Items where Subject is "Section 15: Access to buildings for firefighting personnel – flats"
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- Section 15: Access to buildings for firefighting personnel – flats (20)
In low rise buildings without deep basements, access for firefighting personnel is typically achieved by providing measures for fire service vehicle access in Section 13 and means of escape.
Minimum fire resistance REI60 from both sides with E30 Sa fire doors
Minimum fire resistance REI 120 from accommodation side and REI60 from inside the shaft with E60 Sa fire doors
NOTES:
1.Outlets from a fire main should be located in the firefighting lobby or, in the case of a shaft serving flats, in the firefighting stairway (see Diagram b).
2.Smoke control should be provided in accordance with BS9999 or, where the firefighting shaft only serves flats, the provisions for smoke control given in paragraph 3.49 may be followed instead.
3.A firefighting lift is required if the building has a floor more than 18m above, or more than 10m below, fire service vehicle access level.
4.This diagram is only to illustrate the basic components and is not meant to represent the only acceptable layout. The firefighting shaft should be constructed generally in accordance with section 6 of BS 9999.
5.For the minimum fire resistance of lift doors see Table C1.
See paras 15.2,15.8 and 15.9
All firefighting shafts should have fire mains with outlet connections and valves at every storey.
A firefighting lift installation includes all of the following.
a. Lift car.
b. Lift well.
c. Lift machinery space.
d. Lift control system.
e. Lift communications system.
The lift shaft should be constructed in accordance with Section 6 of BS 9999.
Firefighting lift installations should conform to BS EN 81-72 and BS EN 81-20.
The fire and rescue service should be able to manually open and close rolling shutters without the use of a ladder.
To assist the fire service to identify each floor in a block of flats with a top storey more than 11m above ground level (see Diagram D6), floor identification signs and flat indicator signs should be provided.
A secure information box provides a secure facility to store information about a building for use by the fire service during an incident.
Blocks of flats (purpose group 1(a)) with a top storey more than 11m above ground level (see Diagram D6 in Appendix D) should be provided with a secure information box.
NOTE: Consideration should also be given to other buildings with large, complex or uncommon layouts where the provision of a secure information box may be beneficial.
A building with a storey more than 18m above the fire and rescue service vehicle access level should have one or more firefighting shafts, each containing a firefighting lift (Diagram 15.1). The number and location of firefighting shafts should comply with paragraphs 15.4 to 15.7. Firefighting shafts are not required to serve a basement that is not large or deep enough to need one (see paragraph 15.3 and Diagram 15.2).
Buildings in which firefighting shafts should be provided,
showing which storeys need to be served >18m >10m
a. Any building The upper storeys in any building with a storey more than 18m above fire service vehicle access level
b. Any building The basement storeys in any building with a basement more than 10m below fire service vehicle access level
c. Any building The basement storey(s) in any building with two or more basements each exceeding 900m2
Fire service vehicle access level
Two or more basement storeys each exceeding 900m2
Extent of firefighting Extent of firefighting lift stair
NOTES:
1.Height excludes any top storey(s) consisting exclusively of plant rooms.
2.Firefighting shafts should serve all floors through which they pass.
See para 15.2
The box should meet all of the following conditions.
a. Sized to accommodate all necessary information.
b. Easily located and identified by firefighters.
c. Secured to resist unauthorised access but readily accessible by firefighters.
d. Protected from the weather.
15.21 Best practice guidance can be found in Sections 2 to 4 of the Code of Practice for the Provision of Premises Information Boxes in Residential Buildings published by the Fire Industry Association (FIA).
Best practice guidance can be found in Sections 2 to 4 of the Code of Practice for the Provision of Premises Information Boxes in Residential Buildings published by the Fire Industry Association (FIA).
A building with basement storeys should have firefighting shafts in accordance with the following.
a. There is a basement more than 10m below the fire and rescue service vehicle access level. The firefighting shafts should contain firefighting lifts.
b. There are two or more basement storeys, each with a minimum area of 900m2. The firefighting shafts do not need to include firefighting lifts.
The building’s height and size determine whether firefighting shafts also serve upper storeys.
NOTES:
1.Hose laying distance should be measured from the fire main outlet along the route suitable for laying hose. If this route is not known, the distance should be taken at two-thirds of the direct distance
2.The fire main outlet should be located according to Section 14.
See para 15.7
Firefighting shafts should serve all storeys through which they pass.
In buildings where a firefighting shaft is required, a minimum of two firefighting shafts should be provided in either of the following situations.
a. A building that has both of the following.
i. A storey with a floor area of 900m2 or more.
ii. A storey 18m or more above the fire and rescue service vehicle access level.
b. A building with a basement storey which is more than 900m2.
Firefighting shafts and protected stairways should be positioned such that every part of each storey more than 18m above the fire and rescue service vehicle access level complies with the maximum distances given in paragraph 15.7. Distances should be measured from the fire main outlet on a route suitable for laying a hose.
NOTE: If the internal layout is not known, the distance should be measured at two-thirds of the direct distance.
In any building, the hose laying distance should meet all of the following conditions.
a. A maximum of 60m from the fire main outlet in a firefighting shaft (see Diagram 15.3).
b. Additionally, where sprinklers have not been provided in accordance with Appendix E, the hose laying distance should be a maximum of 45m from a fire main outlet in a protected stairway (although this does not imply that the protected stairway needs to be designed as a firefighting shaft (see Diagram 15.3)).
Firefighting stairs and firefighting lifts should be approached from either of the following.
a. A firefighting lobby.
b. A protected corridor or protected lobby that complies with the following guidance.
i. Means of escape (Section 3).
ii. Compartmentation (Section 7).
Both the stair and lobby of the firefighting shaft should be provided with a means of venting smoke and heat (see clause 27.1 of BS 9999).
Only services associated with the firefighting shaft, such as ventilation systems and lighting for the firefighting shafts, should pass through or be contained within the firefighting shaft.
Doors of a firefighting lift landing should be a maximum of 7.5m from the door to the firefighting stair (Diagram 15.1).
Firefighting shafts should achieve a minimum fire resistance of REI 120. A minimum of REI 60 is acceptable for either of the following (see Diagram 15.1).
a. Constructions separating the firefighting shaft from the rest of the building.
b. Constructions separating the firefighting stair, firefighting lift shaft and firefighting lobby.