Thought I ought to have a gander;
This new edition introduces a number of technical changes. It does not constitute a full revision of the document, which will be undertaken in due course. The principal changes introduced by this new edition are as follows.
1. The title has been modified to more accurately reflect the scope and content of this part of BS 5839.
2. The importance of providing accurate and unambiguous information to staff in residential care premises about the location of a fire has been highlighted in Clause 4.
3. A definition of “zone plan” has been added to the terms and definitions (Clause 3), with additional guidance added to subclause 6.1 and Clause 23, and new recommendations added to subclauses 42.2, 46.2 and 47.2. This is reflected in the sample acceptance certificate in H.4.
4. Item e) of 7.2 has been modified to emphasize the importance of identifying and recording agreed variations.
5. A definition of “visual alarm device” has been added to the terms and definitions (Clause 3), with a new recommendation on such devices added to subclause 11.2.
6. Table 4 of the 2002 edition, “Limits of ceiling height (Category P systems and five minute fire and rescue service attendance)”, has been deleted.
7. Clause 15 has been updated with guidance and recommendations on the provision of automatic transmission of fire alarm signals.
8. The guidance and recommendations of Clause 19 and subclause 35.2.7 have been updated to address the need to avoid delay in summoning the fire and rescue service when the fire detection and fire alarm system of a residential care premises operates.
9. The dimension of the width covered by the optical beam detector given in Figure 13 has been corrected to 18.75 m.
10. Subclause 45.1 now highlights that routine servicing of a fire detection and fire alarm system does not constitute a fresh review of system design, so that non compliance with this standard might not be identified during such servicing.
11. The wording of Annex C has been altered to further highlight the normative status of this annex.
12. A new Annex F has been added containing useful information on visual alarm device illumination characteristics from LPCB CoP 0001 [1]. Copyright is claimed on Annex F. Copyright holders are BRE Global Limited, Bucknalls Lane, Watford, Herefordshire, WD25 9XX, and the Fire Industry Association, Tudor House, Kingsway Business Park, Oldfield Road, Hampton, Middlesex, TW12 2HD. LPCB CoP 0001 is periodically updated and the latest edition needs to be consulted.
13. It is now recommended that major variations from the recommendations of this standard are recorded in the system logbook [see 7.2e)].
14. The term “care home” has been substituted throughout the document with “residential care premises”.
15. The term “fire service” has been substituted throughout the document with “fire and rescue service”.
16. The term “responsible person” has been removed and replaced with references to “premises management” to avoid confusion with the term defined in legislation.
