15.1 General

a) Incorporation of Fire Protection Measures:

● Buildings must include minimum fire protection measures as described in sections 15.2 to 15.10.

b) Safe Escape Routes:

● Occupants must be able to move safely along protected corridors, lobbies, and stairways.

c) Place of Safety:

● The design should ensure that occupants can reach a safe area, ultimately outside the building.

d) Appropriate Management Systems:

● Ensure management systems are in place to support the fire protection measures and safe evacuation.

NOTE 1 These include both active and passive measures of fire protection,

e.g. detection, alarm, restricting the development of a fire and securing the safe escape of the occupants.

NOTE 2 The minimum package of fire protection measures for specific building types might need to be varied to meet the needs of that particular building type. Recommendations for specific building types are given in the following annexes:

a) Annex B and Annex C – atria;

b) Annex D – theatres, cinemas and similar venues;

c) Annex E – shopping complexes;

d) Annex F – process plants and structures.

15.2 Fire detection and fire alarm systems

COMMENTARY ON 15.2

a) Shutdown of Ventilation and Air Conditioning:

● Systems can automatically close down ventilation and air conditioning plants.

b) Operation of Fire Suppression and Smoke Control Systems:

● Activation of fire suppression systems and/or smoke control systems.

c) Release of Passive Fire Protection Equipment:

● Automatic closure of doors and shutters.

d) Activation of Ventilation Systems:

● Initiation of ventilation systems to manage smoke and air flow.

The minimum level of fire detection and fire alarm system for most premises should be in accordance with Table 7.

Table 7 Minimum level of fire detection and fire alarm system for premises

Risk profile

Minimum acceptable detection and alarm system

A1

A2

A3

A4 A)

M

M

L2

Not applicable A)

B1 B)

B2 B)

B3 B)

B4 A)

M

M

L2

Not applicable A

Ci1

Ci2

Ci3 A)

Cii1

Cii2

Cii3 A)

Ciii1

Ciii2

Ciii3 A)

C4 A)

Automatic fire detection in individual units

Automatic fire detection in individual units

L3

L2

L1

L1

L1

L1

L1

Not applicable A

NOTE Type M, L3, L2 and L1 system are defined in BS 5839-1:2013

● See Table 4.

● In some circumstances where people are in an unfamiliar building the provision of a voice and / or visual alarm system can help reduce evacuation time (see 18.2)

a) L3 Fire Detection and Alarm System:

● Required for buildings with phased, staged, or zoned evacuation plans.

● Mandatory for primary and special needs schools.

b) Multiple Occupancy Premises:

● Must have a common fire detection and alarm system tailored to the specific risks of each occupancy.

NOTE 1 Generally, the minimum requirement for premises is an electrical system in accordance with the recommendations applicable to a Type M as described in BS 5839-1:2013. Premises with a higher fire growth rate usually require a more sophisticated system. In some low-risk premises, an alternative means of giving warning in the event of fire might be more appropriate.

NOTE 2 In areas with noisy environments or where people might otherwise have difficulty in hearing the fire alarm, visual alarm devices (flashing warning beacons) can be useful.

15.3 Voice alarms and public address systems

Where this British Standard recommends the use of a voice alarm, this should be provided in accordance with BS 5839-8:2013.

NOTE 1 BS 5839-8:2013, Clause 5 gives recommendations for the following types of voice alarm system:

a) Type V1: Automatic Evacuation

● Automated system for initiating evacuation.

b) Type V2: Live Emergency Messages

● System for broadcasting live emergency messages.

c) Type V3: Zonal Live Emergency Messages

● Allows live emergency messages to be broadcast in specific zones.

d) Type V4: Manual Controls

● System with manual control options for emergency communication.

e) Type V5: Engineered Systems

● Customized systems designed to meet specific requirements.

Additional Considerations:

● Manual Control Suitability:

● Should be appropriate for the risk and the availability of trained personnel.

● Public Address Systems:

● Systems relying solely on manual intervention are not covered by BS 5839-8:2013 but should follow its general principles for design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance.

