Building regulations
Fire safety changes to sprinkler thresholds in Approved Document B come into force
Documents in Approved Document B, the documents relating to fire safety in the Building Regulations, were updated on 26th November to incorporate 2020 amendments. A key part of these changes is the trigger height to fit sprinklers in tall buildings has been reduced to 11m (typically four floors), from 30m (typically 10 floors).
The documents cover building regulations for fire safety in residential homes, including new and existing dwellings, flats, residential accommodation, schools, colleges and offices.
Volume 1: Dwellings – main changes made by the 2020 amendments
The changes focus on the following fire safety provisions in blocks of flats:
- Sprinklers: a reduction in the trigger height from 30m to 11m.
- Wayfinding signage for the fire service: a new recommendation for floor identification and flat indication signage within blocks of flats with storeys over 11m.
In addition, a typographical error is corrected in both volumes. Purpose group number 2 is now included in reference to ‘residential’ buildings in the guidance on boundaries.
The changes are set out in the May 2020 AD B amendments.
Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings – main changes made by the 2020 amendments
The changes focus on the following fire safety provisions in blocks of flats (Volume 1):
- Sprinklers: a reduction in the trigger height from 30m to 11m.
- Wayfinding signage for the fire service: a new recommendation for floor identification and flat indication signage within blocks of flats with storeys over 11m.
In addition, a typographical error is corrected in both volumes. The changes are set out in the May 2020 AD B amendments.
Read more information about the amendments to Approved Document B, here.
This afticle was originally published on IFSEC Global.
Fire Safety in 2023 eBook
SHP's sister site, IFSEC Insider has released its annual Fire Safety Report for 2023, keeping you up to date with the biggest news and prosecution stories from around the industry.
Chapters include important updates such as the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and an overview of the new British Standard for the digital management of fire safety information.
Plus, explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.
Fire safety changes to sprinkler thresholds in Approved Document B come into force
Documents in Approved Document B, the documents relating to fire safety in the Building Regulations, were updated on 26th November to incorporate 2020 amendments. A key part of these changes is the trigger height to fit sprinklers in tall buildings has been reduced to 11m (typically four floors), from 30m (typically 10 floors).
Barbour EHS
SHP - Health and Safety News, Legislation, PPE, CPD and Resources Related Topics
Graham Watts OBE appointed Chair of BSCF
Legal insight: Common errors in fire safety
‘All roads lead to the client’: IOSH Aviation and Aerospace Conference
