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Regulation 35: Internal Fire Spread – Structure
35NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A building shall be so designed and constructed that, in the event of a fire, its stability will be retained for a reasonable period. (2) A wall common to two or more buildings shall be so designed an
fire-safetystructuralInternal fire spread – Structure Performance
0.11NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
It is the view of the Department that the requirements of regulation 35 in Part E will be met – (a) if the loadbearing elements of structure of a building are capable of withstanding the effects of fi
fire-safetystructuralall-buildingsFire-resisting elements of construction
0.12NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Fire-resisting elements of construction – the objective of providing the elements of structure and certain other components of the building with a minimum standard of fire resistance is to minimise th
fire-safetystructuralSealing and subdivision of hidden voids
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
if any hidden voids in the construction are sealed and subdivided to inhibit the unseen spread of fire and products of combustion, in order to reduce the risk of structural failure, and the spread of
fire-safetystructuralDefinitions – Element of Structure
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Element of structure – (a) a member forming part of the structural frame of a building or any other beam or column; (b) a loadbearing wall or loadbearing part of a wall; (c) a floor; (d) a gallery (bu
fire-safetystructuralDefinition: Compartment Wall
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
a compartment wall (including a wall common to two or more buildings). (However, see paragraph 4.11 for exclusions from the provisions for elements of structure.)
fire-safetystructuralDefinition: Fire-Resisting (Fire Resistance)
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Fire-resisting (fire resistance) – the ability of a component or construction of a building to satisfy for a stated period of time, some or all of the appropriate criteria specified in the relevant Pa
fire-safetystructuralDefinition: Fire Separating Element
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Fire separating element – a compartment wall, compartment floor, cavity barrier and construction enclosing a protected shaft, protected escape route and a place of special fire hazard.
fire-safetystructuralSuspended ceiling (fire-protecting)
NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Suspended ceiling (fire-protecting) – a ceiling suspended below a floor, which contributes to the fire resistance of the floor.
fire-safetystructuralRestricting fire spread within buildings
4.1NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The spread of fire within a building can be restricted by – (a) ensuring the elements of structure and certain other components of the building have a minimum standard of fire resistance; (b) subdivid
fire-safetystructuralFire resistance classification methods
4.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The fire resistance of an element of structure or other component of a building is a measure of its ability to withstand the effects of fire in one or more of the following ways – (a) resistance to co
fire-safetystructuralNational tests for fire resistance determination
4.3NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Under National determination performance in respect of fire resistance should be determined in accordance with, in the case of – (a) loadbearing elements – BS 476: Parts 20 and 21; (b) non-loadbearing
fire-safetystructuralEuropean fire-resistance testing standards
4.4NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Under European determination performance in respect of fire resistance should be classified in accordance with Commission Decision 2000/367/EC of 3rd May 2000 implementing Council Directive 89/106/EEC
fire-safetystructuralSpecific fire-resistance period requirements
4.5NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Provision for an element of structure or other component of the building to have a specific period of fire resistance means that it should have not less than that period, in respect of the relevant as
fire-safetystructuralFire Resistance Test Provisions for Building Elements
Table 4.1NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Table 4.1 Specific provisions of test for fire resistance of elements of structure and other components of a building Part of building | Minimum provisions when tested to the relevant part of BS 476
fire-safetystructuralhrbFire resistance requirements for compartment walls
Table 4.1, item 7NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Compartment wall other than in item 6 above Loadbearing capacity: See Table 4.2 Integrity: See Table 4.2 Insulation: See Table 4.2 Minimum provisions when tested to the relevant European standard: REI
