mod r n c al e g s of n w mat er ials

BS 7 7 d fin s fir e safet y e gin er ing as ‘t he ap l c t ion of scie t ific a d e gin erin

prin iples t o t he pr ot ec on of peo le, pr oper t y a d t he e vironme t fom fir e’ In pra t i e,

fire safet y e gin erin in olv s t he use of scie t ific l y base or st at ist i al y base

c lc la ons t o d monst r at e a a e u t e le el of fire safet y for a spe ific bui din , st ruct ur e

or inst al a on Oft en, it wi be appl e t o a spe ific par t of a proje t whi e ot her par t s

fol ow st an ar d g id n e or cod s

BS 7 7 is d riv ed fom DD 2 0 (now with ra w n) prepa re by BSI Te h ic l Commite

FSH/2 The Dra ft for Develo me t wa s prepa red w ith th sup ort of th g overnme t

d pa rtme ts con erne w ith fire sa fety (Departme t of th Environme t a nd th Home Ofic –

now th Ofic of th Deputy Prime Minister) BS 7 7 th refore provid s a fa mew ork for a n

e g in e n ap roa h to fire sa fety, whic ma be a ppl e to b th th d sig n of n w bui ding s

a nd th a ppraisa l of e istin bui din s, a d to show tha t reg ula tory req ireme ts ca n be, or are,

sa tisfie BS 7 7 is a lso inte d d to provid a fra mework for a flex ible but forma liz d

a pproa ch to fire sa fety d sig tha t c n a lso be rea iy a sses e by th a pprova ls b dies

BS 7 7 is sup or t ed by a ser ies of Publ she Doc me t s (PDs) t hat cont ain g ida c

a d infor ma on on how t o u d r t ak d t ai e a alysis of spe ific aspe t s of fir e safet y

e gin er in This does not , howe er, pr eclud t he use of ap ro r iat e met hods a d d t a fr om

ot her sources

PD 79 4, Ap l c t ion of fir e safet y e gin er in p n iples t o t he desig of bui dings, is

st r uct ur ed as fol ows:

• Part 0: Guide desig fam ework an dfire safety e gin eerin pro edures;

• Part 1: In itiatio an d de elo m en t offire with in th en closure oforigin (S b-system 1)

• Part2: S read ofsmok an dto ic gases with in an db yon dth e en closure oforigin

(S b-system 2)

• Part3 : Stru tural resp n se an dfire spread b yon dth e en closure oforigin (S b-system 3 );

• Part 4 : Dete tio offire and activatio offire prote tion system s (Sub-system 4 );

• Part 5: Fire servic interv n tio (S b-system 5)

• Part 6 : Evac atio (S b-system 6 ) (in prepar at ion)

• Part 7: Pro abi stic fire risk as es m en t(S b-system 7)(in pr epar at ion)

BS 7 74 c n be use t o ide t ify a d d fin on or mor e fire safet y d sig s t o be a dr es e

usin fir e safet y e gin er in Th ap ro riat e part (s) of PD 7 74 c n t he be use t o set

spe ific a c pt an e crit er ia a d u d r t ak det ai e a alysis

Wit hin t he int er na onal a d Eur ope n are a, t her e h s be n d t ai e consid r at ion of

t he n e for g id n e a d st an ar diz t ion Th Int er na on l Org niz t ion for

St an ar diz t ion (ISO) has pr od c d a compre e siv Te h ic l Rep r t t hat h s now be n

publ sh d by BSI as BS ISO/TR 13 8 , Fire safetyen gin eerin g In eig t par t s, t he Te h ic l

Rep r t s were pr epar ed by ISO Te h ic l Commit t ee TC/9 , Fir e safet y This series of

ISO doc me t s ofer s a sl g t l difer ent ap r oa h t o t hat of BS 7 74 a d t he PDs t hat

a compa y it Neit her appr oa h c n be r eg r de as t he ‘d finit i e’ view As e c separat e

ap r oa h ofer s a alt er na v a d giv n t he consid r at ion now r eq ir ed of bot h t he

BS Publ sh d Doc me t s a d t he ISO Te h ic l Rep rt s, it is h r d t o sa whic ap roa h

wi l be for mal y a o t ed W hi e it could be one or t he ot her, t he mor e l k ly out come

would be a amalg ma on of b t h

Spe ific l y wit hin t he Euro e n ar en , t he Eur ope n Commis ion has r ec n y fu d d

a fe sibi t y st ud on t he be efit s of fir e safet y e gine r in wit hin t he Euro e n Union

NOTE: Fur t her infor ma on is giv n on b t h int er na on l a d Eur ope n a t ivit ies in

International Standards (ISO)

Wit h no a t ion at t he Eur ope n le el wor k st ar t ed at t he int er na on l le el t o pr od c a

ser ies of doc me t s cov r in t he subje t BS 7 7 was use as t he basis of t he e r ly wor k,

but was subst an al y e t end d It q ic ly be ame cle r, t hat consid r able work was n e e

t o ma e t his doc me t use ble Th wor k was u d r t ak n by ISO TC/9 , Fire safet y a d

ISO publ sh d a mult i-se t ion d ISO/TR 13 8 : Par t s 1 t o 8 a d t he doc me t s h v

g n r at ed consid rable int er est

Sin e t he publ c t ion of t he Br it ish a d int er na on l doc me t s, int er est h s be n g n r at ed

at t he Eur ope n le el W hi e al t he e r ly pr epara on for t he subse u nt doc me t s was

un er wa , CEN a d t he Eur ope n Commis ion wer e cont ent t o await t he out come

Giv n t hat t he Const r uc on Pr od ct s Dir ec v (8 / 0 /E C) a d t he Es e t i l

Re uir eme t s b t h ma e dir ect r efer en e t o fir e safet y e gin erin , t he Commis ion S r vic s

fu de a fe sibi t y st udy on t he ap l c t ion of fire safet y e gin ering p n iples in al of t he

Member St at es

A lso, in pr epar at ion for be in in wor k at t he Euro e n le el CEN TC/ 2 , Fir e safet y

in bui din s, h s forme a n w Wor kin Gr oup t o cov r t he is u

The pr ese t p sit ion is br ou ht int o sh r per foc s as t he Eur ope n Commis ion h v

r ec n y fu d d e t ensiv Rese rch on t he Be efit s of Fire S fet y Engin er in in t he

Eur ope n Union (Be eF U) It is cle r fom t he con lusions of t his st ud t hat a Eur ope n

posit ion wi h v t o be for mal z d a d a opt ed

On e t he d cision has be n ma e by t he EU Fir e Re ulat or s Gr oup as t o wh t for m t he

Eur ope n int er est wi t ak , CEN wi l d cid who wi u d r t ak t he work Giv n t he basic

r emit of CEN TC/ 2 , it wi pr obably be in lu e in it s work pr ogr amme

Construction Products Directive (89/ 106/ EEC)

Cou ci Dir ec v 8 / 0 /E C on t he ap r oxima on of laws, re ula ons a d a minist ra v

pr oc d r es of t he Member St at es r ela n t o Const r uc on Pr od ct s was publ she in 19 9

This Dir ec v cont ain d a n mber of Es e t ial Re uir eme t s; one of whic was ‘S fet y in

c se of fire’

Un er t he Const ru t ion Prod ct s Dir ec v (89/ 0 /E C), t he Commis ion S r vic s h v

est abl sh d a St an in Commit t ee on Const r uc on Rep r t in t o t his St an in Commit t ee,

t he Group of EU Fir e Re ulat or s h s disc s e t he is u of fir e safet y e gin erin se er al

t imes Onc a ful consid r at ion h s be n giv n t o t he Be eF U Repor t , t he Fire Re ulat or s

