BAFSA FOCUS NOVEMBER 2021
BS 9251 ... has the point been missed?
ST E WA RT K I D D
i, in common with a number of members of the relevant British Standards committee am greatly concerned by the contents of an article titled: ‘What is an appropriate sprinkler design standard for the protection of multipleoccupancy (mixed use) buildings?’ published on the FPA’s website (www.thefpa.co.uk) and possibly elsewhere which I believe contains several misguided assertions and analyses of changes in the 2021 edition of BS 9251 ‘Sprinkler systems for residential and domestic occupancies. Code of Practice’. Most notably the following need to be rebutted: BS 9251 overlaps into commercial and industrial fire hazard classifications already suitably covered by BS EN 12845 BS 9251 has introduced multi-occupancy (mixed use) opportunities for buildings
4 | bafsa.org.uk
Acceptance of sprinkler protection by insurers is contingent upon the use of commercial and industrial design standards Table 4 of BS 9251 is misleading BS 9251 advocates reduced areas of operation Residential plant rooms must be protected to OH3 BS 9251 does not adequately cover water supply requirements In this article I will strive to address what I consider to be these inaccurate evaluations and misinterpretations. BACKGROUND TO THE 2021 EDITION OF BS 9251
The BSi BS 9251 review group recognised that: Numbers of installation of sprinkler protection to BS 9251 in residential
premises have increased significantly in recent years (as a result of both requirements from building regulations/ standards and voluntary installations from responsible property owners and developers). Improved residential sprinkler system design guidance was sought by the regulators, the fire service, architects, consultants and developers particularly for taller and higher risk residential buildings such as care homes and sheltered housing. Residential buildings have always incorporated (to various extents) areas which are not “residential occupancy” (Commercial kitchens (e.g. in care homes), laundry rooms, small offices, small retail kiosks or shops and such things as hairdressing salons). Given ever-increasing