NOTE 2 If training is not or cannot be guaranteed, it is generally better to limit the degree of manual control rather than risk mis-operation in an emergency.

15.4 Artificial and emergency escape lighting

a) Suitable Lighting: Ensure adequate lighting along escape routes for safe movement to a place of safety.

b) Emergency Escape Lighting: Should be provided as needed according to:

● BS 5266-1: Standards for emergency lighting systems.

● BS EN 1838: Requirements for lighting of escape routes.

c) Objective: To guide people safely to relative or ultimate safety during an emergency.

NOTE Guidance on types of luminaire and recommendations for the installation of luminaires are given in 37.4.

15.5 Exit signs

a) Exit Marking Requirement:

● Mark all doorways or exits leading to escape routes, excluding main entrances, with distinct and conspicuous exit signs.

b) Standards for Exit Signs:

● BS ISO 3864-1: Specifies the design and application of safety signs.

● BS 5499-4: Provides guidelines for the use of graphical symbols and signs.

c) Final Exit Levels:

● Clearly indicate final exits, especially when they are off stairs that continue beyond the exit level.

Table 8 Provisions for emergency escape lighting

Occupancy characteristic	Areas needing emergency escape lighting
A	Underground or windowless accommodation stairways in a central core or serving storey(s) more than 18m above ground level internal corridors more than 30m long open- plan areas of more than 60m2
B A)	All escape routes B) (expect in shops of three or fewer storeys with no sales floor more than 280 m2 provided that the shop is not a restaurant or bar)
C	All common escapes routes B), expect in two- storey blocks of flats
Any use	All sanitary accommodation with a floor area over 8m2 windowless sanitary accommodation with a floor area not more than 8m2 electricity and generator rooms Switch room/ battery room for emergency lighting system
a)	In areas of shops where the public are not admitted use occupancy characteristic A.
B)	Including external escape routes.

15.6 Doors

15.6.1 General

Critical Timing: Time to negotiate a closed door is crucial for safe escape

Identification: Doors on escape routes must be easily identifiable.

Accessibility: Doors should be readily openable by all people.

NOTE 1 Additional recommendation for fire doors are given in 32.1.

NOTE 2 Recommendations for the visual identification of doors are given in BS 8300.

15.6.2 Door fastenings

a) Locking Mechanisms on Escape Route Doors:

● Should not have lock, latch, or bolt fastenings, or should use simple fastenings operable without a key or multiple mechanism.

● Must be easily operable from the escape side without complex operations.

b) Secure Doors:

● Locks or mechanisms (codes, cards, biometrics) must have override capability from the escape side.

● Electrically powered locks must unlock during:

● Fire alarm activation (BS 7273-4).

● Power loss or system error.

● Manual door release activation (BS EN 54-11:2001+A1).

c) Panic Exit Devices:

● Required for doors on escape routes with occupant capacity over 60 (excluding characteristic A premises) per BS EN 1125.

d) Security Locks on Final Exit Doors:

● Permissible for use only when the building is empty, with management procedures ensuring safe use.

15.6.3 Direction of opening

a) Door Leaf Orientation:

● Should open in the direction of escape where feasible.

● Must open in the direction of escape if expected occupancy exceeds 60 people during a fire.

NOTE With respect to industrial activities where there is a high fire risk with potential for rapid fire growth, it might be necessary (e.g. as a result of risk assessment) for doors to open in the direction of escape regardless of the number of occupants.

15.6.4 Amount of opening and effect on associated escape routes

a) Door Swing:

● Doors on escape routes should open at least 90°.

● Must swing clear of any changes in floor level.

b) Recessed Doors:

● Doors opening towards a corridor or stairway should be recessed to avoid reducing the effective width of the escape route.

15.6.5 Vision panels in doors

a) Vision Panels Requirements:

● Should be installed on doors that subdivide corridors on escape routes.

● Required on doors that swing both ways.

● Necessary for inner room arrangements as per specific conditions (see 16.3.4).

