Sprinkler requirement in residential building??

[Guest Paul Hodgson]

I have been advised that I need a sprinkler system in my home due to a attic conversion having a floor level above 7.5m from the ground floor. Due to the Building regulations being woolly, is their any way I can use extinguishers or fire protect the escape route.

3 years ago I was involved with a renovation of a 4 story building which had student accommadation in and the sprinkler system was omitted and extinguishers were used.

Please can anyone help, 

Regards

Paul

[Tom Sutton]

A dwelling house having a floor level above 7.5m from the ground floor you require a fully protected means of escape to the ground floor and an alternative means of escape from the top floor or you could consider installing a domestic sprinkler system to the whole of the house. The BCO may consider another type of automatic fire protection but fire extinguishers would never be accepted as a compensatory feature.  

Check out Approved Document B - Volume 1

Edited October 9, 2015 by Tom Sutton

[AnthonyB]

You need a friendly Approved Inspector for the Building Regs approval, that way non compliant projects with no suitable alternative provisions can get the OK. Sadly increasing numbers of student builds and conversions are being passed despite being non compliant, it will only come out in the wash when it all goes wrong.

[Guest Dec'22 - Fire reg updates]

Hi all, 

Could I please ask for your opinion / any helpful suggestions you might be able to share?

I am starting a loft conversion project (in my single family Victorian house) which will surpass the 7.5m single resi dwelling height mark when it comes to the new Dec'22 fire safety regulations.

I am reaching out to a few building control / fire safety advisors/engineer teams now to see if anyone has already had experience with similar projects and advised on alternatives to full sprinkler systems (ie. via protected staircase, smoke and heat fire alarms in all rooms, emergency lighting on every floor landing and via an alternative exit route on the >7.5m loft floor). 

More specifically, I've went through the Approved Document B and would like to explore the 2.6.a.i-ii option to >7.5m height, focussing on "alternative escape route" rather than Document B1 - 2.6.b route, focussing on sprinkler systems in accordance with BS 9251 as an alternative. Has anyone had any experience with this or would you know a good fire safety advisor / building control officer who is recommended and can advise? 

 

Thank you, 

best, 

RB

[AnthonyB]

Alternative escape route is traditionally an external steel stair - no shortcuts like throw out ladders, etc. You would be advised to consult a fire engineer as increasingly building inspectors will require deviation from the ADB recommendations to be contained in a strategy by a chartered fire engineer with fire safety design insurance.