Gr oup wi n e t o consid r t heir fut ure o t ions

A ppendix A – Terms and definitions

a ailable safe eg res time (AS T) c lc lat ed t ime a ai able bet we n ig it ion of a fire a d

t he t ime at whic t en bi t y cr it er ia ar e e c e e in a spe ifie spa e in a bui din

comple a alysis consid r at ion of a desig pr op sal a d t he ap l c t ion of t he st at ist i al

d t a in or der t o come t o a a r ee p sit ion

d terministic stu y met hodolog base up n phy sic l r ela onships d r iv d fr om scie t ific

t heo es a d empir ic l result s, whic for a giv n set of init ial con it ions wi alwa s prod c

t he same out come

esc pe time c lc lat ed t ime fr om ig it ion u t il t he t ime at whic al of t he oc upa t s of a

spe ifie par of t he bui din ar e able t o r ea h a pla e of safet y

e uiv le c pr ovision by ot her me ns of a le el of safet y pr ovidin t he same le el of

per forma c as t hat r efer re t o in g id n e r ele a t t o t hat r eq ir eme t

e a u tion time int er val bet we n t he t ime of war nin of fir e bein t r ansmit t ed t o t he

oc upa t s a d t he t ime at whic al of t he oc upa t s ar e able t o r ea h a pla e of safet y

fire h z rd sourc of p s ible injur y or d ma e fr om fir e

fire risk prod ct of pr obabi t y of oc ur r en e of a fir e t o be e pe t ed in a giv n t ec nic l

o er at ion or st at e in a defin d t ime a d t he conse u nc or e t ent of d ma e t o be

e pe t ed on t he oc urr enc of a fire

fire safety e g in er per son suit ably q al fie a d e per ie c d in fir e safet y e gin er in

fire safety e g in erin ap l c t ion of scie t ific a d e gine r in p n iples t o t he pr ot ec on

of peo le, pr oper t y a d t he e vir onme t fr om fir e

fu ction l re uireme t e pr es ion of a safet y r eq ir eme t in t er ms of t he re uire le el of

per forma c of t he fir e safet y syst em r eferr ed t o

prescriptiv re uireme t e pres ion of a safet y r equir eme t by t he me ns of a det ai e

d scr ipt ion of t he pr ovisions re uire whic should not be v r ie

pro abilistic risk as es me t met hodolog t o d t er min st at ist i al y t he pr obabi t y a d

out come of e e t s

q alitativ id n fic t ion of const it ue t s of a e alu t ion of a pr op sal

scie c o ser va on, id n fic t ion, d script ion, e per ime t al in est i a on a d t heor et i al

e pla a on of ph nome a

simple c lc lation fir st or init i l consid r at ion of d t a in ord r t o come t o a fir st impr es ion

on t he v l dit y of t he pr op sal

trial fire safety d sig n pa k g of fir e safet y me sur es, whic in t he cont ext of t he bui din

ma me t t he spe ifie fir e safet y o je t i es

3

Fir e safet y e gin er ing c n h v ma y be efit s; t he use of a cod of pr ac c su h as

BS 7 7 wi l fa i t at e t he pr ac c of fir e safet y e gin erin a d in par t ic lar wi :

• pr ovid t he d sig er wit h a discipl n d ap r oa h t o fir e safet y d sig ;

• al ow t he safet y le els for alt er na v d sig s t o be compar ed;

• pr ovid a basis for sele t ion of ap r op at e fir e pr ot ec on syst ems;

• pr ovid o p rt unit i s for in ov t i e d sig ;

• pr ovid infor ma on on t he ma a eme t of fire safet y for a bui din

Th st r uct ur e of t he BS 7 7 is giv n below This code of pr ac c :

• pr ovid s a me ns of est abl shin a c pt able le els of fir e safet y e onomic l y a d

wit hout imp sin un e es ar y const raint s on aspe t s of bui din d sig ;

• pr ovid s g id n e on t he d sig a d as es me t of fir e safet y me sures in bui din s;

• giv s a st r uct ure ap r oa h t o as es ing t he efe t i e es of t he t ot al fir e safet y syst em in

a hie ing t he d sig o je t i es;

• pr ovid s a fr amewor k for, a d descr ibes t he phi oso h of, fir e safet y e gin er in ;

• ou in s t he p nciples involv d in t he appl c t ion of t he phi oso hy t o t he fire safet y

e gin erin of par t ic lar bui din s;

• c n be use t o id n fy a d d fin one or mor e fir e safet y d sig is u s t o be a dr es e

usin fire safet y e gine r in ;

• pr ovid s some alt erna v ap r oa hes t o e ist i g cod s a d g id s for fir e safet y a d

also al ows t he efe t of d par t ur es fr om more pr escr ipt i e cod s t o be e alu t ed;

• r ecog iz s t hat a ra g of alt er na v a d compleme t ary fir e pr ot ec on st rat egies ma

a hie e t he d sig o je t i es

In PD 7 7 : Par t s 0 t o 7 t he fol owing st eps in t he fir e safet y d sig pr oc s ar e id n fie :

• d finit ion of t he safet y o je t i es a d t he sco e of t he st ud ;

• set t in of t he a c pt an e crit er ia;

• c ar act er iz t ion of t he bui din , oc upa t s a d e vironme t ;

• u der t akin a q al t at iv d sig r eview; a d

• cond c ng q a t ifie a alysis

Th e alua on of t he fir e safet y d sig of a bui din is br ok n down, t o simpl fy t he pr oc s ,

int o t he separat e comp n nt s of t he ov r al syst em (t he sub-syst ems, se below) belon in

Ab ef e t r act a d descr ipt ion of t he sco e of e c of t he sub-syst ems is giv n below.

Th se in lu e t he sco es of t hose se t ions y t t o be publ sh d Ther e ar e sl g t difer en es

in t hese in ivid al scopes wit h t hose of Part s of BS ISO/TR 13 87

Sub-system 1 (PD 7974-1:2003) Initiation and development of fire

within the enclosure of orig in

S b-syst em 1 pr ovid s g id n e on e alu t i g fir e growt h a d/or siz wit hin t he e closur e

of origin, as wel as e closures t o whic t he fir e h s subse u n y spr ea Guid n e is also

pr ovid d for ‘spe ial c ses’ whic in lu e mal cious fir es, r ac e /st ac e st or ag of goods

a d fires e t er nal t o t he bui din

The c ara t er ist i s of t he d sig fir e for a y par t ic lar sc n r io ar e influ n e by a

n mber of fa t or s, including bui din d sig , e vir onme t al influ n es, p t en al ig it ion

sources a d loc t ion, t ypes of combust ible mat er ials, dist ribu on a d arr an eme t of

combust ible mat erials, v n la on con it ions a d ot her e e t s oc ur r in dur in t he fir e

The d t ermin t ion of t he c ar act erist i s of t he d sig fir e fr om t he ig it ion ph se

t hr ou h gr owt h t o t he d c y ph se is use by ot her sub-syst ems as input s int o c lc la ons

of e e t s su h as t ime of fir e spre d fom e closur e (S b-syst em 3) a d t ime t o a t i a on of

fir e sup r es ion syst ems (S b-syst em 4)

Sub-system 2 (PD 7974-2:2002) Spread of smok e and toxic g ases

within and beyond the enclosure of orig in

S b-syst em 2 pr ovid s g id n e on t he ap l c t ion of fir e safet y ma a eme t p n iples for

t he t r eat me t of smok mov me t , cont r ol a d ma a eme t pr oblems Th g ida c is

int en e primar ily for pr ofes ion l e gin ers wit h a r esponsibi t y for t he d sig or

as es me t of fire safet y in bui din s

S b-syst em 1 pr ovid s infor ma on on t he rat e of pr od c on of h at a d combust ion

pr odu t s fr om t he fir e source The aim of S b-syst em 2 is t o provid desig ap r oa h s t o

est imat e t he spr ea of t he combust ion g ses wit hin a d be on t he r oom of o gin a d t o

e alu t e t heir pro er t ies, i e t emper at ur e, visibi t y a d conc nt r at ion of t oxic pr od ct s

This infor ma on ma be use t o c lc lat e t he t ime bet we n t he det ec on of a fir e a d t o

con it ions d v lopin whic ar e d ng r ous t o bui ding oc upa t s This wi e able t he

d sig of fir e safet y me sures t o e sur e t hat suficie t t ime is a ai able for esc pe It also

pr ovid s infor ma on t hat wi al ow pr oper t y is u s t o be as es e

W hi e PD 7 7 -2 for ms par t of t he ser ies of Publ sh d Doc me t s cont aining

sub-syst ems 1 t o 7, it ma , in consult at ion wit h t he ap r opriat e r efere c s, be re ar de as

‘st and-alon ’g id nc

8

Fir e safet y e gin er ing is a v r y imp rt ant a d v lu ble e gin er in t ec niq e Ma y

bui din , infr ast r uct ur e a d ot her t ypes of st r uct ur e c n only be safely d sig e a d

const r uct ed usin fir e safet y e gin er in t ec niq es In ma y c ses t he fir e e gine r in

pr oc s c n del v r major cost sa ings a d hig er le els of safet y t ha t hat provid d by

st an ar d g id nc Th c pabi it y of a fire safet y e gin er should be c r eful y considere

a d a y d sig r eviewe a d ap r ov d fol owin t he pr oc d r es set out in t he r ele a t

Br it ish St and r ds a d Publ sh d Doc me t s

Ma y in ivid als a d org niz t ions ma come int o cont act wit h a fire e gin erin desig as

cl e t s, r eg lat or s, user s, d sig ers, et c These wi l in lu e:

W he d al n wit h a pr oposal t o ap ly fir e e gin er in t o a bui din , a infr ast r uct ur e

inst al a on or a ship, et c t here ar e ma y useful q est ions t hat c n be ask d Th a swers t o

su h q est ions wi l e able t he par t ies in olv d t o for m a view of t he v l dit y of t he fir e

safet y e gin er in pr op sal It should be not ed t hat t he l st below is not e h ust i e

Ch ck list for a fire safety e g ine rin pro osal

Th fire safety e g in er W hat q al fic t ions does t he CEng, IEng, BEn , MEn , PhD

Mod ls a nd met hods A re th y v al d ted, publsh d, R efer en es, jour nals,

use in th fire safety refer en e , wid ly use , pe r r ev iew

e g in erin proc s fom a r espe t ed sourc ?

