Fire Standards & Regulations Are you confused?

Transcription

1 Fire Standards & Regulations Are you confused? Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order Local Licensing Requirements BS : 2013 Building Regulations Document B LACORS Fire Safety Guidance

2 Fire Alarm Systems There is no risk low enough to negate the need for some form of system Single household up to 4 storey Grade D, Category LD3 Shared House HMO up to 4 storey - Grade D, LD3 + Kitchen, Lounge, cellar Shared House HMO 5 6 storey - Grade A, Category LD2 + all risk rooms

3 Fire Alarm Systems Bedsit HMO up to 2 storey mixed system Grade D, Category LD2 in common areas + heat alarm in bedsits. Grade D alarm in each bedsit Bedsit HMO 3 to 6 storey mixed system Grade A, Category LD2 in common areas + heat alarm in bedsits. Grade D alarm in each bedsit

4 Fire Alarm Systems 2 storey house converted to flats, not to Building Regs mixed system Grade D, Category LD2 in common areas + heat alarm in entrance to flat Grade D, Category LD3 in each flat 3-6 storey house converted to flats, not to Building Regs mixed system Grade A, Category LD2 in common areas + heat alarm in entrance to flat. Grade D, Category LD3 in each flat

5 BS :2013 What is it? Guidance for selection, siting & installation of fire alarm systems for dwellings The Best Practice guide Building Regulations & other guidance based on this standard

6 Grades & Category Grade of system - the type of system to be installed... Battery, Mains only, Mains with back-up etc Category of system - the extent of the system... The number of alarms installed & where

7 Grades of system Grade A similar to commercial type fire alarm systems Sounder circuit Detector circuit Manual Call Point circuit Mains power supply Central control panel with zoning All circuits at 24VDC in fire resistant cable

8 Grades of system Grade D - mains smoke/heat alarms with an integral standby supply Standard PVC cable Rechargeable cells OR PP3 Battery Mains power supply

9 Categories of system LD3 a system incorporating detectors in all circulation spaces that form part of the escape routes from the dwelling. Hallways, Landings Open Plan Lounges, Sitting Room

10 Category LD3 Optical or Multi-Sensor Hallway Landing

11 Categories of system LD2 a system incorporating detectors in all circulation spaces that form part of the escape routes from the dwelling, and in all specified rooms and areas that present a high fire risk to occupants. Same as LD3 plus high risk rooms e.g Living Room & Kitchen

12 Category LD2 Kitchen Optical or Multi-Sensor Hallway Landing Ionisation, Optical or Multi-Sensor Heat Living Room

13 Mixed System Grade D Separate System in each flat Flat 3 Escape Route Flat 4 Smoke alarms in escape route Escape Flat 1 Route Flat 2 Heat alarms connected to escape route system

14 Mixed System Grade A & D Grade A system smoke detectors + heat detector in each dwelling Separate Grade D alarm system in each dwelling

15 The problem with Hard-wiring Smoke alarm on landing Mains Power Supply Smoke alarm in hallway

16 1st floor light pendant RF interconnect Smoke alarm on landing No cables & trunking Ground floor light pendant Smoke alarm in hallway Radio signal interconnects the system

17 RadioLINK Alarm Controller Test, Locate & Silence from one button Fire or CO indicator to easily identify source of alarm Memory feature Engineers Mode for interrogation

18 Other Applications Relay to trigger other devices Warden Call Systems Strobe light Sounder Door closer/opener Panel system Smoke vent

19 Switched Input Module to activate alarms from a sprinkler system

20 Promoting professional fire alarm system installation in dwellings with The Aico Fire Products Trained Installer Scheme Aico Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics Europe s Leader in Residential Fire + Gas Detection Ei Electronics, Shannon, Ireland Made in Ireland

21 All combustion processes generate CO Natural Gas / LPG ppm Oil / Liquid Up to 1,000ppm Solid fuel Up to 20,000 ppm

22 Tragic Incident Bedroom 2 1 woman poisoned By CO Bedroom 1 1 man died due to CO poisoning Boiler flue dislodged in boiler room Boiler slow to fire-up resulting in a build up of gas in firebox. Boiler eventually ignited, a small explosion caused the flue to become displaced. Exhaust gases escaped into the boiler room Fumes leaked into 2 bedrooms above 1 man died and there was also a near miss. A CO alarm would almost certainly have saved them.

