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Fire safety is an essential consideration, so we have a range of fire standards to help your organization meet their fire safety needs. Our fire standards cover a wide range of aspects of fire safety, including emergency lighting, fire detection and alarm systems and fire-fighting equipment, helping your business comply with legislation and regulations.

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BS 9991: A comprehensive update to the UK’s essential fire safety standard
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BS 9991: A comprehensive update to the UK’s essential fire safety standard

The latest revision of BS 9991 - the UK's key fire safety standard for residential buildings - represents a critical advancement in fire safety regulation.  As fire safety concerns have evolved, the new edition incorporates essential updates designed to enhance safety in the design, management, and use of residential buildings.  Here, we’ll explore the significance of the upcoming BS 9991:2024 Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings - Code of practice, the key changes being introduced, and why adopting this standard is vital for anyone involved in residential building safety. Get your copy of the standard here. What is BS 9991? BS 9991 is a code of practice standard that offers comprehensive guidance and recommendations for ensuring fire safety in residential buildings. First introduced as a British Standard in 2011, it serves as a primary reference for achieving fire protection measures, safeguarding lives, and minimizing property damage in the event of a fire. It covers a wide range of building types, from apartment blocks and flats to residential care homes. The objective of the standard is twofold: To ensure an adequate standard of life safety in the event of a fire, focusing on occupant safety, firefighter safety, and the protection of emergency services. To offer property protection, safeguarding not only the building in question but also adjacent properties, businesses, and the environment. BS 9991 bridges the gaps between different regulatory frameworks in the UK, providing a unified approach to fire safety that can be applied nationally. Explore our library of fire-related standards and the benefits they can bring to your organization by visiting our Fire topic page.  What are the key changes in BS 9991:2024? The upcoming  2024 revision brings significant updates.  These reflect the increasing complexity of modern building designs and the evolving knowledge of fire behaviour, materials, and fire safety systems.  The key changes include: Expanded scope: BS 9991 now covers residential care homes, recognizing the unique evacuation needs and fire safety challenges unique to those properties.  Explicit exclusions on timber have been removed: The scope of the standard has been limited in terms of reaction-to-fire classifications of load-bearing elements of structure to better reflect the available evidence regarding the use of mass timber in medium and high residential buildings. Revised guidance for sprinklers and single-stair buildings: Updates include a new height limit for single-stair buildings and adjustments to sprinkler installation guidelines. European classifications for fire doors: National fire door classifications have been replaced with European classifications to ensure consistency and reliability in fire resistance. Enhanced recommendations for smoke control and evacuation lifts: Improved provisions for smoke control systems and detailed recommendations for evacuation lifts, making tall buildings safer in fire emergencies. Updates on ancillary areas, kitchens, and external wall systems: The recommendations for these areas have been revised to account for the latest safety practices. The 2024 edition offers a robust framework for fire safety in residential buildings, accommodating advancements in building technology while maintaining practicality. For more detailed information on BS 9991:2024, you can download the free executive briefing here. What are the benefits of the revised BS 9991:2024? BS 9991:2024 provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date recommendations for fire safety in residential buildings, ensuring the highest level of protection for both occupants and the building itself.  The revised standard addresses the complexities of modern building design, including mixed-use and high-rise structures, offering solutions for even the most challenging fire safety scenarios.  The 2024 edition integrates the latest advancements in fire safety knowledge, providing a future-proof approach to the design and management of residential buildings. Who should use BS 9991:2024 and why?  BS 9991:2024 is essential for a wide range of professionals involved in the design of new buildings, as well as material alterations, extensions, and changes of use to existing buildings. Users of the standard include:  Designers and Architects: BS 9991 offers a clear and authoritative guide to integrating fire safety into the design process, ensuring that buildings are constructed with the latest fire safety technologies and methods. Fire Safety Engineers and Risk Assessors: The revised standard provides detailed guidance on fire safety risk assessments and offers updated methodologies to tackle emerging fire safety challenges. Building Owners and Managers: Following BS 9991 helps maintain legal compliance, reduce liability, and ensure the protection of residents and properties in the event of a fire. Fire and Rescue Services: BS 9991 helps fire services by providing standardized design and operational procedures that make firefighting and rescue operations more efficient and effective. Whether you are designing a new building or making material changes to an existing one, this standard provides the tools to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations and to mitigate fire risks. Stay informed, stay up to date, and ensure your buildings meet the highest standards of fire safety. Get your copy of BS 9991:2024 today.Read more
The changing status of the BS 476 standard series: A summary
