From BS 5839 pt1 2002 ( for guidance and best practice);
"" In buildings in which people sleep within rooms accessed by corridors, other than short lengths of corridor, research has shown that passage of hot fire gases through a door crack can produce smoke sufficiently dense and cool for a corridor to become smoke-logged before adequate warning can be given by detectors in the corridor. In this case, a Category L3 system, in which detectors are installed in rooms that open onto the escape routes, as well as within the escape routes themselves, is likely to be appropriate. The purpose of the detectors in these rooms is to give an early enough warning to occupants, other than, possibly, the person in the room of fire origin, such that they have adequate time to escape before their escape route is impassable as a result of smoke. Accordingly, within the rooms, the use of one or more of the following types of detectors is satisfactory: heat, smoke, combustion gas or multi-sensor detectors. In some circumstances, even a Category L3 system might not be sufficient to achieve the life safety objective. A fire risk assessment might determine that, in addition to the protection afforded by a Category L3 system, fire detectors need to be installed in rooms or areas that would not be protected in a Category L3 system. The resulting system would then be a Category L2 system. A Category L2 system would be appropriate if a risk assessment determines that the fire risk associated with rooms other than those opening onto escape routes is unacceptable. Alternatively, there might be a need to give enhanced early warning to occupants of certain rooms, such as disabled people, of a fire in their own room. In this case, smoke or combustion gas detectors within the rooms in question are necessary; heat detectors will not respond quickly enough."" end quote.
Which hotel group wants any deaths in its building ? in the interest of PR !
Under DDA etc. do we have to ensure all people are safe or just the chosen few ? All rooms covered to protect people with special needs
( many types) means flexibility in use of building, as all rooms can be used.
The problem of UWFS can be designed out with both good design and good management.
There seems to be an air of "I'll show you how cheap I can do this" attitude about this ( like other fire safety discussion points), instead of a true risk assessment that covers all areas and options, which also provides alternatives to an employer/responsible person/building owner etc. like 'if you want only to protect this ! you may need this ' but if you want to protect that plus this you will need this' !
long winded or what ?
