In June 2017, a tragic fire broke out at Grenfell Tower in London, claiming the lives of 72 people.
In the aftermath of this devastating event, there have been numerous changes made to fire safety regulations in an effort to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.
The latest update to Approved Document B, which sets out the building regulations for fire safety, will come into force on December 1st, 2022.
In this article, we will discuss the key changes in the document and what they mean for residential buildings.
Transitional Provisions
If you are currently working on a building project or plan on submitting an application before December 1st, 2022, you will be subject to the previous legislation. However, if your application is submitted after this date, you will need to comply with the updated Part B regulations.
Evacuation Alert System (EAS)
One of the major changes in the updated document is the requirement for all residential buildings with stories above 18 meters to install an Evacuation Alert System (EAS). This system, designed in accordance with BS-8629, allows for mass evacuation in case a stay put policy is deemed insufficient to ensure the safety of life. This was a crucial issue highlighted by the Grenfell Tower inquiry and this new requirement aims to prevent similar situations from occurring.
On-Site Information
Another key change is the mandatory installation of secure information boxes in all residential buildings with stories above 11 meters. These boxes must contain essential information such as the contact details of the responsible person, building floor plans, and location of any firefighting equipment. This information is vital for Fire and Rescue Services to effectively respond in case of an emergency.
Ban on Combustible Materials
To further improve fire safety, there is now a complete ban on the use of combustible materials on and within external walls of buildings. This ban now applies to hotels, hostels, and boarding houses, in addition to blocks of flats, hospitals, student accommodation, and dormitories. The use of non-combustible cladding has been proven to play a critical role in ensuring the safety of a building and its occupants.
Fire Suppression
Installing fire suppression systems, such as sprinklers, has been proven to significantly slow down the progression of fire and save lives. It is now mandatory to have sprinklers installed in all flats with stories above 11 meters. This provides valuable time for building occupants to evacuate and for fire service crews to extinguish the fire.
Protected Stairways and Compartmentation
The updated document puts a greater emphasis on protected stairways in residential buildings. These stairways must now be contained within a protected shaft with at least 60 minutes of fire resistance when passing from one compartment to another. Furthermore, compartmentation of floors between flats has now been introduced as a requirement to prevent the spread of fire.
Balconies
In an effort to prevent exterior fire spread, balconies must now only contain materials achieving Class A1 or A2 S1 ratings. If this is not possible, an imperfect soffit with a minimum REI 30 rating must be installed. For materials achieving Class B S1 or worse ratings, a band of class A2 S1 material must be included on the boundary line.
These are just some of the key changes in the updated Approved Document B. It is crucial for architects, contractors, and responsible persons to familiarize themselves with these new regulations and ensure compliance to ensure the safety of building occupants.
In conclusion, the latest changes in Approved Document B aim to improve fire safety in residential buildings and prevent any future tragedies. It is crucial for all stakeholders involved in building projects to stay informed and comply with these regulations to ensure the safety of all.