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The changing status of the BS 476 standard series: A summary

The BS 476 series is a long-standing, multi-part British Standard. It defines fire testing methods for building materials and structures, primarily focusing on fire resistance and reaction to fire. The BS 476 series has been a key standard in the UK for evaluating the performance of construction materials when exposed to fire. The background of BS 476 First published in 1932 to provide a testing method for assessing the fire resistance of building materials, over the years, the standard expanded into multiple parts, covering various aspects of fire performance, including ignition resistance, flame spread, and heat release. The BS 476 series evolved in response to major fire incidents, changing regulatory needs, and advancements in fire science, and came to be seen as cutting-edge. The 1970s and 1980s saw significant updates, especially with the publication of Part 7 (1971) and Parts 20 to 24 (1987). Those updates introduced more precise methods for testing spread of flame and fire resistance respectively. Several revisions were made to align with the evolving safety expectations set by the Building Regulations of England and Wales. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, BS 476 began to be gradually replaced or supplemented by European standards (the BS EN 13501 series of classification standards and relevant test standards) as the UK moved toward European fire testing procedures. Key parts of the BS 476 series The BS 476 series is divided into multiple parts, each focusing on a different fire performance characteristic. Key parts include: BS 476-4: Non-combustibility test for materials. BS 476-6: Fire propagation test, assessing how much heat is released by a material. BS 476-7: Surface spread of flame classification (Classes 1 to 4). BS 476-11: Ignitability testing. BS 476-20 to 24: Fire resistance tests for structures, including load-bearing walls, floors, ceilings, and fire doors. A change of status The biggest change to the status of BS 476 occurred in the late 2000s, when a number of parts were proposed for withdrawal following the publication of superseding British adoptions of European standards. In response, BSI received representations from industry expressing concern at the withdrawal, although there was recognition that, through its obligations as a member of CEN, withdrawal of conflicting national standards is a requirement. However, there was concern the status of 'withdrawn' could be interpreted to mean that the affected parts could no longer be used. Those parts were still referred to in the government's guidance document Approved Document B (ADB) and were also used extensively in other countries outside of the EU with an historic link to the United Kingdom. BSI, therefore, withdrew the parts as required (the withdrawn documents are still available to purchase on BSI Knowledge), but took the step of amending the foreword of each part to state: This standard has been superseded by the current BS EN XXX, but it has been retained based on legitimate need for the standards within non-EU markets. As BS 476 was a conflicting national standard under CEN rules, updating and revising the parts wasn’t possible, although industry still had the option to continue using them instead of the relevant BS ENs, where appropriate. Transitioning to European fire testing standards in the UK Although the UK has now left the European Union, BS 476 has not been reinstated as the primary fire testing standard. This is due to BSI, as the UK’s national standards body (NSB), remaining a full member of CEN-CENELEC, which is an organization separate from the European Union. BSI therefore participates in European standardization on the same basis as before Brexit. UK building regulations have previously been amended to align with EN 13501-1 for reaction to fire classification, requiring materials to be classified under the Euroclass system (A1 to F) rather than the traditional BS 476 classifications . However, some UK-specific applications, such as in refurbishment projects or legacy systems, were still able to reference BS 476 tests. One area that the inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell Tower Fire focussed on was the inclusion in building regulation guidance of national classification system, using BS 476, and the European system, using the EN. Following a consultation undertaken in 2024, the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced the removal of the relevant parts of the BS 476 series from the statutory guidance to the building regulations Approved Document B: Fire Safety. This decision reflects a shift towards alternative standards and does not imply any fault or wrongdoing by BSI, nor does it suggest that BSI contributed to the causes of past fires. The first tranche of standards covering reaction to fire will be removed 2nd March 2025, with a second tranche covering fire resistance being removed 2nd September 2029. Those being removed on 2nd March 2025 are: BS 476-3 - [see below] BS 476-6 – superseded by BS EN 13823 BS 476-7 – superseded by BS EN 13823 BS 476-11 – superseded by BS EN ISO 1182 Those being removed on 2 September 2029 are: BS 476-8 – superseded by BS EN 1634-1:2014 A1:2018 BS 476-20 – superseded by BS EN 1363-1:2020, BS EN 1363-2:1999 BS 476-21 – superseded by BS EN 1365-1:2012, BS EN 1365-2:2014, BS EN 1365-3:2000, BS EN 1365-4:1999 BS 476-22 – superseded by BS EN 1634-1:2014 A1:2018 BS 476-23 – superseded by BS EN 1634-1:2014 A1:2018 BS 476-24 – superseded by BS EN 1366-1:2014 A1:2020, BS EN 1366-8, BS EN 1366-9 BS 476-31.1 – superseded by BS EN 1634-3:2004 In response to this change, BSI will be updating BSI Knowledge to make it clear the affected parts have been withdrawn, with adjustments to the statement in the foreword to: This standard has been superseded by the current BS EN XXX and will be withdrawn on 2 September 2029. An exception to this is BS 476-3, which will remain as a current standard. This is because it has not yet been superseded by an BS EN although work is ongoing within CEN/TC 127 to convert CEN/TS 1187 to a full EN.
