What is this solution pack about?
This is the “go-to” document for fire safety engineering (FSE) in the UK. It provides a framework for an engineering approach to the fire safety of buildings, giving recommendations and guidance on applying scientific and engineering principles to the protection of people, property, and the environment from fire. It applies to the design of new buildings and the appraisal of existing buildings.
Who is this standard for?
Primary users will be fire safety, engineering practitioners. Other users include:
Why should you use this standard?
The general approach to fire safety engineering (FSE) described in the standard can be applied to all types and uses of buildings or to facilities such as tunnels and process plants.
When correctly implemented, its recommendations will help preserve life in an emergency situation and ensure the protection of buildings themselves.
The standard can be applied to new or to existing buildings to show that regulatory requirements can be met.
The intention is that BS 7974 is applied in three main stages:
The standard provides guidance on these procedures, while sub-systems in a series of accompanying Published Documents (PDs) provide data and analytical methods for tackling the relevant quantitative analysis, and advice on acceptance criteria and suitable design approaches.
NOTE: The risks associated with installations used for the bulk processing of explosives or flammable liquids and gases necessitate special consideration which is beyond the scope of BS 7974 and its supporting documents.
What’s changed since the last update?
This is the first revision of the standard since being originally published in 2001. It introduces the following principal changes: