BS 9251:2021 - TC

What is BS 9251 - Fire sprinkler systems about?  

BS 9251 specifies the design, installation, components, water supplies and backflow protection, commissioning, maintenance, and testing of fire sprinkler systems installed for life safety purposes in residential and domestic premises.  

BS 9251 is applicable for sprinkler protection of domestic and residential premises and contains specific recommendations for sprinkler systems in those premises of more than four stories or above 18 m in height, whichever is the lower. 

Note: In buildings where there is a mix of residential, non-residential and commercial use, it is generally appropriate to protect the residential parts using BS 9251 and the non-residential parts using BS EN 12845. 

Who is BS 9251 - Fire sprinkler systems for?  

BS 9251 on fire sprinkler systems for domestic and residential occupancies is applicable for: 

• Architects and engineers 
• Sprinkler design, installation, and maintenance companies 
• Public and private building owners 
• Insurers and contractors 
• Fire-extinguishing companies 

Why should you use BS 9251 - Fire sprinkler systems?  

Installation of fire sprinkler systems in residential complexes is an extremely important feature for life-safety purpose and reduces risk of damage to property. Efficient sprinkler systems can also assist firefighters in carrying out search and rescue operations by limiting fire development, which significantly reduces the risks to firefighters as well. As a buyer of BS 9251, the recommendations would thus avoid life-threatening and hazardous incidents.  

BS 9251 will aid in limiting the spread of fire and also assist with extension, repair, or other modification to a residential fire sprinkler system. 

BS 9251 helps in reducing water usage to fight a home fire by upwards of 90 per cent and reduces the amount of water pollution released into the environment. 

BS 9251 aims to extinguish small fires or contain growing fires until the fire and rescue service arrives by reducing the rate of heat and smoke generated, buying time for the occupants to escape. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS 9251:2021 supersedes BS 9251:2014, which is withdrawn. The following principal changes have been made: 

• Introduction of the fourth category of the system to cater for taller residential buildings (greater than18 m) and higher risk scenarios. The building height of over 18 m for a fourth category was chosen for the following reasons: 
• To align with Fire and Rescue Service national operational guidance, which determines capability, for example, access and response time for consistency and greater risk profile in higher-rise buildings, including the need for improved resilience 
• Additional recommendations for larger capacity minimum water supplies for taller buildings and Higher-risk scenarios 
• Further recommendations for duplicate pumps and other reliability enhancements in certain scenarios 
• Further recommendations for non-residential occupancies in protected buildings 
• Additional measures and information for the fire service to interact with the installation