FOCUS: SMART BUILDINGS & CONTROLS Meeting the new Building Regulations F
The new amended Part B of the Building Regulations came into force in the UK on 1st December 2022. It includes important changes concerning the evacuation of buildings, with a new requirement that evacuation alert systems be fitted in new, high-rise residential buildings over 18m in England. Ken Bullock, business development manager – emergency evacuation systems at Advanced, explains more on what building services consultants may need to consider
ollowing the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Approved Document B of the Building Regulations has been updated and is set to bring clarity and improved fire safety to high-rise residential buildings. The Grenfell Inquiry found that Building Regulations were deficient in certain areas, and that evacuation of the building was hindered by a lack of an evacuation plan as well as some of the decisions made and features of the building itself.
The Inquiry highlighted that the ‘stay put’ policy at Grenfell should have been backed up with a Plan B that went further than the fire and rescue service knocking on doors. Recommendations from the Inquiry included that both existing and new build high-rise residential buildings be equipped with evacuation alert systems for use by the fire and rescue service. This led to the creation of BS 8629 in 2019, a code of practice for evacuation alert systems.
This code of practice is now cited in the updated Part B of the Building Regulations which requires evacuation alert systems that adhere to BS 8629 to be installed in all new-build residential blocks over 18m in England. This should give residents in these buildings reassurance that if they need to leave the building in a fire, the instruction will be communicated clearly and safely.
Evacuation alert systems
The BS 8629 guidance states that an evacuation alert control system should be installed where a ‘stay put’ policy is in force, so that when there needs to be a change in evacuation strategy during an incident, the fire and rescue service are able to inform residents of this change quickly and easily. With a BS 8629 system, evacuation is controlled and targeted floor by floor according to the magnitude and location of the fire enabling the fire and rescue service to evacuate specific areas of the building effectively. These systems also help ensure staircases are not overwhelmed. The system must also be completely independent of the fire system, as well as from other building management systems and apparatus such as lifts, gas valves, air conditioning and smoke control systems. Furthermore, access to an evacuation alert system should be via patented key only – exclusive to the fire and rescue service - and must be clearly marked ‘For Fire and Rescue Service Use Only’. Advanced was at the forefront of the development of a bespoke BS 8629 solution and first to market with an evacuation alert system. The EvacGo is designed as an easy way to meet BS 8629 and offers peace of mind to those responsible for a building that they are complying with the new Building Regulations. In addition, Advanced is currently one of a handful of manufacturers to offer an evacuation alert system housed within a box specially designed by Gerda Security to meet stringent antitamper standards.
BS 8629 states that the evacuation system must include evacuation alert control and indicating equipment, along with audio and/or visual alarm devices in each apartment, providing clear evacuation signals to building occupants. Most importantly, any compliant system must be simple and intuitive so that it can provide straightforward support to fire brigade personnel coordinating the evacuation of a high-rise residential building. For example, EvacGo provides a simple, at-a- glance overview of a building’s evacuation alert zones, along with LED indication and manual toggle-switch controls for operating evacuation alert devices in each zone. This makes viewing evacuation zone status and implementing evacuation strategies quick, simple and straightforward, with toggle switches easy for fire and rescue service personnel to operate, even when wearing PPE.
Integrity
The integrity of any BS 8629-compliant evacuation system is a key factor in its design and specification as it must be assumed that the fire will already be advanced by the time it comes into action. This means that cable infrastructure must be protected, and circuit isolators need to be installed at the entry and exit points to each zone, as well as prior to cable entry into each flat. The precise rules differ according to the height of the structure.
Power supplies for evacuation alert systems also need to comply with BS EN 54-4 requirements. If mains power fails, standby batteries must maintain the system in operation for at least 72 hours and 30 mins with all evacuation alert zones active. If an onsite generator is present and someone is responsible for it, standby time can be reduced to 24 hours and 30 minutes. For example, the Advanced EvacGo features built-in battery back-up options of up to 17 ampere-hours, to comply with these requirements.
16 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER FEBRUARY 2023
What’s next?
The Building Safety Act names HSE as the new Building Safety Regulator in England and as such will enforce compliance of the Building Regulations. The Building Safety Act will place formal responsibilities on those involved in the design and construction of any buildings to ensure compliance with Building Regulations, and will give the regulator greater powers to prosecute for non-compliance. It will be the duty of the people responsible for a building to put in place and maintain a golden thread of information, with their responsibility continuing for the life of the building. Amended Part B is designed to meet
recommendations from Phase One of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. However, since the Inquiry also recommends evacuation alert systems for high- rise residential buildings “already in existence”1, further regulation may follow. This would be welcomed by the industry. At Advanced we feel installation of evacuation alert systems should be mandated following a risk-based approach since the risk for occupants might be just as real at 10m as it is at 11m or 18m.
The changes to the Building Regulations have big implications for the people designing, installing or specifying evacuation alert systems so it’s essential to be up-to-date on the changes. Advanced offers a free FIA-certified CPD that explains more about BS 8629, how evacuation alert systems differ from fire detection and alarm systems, and how they are installed differently. To ensure that the system will work seamlessly within the building, ideally an evacuation alert system should be included in the electrical plans from the design stage of residential buildings over 18m. As well as ensuring that Building Regulations are met, evacuation alert systems are there to assist the fire and rescue service, and help make the building safer for its residents in the event of a fire.
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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