NOTE Attention is drawn to the Building Regulations 2010, Approved Document M [36] in respect of vision panels in doors across accessible corridors and passageways, and Approved Document K [35] in respect of provisions for the safety of glazing.

15.6.6 Final exits

● Sufficient Width: Must accommodate the number of people using the exit (refer to 16.6).

● Rapid Dispersal: Should lead directly to a street, passageway, walkway, or open space for quick dispersal away from the building. The route should be clear and well-defined, potentially guarded against traffic hazards.

● Visibility: Final exits must be easily identifiable, especially when exiting from a stair that continues beyond the exit level.

● Safety Clearance: Should be located away from risks like basement smoke vents, transformer chambers, refuse chambers, or boiler rooms.

● Accessibility: Where steps are present, there should be space for wheelchair users without obstructing others. Ideally, exits should lead to a level or ramped route.

● Shared Exit Considerations: If a final exit door serves both a stair and a storey exit, the total floors served should be considered in stair width calculations, or the final exit must accommodate the combined evacuation flow rate (see Figures 6a, 6b, 6c).

15.7 Protected power circuits

The cables for fire alarm circuits should conform to BS 5839-1:2013, 26.2. The cables for voice alarm circuits should conform to BS 5839-8:2013, 27.2. The cables for emergency voice communication circuits should conform to BS 5839-9:2011, Clause 14b). The cables for all other circuits that require a resistance to fire, either for life safety, fire-fighting or property protection should conform to BS 8519.

Figure 6 Merging flow at final exit level (1 of 3)

Figure 6 Merging flow at final exit level (2 of 3)

Figure 6 Merging flow at final exit level (3 of 3)

15.8 Fire protection of lift installations

COMMENTARY ON 15.8

a) General Exclusion of Lifts in Evacuation:

● Risk of occupants becoming trapped due to power loss.

● Potential discharge of occupants onto fire-affected floors.

● Possible delays waiting for lifts, increasing escape time.

b) Evacuation Lifts:

● Specifically designated lifts can be used for evacuation, prioritizing those with difficulties using other routes.

● Systems and procedures for evacuation lifts detailed in 45.9, Annex G, and 17.8.2.

c) Lift Well Requirements:

● Must be within protected stairway enclosures or enclosed with fire-resistant construction.

● Should form a protected shaft if connecting different compartments.

● In basements/enclosed car parks or high fire risk areas, access only through protected lobbies or corridors unless within a protected stairway.

d) Restrictions:

● Lifts should not serve basements if only one escape stair exists or if the escape stair ends at ground level.

e) Lift Machinery Spaces:

● Preferably located over or within the top of the lift well.

● Must be outside or separated from the stairway in buildings with only one stairway serving the building, to prevent smoke spread.

f) Feature Lifts (e.g., wall-climber or atrium lifts):

● Should not be used for evacuation if running through smoke reservoirs.

● Must return to a designated exit landing per BS EN 81-73:2016.

15.9 Mechanical ventilation and air conditioning systems

a) Mechanical Ventilation Systems:

● Must direct air away from protected escape routes and exits during a fire or shut down the relevant sections.

b) Recirculating Air Systems:

● Should comply with recommendations in 32.5.5 for operation under fire conditions.

c) Smoke Control Compatibility:

● Ventilation and air conditioning systems must be compatible with the smoke control system during a fire.

d) Fire Protection Standards:

● Fire protection measures for mechanical ventilation and air conditioning systems should follow the guidelines in 32.5.

15.10 Refuse chutes and storage

a) Refuse Storage and Chutes:

● Must comply with BS 5906 for siting and construction.

b) Separation and Location:

● Separation: Refuse chutes and storage rooms must be separated from other parts of the building by fire-resisting construction.

● Location: Should not be located within protected stairways or lobbies.

c) Access and Ventilation:

● Access: Should be from the open air or through a protected lobby with at least 0.2 m² of permanent ventilation or suitable mechanical ventilation.

● Avoidance: Access to refuse storage should not be adjacent to escape routes, final exits, or near windows.

15 Minimum package of fire protection