What are the top 10 most adopted fire-related standards?
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What are the top 10 most adopted fire-related standards?

The market for fire safety is large, global, and diverse. It encompasses businesses of all sizes within every sector and is crucial for compliance.  Whether you are a manufacturer of fire protective equipment, a construction firm, or healthcare business, you must ensure you are protecting your employees and clients by meeting fire safety regulations. We have an extensive range of fire-related standards to help meet your fire safety needs. The top ten most adopted standards in the fire sector and their benefits to organizations are as follows: BS 5839-1:2017 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises. BS 5839-1 provides recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around non-domestic premises. Anyone involved in the commissioning, installation, design, and planning of fire alarm and detection systems will find this standard useful. BIP 2109:2020 is a book written to help users comply with the requirements in the British Standard. BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises. Part 6: Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic buildings. This British Standard is part 6 in a short series on fire alarm and detection systems in buildings. BS 5839-6 gives recommendations for systems in both new and existing domestic premises to make them safer to live in. It gives recommendations on the planning, design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises that are: Designed to accommodate a single family Houses in multiple occupations comprising of several self-contained units, each designed to accommodate a single family Sheltered housing, including both the dwelling units and the common areas The recommendations apply to both new and existing domestic premises and include recommendations for routine attention.BIP 2044:2020 is a book written to help readers comply with the requirements in the British Standard. BS 9251:2021 Fire sprinkler systems for domestic and residential occupancies. Code of practice. BS 9251 covers recommendations for domestic sprinkler systems, includes residential and domestic buildings above four stories or 18m and above, and has removed the parts that conflict with BS EN 16925. It gives recommendations for the design, installation, components, water supplies and backflow protection, commissioning, maintenance, and testing of fire sprinkler systems installed for life safety purposes with additional benefits for property protection. PAS 79-1:2020 Fire risk assessment. Premises other than housing. Code of practice. This PAS gives recommendations and corresponding examples of documentation for undertaking and recording the significant findings of fire risk assessments in non-domestic premises and parts of non-domestic premises for which fire risk assessments are required by legislation.  Consequently, PAS 79-1 gives recommendations on how to carry out fire risk assessments that will protect the occupants of non-domestic premises, e.g. employees, contractors, visitors, and members of the public, while PAS 79-2:2020 gives recommendations for domestic premises. This PAS will benefit fire safety professionals with knowledge of the principles of fire safety, who are either responsible for one particular organization’s fire safety assessment or work for consultancies providing fire risk assessments as a service. To read more on the topic of fire protection, click here. BS 9999:2017 Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. Code of practice. BS 9999 gives recommendations and guidance on the design, management, and use of buildings to achieve reasonable standards of fire safety for all people in and around them. It also provides guidance on the ongoing management of fire safety within a building throughout its entire life cycle, including guidance for designers to ensure that the overall design of a building assists and enhances the management of fire safety. This British Standard is applicable to the design of new buildings, and to alterations, extensions, and changes of use of an existing building. It can be used as a tool for assessing existing buildings, although the fundamental change in line with the guidelines might well be limited or not practicable. The recommendations and guidance in this British Standard are intended to safeguard the lives of building occupants and firefighters. BS 8214:2016 Timber-based fire door assemblies. Code of practice. This standard gives recommendations for the specification, installation, and maintenance of timber-based fire doors. It includes updated guidance associated with the sealing between the door assembly and the surrounding structure.  The recommendations are applicable to timber-based hinged or pivoted pedestrian door assemblies or door leaves, fitted into frames of any material. BS 8214 reflects changes in the industry to meet its usability, particularly in relation to the installation and maintenance of fire doors, and is particularly relevant to those who work in the fire performance and smoke control sectors. BS 5839-9:2021 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings - Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of emergency voice communication systems Part 9 in a series of national standards on fire alarm systems, BS 5839-9 covers how to design, install and maintain emergency voice communication systems (EVC). It gives recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of emergency voice communication systems as part of a fire detection and alarm system, and covers systems with components linked by wires, wirelessly, or a combination of both. BS 5839-9 applies to the use of EVC during an emergency fire situation at buildings, including sports stadiums, entertainment, and other public venues, and emphasizes the correct use of an EVC in broadcasting evacuation messages and not in raising the fire alarm. BS 9991:2024 Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice. BS 9991 exists to help people