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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Technical Advice => Topic started by: muggins on October 15, 2008, 11:14:28 AM

Title: Fire Safety Provisions needed in Boiler Room?
Post by: muggins on October 15, 2008, 11:14:28 AM

Have a gas boiler in a small room approx. 3sq.m, to heat a shop/commercial unit.  The room is 60 min fire resisting construction with FD60S door and heat detector.  There will be a passive wall vent in the external wall.  BS5588 suggests that smoke venting is required from  a boiler room, but doesnt say what type/size it should be.  Do I have enough safety provisions here? Do you think I need to provide an automatic smoke vent or suppression system?

Thanks

Title: Fire Safety Provisions needed in Boiler Room?
Post by: Dinnertime Dave on October 15, 2008, 01:47:35 PM

Sounds a bit over the top to me.

Title: Fire Safety Provisions needed in Boiler Room?
Post by: kurnal on October 15, 2008, 03:25:25 PM

Sounds fine as it is- many boilers are quite safely installed on the wall of the premises they serve without being enclosed in a fire resisting compartment. Depends on the size of the installation and the use of the premises.

Main thing is not to allow combustible storage to accumulate in the boiler room- out of sight out of mind.

Title: Fire Safety Provisions needed in Boiler Room?
Post by: nearlythere on October 15, 2008, 03:28:32 PM

Quote from: muggins

Have a gas boiler in a small room approx. 3sq.m, to heat a shop/commercial unit.  The room is 60 min fire resisting construction with FD60S door and heat detector.  There will be a passive wall vent in the external wall.  BS5588 suggests that smoke venting is required from  a boiler room, but doesnt say what type/size it should be.  Do I have enough safety provisions here? Do you think I need to provide an automatic smoke vent or suppression system?

Thanks

Bear in mind that oil burners on fire would produce more smoke than a gas burner which would produce very little other than that from any surrounding combustibles.

Title: Fire Safety Provisions needed in Boiler Room?
Post by: wee brian on October 15, 2008, 03:50:58 PM

But they may explode blowing the whole building to kingdom come

Title: Fire Safety Provisions needed in Boiler Room?
Post by: Midland Retty on October 15, 2008, 03:53:29 PM

Hello Muggins

You would not require any additional precautions over and above those you have already mentioned . Smoke vent / supression system would certainly not be required.

Title: Fire Safety Provisions needed in Boiler Room?
Post by: muggins on October 15, 2008, 04:27:29 PM

Thanks for your help

Title: Fire Safety Provisions needed in Boiler Room?
Post by: Chris Houston on October 15, 2008, 04:57:08 PM

I see boiler rooms day in and day out and can't remember any that has smoke vents.

A 60 minute compartment with fire detection sounds pretty good to me.

Title: Fire Safety Provisions needed in Boiler Room?
Post by: nearlythere on October 15, 2008, 05:54:31 PM

Ventilation is obviously needed for the efficient combustion of the burner.