Wh t c e k s h v be n W hat ar e t he input d t a,

Wh t le el of W hat is t he sco e a d t ype

confid n e/comfort of d sig ? Ar e conserv t i e

Sub-system 3 (PD 7974-3:2003) Structural response and fire spread

beyond the enclosure of orig in

S b-syst em 3 pr ovid s g id nc a d infor ma on on how t o u d r t ak q a t it at iv a d

det ai e a alysis of spe ific aspe t s of t he d sig It is a summar y of t he st at e of t he ar t

g ida c a d it is int en e t hat it be upd t ed as n w t heories, c lc la on met hods a d/or

dat a be ome a ai able It does not pr eclu e t he use of ap r op at e met hods a d d t a fr om

ot her sourc s

Sub-system 4 (PD 7974-4:2003) Detection of fire and activation of fire

S b-syst em 4 pr ovid s g id nc on t he d v lo me t , d sig a d ap l c t ion of fir e

det ec on syst ems a d t he a t i a on of fir e alar m a d fir e cont r ol syst ems t o fulfi a r ole in

t he fir e safet y e gin er ed d sig for a bui din S ie t ific a d e gin er ing p n iples ar e

use as par t of a st ruct ure ap r oa h Th k y eleme t s cov r ed are: det ec on, a t i a on

a d cont r ol

In t he cont ext of PD 7 7 -4, fir e cont r ol in lud s fir e sup r es ion syst ems, fir e bar r ier

syst ems a d smok /h at cont rol syst ems

Sub-system 5 (PD 7974-5:2002) Fire service intervention

S b-syst em 5 pr ovid s g id nc on fir e ser vic int er ve t ion a d e alu t es t he r at e of

bui d-up of fir e fig t in r esourc s of t he fir e ser vic Th se a t i it i s ma includ in-house

or p v t e fir e b g d s a d, in par t ic lar, t he t ime int er val bet we n t he c l t o t he loc l

a t ho t y fir e ser vic a d t he ar r iv l of t he fire servic at it s pr ed t ermin d le el of

at t en a c Th t ime int erv l bet we n t he ar r iv l of t he fir e ser vic a d t he st ar t of t heir

at t ac on t he fir e relat es t o t he bui d-up of a y a dit ion l fir e ser vic resourc s a d t he

e t ent of fire fig t i g r esourc s a d e t in uishin c pabi t y a ai able at v r ious t imes

This sub-syst em t ak s infor ma on on bui din c ara t er ist i s a d t he d sig fir e fr om

t he Qu l t at i e Desig Re iew (QDR), t og t her wit h t he t ime of fir e ser vic not ific t ion fr om

S b-syst em 4 a d t he t ime of e a u t ion fr om S b-syst em 6 It pr ovid s infor ma on on t he

efe t of fir e ser vic a t i it i s on t he gr owt h of t he fir e, whic is use in S b-syst em 1

This sub-syst em wi provid g id n e on al aspe t s of e a u t ion pr oc d res; t he t ext is

st il in t he cour se of pr epara on

Sub-system 7 (in preparation) Risk as es ment, uncertainty and safety

factor

This sub-syst em provid s g id n e on pro abi ist i r isk a alysis It set s out t he g n r al

p n iples a d t ec niq es of risk a alysis t hat c n be use in fir e safet y e gin er in This

sub-syst em also ou in s t he circ mst an es wh r e t his ap r oa h is ap r opriat e a d giv s

e amples i ust r at i g t he use of r isk a alysis t ec niqu s

The sub-syst em also in lu es d t a for pr obabi st ic r isk as es me t a d cr it eria for

as es me t Th d t a in lu e is base on fir e st at ist i s, bui din c ara t er ist ics a d

rel abi t y of fir e pr ot ec on syst ems Th cr it er ia includ d cov r l fe safet y a d pr oper t y

pr ot ec on, b t h in absolut e a d compar at i e t er ms

This sub-syst em does not cont ain g id nc on t ec niq es for h z r d id n fic t ion or

q al t at i e r isk a alysis Pro abi st i r isk as es me t of fir e in bui din s (wit h t he e c pt ion

of nu le r, c emic l proc s , ofshor e a d t r anspor t ) is not wid ly use a d so a disc s ion

of pos ible fut ure d v lo me t s is in lu e

BS ISO/ TR 13387: Parts 1 to 8

W he ISO/TR 133 7 was bein pr epar ed by ISO TC/92/SC4, r efer en e was ma e t o al

t he doc me t s a ai able at t he t ime Promin nt in t his consid r at ion was DD 24 ,

Fire safety en gin erin g in buildin s DD 24 was t he only doc me t a ai able a d t he

cont ent h d a major influ nc on t he dr aft i g of b t h BS 7 7 a d ISO/TR 13 8 Th r e ar e

a l mit ed number of fire safet y e per t s a d t he par t icipat ed in t he prepar at ion of b t h

doc me t s W hi e t he Br it ish St and r d was d v lo e fom DD 24 a d was subje t ed t o

al t he n t ion l consider at ions, ISO/TR 13 8 was d v lo e in r ecog it ion of ot her,

int er na onal consid r at ions, par t ic larly fr om t he Unit ed St at es of Amer ic a d Japa

W hi e t he t wo doc me t s ar e difer ent in a n mber of r espe t s; t he basic phi osoph

remains t he same Th difere c s should not be re ard d as cor r ec ons or er r ors in eit her

doc me t ; t her e c n be no d finit iv g id n e doc me t at t his t ime Th n t ion l a d

int er na onal difere c s ar e int en e t o a commodat e t he difere t ap r oa hes now bein

disc s e It is for t his r eason t hat t he ISO doc me t h s be n publ sh d as a Te h ic l

Rep rt Aconsid r able amou t of d t ai e considera on is n e e at t he int ern t ional

le el befor e t hese Te h ic l Rep r t s c n be is u d as int er na on l st an ar ds T pr ovid

t he ou in basis for compar ison wit h BS 7 7 , a b ef sy o sis of t he ISO Te h ic l

Rep rt s fol ows

The Part s of ISO/TR 133 7 are as fol ows:

• Part 1: Ap lcation offire p rorm an e c n e ts to desig o je tiv s;

• Part 2: Desig fire sc n arios and desig fires;

• Part 3: As es m en t an d v rificatio ofm ath m atical fire m odels;

• Part 4 : In itiation an dde elo m en t offire an d g n eratio offire efluen ts;

• Part 5: Mov m en t offire efluen ts;

• Part 6 : Structural resp n se an dfire spread beyon dth e e closure oforigin ;

• Part 7: Dete tion , activatio an dsu pres ion ; a d

• Part 8: Life safety: o c pantb havio r, lo atio and c ndition

opt ions t hat ha e v r y difer ent ir e safet y fe t ur es a d for ide t ifyin t he most cost -efe t i e

impr ov me t s t o fir e safet y syst ems

Her e it is n c s ary t o show t hat t he pr opose d sig pr ovid s a le el of safet y e uiv le t t o

t hat in a bui ding whic confor ms t o mor e pr escr ipt iv cod s If t his appr oa h is use , it is

imp r t ant t o u der st an t he int en on of e c r ecomme d t ion of t he prescr ipt i e cod as a

par t ic lar pr ovision ma h v mor e t ha on o je t i e

Fun t ional bui din re uireme t s int r od c t he con ept of ‘e uiv le c ’ Th onus is

up n t he arc it ect or d v lo er t o d monst r at e t hat t heir sc eme pr ovides a e uiv le t

le el of safet y, a d if t he c n do so, t he t he n c s ar y ap r ov ls should be for t hcomin

fr om t he Ap r ov ls Aut hor it y

Who can car y out fire eng ineering ?