put adequate fire safety measures in place in residential buildings. This includes fire detection and alarm systems and fixed fire-fighting systems. The standard 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 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 are intended to safeguard the lives of building occupants and firefighters. BS 7273-4:2015+A1:2021 Code of practice for the operation of fire protection measures. Part 4: Actuation of release mechanisms for doors. This is the fourth in a five-part series of British Standards giving recommendations on how fire protection measures should operate. BS 7273-4 deals with the mechanisms for opening doors that form part of the means of escape in a fire. This standard covers the electrical control arrangements for activating mechanisms that unlock, release or open doors in the event of a fire. It covers any building, including dwellings, unless otherwise stated. The standard gives recommendations for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of electrical control arrangements for the actuation of mechanisms.BS 7273-4 applies to all aspects of the interface between these mechanisms and fire detection and fire alarm system, including interfaces that incorporate acoustic coupling and radio transmission. BS EN 12845:2015+A1:2019 Fixed firefighting systems. Automatic sprinkler systems. Design, installation and maintenance BS EN 12845 is the European standard that covers best practices for automatic sprinkler systems that are a part of fixed firefighting systems. It specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation, and maintenance of fixed fire sprinkler systems in buildings and industrial plants, and particular requirements for sprinkler systems that are integral to measures for the protection of life. The aim of BS EN 12845 is to ensure optimal protection in the event of a fire hazard.  Want to access and manage the standards you need to support your management of fire safety risks - all in one place? With a BSI Knowledge subscription, you will have the flexibility and visibility to manage the essential standards you need in order to work with confidence and comply to fire safety regulations. Build your own custom collection of standards, or opt for access to our GBM08 Fire, Accident & Crime Protection module and keep up-to-date with any relevant changes to your standards strategy. Request to learn more. Join the hundreds of organizations adopting fire safety management best practices by adding the relevant best-selling standards to your collection.
What are the benefits of standards for fire equipment manufacturers?
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What are the benefits of standards for fire equipment manufacturers?

Manufacturers of fire equipment products, as well as their suppliers, importers, and distributors, are legally obligated to ensure those products are safe for consumers to use. This includes complying with relevant laws, showing regulatory compliance marks, and meeting essential safety requirements. Using standards can offer a set of powerful business and marketing tools for fire equipment manufacturing organizations of all sizes. Particularly in sectors highly regulated at UK and EU levels, such as fire equipment manufacturing, standards have been key agents in consistently meeting regulatory compliance and supporting good stakeholder relations. Standards, including rules, guidelines, and definitions, have also become recognized indicators of quality and safety. To learn more about fire safety engineering, click here. How can management system standards help your manufacturing business? You can use standards to fine-tune your performance and manage risks while operating in more efficient and sustainable ways. They’ll allow you to demonstrate the quality of what you do to your customers and they help you to see how to embed best practices into your organization. Other benefits of implementing standards include: Improving performance - success is all about how you perform at every level of your organization. Standards, such as BS EN ISO 9001 Quality management systems, promote a culture of continual improvement. Reducing business risk - businesses today simply can’t afford to take an improvised, reactive approach to risk. Using standards, such as BS EN ISO 22301 Business continuity management systems, can help you to identify your risks and minimize them. Becoming more sustainable - by helping you to take a close look at how you’re using energy and resources, using our standards, like BS EN ISO 14001 Environmental management systems, can save you money and improve your image while benefiting the environment. Encouraging innovation - in a global economy of rapidly emerging new technologies and markets, standards, such as BS ISO 44001 Collaborative business relationships management systems, help set the rules and establish the frameworks to facilitate innovation through collaboration. Ensuring safety - an effective occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system will help you to protect and enhance your most important asset, your people, to drive business excellence. Standard BS EN ISO 45001 enables organizations to provide safe and healthy working conditions that prevent work-related injury and ill health, and proactively improve the organization’s OH&S performance. Improve the processes of your fire equipment manufacturing business by adding these standards to your collection today. Discover BSI Knowledge Want to access and manage the standards you need to support your manufacturing of fire safety equipment - all in one place? With a BSI Knowledge subscription, you will have the flexibility and visibility to manage the essential standards you need to develop fire equipment with confidence and comply to fire safety regulations. Build your own custom collection of standards, or opt for access to our GBM08 Fire, Accident & Crime Protection module and keep up-to-date with any relevant changes to your standards strategy. Request to learn more.

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