FIRE SAFETY & SECURITY
MEETING THE NEW BUILDING REGULATIONS FOR FIRE SAFETY
KEN BULLOCK , BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR EVACUATION ALERT SYSTEMS AT ADVANCED , EXPLAINS MORE
With amended Part B ( Fire Safety ) of the Building Regulations coming into effect from December 2022 , architects need to know that it is now a requirement that evacuation alert systems are specified for new residential buildings over 18m .
Published on 1 June 2022 , the updated Part B offers new improvements to fire safety guidance to ensure tall buildings are made safer in England , as part of a wider package of reforms . A ‘ significant ’ addition to the document is the mandatory requirement for new residential developments over 18m to incorporate an evacuation alert system , offering new clarity for those involved in the design or construction of residential developments .
An evacuation alert system is vital to help fire and rescue services inform residents of a change in evacuation strategy during an incident . This gives fire and rescue services an additional tool to use on the ground , alongside existing methods of evacuation , improving safety for residents . Architects should therefore be aware that when designing tall buildings they must include an evacuation alert system in order to comply with the amended Part B .
To ensure compliance , any evacuation alert system must be provided in accordance with the BS 8629 Code of Practice for the design , installation , commissioning , and maintenance of evacuation alert systems for use by fire and rescue services in England . Advanced ’ s EvacGo evacuation alert system offers peace of mind as it was designed alongside fire industry leaders specifically to meet BS 8629 recommendations . The panel combines EN54-2 and 4 approved MxPro 5 technology with clear , easy-to-use manual controls to ensure firefighters can quickly and effectively identify and operate alert sounders to support the safe evacuation of tall residential buildings .
The amended Part B forms a portion of a wider update to tighten Building Regulations and provides clearer fire safety rules for the design and construction of residential developments . 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 , construction of any buildings to ensure compliance with Building Regulations giving 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 .
For further information on the EvacGo Evacuation Alert System or to reserve a place on Advanced ’ s CPD ‘ A guide to meeting BS 8629 ’:
Advanced Business Development Manager for Evacuation Alert Systems , Ken Bullock
“ An evacuation alert system is vital to help fire and rescue services inform residents of a change in evacuation strategy during an incident .
Tel : 0345 894 7000 Email : EvacGo @ advancedco . com or visit : https :// uk . advancedco . com /
Advanced ’ s handy pocket guide to BS 8629 has been produced to help people understand what they need to do to comply and is downloadable at https :// bit . ly / 3DFtldN .
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