fire-safetystructuralmeans-of-escapeFire resistance requirements for protected shafts
Table 4.1, item 8NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
(a) any glazing described in paragraph 4.26 Loadbearing capacity: Not applicable Integrity: 30 minutes Insulation: No provision(3) Minimum provisions when tested to the relevant European standard: E 3
fire-safetystructuralmeans-of-escapeFire resistance requirements for protected stairway, lift shaft, and service shaft enclosures
Table 4.1, item 9NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Enclosure (which does not form part of a compartment wall or a protected shaft) to – (a) protected stairway Loadbearing capacity: 30 minutes Integrity: 30 minutes Insulation: 30 minutes(4) Minimum pro
fire-safetystructuralstairsmeans-of-escapeTable 4.1: Fire Resistance Test Provisions for Building Elements
Table 4.1NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Table 4.1 Specific provisions of test for fire resistance of elements of structure and other components of a building (cont'd) Part of building | Minimum provisions when tested to the relevant part o
fire-safetyhrbstructuraldwellingnon-domesticFire Resistance Testing Requirements for Building Elements
Table 4.1NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Table 4.1 Specific provisions of test for fire resistance of elements of structure and other components of a building (cont'd) Part of building | Minimum provisions when tested to the relevant part o
fire-safetystructuralMinimum fire resistance for structural elements
4.6NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
An element of structure and those other components of the building given in Table 4.1 should have a minimum period of fire resistance of not less than that given in Tables 4.1 and 4.2 for the purpose
fire-safetystructuralFire-resisting construction standards
4.8NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Where an element of structure or other component of the building is required to have fire resistance it may be constructed in accordance with an appropriate specification in Part II of the Building Re
fire-safetystructuralTable 4.2 Minimum periods of fire resistance
Table 4.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
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+ incl
fire-safetydwellingflatsresidentialcommercialofficeindustrialpublic-buildingstructuralMinimum periods of fire resistance for car parks (Table 4.2 continued)
Table 4.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Purpose group of building: 7(b) car park for light vehicles (i) Open sided car park: Basement storey including floor over: Not applicable Ground or upper storey - Depth (m) of basement More than 10:
commercialfire-safetystructuralNotes on fire resistance table - basement floors and compartment walls
Table 4.2 NotesNI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The floor over a basement (or if there is more than one basement, the floor over the topmost basement) should meet the provisions for the ground and upper storeys if that period is higher. * Increase
fire-safetystructuralSteel elements deemed to satisfy 15-minute fire resistance
Table 4.2 Note (5)NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
For the purposes of this technical booklet the following types of steel elements are deemed to have satisfied the minimum period of fire resistance of 15 minutes when tested to the European test metho
fire-safetystructuralcommercialSingle storey buildings and basement application
Table 4.2 Note (1)NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A single storey building or a single storey separated part of a building should be subject to the period given under the heading 'Not more than 5' and where it has a basement storey or storeys they sh
fire-safetystructuralMinimum periods of fire resistance by building use and height
Table 4.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Table 4.2 NEW 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+ i
fire-safetystructuraldwellingflatsnon-domesticcommercialindustrialhigh-riseFire Resistance Periods for Car Parks (Table 4.2 cont'd)
Table 4.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Purpose group of building: 7(b) car park for light vehicles (i) open sided car park: Basement (More than 10m): Not applicable; (Not more than 10m): Not applicable; Ground/upper storey (Not more than
non-domesticfire-safetystructuralNotes to Table 4.2 - Basement Floor Provisions
Table 4.2 NoteNI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The floor over a basement (or if there is more than one basement, the floor over the topmost basement) should meet the provisions for the ground and upper storeys if that period is higher.
fire-safetystructuralNotes to Table 4.2 - Asterisk Footnotes
Table 4.2 NoteNI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
* Increased to a minimum of 60 minutes for compartment walls separating buildings. $ Increased to a minimum of 30 minutes for elements protecting the means of escape.