Th d finit ion of ‘fir e safet y e gin er’as ‘a per son suit ably q al fie a d e per ie c d in fir e

safet y e gin erin ’ flows fr om t he definit ion of fir e safet y e gin er in t o be fou d in

BS 7 7 (se abov ) It would normal y be e pe t ed t hat a fir e e gin er would be a member

of t he ap r opriat e profes ion l bod spe ific t o fir e su h as t he Inst it ut ion of Fir e Engine r s

at eit her corp r at e, EngTe h, IEng or CEn le el as ap ro r iat e, or be a c ar t er ed e gin er

wit h suit able fir e e perie c

The le el of ski s a d e perie c r eq ir ed for fir e e gine rin c n v r y wid ly

a cor din t o t he comple it y of t he pr oje t It ma be useful t o set out a br oa indic t ion of

t he ra g of wor k a d t he ap r op at e le el of q al fic t ion a d e per ie c for e c t ype

Table 1 pr ovid s a in ic t ion of t he pot en al r ela onship bet w ee t he comple it y of t he

t ask s a d t he le el of t r ainin a d e per ie c r eq ir ed t o c r r y out t he par t ic lar le el of t ask

Table 6.1 S g g este le el of compete c to d al with v riations

Fire safety solution Minor v riations to sta d rd Major v riations to sta d rd

1 Compet ent const ru t ion pr ofes ional wit h bui din cod e per ie c ,

e.g Ch r t er ed S r ve or, Bui ding Cont r ol S r ve or

2 A s for 1 but wit h ap r op at e a dit ional t r ainin a d e perie c ,

e.g Member of Inst it ut ion of Fir e En in er s or ot her ap r op at e pr ofes ion l b d

3 CEng q al fic t ion wit h ap r opr iat e Con n in Profes ion l De elo me t

Th Qu l t at i e Desig Re iew d fines t he sco e a d obje t i es of t he fir e safet y d sig

a d set s a c pt an e cr it er ia for a y pr op se solu ons t o a y fir e r isk whic is t o h v a fir e

safet y e gin er ed solu on

Qu n t at i e a alysis is use t o e alu t e su h it ems as fir e siz , q a t it y a d

t emper at ure of smok pr od c d, smok v n la on, t he efe t of fire alar m syst ems,

sp n ler s, fir e ser vic int er ve t ion, e a u t ion t imes for oc upa t s, et c Qu n t at i e r isk

a alysis c n also be use t o est abl sh t he risk of part i ular e e t s oc ur r in whic c n be

compar ed wit h t he a c pt abi t y of t hose e e t s oc ur r in

Th r esult s of q a t it at i e a alysis ar e use t o compar e t he per for ma c of t he d sig

wit h t he a c pt an e crit er ia W her e t her e are a n mber of p s ible solu ons t o be

consid r ed, t he as es me t should al ow a comparison of e c so t hat a d t er min t ion

as t o t he most appr opr iat e c n be ma e

Th Bui ding Re ula ons in En la d a d Wales ar e a compa ie by a ser ies of A ppr ov d

Doc me t s In t he c se of fir e safet y, it is A ppr ov d Doc me t B A ppr ov d Doc me t B

pr ovid s e amples as t o how t he v r ious fu c on l r eq ir eme t s c n be a commodat ed

a d so a hie es a a c pt able le el of fire safet y

The majo t y of bui din cont r ol is a hie e t hr oug t he simple me ns of pr ovidin a

d sig t hat me t s al t hese d sig cr it eria S c a cod -base syst em would not , t her efor e,

re uire t he consid r at ion of a e gin er ed ap r oa h

BS 7 7 id nt ifies wh t mig t be consid r ed as suit able a c pt an e crit er ia The

a c pt abi t y or ot her wise of t he cr it eria is a mat t er for t he r eg lat or y b d con er ne or t he

cl e t ’s r eq ir eme t s in t he c se of fir e r isks out sid a r eg lat or y cont ex W her e bui din s,

rai wa st at ions, ships a d ot her st r uct ures are con erne , r eg lat or y b dies su h as t he

Bui din Cont r ol A ut horit y, t he Fir e Aut ho t y, t he He lt h a d S fet y Ex c t iv , t he

Int er na onal Mar it ime Org niz t ion, et c must be sa sfie

In pr ese t i g t he cr it er ia t o t he Re ulat ory Aut ho t y, t he ap r oa h by t he arc it ect or

t he d v lo er should be alon on of t he fol owin l n s:

Deterministic ap roa h

This in olv s showin t hat t he init ial as umpt ions (usu l y t he r easonable wor st c se) do not

pr odu e a out come t hat e c e s a set of pr ed t er min d con it ions Ex mples would be

c lc la ons of fire siz , smok volume a d t emper at ur e, t oxic pot en y of t he combust ion

pr odu t s, e a u t ion t ime, st r uct ur al fir e prot ec on, et c Th se would be consid r ed in

rela on t o e c ot her t o show t hat a y out comes would me t t he d sig o je t i es of l fe

safet y, pr opert y pr ot ec on, busines con n it y, et c

Pro abilistic ap roa h

This in olv s c lc la n t he pr obabi t y of c rt ain out comes oc ur r in a d showin t hat

t hese ar e a c pt ably low This could in lu e q a t ifie r isk as es me t s usin st at ist i al d t a

t o r at e t he l k l ho d of par t ic lar e e t s t akin pla e a d t he ser iousn s of t he

conse u nc s Ex mples of t his ap roa h would includ compar in a in ov t i e ap roa h

a ainst a cod -base syst em as cont ain d in t he ser ies of Ap rov d Doc me t s t hat

a compa y t he Bui dings Re ula ons (se ab v ), or t o id n fy t he most imp r t ant r isk

In t he Par t s of ISO/TR 13 8 , t he fol owin fiv imp r t ant st eps in t he fir e safet y d sig

proc s ar e id n fie Th y are common t o t hose id n fie in BS 7 7 a d t he Publ sh d

Doc me t s t hat a compa y it :

• d finit ion of t he safet y o je t i es a d sco e of t he st ud ;

• set t ing a c pt an e crit er ia;

• c ar act er iz t ion of t he bui din , oc upa t s a d e vir onme t ;

• u der t akin a q al t at iv d sig r eview; a d

• cond c ng q a t ifie a alysis

Th e alua on of t he fir e safet y d sig of a bui din is br ok n down, t o simpl fy t he pr oc s ,

int o eig t separ at e comp n nt s of t he syst em (sub-syst ems de ot ed by t he pr efix s S 1 t o

S 8) belon in eit her t o t he t ools for fir e safet y e gin er ing e alu t ion (S 1 t o S 5) or t he

fir e safet y o je t i es (S 6 t o S 8)

SS1 Initiation and development of fire and fire ef luents

This sub-syst em pr ovides g ida c on t he use of e gin er in met hods for t he pre ic on of

ig it ion of fire, t he g n r at ion of fir e eflu nt s a d t he de elo me t of fir e insid t he r oom

of o gin

The sub-syst em pr ovides a fr amewor k for cr it i al y r eviewin t he suit abi t y of a

e gin ering met hod for as es in t he p t en al for t he init i t ion a d de elo me t of fir e a d

g n r at ion of fir e eflue t s Th sub-syst em ma also pr ovid t he me ns t o as es t he

efe t i e es of fir e safet y me sures me nt t o r ed c t he pr obabi t y of ig it ion, t o cont r ol

fir e de elo me t a d t o r ed c a c mula on of h a smok a d t oxic pr odu t s or pr od ct s

c usin non-t her mal d ma e Met hods for c lc la n t he efe t s of t he d sig fir es for use

in t he d sig a d as es me t of fire safet y on a bui din ar e also a dr es e

SS2 Movement of fire ef luents

This sub-syst em pr ovides g ida c on t he use of e gin er in met hods for t he pre ic on of

mov me t of fir e eflue t s in bui din s Th sub-syst em dr aws on ot her sub-syst ems for t he

pr escr ipt ion or c ar act er iz t ion of t he fir e Th pr edic on of t he fir e d v lo me t a d t he

pr od c on of fir e eflu nt s ar e provid d by S b-syst em 1, t he pr edic on of t he spre d of

smok a d flames t hr ou h o e in s is a dr es e by S b-syst em 2, whi e t he spr ea of fire

t hr ou h bar r iers is pr ovide by S b-syst em 3

The sub-syst em pr ovides a fr amewor k for cr it i al y r eviewin t he suit abi t y of a

e gin ering met hod for as es in t he p t en al for mov me t of fir e eflue t s d r in t he

cour se of a fire Th sub-syst em ma also pr ovid t he me ns t o as es t he efe t iv n s of

fir e safet y me sur es me nt t o r edu e t he a v r se efe t s of t he mov me t of fir e eflue t s

