Page 6 - food store model (with basement accomodation)

Reference Guide Fire Strategy

1.4 Overview

The primary objective of this fire strategy review is to identify how an acceptable level of fire

safety may be achieved commensurate with the Requirements of the Building Regulations
2010. The Buildings Regulations 2010 is the Statutory Instrument which seeks to ensure the
policies set out in the Building Act 1984 are implemented. The requirements of the Building

Regulations 2010 may be met in one of two ways, compliance with an accepted design code
or through a fire engineered approach.

In this instance the primary design code used is Approved Document B (ADB).

The Building Regulations outline 5 Functional Requirements of Fire Safety, as detailed
below:

• B1 – Means of Warning and Escape,

• B2 – Internal Fire Spread (Linings),

• B3 – Internal Fire Spread (Structure),

• B4 – External Fire Spread, and

• B5 – Access and Facilities for the Fire Service.

This report aims to address each of the Functional Requirements above and provides
comment on the ongoing Fire Safety Management required within retail premises.

Under Regulation 3 of the Building Regulations 2010, the term ‘Material Alteration’ is defined

by reference to a list of ‘relevant requirements’ of Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations.
That list includes the requirements of Parts B1, B3, B4 and B5. This means that an alteration

which, at any stage of work, results in a building being less satisfactory than it was before in
relation to compliance with Parts B1, B3, B4 and B5 is a material alteration, and is therefore
controlled by Regulation 4 as it is classified as ‘building work’.

1.5 B1 – Means of Warning and Escape

1.5.1 Fire alarm and detection system

All stores are to be provided with an automatic fire alarm and detection system designed and
installed to not less than Category L3 standard, in accordance with BS5839-1. It is noted that

this is an enhancement above the Category M alarm system, required by ADB for such
premises. This level of automatic system should provide coverage to ground and basements

Document Classification Final Document Ref: 3.1-RCS-RHSE-(110)-263 Version 1.1
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