BS 9991:2015 Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice
BS 9991 on fire safety in residential buildings exists to help people put adequate fire safety measures in place in residential buildings.
BS 9991 includes fire detection and alarm systems and fixed fire-fighting systems. The 2015 revision provides a full technical update, to take into account new and revised fire safety standards published since its last publication, in 2011.
What is BS 9991 - Fire safety in residential buildings?
BS 9991 on fire safety in residential buildings gives recommendations and guidance on the design, management, and use of residential buildings so that they attain reasonable standards of fire safety for all the people who are in and around them. It covers:
- Dwellings (single-family dwelling houses, self-contained flats, or maisonettes)
- Residential accommodation blocks (e.g. for students or hospital staff), with individual bedrooms and the provision of kitchen/sanitary facilities constructed within a fire compartment
- Specialized housing
BS 9991 applies to the design of new buildings, and to material alterations, extensions, and material changes of use to existing buildings. It does not cover hotels, caravans/mobile homes, hospitals, residential care homes, places of lawful detention, or hostels.
BS 9991 on fire safety in residential buildings also provides guidance on the ongoing management of fire safety in a building throughout the entire lifecycle of the building. This includes guidance for designers to ensure that the overall design of a building assists and enhances the management of fire safety. The recommendations and guidance given are intended to safeguard the lives of building occupants and firefighters.
What’s new on BS 9991 - Fire safety in residential buildings?
BS 9991:2015 on fire safety in residential buildings presents some major changes, which include:
- Change from “sheltered or extra care housing” to “specialized housing” and expansion of related recommendations
- Expanded recommendations for escape from basements
- Updating of recommendations relating to lifts
- New recommendations for power supplies
- New recommendations for cluster accommodation
- New guidance on the management of additional needs and disabilities
- General update to take into account new and revised standards published since 2011
Who should use BS 9991 - Fire safety in residential buildings?
BS 9991 on fire safety in residential buildings was written for:
- Architects
- Fire safety engineers
- Fire and rescue service
- Fire risk assessors
- Building control officers
- Installers of fire and smoke alarms
- Certification and installation scheme inspectors
How does BS 9991 relate to BS 9999?
BS 9991 complements and aligns with BS 9999, which is a code of practice for fire safety in the design, management, and use of buildings that are not residential.