SS3 Structural response and fire spread beyond the enclosure of orig in

This sub-syst em provid s g id n e on t he use of e gin er in met hods for t he pr edic on of

fir e spr ea be on t he e closure (e.g ro m or compart me t ) of fir e origin, t o a ja e t

e closur es wit hin t he bui din , ot her bui din s or e t ern l it ems Th e p sur e of a bui din

t o e t er nal fires is also a dr es e by t his sub-syst em

The sub-syst em draws on ot her sub-syst ems for a pr escr ipt ion or c ara t er iz t ion of t he

fir e S b-syst em 1, for e ample, pr ovid s pr edic on of t he t ime t o flashov r a d t he

t emper at ur e hist or y in t he ro m of fir e origin Th se d t a, alon wit h t he d scr ipt ion of t he

bui din as embl es (t r ial d sig par amet er s), ar e employ d by t he sub-syst em t o pr edict t he

l k l ho d (a d t ime) of fir e spre d a d t he l k l hood (a d t ime) of st r uct ur al col apse

The sub-syst em provid s a fr amework for cr it i al y r eviewin t he suit abi t y of a

e gin er in met hod (c lc la on wor ke out by ha d, comput er met hod or fire t est ) for

as es in t he p t en al for fir e spr ea in a giv n sit ua on or ap l c t ion This e t ai s a

a alysis of t he unit ph sic l a d c emic l proc s es in olv d in e c of t he mod s of fire

spr ea (e.g r oom-t o-r oom, bui din -t o-bui din ) Th a ai abi t y a d r el abi it y of t he

rele a t input d t a for e c u it pr oc s is also a dr es e

S ould fir e spre d fr om t he r oom or compar t me t of fir e or igin or should loc l st ru t ural

col apse oc ur, not only wi a dit ional pr oper t y d ma e be in urr ed, but t he safet y of

bui din oc upa t s a d fire fig t ers out sid t he r oom or compar t me t of fire o gin c n be

compr omise He c d t a g n r at ed by S b-syst em 3 be ome input t o S b-syst em 5

Fin l y, g ida c on int er pr et i g t he r esult s of a a alysis of t he p t en al of fir e spre d

is also pr ovid d This in lu es g id n e on t he sele t ion of cr it er ia for as es ing t he

efe t iv n s of fire safet y me sur es me nt t o r ed c t he pot ent i l of fir e spr ea Th lat t er is

only p s ible if t he o je t iv s of fir e safet y d sig h v be n cle r ly spe ifie

This sub-syst em provid s g id n e on t he use of e gin er in met hods for t he pr edic on of

t he t ime t ak n t o d t ect smok or flames by a wid r an e of commercial d vic s This

in lu es t he t ime r eq ir ed for he t se sit i e eleme t s in sup r es ion or ot her cont r ol d vic s

t o r esp n t o t he g s-low g ner at ed by a in ipie t or gr owin fir e Th sub-syst em also

pr ovid s g id n e on how t o pre ic on e d t ec on h s oc ur r ed, t he t ime r eq ir ed t o

a t i at e t he d sir ed resp nse t o a fir e, su h as a alarm, a smok d mper or a spe ifie flow

of e t i g ishing a e t r om t ypic l dist ribu on d vic s Met hods t o est imat e t he

efe t iv n s of ma y common fir e-sup r es ion a d cont r ol st r at egies are also a dr es e

S b-syst em 4 dr aws on S b-syst ems 1 t o 3 for c ar act er izin t he siz of t he fir e as wel

as t he t emperat ur e, spe ies con e t ra on a d g s v locit y fields g n r at ed by t he fire at

a y t ime aft er ig it ion/init i t ion of t he d sig fir e e e t This infor ma on, alon wit h

a d script ion of se sor loc t ion fr om t he bui din desig par amet er s, is employ d by

S b-syst em 4 t o pre ict d t ec on t imes a d t he opera on of eleme t s, su h as t hose in

a t oma c sp n lers, t hat al ow rele se of pres ur iz d e t in uishin a e t (e.g wat er or

foam) at a noz le

The efe t of v rious suppr es ion st r at egies on t he fir e-h at r ele se r at e is est imat ed in

S b-syst em 4 Cur r en y t his is c r rie out by r efer enc t o n t ion l cod s a d inst al a on

g id l n s a d t he use of e gin erin ju g me t in t he appl c t ion of t hese g idel n s t o

fu c on l r eq ir eme t s ar e r est r ic v in a spe ific c se a d it w il fol ow t hat some

compr omise w il be ofer ed Th r e is l tt le p int in pr ese t i g t he r eg lat or w it h a fait

ac ompl a d e pe t i g a c pt an e It is v r y mu h a joint efor t a d e r ly disc s ion should

le d t o a solu on w her e al t he r eq ir eme t s of t he r eg lat or y a thor it i s, t he d v lo er, t he

arc itec t he bui din user a d t he publ c in r espe t of a safe e vir onme t ar e me

Who uses fire safety eng ineering ?

Ma y individ als a d orga iz t ions wi l h v difer ent int er est s as wel as a in olv me t in

fir e safet y e gin er in

Bui ding Cont r ol Aut ho t i s a d Fir e A ut horit i s wi h v a re ulat ory int erest , wit h a

emph sis on l fe safet y for oc upa t s a d fir e fig t er s Th y n e t o be sur e t hat t he c n

ap r ov a fir e safet y e gin er ed pr op sal in t he k owle g t hat it pr ovid s a e uiv le t or

bet t er le el of fir e safet y in a bui ding or infr ast r uct ur e proje t t o t hat pr ovid d by a

‘st an ar d’code-base solu on

• Insur an e compa ies a d bui din owner s a d oc upier s wi be con er ne ab ut los

pr ev nt ion

• Busin s es ha e a vit al int er est in busines con n it y

• En ir onme t al a t ho t i s se k t he pr ot ec on of t he e vir onme t fr om air a d wat er

p l u on fr om fire in id nt s

• Her it ag bui din s ar e oft en p c les a d c nnot be r epla e

• De elo ers se k t o r ed c const ru t ion cost s a d impr ov fun t ional t y a d fle ibi t y

• Desig er s wi se k t o provid eficie t a d in ov t i e bui din s wit h fle ible spa es

use in n w wa s

Th p n iple be in al su h uses of fire safet y e gine rin is t o t ai or t he fir e safet y

pr ovision in a bui din t o t he a t ual r isk This is t he basis on whic t he ab v o je t iv s c n

be me On a v nt ag of a fir e safet y e gin er ed d sig is t hat it ma ofer gr eat er

fle ibi t y or sig ific nt cost sa in s as wel as being a safer d sig t ha a bui din t hat

me t s st an ar d g ida c

In t he pla nin st ag s, t he Bui din Cont r ol Aut ho t i s a d Fire Aut ho t i s ar e fa e

wit h t he t ask of conse t in t o t he n c s ar y bui din a d pla nin ap r ov ls On e t he

bui din is oc upie as a pla e of wor k, t he Fir e A ut hor it y is c arge wit h t he e forc me t

of t he Fir e Pr ec u ons (Workpla e) Re ula ons 19 7 (as ame d d)

These Re ula ons are base up n t he Eur ope n Union Framewor k (8 /3 1 E C) a d

Wor kpla e Dir ec v s (8 /6 4/E C), a d t hese Eur ope n doc me t s e sur e t hat e uiv le t

le isla on is in pla e t hrou hout t he Europe n Union Th Re ula ons pla e a st at ut or y

dut y on t he employ r t o c r ry out a as es me t of t he r isk fr om fir e in his pr emises

Th r efor e, employ rs wi be closely in olv d as t he ongoin ma a eme t of a y fire safet y

e gin ere solu on r est s cle rly wit h t hem

How is fire safety eng ineering used?

BS 7 7 id n fies t hr ee main st ag s in t he fr amew or k for e gin er in ap r oa h t o fir e safet y

E ample 2

An airp r t t er minal bui din is r eq ir ed t o h v v r y l t t le compar t me t at ion t o fa i it at e

e se of wa fin in a d eficie t mov me t of large n mber s of peo le in a ple sa t

e vironme t T compe sat e for t he omis ion of some of t he compart me t at ion t wo

t ec niq es ar e use : l mit ed ar eas of hig fire loa ar e spr in ler ed a d loc l smok

e t r ac on pr ovid d a d ar eas of combust ible se t i g ar e separ at ed by dist an es larg

e ou h t o e sure t hat ir e c n ot spre d fom on ar ea t o t he n x Th ma imum fir e siz

is l mit ed t o on se t i g ar ea, al owin t he smok v n la on syst em t o fu c on a e u t ely

Wh n is fire safety e g in erin use ?

