Post 1991 Building Regulations

[Suttonfire]

Hi,

I note that Lacors  recommends compensatory fire alarm systems in communal areas for residential properties converted into flats prior to Building Regulations 1991, approved document B standard.

In the absence of documentation which confirms the conversion dates and approvals gained, what would be the building features which you would check to ascertain whether the conversion appears to be post 1991? Is it basically the same as what the current building regs requires, i.e. lobbied approach to a protected escape route, ventilation of lobbies and stairwells, fire rating/enclosure of services/cupboards on escape routes etc?

Or are todays standards more stringent, with lesser measures still allowing compliance with 1991 regs? Thanks

[LeeM]

More or less, depends exactly when was converted. Generally refer to BS5588 Part 1 came in 1984 and revised 1990. There was also a HMO guide used under Housing Act by Environmental Health for some flat conversions where LA was giving grants for upgrades though that was simultaneous evacuation rather than defend-in-place.

[Tom Sutton]

The Building Regs 1965 + 1972 did not deal with MOE only structural fire safety. The 1985 BR introduced Approved Documents but ADB showed B2 B3 B4 and used "Mandatory rules for means of escape in case of fire - 1985 for B1. This only applied to flats of three storeys or more so it is possible no MoE guidance applied to your situation if built before 1991. It wasn't till 1991 that ADB included B1 as we know it today.

Check out http://kentbuildingcontrol.co.uk/pdf/approved-document-b-1985-moe.pdf

[col10]

Escape in the regs came in before 76 with an amendment , sometime, to the 72 regs , Part EE.  In April 92 came the self contained smoke alarm, with no battery back up, which had to be wired on its own circuit back to the consumer unit.  The consumer unit may show this.  However, the conversion could have been unauthorised and could have been gradual bit by bit with changes to the existing building. So at the end of the day the main point to consider is , Do you have effective compartmentation? if not, then you need simultaneous evacuation / alarms in common areas.  "Stay put" should be renamed "compartmented."

[Tom Sutton]

I stand corrected there was an amendment to the 1972 BR in 1973 which was included in the 1975 BR and used CP3 as guidance.