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Amendment (35): Update Standard Reference from BS 5588-1 to BS 9991
Amendment (35)NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
In paragraph 2.34, delete "BS 5588-1" and substitute – "BS 9991".
fire-safetyflatsAmendment (36): Smoke Control in Common Escape Routes
Amendment (36)NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
After paragraph 2.34, insert – "Smoke control in common escape routes 2.34A The smoke control in common escape routes should be in accordance with the relevant recommendations of BS 9991 and the provi
fire-safetyflatsmeans-of-escapehrbFire alarm provision for individual flats – standard systems or automatic detection
2.35NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Each individual flat should be provided with either – (a) smoke alarms complying with BS EN 14604 and a heat alarm or alarms complying with BS 5446-2 installed in accordance with paragraphs 2.25 to 2.
flatsfire-safetymeans-of-escapeFire alarm provision for large flats – automatic detection required
2.36NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Where any storey in a flat is more than 200 m2 in area, the flat should be provided with an automatic fire detection and fire alarm system complying with BS 5839-6 of at least Grade A Category LD2 sta
flatsfire-safetymeans-of-escapeFire alarm provision for extensions and alterations to flats
2.36ANI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Where any new habitable room or kitchen is provided, an automatic fire detection and fire alarm system in accordance with paragraph 2.23 or 2.24 should be installed within the new habitable room or ki
flatsfire-safetymeans-of-escapeFirefighting shaft - Fire main outlets location
Diagram 6.0, Note 1NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Outlets from a fire main should be located in the firefighting lobby or, in the case of a shaft serving flats, in the firefighting stairway (see Diagram b).
fire-safetymeans-of-escapeflatsSmoke control for firefighting shafts
Diagram 6.0, Note 2NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Smoke control should be provided in accordance with BS 9999 or, where the firefighting shaft only serves flats, the provisions for smoke control given in paragraph 2.34A may be followed instead.
fire-safetyventilationflatsDesign and construction of firefighting shafts
6.6NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Firefighting shafts should be designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant recommendations BS 9999. Where a building falls within paragraph 6.3(a) or (c) all firefighting shafts should hav
hrbhigh-risefire-safetyflatsmeans-of-escapeEvacuation Alert Systems in High-Rise Residential Buildings
6.21A, 6.21BNI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
In a building containing flats with a top storey more than 11 m above ground level, an evacuation alert system (EAS) should be provided in accordance with BS 8629. The system should enable the fire an
flatshrbhigh-risefire-safetyEAS System Independence from Other Systems
6.21CNI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
An evacuation alert system is not, and should not be confused with, a fire alarm system. The EAS should not be integrated with a fire detection and fire alarm system (or any other system), nor should
flatshrbhigh-risefire-safetyWayfinding Signage Requirement
6.21DNI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
To assist the fire and rescue service to identify each floor in a building containing flats with a top storey more than 11 m above ground level, floor identification signs and flat indicator signs sho
flatshrbhigh-risefire-safetyFloor Identification Sign Specifications
6.21ENI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
The floor identification signs should meet all of the following—(a) the signs should be located on every landing of a protected stairway and every protected corridor/lobby (or open access balcony) int
flatshrbhigh-risefire-safetyFloor Number Designation System
6.21FNI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
The floor number designations should meet all of the following conditions—(a) The floor closest to the mean ground level should be designated as either Floor 0 or Ground Floor; (b) Each floor above th
flatshrbhigh-risefire-safetyFloor numbering for basements and lower floors
6.21GNI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Each floor below the ground floor should be numbered sequentially beginning with Floor -1 or Basement 1.
flatshrbFlat indicator signs requirements
6.21GNI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
All floor identification signs should be supplemented by flat indicator signs, which provide information relating to the flats accessed on each storey. The flat indicator signs should meet all of the
flatshrbaccessibilitySecure information boxes for high-rise flat buildings
6.21JNI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
A building containing flats with a top storey more than 11 m above ground level should be provided with a secure information box.
flatshrbhigh-risefire-safetySecure information box design and location requirements
6.21KNI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
The box should meet all of the following conditions— (a) sized to accommodate all necessary information; (b) easily located and identified by firefighters (c) secured to resist unauthorised access but
flatshrbhigh-risefire-safetySecure information box guidance reference
6.21LNI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Best practice guidance can be found in Sections 2 to 4 of the 'Code of Practice for the Provision of Premises Information Boxes in Residential Buildings' published by the Fire Industry Association (FI
flatshrbhigh-risefire-safetyFire safety information for existing buildings subject to alteration
7.2NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
For existing buildings which are relevant premises or buildings containing one or more flats, subject to extension and/or alteration work, the information required should only relate to the work invol
fire-safetyflatsRegulation 37B - Mandatory Sprinkler Installation
8.5NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
To satisfy the requirements of Regulation 37B, an automatic sprinkler system should be provided in – (a) a building, containing one or more flats, with a storey more than 11 m above ground level; (b)
fire-safetyflatsdwellinghigh-riseRegulation 37B Applicability to New and Altered Buildings
8.6NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Regulation 37B applies when any of the above buildings in paragraph 8.5 are newly erected or formed after a material change of use. It also applies to certain alterations and/or extensions where Regul
fire-safetyflatsdwellingSprinkler System Requirements for Altered and Extended Buildings
8.7NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Where an existing building is already provided with an automatic sprinkler system, the building as a whole should be no less compliant after an alteration and/or extension. The automatic sprinkler sys
fire-safetyflatsdwellingDefinitions - Fire Safety Duties
Regulation 32(3)NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
"Fire safety duties" has the meaning given by Article 52 of the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 or duties associated with the fire safety measures in a building containing one o
fire-safetyflatsFire safety information
37ANI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Where a building is a relevant premises or contains one or more flats, the person carrying out the work shall— (a) provide adequate fire safety information to the person with fire safety duties in a b
fire-safetyflatsAutomatic fire suppression systems
37BNI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
A building shall be designed and constructed with a suitable automatic fire suppression system. This regulation applies only to— (a) a building, containing one or more flats, with a storey more than 1
fire-safetyhrbhigh-riseflatsTable 4.2: Minimum periods of fire resistance
Table 4.2NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Table 4.2 Minimum periods of fire resistance Purpose group of building | Minimum period (minutes) for elements of structure and other components of the building forming part of Basement storey+ inclu
fire-safetystructuraldwellingflatscommercialindustrialnon-domestichrbhigh-riseReferenced British and Building Standards for Fire Safety Systems
NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
BS 5867: Specification for fabrics for curtains and drapes Part 2: 1980 (1993) Flammability requirements AMD 4319 July 1983. BS 6387: 2013 Test method for resistance to fire of cables required to mai
fire-safetydwellingflatspublic-buildingnon-domestichrbVoice Alarm and Emergency Voice Communication Systems Standards
NI-wide·Amendments Booklet AMD 9 2025 (Booklets E R)
Part 8: 2023 Design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of voice alarm systems. Code of practice Part 9: 2021 Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of
fire-safetymeans-of-escapehrbflats