Th r e ar e no rules as t o wh n fir e safet y e gin er in c n, or should, be use In t he majorit y

of bui din s, compl a c wit h t he fu c on l re uireme t s wi not be cont en ous a d l t t le

dific lt y wi be e per ie c d

Th e ample giv n abov (Ex mple 1) of t he e t ension of t r av l dist anc s as a r esult of

a impr ov d alarm syst em shows a simple just ific t ion for a minor v r ia on of t he st an ar d

g id n e In t he c se of larger, comple bui dings, t he pr op sal ma be for a pa k g of

int er depe d nt pr op sals

E ample 3

In a larg mult i-st or ey sho ping/leisur e comple wit h a mixt ure of n w a d e ist i g l st ed

bui din s, l mit ed spa e for n t ur al smok v n la on c n be shown t o be a e u t e usin :

• fast r esp nse sprin ler s t o l mit ma imum fir e siz ;

• cont r ol ov r plume widt hs for smok esc pin f om unit s in t he de elo me t

Th e pe t at ions of t od y’s societ y are con n al y more d ma din a d t he desig ers a d

d v lo er s of major bui din s or d v lo me t sc emes ar e ful y aware of t heir obl g t ions

in t his r espe t The user wi n e a r et urn on his/h r c pit al a d for t his t o h p e t he

bui din user’s ne ds must be me For inst anc , in t he c se of a larg sho pin mal t he

d sig ers must wor k t o cre t e a at mosph re t hat at t r act s t he publ c t here in t he fir st pla e

T pr ovid a at t r ac v e vir onme t , t he archit ect ma oft en r esor t o t he pr ovision of larg ,

wid -o e spa es This is v r y at t r ac v t o t he sho per, but dific lt or t he re ulat ory

a t ho t i s wh r e t r av l dist anc s t o a pla e of safet y ma be ome v r y lon This part i ular

pro lem h s be ome so common t hat st an ar d fir e safet y e gin er in solut ions h v be n

d v lo e for sho pin mal s, alt houg t hese ar e out sid or din r y bui din r eg la ons

g id n e a d ne d t o be a apt ed in mor e compl c t ed bui dings t hat combin ret ai a d

leisur e fu c ons

E ample 4

CIBSE Guide Te h ic l Memor and TM19:19 5, Rela onships for smok cont rol

c lc la ons Using t his doc me t , smok v n la on r eq ir eme t s for sin le a d t wo-st or ey

sho pin c nt r es c n be d sig e usin c lc la ons wor ke out by h n or simple

spr ea sh et s

NOTE: BR186, Desig p n iples for smok v nt ila on in e close sho pin c nt r es,

ma also be suit able d pe din on t he n t ur e of t he circ mst an es u d r a alysis

The n e for a e gin er ed solu on w il usu l y ema at e fr om t he r eq ir eme t s of a

a e t flow rat e) t ak s efe t , t her e is consid r able fe dba k r eq ir ed bet we n S b-syst em 4

a d S b-syst em 2 so t hat t he r esult ant fire e vironme t (e.g g s t emper at ur es a d spe ies

con e t r at ions) c n be d t er min d If t he fir e e vir onme t is un c ept able, alt er na v

sup r es ion st r at egies su h as t he use of in r g s disc arg ma h v t o be consid re

A ct iv t ion t imes ar e also d t er min d in S b-syst em 4, most oft en fr om a we lt h of input

infor ma on a ai able fr om t he ma ufa t ur ers of t he v r ious d t ec on a d sup res ion

syst ems t o be inst al e in a bui din Th h dra l c d sig of sprin ler piping syst ems is

consid r ed t o be par of t his a t iv t ion pr oc s sin e su h pipin d sig e sures t hat t he

r eq ir ed flow rat e of wat er or ot her a e t wi be a ai able whe dist ribu on noz les ar e

a t i at ed by t he d t ec on eleme t s

SS5 Fire service intervention

This sub-syst em pr ovides g ida c on t he e alua on of t he r at e of bui d-up of fire

e t i g ishing r esourc s of t he fire servic , in lu in t he a t i it i s on a y in-house or pr iv t e

• th e te t of fir e fig ti g resourc s a d e tin uishin c pabi ty av ai able at v ar ious times

SS6 Life, health and safety of people

Th oc upa t s of a bui din a d fire fig t er s who ma h v e t er ed t hat bui din t og t her

wit h members of t he publ c, a d fire fig t er s who ar e in t he vicinit y of t he bui din c n,

pot en al y, be put at r isk by fir e The main l fe-safet y o je t i es ar e t her efore t o e sur e t ha

• t he oc upa t s are able t o r emain in pla e, e a u t e t o a ot her par t of t he bui din or

t ot al y e a u t e t he bui din wit hout being subje t t o h z r dous (e.g c usin injur y or

in apa it at in ) or unt en ble condit ions;

• fir e fig t er s ar e safely able t o:

SS7 Property protection

Th efe t s of fire on t he con n in viabi t y of a busin s /infr ast r uct ur e ma be of vit al

int er est a d c n be subst an al a d t her efor e consid r at ion should be giv n t o t he l mit at ion

of dama e t o:

• t he st r uct ur e a d fabric of t he syst em (bui din )

• t he cont ent s of t he syst em;

• ongoin busines /a t i it y viabi t y;

• publ c perc pt ion or ima e

Afire in olvin se er al bui din s or t he rele se of q a t i es of h z rdous mat er ials ma

h v a e vir onme t al impa t t hat is out of al pr op r t ion t o t he siz of t he origin l fir e A

smal fir e in olvin some t oxic prod ct s whic is e t i g ish d by wat er t hat goes int o a

a ja e t riv r ma le d t o larg or e t ensiv e vir onme t al p l ut ion Consid r at ion should,

t her efore, be giv n t o t he l mit at ion of t he efe t s of fir e on a ja e t bui din s or fa i t i s

a d t he r ele se of h z r dous mat er ials int o t he e vir onme t

a Afire safety e g in erin desig n is more d pe d nt upon ma ag eme t controls

W het her d sig e in a cor da c wit h pr escr ipt iv cod s or fir e safet y e gin er in

prin iples, go d fir e safet y ma a eme t is es e t i l t o t he safe oper at ion of a y

bui ding Th fir e safet y e gin er ing ap r oa h pr ese t ed in BS 7 7 -0 r eq ir es t hat

ma a eme t is u s be t ak n int o a cou t a d a y spe ific ma a eme t re uireme t s

ar e a dr es e e pl cit ly

b Fire safety e g in ering c nnot, or should not, be ap lie to just one aspe t of th

d sig n Th most common use of fir e safet y e gin er in is t o just ify one or t wo spe ific

d par t ur es f om pr escript i e codes Th r e ma be l t t le n e t o apply fir e safet y

e gine r in p n iples t o al aspe t s of a pr oje t if it is ot her wise code-compl a t

c Afire safety e g in erin desig n ma provid les fle ibility for future use Dur in t he

prepar at ion of a e gin er ed solu on, t he d sig t eam should id n fy pot ent i l fut ur e

c a g s of use The should, wh r e pr ac c l e sur e t hat t he d sig would

a commod t e t hese c a g s If t his is not e sible, a y p t en al r est r ic on should be

hig l g t ed Ala k of fle ibi t y is a fu c on of p or e gin er in desig r at her t ha a

in er ent fun t ion of fire safet y e gin er in

d Afire safety e g in erin desig n is more d pe d nt upon the cor e t perorma c of

fire prote tion systems Th r e is no r eason wh a we g d-o e fir e do r or p orly

maint ain d spr in ler syst em should be a y les of a pro lem in a cod -compl a t

bui ding t ha in a bui ding d sig e on t he basis of fir e safet y e gin er in pr in iples

BS 79 4 (se 6.4.6.1.2.1) r eq ir es t hat t he p t en al impa t of syst ems fai ur es be

as es e The input of su h fai ur es ma oft en be les in a bui din d sig e on fir e

safet y e gin er ing p n iples

e Th a c ra y of ma y fire safety e g ine rin c lc lations is u k nown Th a c r ac of

al of t he c lc la on pr oc d r es pr ese t ed in BS 79 4 wi g n r al y be suficie t l

a c r at e for e gin erin desig purp ses if t he ar e use wit hin t he l mit s of

ap l c bi it y

f Afire safety e g in erin solution alwa s re uires c lc lations a d a n meric l

solution BS 7 7 pr ovid s a d sig fr amework a d does not n c s ari y r eq ir e a

q a t ifie a alysis Very oft en it wi be p s ible t o r ea h a solu on wit hout r ecour se t o

n mer ic l c lc la ons Durin t he d sig re iew proc s , it ma be p s ible t o

est abl sh simply by loc l d d c on t hat a t rial d sig is at le st as safe as t he cod

e-compl a t solu on, wit hout t he ne d for a y c lc la ons

Wh is fire safety e g in erin use ?