fire-safetymeans-of-escapestructuralNotes to Table 4.2 - Hash Footnote
Table 4.2 NoteNI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
# Reduced to 90 minutes for elements not forming part of the structural frame.
fire-safetystructuralNotes to Table 4.2 - Application to Single Storey Buildings
Table 4.2 Note (1)NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A single storey building or a single storey separated part of a building should be subject to the period given under the heading "Not more than 5" and where it has a basement storey or storeys they sh
fire-safetystructuralNotes to Table 4.2 - Steel Elements Deemed to Satisfy 15 Minutes Fire Resistance
Table 4.2 Note (8)NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
For the purposes of this technical booklet the following types of steel elements are deemed to have satisfied the minimum period of fire resistance of 15 minutes when tested to the European test metho
fire-safetystructuralTable 4.3: Limitations of fire-protecting suspended ceilings
Table 4.3NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Table 4.3 Limitations of fire-protecting suspended ceilings Height of building or separated part (m) | Type of floor | Fire resistance of floor required by Table 4.2 (minutes) | Type of suspended cei
fire-safetyhrbstructuralVariations of the provisions regarding fire resistance
4.11NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A provision for an element of structure to have fire resistance should not apply to – (a) any part of the structure which only supports a roof unless – (i) the roof performs the function of a floor, e
structuralfire-safetyBasement storey open at ground level
4.12NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Where one side of a basement storey or compartment is (due to the slope of the ground) open at and provides – means of escape and fire and rescue access at ground level and smoke venting, the period o
structuralfire-safetymeans-of-escapeConversion of roof space in existing two storey dwellinghouse
4.13NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Where the roof space of an existing two storey dwellinghouse is to be converted to form a new storey the provisions of this Section are for the floors, both old and new, to have full 30 minutes fire r
dwellingfire-safetystructuralRaised storage floors - Fire resistance exemptions
4.14NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Raised free-standing floors supported by racking are frequently erected for storage purposes and whether they are considered as a gallery or as a floor forming a storey the provisions for fire resista
industrialfire-safetystructuralmeans-of-escapeConstruction requirements for compartment walls and floors
4.19NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Every compartment wall and compartment floor should – (a) form a complete barrier to fire between the compartments they separate; and (b) have the appropriate fire resistance required by paragraph 4.6
fire-safetycompartmentationstructuralCavity barriers above compartment walls
4.37NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A cavity barrier should not be used above a compartment wall to complete the line of compartmentation, i.e. a compartment wall should be carried up to a compartment floor or to a roof.
fire-safetystructuralCavity barriers at intersections
Diagram 4.4NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Diagram 4.4 Cavity barriers at intersections (a) Section - wall with cavity and compartment floor showing cavity barrier and alternative method to carry wall up to underside of floor with suspended c
fire-safetycavity-barrierscompartmentationstructuralPipes penetrating fire separating elements
4.43NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Where a pipe passes through a fire separating element it should be – (a) provided with a suitable proprietary sealing system which has been shown by test to maintain the fire resistance of the fire se
fire-safetystructuralFire behaviour of insulating core panel materials and fixing systems
4.55NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The degradation of polymeric materials can be expected when exposed to radiated/conducted heat from a fire, with the resulting production of large quantities of smoke. It is recognised that the potent
fire-safetynon-domesticcommercialfire-spreadstructuralFirefighting challenges with panel systems
4.56NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
When compared with other types of construction techniques, these panel systems therefore provide a unique combination of problems for firefighters, including – (a) hidden fire spread within panels wit
fire-safetynon-domesticstructuralDesign recommendations for panel systems fire risk
4.57NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
To identify the appropriate solution, a risk assessment approach should be adopted. This would involve identifying the potential fire risk within the enclosures formed by the panel systems and then ad
fire-safetynon-domesticstructuralSpecifying materials, fixing and jointing systems for panel stability in fire
4.59NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The following are methods by which the stability of panel systems may be improved in the event of a fire, although they may not all be appropriate in every case. (a) Insulating envelopes, support syst
fire-safetystructuralnon-domesticcommercialindustrialFire Resistance of External Walls
5.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The external walls of a building are elements of structure and other than those areas which may be unprotected (as determined in accordance with paragraphs 5.10 to 5.12) should have the appropriate pe
fire-safetystructuralPortal frame fire resistance
5.5 Portal framesNI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Frequently, the provisions of Section 4 do not require the portal frames of a single storey building to have fire resistance except where the column members of those frames are within, or support, an
fire-safetystructuralnon-domesticBuilding separation from relevant boundaries based on thermal radiation
5.13NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A building should be separated from its relevant boundaries by at least half the distance at which the total thermal radiation intensity received from all unprotected areas in the external walls would
fire-safetyexternal-spacestructural