Author Topic: House Conversion into 2 flats (Read 12422 times)

Kevin · « **on:** February 14, 2006, 05:10:37 PM »

I am currently converting a 3 storey house into a ground floor studio flat and a 1st and 2nd storey maisonnette.

I have been told by the local authority that I need to install a 3 zone panel with all the relevant detectors and call points etc. This system will cost approx £2500 inc VAT.

I have proposed an alternative using aico 160 series alarms with radiolink bases, powered from the landlords supply with locator switched on each floor to easily locate the alarm that is being activated. I have call points where required. This system will cost about £700 and require far less work as i have already run the cabling. (the cabling i have run in not suitable for use on a zoned hard-wired system as it is not firetuf cable, just 3C + E)

I have been told that this is not adequate, dispite aico advertising that their systems conform to BS5839.

Can anybody expain these regs and maybe propose an alternative solution that will be cheaper than £2500. If the Aico Radiolink system does conform how is it best to convince the LA.

Thanks in advance for any help/advice you can give.

Graeme · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2006, 07:04:21 PM »

Aico will advertise that they conform to BS5839-6(dwellings)
You can use Aico's call points with the Smoke alarms but the Local Authority going on what you have wrote have asked for a BS5839-1 system(buildings).
So your cable that you have run will be no good unfortunately except for a draw wire to pull in the Fire cables.

Allen Higginson · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2006, 08:57:15 PM »

Check what level (with regards to 5839 - part 6) they are asking you to install the system to.I have seen sites run by housing associations were mains linked detectors (with battery back up) are installed and independantly fed from each flats mains supply,with a common single zone of smokes and call points covering the stairwell. However,if they are insistant on the fire alarm zoned option then cable must be firetuff/FP to conform.
From a different perspective though,I know of a site in Belfast which is a 6 storey apartment block with 18 apartments on each fllor,most being of multiple occupancy.It is installed with mains detectors (independantly fed) installed inside each flat with a M category addressable fire system (ie - break glass only).There are no sounders in any of the flats off the M class system - how comfortable would you be living there with no common detector coverage on the escape routes at least??Don't try to cut corners on the firs system - it'll only come back to bite your rear some day.

Kevin · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2006, 02:26:08 PM »

Thanks for your help so far. Building Regs are asking for a L2 system. As far as i can tell, it should not matter what type of cable is used as the data is tranmitted wirelessly through the radioLINK bases, the cables are purely to provide power, which in the event of a failure will not be a problem as the AICO Devices all have a 10yr lithium backup supply.

I do not feel that this system wil be a shortcut, as it seems to do everything that a hard wired system with a zone panel will do, except show the location of the activated device (however the locator switch will silence all alarms except the activated one allow easy location of the fire audibly).

Allen Higginson · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2006, 02:59:57 PM »

Commercially,I have used radio ststems and the cables to or from the control panel must be wired in fireproof.This includes links to communications,power supplies and auxillary outputs.
With regards to the L2 classification,this would indicate that they are referring to an installation to BS 5839-1:2002 which would be a zoned control panel (wireless or not) amongst other things.An LD2 system relates to BS5839-6:2002,which covers systems for dwellings, and within this there are specified grades of system (A - F).A grade A is your actual 24 volt,control panel,power supply normal fire alarm and F is battery smokes.
Read section 21 of Part 6 which relates to radio systems in dwellings.You can use radio for grades D & E and F but (at risk of sounding as if I'm repeating myself) the fact that they have asked for 3 zones and an L2 sytstem means they would at leat want a control panel that the detectors report back to.It must have a visual indication also.

Kevin · « **Reply #5 on:** February 15, 2006, 04:03:10 PM »

Ok that clarifies things for me, thanks

Graeme · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2006, 04:48:24 PM »

i would use 4 zones on that site

Allen Higginson · « **Reply #7 on:** February 15, 2006, 07:14:49 PM »

Quote from: Graeme Millar

i would use 4 zones on that site

Ideally yes (one for each accomodation and the fourth for the common stairwe/escape route).

Allen Higginson · « **Reply #8 on:** February 15, 2006, 07:54:44 PM »

Still,never seen these before and I can think of a lot of sites we do where they would be handy.

Graeme · « **Reply #9 on:** February 15, 2006, 08:42:45 PM »

i'll sell you one.

wee brian · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2006, 09:19:41 AM »

Not sure why building regs are asking for L2 in a flat conversion. Self contained interlinked smokes in each flat are all that ADB would ask for. You may have a mad EHO involved or perhaps there is something odd about the building.

Kevin · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2006, 10:37:49 AM »

It has something to do with being 3 storey with only one escape route from the top floor, does this sound right?

Kevin · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2006, 10:39:04 AM »

There are only 2 flats, so they want one zone for each pluse one for the communal bit i think

Quote from: Buzzard905

Quote from: Graeme Millar
i would use 4 zones on that site
Ideally yes (one for each accomodation and the fourth for the common stairwe/escape route).

Graeme · « **Reply #13 on:** February 17, 2006, 12:13:29 PM »

sorry read it wrong. One flat is on two floors.

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Author Topic: House Conversion into 2 flats (Read 12422 times)

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