Th p ncipal obje t i e of a y appl c t ion of fir e safet y e gine r in is t o pr ovid a

e vironme t t hat e joys a le el of safet y t hat is d monst rably e u l t o, or bet t er t ha , t he

le el t hat would be d v lo e by dir ect compl a c wit h pr escr ipt iv r eq ir eme t s or

st an ar d g id nc in r espe t of fire safet y syst ems Th o je t iv would be t o d sig or

de elo me sur es, eit her sing la y or in a pa k g , t o re u e t he p t en al for injur y, d at h,

pro er t y los or e vir onme t al d ma e t o a a c pt able le el

In some major proje t s, t here ma be no p s ible solu on t o id n fie fire safet y

pro lems ot her t ha t o ofer a e gin ere solu on In par t ic lar, larg sho pin mal s,

air por t t er min ls a d t al mult i-st or ey commercial a d r esid nt i l bui din s, oft en cont ainin

a at r ium, pr ese t t he d sig er a d fir e safet y pr ofes ion l wit h pr oblems t hat c nnot be

Using fire safety eng ineering

What is fire safety eng ineering ?

As me t ion d abov , BS 79 4 d fin s fir e safet y e gin er in as ‘t he ap l c t ion of scie t ific

a d e gine r in p n iples t o t he pr ot ec on of peo le, pr oper t y a d t he e vir onme t r om

fir e’

The ap l c t ion of e gin erin p nciples t her efor e, is aime a

• sa in l fe, pr ot ec n pro er t y a d conser va on of t he e vir onme t in lu in her it ag

bui dings, pr ot ec on of air a d wat er r esources;

• t he id n fic t ion a d q a t ific t ion of t he h z rds a d risk of fir e;

• t he a aly c l e alua on of t he o t imum me sur es, b t h pr ot ec v a d pr ev nt at i e t o

l mit t he efe t s of fir e

Th c oic usu l y ofere t o t he Bui din Cont r ol Aut hor it i s r uns alon t he l n s of ‘If I

c n fulfi t hese pr ovisions, c n I c rr y out t he pr op se d sig ?’The int er lin in of su h

pr ovisions ma be a int egral par of t he pr op se bui din d sig a d ma rely upon t he

efe t iv a d eficie t ma a eme t of t he bui din This appl es also t o ma y of t he

pr ovisions of st an ard solu ons su h as fir e do r s int en e t o re u e t he t r av l dist an es

in part i ula y lon cor ridors

E ample 1

Ext en e t r av l dist an es c n some mes be just ifie by t he provision of a a t oma c smok

d t ec on a d alar m syst em

Wit h t he int r od c on ov r t he last t en y ars of t he Const r uc on (Desig a d

Ma a eme t ) Re ula ons 19 4 a d t he Fir e Pre a t ions (Wor kpla e) Re ula ons 19 7 it is

p s ible t o h v mor e confid n e in con nuin ma a eme t of r isks a d maint en n e of

l fe safet y inst al a ons su h as smok v nt s, alar m syst ems, et c

NOTE: Cer t ain bui din t ypes ma h v a hig er le el of efe t i e a d eficie t

ma a eme t d e t o t he n t ur e of t heir use, e.g air port s

In comin t o un er st an a d a c pt t he con ept of fir e safet y e gin er in , t here ar e a

n mber of common miscon ept ions t hat ne d t o be a dr es e Th r esolut ion of t hese

wi l e able t he a c pt an e of t he basic prin iples of a e gin ere solut ion

4

Fir e safet y e gin er ing is usu l y c rr ie out in r esp nse t o t he r eq ir eme t s of re ula ons

su h as Bui ding Re ula ons, Fir e Re ula ons a d t he fir e safet y aspe t s of t he Int ern t ional

Mar it ime Org niz t ion for safet y on ships, et c Alt er na v ly, it ma be ofer ed as a wa of

sa sfyin insur an e con it ions or t o prot ect busin s es, ir repla e ble bui din s or ar t efa t s

by pr oviding a e h n e le el of fire safet y by a t i e or pas iv fir e pr ot ec on me sures

In or der t o disc s t he most common uses of fire e gin er in , it is n c s ary t o h v a basic

un er st an in of t he syst em of Loc l Aut ho t y Bui din Cont r ol (LABC) in t he UK a d t he

r ole of fun t ion l as o pose t o prescr ipt iv r eg la ons

A ll bui din wor ks in t he UK ar e subje t t o r eg la ons The syst em of r eg la on h s

de elo e ov r t he y ar s t o t he p int wh r e t he c r re t Re ula ons (Bui ding Re ula ons

20 0, Appr ov d Doc me t B t hat a compa ies t hem) in Engla d a d Wales a d Nor t hern

Ir ela d a k owle g (Cla se 0.1 ) t hat a a r ee fir e safet y e gin er ed solu on ma be t he

on lyme ns of a hie in a a c pt able le el of fir e safet y

Howe er, in S ot l n suc e gine r ed solu ons ar e l k ly t o be t he subje t of a for mal

r ela a on proc s Pr ofes ion l st af fr om bui din cont r ol b dies a d fire a t ho t i s wi

ne d t he ski s a d e per ie c t o c e k bui din d sig s, whic involv fir e e gine r in

Where did building reg ulations come from?

Bui din r eg la ons wer e o gin l y int r od c d int o t he UK by larg r cit i s pas in by-laws

t o me t t he pr oblems of ur ba iz t ion, st ar t in wit h Lon on aft er t he Gr eat Fir e of 16 6 a d

also d v lopin b t h in t he c pit al a d in ma ufa t ur ing c nt res dur in t he In ust r ial

Re olu on – Ma c est er, Bir min h m, Glasgow, t he West Ridin ar ea of Yor kshir e, et c

Re ula ons d alt wit h a wid r an e of publ c h alt h a d safet y mat t er s in lu in plumbin ,

dr ain g a d v n la on, he t i g ap l a c s a d, of cour se, fir e safet y Limit ed loc l fir e

r eg la ons ar e st il in pla e t oda in some ar eas of t he UK, alt hou h pres ur e is now

gr owin wit hin t he in ust r y for al suc loc l pr ovisions t o be eit her r epe le or

in orp r at ed wit hin n t ion l r eg la ons

T t his efe t , Th Ofic of t he Deput y P me Minist er is u d a consult at ion doc me t

on t he r efor m of fir e safet y le isla on in July 2 0 , whic pr ovid s for a me h nism t o

simpl fy, ra on l z a d consol d t e t he law wit h respe t t o fir e safet y in bui din s in use

Bui ding re ula ons d al n wit h fir e safet y a d ot her fir e safet y le isla on su h as t he

Fir e Pr ec ut ions Act 971 are a r esp nse t o k own fir e r isks a d t o fir e disast er s whic

r ev ale pr eviously un xpe t ed fire h z r ds in bui din s

Prescriptive reg ulations

Early r eg la on was pr escr ipt iv Th Bui din Re ula ons is u d in 19 5, 19 2 a d 197

were of t his t ype Her e t he condit ions a d per for ma c t hat were r eq ir ed of mat er ials was

pr escribe in a ser ies of ‘d eme t o sa sfy’pr ovisions or r efer en e t ec nic l st an ar ds

publ sh d by BSI (usu l y t he e r ly v r sions of BS 4 6 in it s ma y par t s) Lit t le by wa of

d via on was al owe or considere wit hout t ime-consumin a d e pe siv r ela a on or

dispe sa on pr oc d r es t hat h d t o be sa c on d by loc l cou ci p l t ic l commit t ees or

by c nt r al gov r nme t

The chang e to functional reg ulations

Ov r t ime, it be ame ap ar ent t hat su h pr escr ipt iv r eg la ons were r est r ic v t o b t h

archit ect s in t heir c oic of mat er ials a d t o t he user s of bui din s in pr ev nt i g t hem fr om

u l zin t he ful pot en al of t heir bui din

In En la d a d Wales a major phi oso hic l d v lo me t t ook pla e w it h t he

impleme t at ion of t he Bui din A ct 198 a d Th Bui din R eg la ons 19 5 These it ems of

le isla on w er e a compa ie by a ser ies of A ppr ov d Doc me t s, w hic pr ov id d g id n e

a d su g st ed w ay s of comply in w it h t he r eg la ons A ppr ov ed Doc me t B cov r s fir e

safet y Th most r ec nt doc me t s in En la d a d Wales ar e t he Bui ding R eg la ons 2 0

a d t he 2 0 e it ion of A ppr ov ed Doc me t B Th e uiv ale t doc me ts in Nor t her n