23 Tragic Incident A flue leading from a boiler had been fixed just below the bathroom window of a seaside hotel bedroom. The window had been screwed down but was later undone fumes entered the bedroom 1 man died from CO poisoning Flue and terminal were installed in the wrong place and in the wrong way. Two employees of the installer company were charged with manslaughter and received fines. Statements from family included... "We hope everyone who reads this will buy a carbon monoxide alarm and pass the message on."

24 A near miss Lady was complaining of flu-like symptoms CO Alarm was fitted and it did respond. Gas engineer could not find a problem claimed CO Alarm was faulty New digital alarm showed high levels of CO Exhaust gases were coming from the flat below A Near miss showing the value of fitting CO alarms

25 Flues in voids existing installations Gas Safe Technical Bulletin 008 Edition 3 issued April 2013 Inspection hatches must be fitted, OR A void monitoring system should be installed How many will be?

26 Flues in voids an alternative Install a CO alarm in all habitable rooms that the flue passes through

27 Owned by the tenant rarely serviced? Gas Cookers Can emit significant amounts of CO 400ppm not uncommon! Low level CO poisoning can cause long-term health problems Can this be ignored as being outside of your responsibility?

28 Corgi Report 2009 Just over 72% of installers said they have discovered a CO leak on a customer s appliance Nearly 50% of CORGI registered installers say they recommend that their customers install an audible CO alarm through increased awareness of CO, it is hoped that public knowledge about the importance of installing an audible CO alarm will increase.

29 What the Regulatory bodies say Gas Safe Register recommends the use of audible carbon monoxide alarms marked with British Standard EN It should also have a British or European approval mark, such as a Kitemark. England & Wales Building Regulations requires a CO alarm to be installed when a new solid fuel appliance is installed or when an existing one is replaced Northern Ireland Building Regulations requires the installation of a CO alarm when any fuel burning appliance is installed new and existing installations Scotland Building Regulations requires the installation of a CO alarm when any fuel burning appliance is installed new and existing installations

30 What the Boiler Manufacturers say Quote from Baxi website For you and your family's safety, it is advisable to fit a carbon monoxide alarm in each room in your home that has a gas appliance. Response to enquiry to Worcester Bosch We don't have a specific company stance on it [installing CO alarms] - we would always refer customers to Gas Safe Register's guidelines. Quote from COCAA section of Vaillant website Fit an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm. CO alarms need to meet European safety standards and must be audible.

31 Standards & Regulations BS EN : 2010 BS EN : 2010 Product Standards for CO Alarms BS EN 50292: 2002 Code of Practice for siting and installation

32 Choosing a CO alarm Battery powered alarm Lower purchase cost Easier to install Easier to remove Battery may have to be replaced with some products Alarm has to be replaced after 7 years No interconnect with most products No signalling option with most products

33 Choosing a CO alarm Mains powered alarm No batteries to replace Less likely to be removed No back-up if mains fails Higher purchase price Higher installation cost Alarm has to be replaced after 5/6 years No interconnect option No signalling option

34 Choosing a CO alarm Mains powered with back-up Rechargeable back-up cells No batteries to replace Less likely to be removed Replace sensor after 5/6 years Hard wire and RF interconnect option Can be interconnected with smoke alarms Signalling via a relay option available Higher purchase price Same installation cost as mains only

35 Where to site CO alarms In all rooms where there is an appliance 1 st Priority open-flued or flue-less appliances 2 nd Priority where people spend most time 3 rd Priority where appliance is most used Open flued appliance

36 Siting CO Alarms BS EN allows wall or ceiling mounting BRE GBG 30 recommendations based on trial results... Ideally, site on the ceiling at least 300mm from wall or other obstruction - the easiest siting position Site 1-3m from the appliance Ceiling mounted Recommended Siting position

37 Wall Mounting If it must be on the wall: a). High as possible 150mm from ceiling b). Higher than doors or windows Between 1 3m from source of CO. Not easy to meet these restrictions

38 Siting CO Alarms Where the appliance is in a confined space e.g a boiler room

39 Interconnecting alarms If only one CO alarm is installed audibility could be a problem Interconnection with smoke alarms can overcome this Alarms not interconnected Alarms interconnected

40 Interconnecting CO & Smoke Alarms Only with a switch Hard-wired RadioLINK

41 Thank you