Pipe work and duct work in Residential care premises.

[Clive]

Has any one any thoughts, info, technical specs etc.  With regards to simple ventilation systems (and soil stack pipes etc.)  ie 100 -160mm plastic pipework used for small kitchens, bathrooms, sluice rooms eg 'expelair' style extracts, to be found in 'residential care' buildings.  That pass through compartment floors and walls.  

Can you provide me with any definitive details with regards to fire resisting enclosure and dampers ie smoke and/or fire ( BS5588-9 states institutional buildings to be smoke detector operated dampers ?).  There seems to be lots of conflicting advice with regards to this area including manufacturers, fire officers, consultants and building controls.

[terry martin]

have you looked at Approved Document B, section 10

Protection of Openings and Fire Stopping

[Clive]

Yes,  but thanks Terry.

I have looked there, but differing interpretations really relate to smoke stopping.  

Either, in operation in the early stages of a fire with cold smoke and a single unit fan running ( many installation share ducts ) spreading smoke through the ducts.

And where enclosed in some form of enclosure ( not always FR ) which would slow down affect of any intumescent collar or other fitting, but still spread hot smoke and possibly embers via the duct to other areas.  Some of the ducting you will find is flexi pipe (as on tumble dryers) which would fail before any intumescent acts which is hazardous especially into a roof void.

My question is does this smaller scale of ventilation system ( which leads to this reduced standard of shared duct design etc. ) require smoke dampers as in the HTM's and the RRfsO Healthcare guide for larger premises with PHE , there is little difference in a nursing home and a healthcare building  ( the main one being that you go home when you get better from healthcare premises or if you aren't going to get better, you go into a nursing/residential home and have the same treatment).

I have my views, but would like to know if any one has more substantial and definate guidance, as there seems to be many different views.