Ir ela d a d S ot la d ar e Te h ic l Bo k let E a d Te h ic l St an ar d E r espe ti ely

These d v lo me t s brou ht ab ut t he use of fu c on l re ula ons in par t s of t he UK

S c r eg la ons are t ypic l y fr ame in su h a wa as t o r equir e a par t ic lar safet y fe t ur e

in a bui din t o be ‘a e u t e’ or ‘appr opr iat e’ For e ample, Engla d a d Wales Re ula on

B1 cont ains t he wordin :

‘Th bui din sh l be d sig e a d const r uct ed so t hat t here ar e ap r op at e pr ovisions

for t he e r ly war nin of fir e a d t he ap ro r iat e me ns of esc pe in c se of fire fr om t he

bui ding t o a pla e of safet y out sid t he bui din c pable of bein safely a d efe t iv ly

use at al mat er ial t imes

This t ype of e pres ion al ows a wid v riet y of int erpr et at ions of t he wor d ‘ap r op at e’a d

also al ows t he p s ibi t y of compe sa n for a d ficie c in on eleme t of t he me ns of

esc pe wit h e t ra pr ovision in a ot her eleme t

T he fu ctiona l n ture of th req ireme ts of th En la nd a d Wa les a nd North rn Irela nd

reg ula tions is emphasiz d in Ap r ov d Doc me t B a d Te h ic l Bo klet E in t he

fol owin st at eme t s:

‘Th Ap r ov d Doc me t s ar e int en e t o pr ovid g id nc for some of t he mor e

common bui din sit ua ons Howe er, t her e ma wel be alt ern t i e wa s of a hie in

compl a c wit h t he r eq ir eme t s Thus t here is no o l g t ion t o a opt a y part i ular

solut ion cont ain d in a A ppr ov d Doc me t if you prefer t o me t t he r ele a t

re uireme t in some ot her wa (Appr ov d Doc me t B)

Wit h r eg r d t o t he bui din cont rol syst em in Nor t her n Ir ela d, t her e is no par it y at t he

mome t bet we n t he Re ula ons in Engla d a d Wales a d t he Re ula ons in Nor t her n

Ir ela d, alt houg it is hope t hat t his wi be a hie e in t he fut ur e Te h ic l Bo klet E h s

be n pr epar ed by t he Depar t me t of t he En ir onme t or Nor t her n Ir ela d a d pr ovid s for

c r t ain met hods a d st an ar ds of bui dings, whic , if fol owe , wi sa sfy t he r equireme t s

of t he Bui din Re ula ons (Nort her n Ir ela d) 19 4

T he bui din contr ol sy stem in S otla d is base on the a ministr ation, by loc l

a thor iti s, of the Bui din s Sta d r ds (S otla d) R eg lations 19 0 (as ame d d) T hese

R eg la ons ap ly to th constr uc on, alter ation, e tension or d mol tion of a bui din or par t

of a buidin or to a y c a g of use, w hic attracts a dition l or mor e on rous r eq ir eme ts

Example – Eng land and Wales

Ap r ov d Doc me t B t o t he En la d a d Wales Bui din Re ula ons 2 0 is wid ly

re ard d as a compre e siv doc me t , whic c n be use by a y compet ent d sig

pr ofes ion l It combin s a e sy-t o-use ind x wit h st ep-by-st ep a d cr os -r efer en e

cont ent whic al ows a arc it ect or e gine r t o wor k out t he re uir eme t s for e c par t of

Br it ish St an ar ds in t he BS 5 8 series pr ovid simi ar g id n e for a v r iet y of bui din

t ypes a d oc upa t s Th y in lu e some infor ma on t hat is out sid t he sco e of t he cont ent

of Ap rov d Doc me t B

For e ample, BS 5 8 -6 cont ains re omme d t ions for pla s for fire servic use,

a die c /crowd cont rol pr e-peror ma c c e ks a d st af t rainin Lik wise, BS 5 8 - 1

h s informa on a d r ecomme d t ions about ma a eme t is u s su h as ma a eme t

resp nsibi it i s, commis ioning a d h n ov r of fir e safet y inst al a ons, fir e r ou n s,

emerg nc pr oc d r es, house e ping, et c Ma y of t hese it ems c n for m par t of a fir e

safet y e gin er in solu on a d ar e con e t ed t o t he risk as es me t pr oc s for t he pur pose

of compl a c wit h t he Fire Pr ec u ons (Wor kpla e) Re ula ons 199 (as ame d d)

refer r ed t o ab v

Other UK standard g uidance

Nor t hern Irela d Te h ic l Booklet E a d S ot t ish Te hnic l St an ard E also cont ain

g id n e (whic is spe ific t o t hose are s), whic is st raig t for war d t o fol ow

It is oft en simpler, q ic er a d c e per for a d sig er t o fol ow t he ap r opr iat e st an ar d

g id n e wh r e a ‘cod -compl a t ’bui din does not imp se e t ra cost s or u a c pt able

los of fu c on l t y Howe er, t her e ar e ma y sit ua ons wh r e t her e is a a v nt ag in

‘Th r e is no o l g t ion t o fol ow t he met hods or comply w ith the st an ar ds set out in t his

Te h ic l Bo k le If y ou pr efer y ou ma a o t a other w ay of me t i g t he r eq ir eme t s

of t he Bui din R eg la ons but y ou w il h v e t o d monst r at e t hat y ou h v sa sfie those

r eq ir eme t s by ot her me ns (Nor ther n Ir ela d Te h ic l Bo k let E)

The S ot t ish Re ula ons do not al ow v r ia ons of t he ‘d eme t o sa sfy’ pr ovisions

cont aine in Te h ic l St an ar ds but rely on a r ela a on pr oc d r e wh r e a d sig does

not me t t he st an ard g id nc Th y re uire t he appl c nt or a bui din war ra t t o ma e a

formal ap l c t ion t o t he loc l a t horit y for a r ela a on if t he pr op se a solut ion not

cont aine in t he Te h ic l Bo kle If t he r ela a on is r efuse , t he ap l c nt c n ap e l t o

t he S ot t ish Ex c t i e

Therefor e, Bui din Cont r ol in t he UK out side S ot l n has int r od c d t he con ept of

fu c on l r eq ir eme t s Fr om 19 5 t he le els of safet y t o be a hie e wer e giv n for t he

fir st t ime in fu c on l t er ms, i e t he le els t o be a hie e wer e giv n, but t he a t ual

met hod of a hie in t he le el was not pr escribe This al owe archit ect s, d v lo ers a d

ot her user s a far gr eat er fr ee om in t heir d sig s, ap l c t ions a d use of t he bui din

Par agraph 0.1 of Ap r ov d Doc me t B goes furt her in a k owle gin t hat a fir e

safet y e gin er in ap r oa h ma be t he only pr ac c l wa t o a hie e a sa sfa t or y

st an ar d of fir e safet y in some larg a d comple bui din s Simi arly, it also not es t hat fir e

safet y e gin er in ma also be suit able for solvin a pr oblem wit h a aspe t of t he bui din

desig whic ot herwise fol ows t he pr ovisions of Ap rov d Doc me t B or e ist i g

bui din s of spe ial archit ect ur al or hist oric int er est

Fr om t he ab v it c n be con lu e t hat c r r ent bui din r eg la ons in t he UK

a k owle g t he r ole of fir e safet y e gin er in as a useful t ool whic c n pr ovid

alt er na v ap r oa hes t o fire safet y t ha t hose in publ she g id n e Consid r at ion is

pr ese t l bein giv n t o t he p s ibi t y of ame din t he c r r ent S ot t ish Bui ding

Re ula ons t o brin t hem int o l n wit h t hose bui din re ula ons c r re t l in force in t he

r est of t he UK

Building Control Bodies

Un l t he 19 0s bui din cont r ol ap r ov l for bui din pla s a d wor k on-sit e in En la d

a d Wales was c r rie out only by loc l a t ho t ies Th Bui din Act 19 4 e able t he

S cr et ar y of St at e for t he Depar t me t of t he En ir onme t (now Th Ofic of t he Deput y

Pr ime Minist er ), t o ‘appr ov ’bui din cont r ol inspe t or s ot her t ha loc l a t ho t ies Du t o

insur an e const r aint s t his syst em was only a ai able for use wit h domest i bui din s u t il

19 7 aft er whic larg n mber s of in ivid al a d cor porat e bui din inspe t or s wer e

ap r ov d by t he gov r nme t Conse u n y bui din cont r ol is now c r r ie out in Engla d

a d Wales by b t h loc l a t ho t i s a d p v t e compa ies a d in ivid als In S ot l n a d

Nor t her n Ir ela d, bui din cont r ol is st il c r r ie out e clusiv ly by loc l a t ho t i s