London Fire Safety Guidance for Houses in ... - Harrow Council

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• Consider statistical data on fire incidence in each type ofdwelling/room• Occupant characteristics are relevant• No risk low enough to obviate the need for some form of detection &warning system in the houseSPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONSRisk of death from fire in HMOs is 8-10 times greater than in singlefamilydwellings. There is also a greater risk of fire occurring in flatsthan houses. The increased risk for bedsit and flat occupiers isrelated to storey height, and escalates where over 2 storeys inheight.Smoke in escape routes is the most serious threat to safe escape,being overcome by smoke or gas is the most common cause ofdeath from a fire. NB: smoke detectors are to be installed in thecirculation spaces of all dwellings.50% of all fatalities occur in the room where the fire originates – inHMOs this figure is 60%.Nearly 50% of all fatal fires start in living rooms or dining rooms.30% of fatal fires start in bedrooms.15% of fatal fires start in kitchensGreatest risk of death from fire is when occupants are asleep.Fires resulting from smoking are the most common cause of deathand the second most common cause of fire. In most cases, the itemignited is furniture or bedding.Space heating appliances are the second most common cause offire deaths.Fires from electrical appliances/wiring cause 8% of deathsMost prevalent single cause of electrical fires (other than cookersand heaters) are electric blankets.Elderly people and children are at significantly greater risk.Socially deprived people on low incomes at greater risk generally.Arson is a growing problem, particularly in HMOs.These principles and statistical facts must be taken into account whenspecifying a system for a particular property or property grouping.DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS/GRADES OF SYSTEMBS 5839: Part 6 grades the systems to be used in dwellings according to theassumed risk and the complexity of the system required. For the purpose ofspecifying fire detection system and alarm system and the associatedengineering design parameters there are six grades. These grades aredefined as follows:Grade A This is a fire detection and alarm system that is designed andinstalled in accordance with the recommendations of BS 5839: Part 1: 2002,except clauses relating to alarm audibility, alarm warnings for the hearing-London Fire Safety Guidance for Houses in Multiple OccupationVersion 2: 06/06
impaired, standby supplies, manual call points, and radio-linked systems,which are replaced by Part 6.Grade B This is a fire detection and alarm system including detectors(other than smoke or heat alarms), alarm sounders, and control and indicatingequipment which either conforms to BS EN 54-2 (power supply to BS EN 54-4), or to a simpler type laid out in Annex C of BS 5839: Part 6.Grade C This is a system of fire detectors and sounders (which may becombined in the form of smoke alarms) connected to a common power supplywith both mains and a standby supply with an element of central control. e.g.a small dedicated fire control panel.Grade D This is a system of one or more mains powered smoke (or heat)alarms each with integral standby supply. These are designed to operate inthe event of mains failure and therefore could be connected to the locallighting circuit rather than an independent circuit at the dwelling’s maindistribution board.Grade E This is a system of one or more mains powered smoke (or heat)alarms with no standby power supply. This grade of system will not function ifmains power is disconnected or interrupted. It must therefore be wired to adedicated circuit at the dwelling’s main distribution board.Grade F This is a system of one or more battery powered smoke alarms.These are not recommended in HMOs.NOTE: In Grades D, E, and F where more than alarm is installed they are tobe interlinked.Mixed Grade SystemsInstallations where more than one alarm system is installed to serve the wholedwelling are termed ‘mixed systems’. These systems are installed to meetdiffering life safety objectives and may be to differing Grades, having regard tothe need to avoid false alarms from one dwelling unit affecting all occupiers.Table 1 of BS 5839 Part 6 recommends a mixed system for HMOs of 3storeys and above [Grade A communal areas & Grade D within individualdwelling units].LEVEL OF PROTECTION: TYPES OF SYSTEMWhilst BS 5839 : Part 6 : 2004 details various levels of coverage for detection,only LD2 type coverage is appropriate for HMOs. LD2 type systemsincorporate fire detectors in all circulation spaces forming part of an escaperoute and in all rooms or areas considered to present a high fire risk on riskanalysis (see Risk Analysis).London Fire Safety Guidance for Houses in Multiple OccupationVersion 2: 06/06
Page 1 and 2: London Fire Safety Guidance for Hou
Page 3 and 4: Two Storey HMOsRequirement Fire res
Page 5 and 6: Secondary meansof escapeNot require
Page 7 and 8: Three and Four Storey HMOsRequireme
Page 9 and 10: Secondary meansof escapeNot require
Page 11 and 12: Five Storey HMOsRequirement Fire re
Page 13 and 14: Extinguishersfire blankets&Secondar
Page 15 and 16: Five or Six Storey HMOs(Secondary e
Page 17 and 18: CupboardsstoresandWhere in staircas
Page 19: Fire Detection and Alarm SystemsINT
Page 23 and 24: Houses Converted to Self-Contained
Page 25 and 26: Bedsit -Type Houses in Multiple Occ
Page 27 and 28: Houses Where There Is A Mixture Of
Page 29 and 30: Mains wired smoke alarms with batte
Page 31 and 32: BRITISH STANDARDS RELATING TO FIRE
Page 33 and 34: DoorsTECHNICAL POINTS APPLICABLE TO
Page 35 and 36: FramesSize: Should not be less than
Page 37 and 38: identical to those in the door manu
Page 39 and 40: made for independent and protected
Page 41 and 42: Surface FinishesWALLS, PARTITIONS,
Page 43 and 44: Material/ProductA Brickwork, blockw
Page 45 and 46: Staircase LightingNormal staircase
Page 47 and 48: Secondary Means of EscapeINTRODUCTI
Page 49 and 50: Via RoofEscape may be via the roofs
Page 51 and 52: Unacceptable Means of EscapeThe cur
Page 53 and 54: Recommended maximum travel distance
Page 55 and 56: Diagram 1 : Escape in more than one
Page 57 and 58: Initial dead endIn any situation wh
Page 59 and 60: from any point at which that angle
Page 61 and 62: Glossary of Fire Safety TermsAccess
Page 63: Suitably qualified person See Compe

London Fire Safety Guidance for Houses in ... - Harrow Council

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