Protecting people, property and the environment

Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Regulations 2013Ritchie O’Connell Ba(Hons) BSc(Hons) BSc( Hons) MSc MIFire E

Discussion Topics

• The Domestic Fire Safety ( Wales ) Measure 2011

• The Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Regulations 2013• What premises are caught?

• Regulations 37A and 37B

• Material change of use

• Does automatic water suppression mean sprinklers?

• What does it mean?

• The Measure requires the provision of automatic fire suppression systems (such as a fire sprinkler system) compulsory in all new and converted residences and enables Welsh Ministers to introduce regulations setting out the requirements for such systems.

The Domestic Fire Safety ( Wales ) Measure 2011

From 30 April 2014• Care homes( As defined in the Care Standards Act 2000)• Children’s Homes• Hospices• Student accommodation• Boarding Houses• Hostels (other than those used for short stay leisure

accommodation)

Introducing the measure

Introducing the measure

From 1 January 2016

All new houses and flats, including:• Registered group homes

• Adult placements

• sheltered housing

Where Regulation 37(a) applies

Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Regulations 2013

Introduced the intent of the Measure into the Building Regulations

New part 7A Provision of Automatic Fire Suppression systems which applies to Wales only

Comprises new Regulations 37(a) & (b)

37A Part 7A Provision of Automatic Fire Suppression systems37 A - (1) this regulation applies where building work

consists of the erection  or material change in use of a building in relation to-

(a) care homes as defined in section 3 of the Care Standards Act 2000

(b) rooms for residential purposes other than rooms in- (i) a hostel;(ii) An hotel;(iii) A prison or young offender institution; and(iv) A hospital

(c) Dwelling houses and flats

37A

(2) For the purposes of this regulation a material change of use comprises or includes a change of use within regulation 5 (a), (b), (c), (d), (g), (h) or (i).

Material change of useMeaning of material change of use

• 5.  …where there is a change in the purposes for which or the circumstances in which a building is used, so that after that change— – (a) the building is used as a dwelling, where

previously it was not; – (b) the building contains a flat, where previously it did

not; – (c) the building is used as an hotel or a boarding

house, where previously it was not;

Material change of use(d) the building is used as an institution, where previously it was not;

(g) the building, which contains at least one dwelling, contains a greater or lesser number of dwellings than it did previously;

(h) the building contains a room for residential purposes, where previously it did not;

(i) the building, which contains at least one room for residential purposes, contains a greater or lesser number of such rooms than it did previously

37A

• (3) A building to which this regulation applies must be provided with an automatic fire suppression system which is installed and operates in accordance with the requirements set in regulation 37B.

37A

4) This regulation does not apply to – (a) Section1 Listed Buildings – (b) in a designated conservation area – (c) Ancient monuments

Where installation of a fire suppression system would unacceptably alter their character or

appearance.

37(a)

• (5) This regulation does not apply to temporary buildings with a planned time of use of two years or less.

What does it mean?

If you build a new dwelling or residence where none previously existed If you create a new residence by material change of use

If you create a new residence by knocking one or more existing residences into a greater or fewer number of residences

Sprinklers will be required

What does it mean?

Regulation 37A brings in a mandatory requirement for automatic fire suppression systems in all new premises of Purpose Groups 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a and 2b constructed in Wales with the exception of hospitals, hotels, prisons, and short stay hostels used for leisure purposes.

What does it mean?

The new Regulations will not apply to • Hospitals• Hotels• Schools• Prisons

Does automatic water suppression mean sprinklers?

Welsh SI no 2730 The Building Regulations &c. ( amendment no.3) and Domestic Fire Safety Wales) Regulations 2013

– For the purposes of regulation 37A(3) the requirements …are the requirements set out in any document approved and issued under section 6 of the Building Act 1984 for the purpose of providing practical guidance as to the requirements of 37A

– Translation ADB Vols 1 and 2 (Wales)

ADB Vol 1 (Wales)

Calls up two standards only– BS 9251 :2014– BS9252 :2011

Equivalent technical standards also allowedWhere an alternative technical standard (to BS 9251 or BS 9252) is used the guidance of Section 2.5 and Appendix A should be followed.

Automatic water suppression systems

2.5 There are many alternative or innovative fire suppression systems available. Where these are used it is necessary to ensure that such systems have been designed and tested for use in domestic buildings and are fit for their intended purpose.

– Water Mist DD 8458-1-2010– Other national standards/ codes e.g. NFPA– Where an automatic fire suppression system is

provided, it is normal practice to provide protection throughout the building to cover all areas required by the relevant technical standard.

Summary

• The Domestic Fire Safety ( Wales ) Measure 2011

• The Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Regulations 2013

• The premises which are and are not caught

• Regulations 37A and 37B

• Material change of use

• Does automatic water suppression mean sprinklers?

• What does it mean?

Useful Links

• Approved document B vol1• http://gov.wales/topics/planning/buildingregs/publicati

ons/part-b-fire/?lang=en

• Building Regulations circular• http://gov.wales/topics/planning/buildingregs/circulars/

building-regulation-circular-wg-008-2015/?lang=en

• Bafsa http://www.bafsa.org.uk/• NFSN http://www.nfsn.co.uk/• Ritchie O’Connell http://www.thefirepractice.com

Protecting people, property and the environment

Any Questions?

Ritchie O’Connell Ba(Hons) BSc(Hons) BSc( Hons) MSc MIFire E