If you are involved in the ownership, management or fire safety approval of high rise buildings, or if you install AOVs and smoke control systems, take note of this important information from SE Controls.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the building owner or manager is responsible for ensuring the smoke ventilation system is compliant. Compliance doesn’t just mean having a fire safety contract for a building, compliance is about providing a regulated building which is safe for occupation.
If a contractor is used to install or maintain the smoke ventilation system, they must be competent to provide evidence that the system is compliant, and therefore safe. Below are some key things to look out for.
EN 12101
Under the mandatory Construction Product Regulation products MUST carry a Declaration of Performance (DoP) where a harmonised standard exists. The following EN 12101 series of harmonised standards apply to smoke ventilation products and must be met.
- EN12101 Part 1 Specification for smoke barriers
- EN12101 Part 2 Natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilators
- EN12101 Part 3 Specification for powered smoke and heat exhaust ventilators
- EN12101 Part 8 Smoke control dampers
- EN12101 Part 10 Power supplies
These standards often have specific requirements relating to installation or testing practice. For example, EN 12101: Part 2 dictates that unless the actuator and vent profile are tested together as a system, in a fire environment and at an accredited facility, it is not compliant; therefore its safety can’t be guaranteed and a DoP cannot be issued.
BS7346-8 Code of Practice
BS7346-8 summarises the entire process from design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of the system.
Approved Document B
Approved Document B (ADB) provides guidance on complying with the building regulations with regards to means of escape, travel distances, vent locations, free area calculations, access and limiting fire spread.
BS9999 and BS9991
These standards cover fire safety in the design, management and use of non-residential and residential buildings respectively.
SE Controls is a member of the Smoke Control Association. If you want to check that the system you have is fit for purpose contact SE Controls for further information.