The incorporation of a domestic fire sprinkler system to BS 9251 with smoke detection can produce relaxations in certain Part B requirements by increasing maximum travel distances.
For example, an external fire escape may not be required if the travel distances can be extended and there could be a relaxation in the requirement for a lobbied area between living accommodation and communal areas.
Advantages
The implementation of the housing act 2004 has extended the enforcement of fire protection to approximately 300,000 HMO’s in the country and landlords are only just recognising the advantages of installing fire sprinkler systems.
You don’t have to be the landlord of an HMO to benefit from them and it may pay anyone associated with a so-called ‘PCB’ (poorly converted building) to make their own investigations to discover whether the installation of a sprinkler system would bring that property up to specification.
Grants
Some Local Authorities are offering grants to landlords of some HMO’s in order to upgrade the specification of their properties.
Some other examples where a domestic fire sprinkler system may be used as a compensatory feature to meet fire safety requirements are as follows:
1. Reduced levels of fire resistance between different user groups (i.e. flats above shops etc.
2. Loft conversions – where a new floor is formed at more than 4.5m above ground level there may be less need to upgrade fire resistance generally.
3. It can be permissible for inner rooms to open onto an open plan living space where sprinklers are installed.
4. Stairways descending into open plan lounge areas from new second floor accommodation could be acceptable with sprinkler protection in the premises.
