Last month, we published an outline of changes to BS5839-1 relevant to nondomestic fire detection and alarm systems. On May 31, the British Standards Institute also updated its sibling standard: Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings, Part 6, code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises.
You may not have access to a copy of BS5839-6: 2013. If you’re wondering whether you need to buy it or whether to spend the money on a holiday (it’s not cheap), here’s a quick rundown of what’s covered.
What is it?
BS5839-6 is the standard to be adopted for any new or upgraded fire detection and fire alarm systems to be installed in domestic premises. The scope of the standard used to be focused on individual dwellings. In fact, the document was previously littered with the word “dwelling,” but in almost all instances, that word has been replaced by “premises.” The primary reason for this change is that the standard now covers sheltered housing premises, including the common parts.
Who should use it?
It’s quite a technical document, and it isn’t written for the lay person to interpret. It’s primarily aimed at architects, alarm system designers, installers, electricians, and other building professionals. Although it’s for domestic premises, many of which are exempt from fire risk assessment requirements, there’s value here for fire risk assessors who could be involved in assessments of communal areas in blocks of flats, sheltered housing, and houses of multiple occupation.
What has changed?
The new edition, which replaces BS5839-6: 2004, introduces a number of technical changes. With so many years between the versions, it’s no surprise that updates have been made throughout to cross-reference current standards and to remove outdated references. And even though it’s billed as a technical update (not a full review), there are some more significant changes.
As mentioned above, the inclusion of sheltered housing communal spaces and facilities has been a major source of additional advice within the document. A new clause (9.1.5) is dedicated to this topic and adds about two pages to the total. Also, there are tweaks and alterations throughout the standards to accommodate sheltered housing as a new subject. Detailed thought has gone into the arrangements that need to be made for automatic detection and the sounding of alarms. There are conflicting needs here:
New recommendations are included to ensure that, in sheltered housing, fire alarm signals transmitted to an alarm receiving centre via a social alarm system cannot be delayed by other alarm signals originating from the fire origin or elsewhere.
Addressable fire detection and fire alarm systems are recommended for sheltered housing, with connections between detectors within dwellings and common parts. Sounders or smoke alarms are recommended for the main bedroom of a sheltered flat or house to improve audibility.
Here are some more recommendations:
Though the BSI states that this document isn’t the result of a full review, there are some significant and wide-ranging changes. If the standard is a key reference text for your business, it’s worth making sure you have the 2013 version.
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In part 6 what is ” a very large dwelling” as this makes a huge difference. For instance is a block of say thirty flats considered to be a very large building or do you consider each flat as a separate dwelling.
Tommy Lovell
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Part 6 of BS5839 does not provide recommendations for fire alarm systems in communal parts of blocks of flats. Recommendations are however provided for common parts and communal facilities in sheltered housing unless, architecturally and in terms of facilities the premises are no different from general needs blocks of flats. As to the definition of ‘very large’ dwelling, this term is used in several places in the standard and usually explained in the context of the specific recommendation where it’s been used, e.g. ‘in a very large property such as a country house or mansion, and in most houses of multiple… Read more »
I think this ambiguity can be addressed by providing estimates or approximations of actual values. By defining what “large” is can clear up a lot of concerns people have as it presently seems too subjective a term to use.
Thank you very much for your reply and your comments are appreciated. However our problem is that we have been asked to install a system in a single, quite modern building which consists of thirty five normal flats which are rented to the general public. We would class this as a large building should BS5839 part 1 apply or part 6?
Tommy Lovell
BS 5839-6 applies to forms of domestic premises, including individual flats and maisonettes. It does not apply to the communal parts of blocks of flats or maisonettes. BS5839-1 provides recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around buildings, other than domestic premises. On the above basis you may need to use both in your scenario of a block of 35 flats. But note that for specific advice you would be well advised to read page 28/ 29 of ‘Fire Safety in Purpose Built Blocks of flats’ http://www.local.gov.uk/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=71e152a6-9e0a-4810-aee6-498167664f79&groupId=10171 which elaborates… Read more »
@Claire Corbett, thanks for the post. I think its always better if we place Fire alarms and smoke detectors in the middle of house so that it could detect fire and smoke easily and everyone could hear the sound of it. I am sure these standards will help improve the safey.
I’m definitely with Sunita on this. These updates make sense and I’m glad to hear of them, actually. Thanks for the very informative post, Claire!
I agree with you all . It is extremely important that we are having discussions and updates of improving our domestic fire alarm standards.