Fire Sprinkler System Requirements and Standards

Fire sprinkler systems are vital for keeping life and property safe, whether it’s a residential building or commercial property. But these systems shouldn’t be installed without meticulously following certain legal requirements and maintaining specific safety standards. 

These standards and requirements are put into place to maximise safety and ensure that all systems which are installed actually make a significant difference in limiting the spread of fire.

What is the British standard for fire sprinkler systems?

There are two main British standards for fire sprinkler systems. The first is known as BS 9251 and covers safety standards for domestic and residential fire sprinkler systems. 

Next, are the BS EN 12845 standards, which cover the design, installation and safety standards for automatic industrial and commercial fire sprinkler systems.  

Whilst they differ in specifics, both of these British standards outline certain design principles in terms of sprinkler head placements and hydraulic design. They also both outline certain installation requirements which cater towards the types of buildings they’re relevant to and pipework/support needs. Beyond this, they state requirements regarding testing procedures and frequency.

What is the BS 9251 standard?

BS 9251 specifies safety requirements for the design, installation and maintenance of fire sprinkler systems in domestic and residential building types. This usually includes houses, HMOs, blocks of flats, residential care homes, hostels and more. 

BS 9251 regulations categorises sprinkler systems based on occupancy and risk profile of the specific building. There are 4 categories, and they begin at category 1 with individual houses and small HMOs, and rise to category 4 with blocks of flats 18m or above. 

The main difference between each category is the requirement for flow rates and duration, which is normally:

• 10 minutes for category 1
• 30 minutes for category 2 and 3
• 60 minutes for category 4

These guidelines also detail specific requirements for sprinkler head placements, ensuring that each area of the building is properly covered and protected, as well as comprehensive documentation outlining the work done, calculations and more. 

Pyrotech Sprinklers are dedicated to providing all of the necessary documentation to ensure full legal compliance. 

What is the BS EN 12845 standard?

BS EN 12845 lays the foundations for commercial and industrial fire sprinkler systems. This includes offices, retail units, warehouses and much more. Under this standard, fire hazards need to be classified as light, ordinary or high hazards. Based on these classifications, certain rules must be followed in their respective areas, ensuring that every area of your property is protected to the required standard. 

Again, these regulations specify everything from components to flow rates, and from design/layout to maintenance and testing. Equally, we at Pyrotech Sprinklers will always provide you with the required documentation to ensure you know how, and why, you’re covered. 

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Is it a legal requirement to have a sprinkler system in the UK?

Whether or not it’s a legal requirement for you to have a sprinkler system depends on the type of building you own/are responsible for. 

The following building types must legally have a fire sprinkler system installed:

• Newly built blocks of flats (above 11m)
• Open plan areas of large shops or self-storage (above 2000 square metres)
• Commercial buildings such as factories, warehouses, or offices with over 20,000 metres of floor area

You may also be legally advised to retrofit a fire sprinkler system based on the results of a fire health and safety audit in other building types.

When are fire sprinklers required in commercial buildings?

Fire sprinkler systems are required in commercial buildings when floor space exceeds 20,000 square metres. Equally, they’re required when a building exceeds 30 metres in height. 

As mentioned, if your building holds more than 5 employees, a fire risk assessment may advise the installation of fire sprinkler systems to protect lives. 

Equally, if your building is seen as a ‘high risk’ building (e.g. storage facilities or chemical production) a fire sprinkler system is likely to be legally required. 

When are fire sprinklers required in residential buildings?

Fire sprinkler systems are required in new residential buildings above 11 metres, or in existing buildings of this size which are converted to residential occupancies. 

Also, fire sprinkler systems are usually required in residential care buildings such as care homes, sheltered housing, or housing for vulnerable people. 

Even in residential buildings where a fire sprinkler system is not a legal requirement, it is highly recommended that you protect life and property with a system to prevent serious disaster. Whilst the upfront cost is often an offputting factor, the long term benefits and peace of mind are certainly worthwhile. 

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How to comply with fire sprinkler system requirements

To ensure you comply with fire sprinkler system requirements, it’s important to work alongside an installer with a depth of experience, who are dedicated to following safety standards closely. 

Pyrotech Sprinklers are proud to be able to provide excellent bespoke services when it comes to designing, installing and maintaining fire sprinkler systems. Work with us to ensure you meet requirements and standards.