APPENDIX 2: EXPLANATORY INFORMATION
Building and Approved Inspectors (Amendment) (No.
2) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/3318)
Information from the Department for Communities
and Local Government:
The impact of the amendment to Part B3(3) of Schedule
1 is likely to be relatively minor, in that, although it gives
formal recognition to the use of automatic fire suppression systems
(such as sprinklers) on the face of the Regulations, in practice
such systems are already frequently installed in order to comply
with the Regulations. It will not change the fact that, for some
buildings, in order to inhibit internal fire spread, it may be
considered appropriate to sub-divide with fire-resisting construction,
in some suppression may be appropriate, in some both may be required,
and in some neither may be required.
There have been accompanying changes to the guidance
in that the number of situations where suppression systems are
considered appropriate has been increased: for example, the introduction
of guidance on the provision of sprinklers in tall blocks of flats
(as set out in the RIA). We have also introduced a new national
maximum unsprinklered compartment size for single storey storage
buildings (also in the RIA) which could either result in a compartment
being sub-divided with fire-resisting construction (such as a
compartment wall) or fitted with suppression.
Perhaps the change to the Regulations with the biggest
practical impact will be that of the introduction of new Regulation
16B on the provision of fire safety information, as this is an
entirely new requirement. As stated in the EM, there is increasing
complexity of design and reliance on fire engineering and management
procedures for many types of building. It is therefore important
for those responsible for the building to be aware of the building
design assumptions. For example if a building has been designed
for phased evacuation (where the floors are evacuated one or two
at a time starting with the floor on which the fire has occurred)
the stairs will be narrower than if a building were to be designed
for simultaneous evacuation. It is therefore essential that the
management procedures and evacuation strategy reflect the way
the building has been designed.
The impacts of this are discussed in the RIA, but
primarily the provision of this information is expected to reduce
the risk of death and injury by ensuring that all stages of design
are joined up and the ongoing maintenance and management of a
building is appropriate. It will also have an economic benefit
by reducing future costs in sourcing and assessing this information
and so assist with preparation of risk assessments under the Regulatory
Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The most significant practical impacts of the overall
package and those which comprise the bulk of the changes set out
in the RIA will be the changes to the guidance in Approved Document
B, which are not related to the changes to the legislation: for
example, the amendments to the guidance on loft conversions in
dwelling-houses, revisions to the guidance on the provision of
ventilation in blocks of flats and changes to the guidance on
the provision of facilities for fire-fighters in tall buildings.
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