Floor construction between Domestic & Non-domestic premises

[GB]

SBSA Technical Handbook states that floors between non-domestic and domestic units above should utilise non-combustible materials i.e not a timber floor.

I have had a look at BS 9999 & BS 9991 however can am unable to find that requirement.

Has any other eagle eyed person seen something in either BS to state that I couldn't use a timber floor with the relevant fire resistant period provided using an appropriate boarding / detail?

[wee brian]

Its a Scottish thing.

You wont find it in a BS. I doubt the building control people in Scotland will accept using the BS as an alternative.

[colin todd]

Building control VERIFIERS WeeB not building control PEOPLE.  As an ex BCO, you should know that building control are not always people, but the SBS (no longer SBSA) guidance is only guidance.  You can have the same rec in the revised ADB (what revised ADB) if you want, subject to payment of a small royalty to Scottish Government.

[wee brian]

It was an attempt at using plain English 

[colin todd]

You will never become a proper civil servant if you continue with this man of the people, mean what you say, tell it like it is, explain things in simple terms stuff.  And even if you do, it will not be regarded as simple enough by a coroner.

Anyhow what's wrong with verifier?

[wee brian]

They are sending me on a course....

[kurnal]

I started counting the grammatical mistakes in Colin's posting because like you Wee B I found it almost unintelligible but then I fell asleep.

I dreamed that despite the alleged benefits of a Scottish education, even their system must have its dropouts and failures. I saw Colin dancing at Woodstock with flowers in his hair and suddenly all made sense.

[colin todd]

Make sure the course covers domestic fire detection and why ADB is weak in the coverage it advocates.

[col10]

Make sure the course covers domestic fire detection and why ADB is weak in the coverage it advocates.

Where is ADB weak in coverage?

[colin todd]

It only calls for a single smoke alarm in the hallway and landings of new dwellings, whereas, in Scotland and NI, compliance with the equivalent guidance requires a smoke alarm in the principal habitable room and a heat alarm in the kitchen. 

[col10]

It only calls for a single smoke alarm in the hallway and landings of new dwellings, whereas, in Scotland and NI, compliance with the equivalent guidance requires a smoke alarm in the principal habitable room and a heat alarm in the kitchen. 

How does that make ADB weak?  Can the smoke plume bypass the single detector in the hall?  Does the heat detector serve any life safety purpose?

[AnthonyB]

A lot of fires start in kitchens and living rooms, the early warning whilst the fire and fire effluent is confined to the room of origin would give a better chance of escape via the normal exits.

If you have smoke in your escape route it makes egress potentially more hazardous and from a human behaviour point of view even if the smoke layer and heat build up isn't such that you couldn't get to your front door if may be enough to put off the occupiers escaping this way.

Would we rather everyone walk out of the house, or have to jump from windows/wait for FRS rescue?

Personally I like a smoke alarm in the bedroom - not due to fire risk but the alarm is more likely to wake me than one outside on the landing behind a closed door..