Building Regs - Rewiring a house

budhabob

Hi all,

Quick one, what is the fire life safety requirements for a domestic electrical rewire. I've been told a smoke/ heat detector per room, Carbon monoxide in room with boiler and oven. As far as I can tell its 4 detectors, main circulation areas, main living room etc, and carbon monoxide alarm as mentioned. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.

sydthebeat

budhabob wrote: »

Hi all,

Quick one, what is the fire life safety requirements for a domestic electrical rewire. I've been told a smoke/ heat detector per room, Carbon monoxide in room with boiler and oven. As far as I can tell its 4 detectors, main circulation areas, main living room etc, and carbon monoxide alarm as mentioned. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.

http://www.etci.ie/safety/nationalruleselectricalinstallations.html

budhabob

sydthebeat wrote: »

http://www.etci.ie/safety/nationalruleselectricalinstallations.html

Note the most helpful of links. I had looked at the Regs, and the RECI website (http://www.reci.ie/ContractorServices/TechnicalInformationforContractors/AdditionalSmokeAlarmsinHouses.aspx), and still not clear. Will continue looking.

LD2 – Smoke/heat detectors installed in the dwelling on all circulation areas forming part of the escape route, as well as all high risk rooms

Gumbo

I'd i was doing a house from scratch is have a a mains wired linked smoke detected in every single room and every landing, no question.

I'd have CO alarm and detection in the rooms with boilers and any room a glue passes through and one at each landing level also.

893bet

kceire wrote: »

I'd i was doing a house from scratch is have a a mains wired linked smoke detected in every single room and every landing, no question.

I'd have CO alarm and detection in the rooms with boilers and any room a glue passes through and one at each landing level also.

This is what I did. Smoke alarm or heat detector in all rooms plus CM alarm in any room with a flue passing through.

Cheapest time to do it. Better be safe than sorry.

civdef

TGD-B 2006 says this:

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems for Dwelling Houses
1.5.5
A fire detection and alarm system can significantly increase the level of fire safety in a dwelling house and should be provided in accordance with the following guidance. BS 5839: Part 6: 2004, Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings, Part 6: 2004 Code of practice for the design and installation of fire detection and alarm systems in dwellings, provides guidance on the provision of fire detection and alarm systems in dwellings. This standard refers to different grades and types of fire detection and alarm systems, which can provide varying levels of protection. The grade and system should be selected and installed in accordance with the following paragraphs.

1.5.5.1 Grades of fire detection and alarm
systems -
The grade of alarm system should be appropriate to the size of the dwelling house, the number of storeys and the fire risk. BS 5839: Part 6: 2004 provides for different grades of systems as follows:
Grade A systems incorporate control and indicating equipment and are designed, installed and maintained in accordance with BS 5839: Part 1: 2002, but with some specific modified provisions.
Grade B systems incorporates fire detectors, fire alarm sounders and control and indicating equipment as specified in BS 5839: Part 6: 2004.
Grade C systems incorporate fire detectors and alarm sounders (which may be combined in the form of smoke alarms) connected to a common power supply with standby supply and an element of central control.
Grade D systems are based on the provision of one or more mains-powered smoke alarms each
provided with an integral standby power supply. They may also incorporate one or more mains powered heat alarms each with an integral standby power supply.
All smoke alarms and heat alarms should be interconnected so that detection of fire by any one unit provides an audible alarm from each.

The grade of the system should be at least Grade D as described above. Guidance on the selection of grades of system for other situations, where the fire risk and size of the building so warrants, is contained in BS 5839: Part 6: 2004.
Note: Grade E and F type systems, which are based only on battery or mains-powered smoke and heat alarms, are not acceptable for new dwelling houses.

1.5.5.2 Fire detection and alarm system types

Dwelling houses should be provided with an LD1 or an LD2 fire detection and alarm system in accordance with BS 5839 Part 6: 2004 designed for the protection of life.
An LD1 system incorporates suitably located and interconnected detectors throughout the dwelling house, including all circulation areas that form part of the escape route and in all rooms and areas in which a fire might start, other than toilets, bathrooms and shower rooms.
An LD2 system incorporates suitably located and interconnected detectors in all circulation areas that form part of the escape route and in all rooms or areas, such as kitchens and living rooms, that present a high fire risk.
Heat detectors should be provided in kitchens.

Dwelling houses with up to three storeys above ground level should have at least an LD2 system.
Dwelling houses with more than three storeys, large houses, or where the fire risk so warrants, should be provided with LD1 systems as appropriate, which will provide a higher level of life safety. Guidance on system types for different situations is contained in BS 5839: Part 6: 2004.

1.5.5.3 Installation of smoke and heat alarms
- Two types of self-contained smoke alarm, an optical type and an ionisation type, which have differing smoke response characteristics, are available. A mixture of both types is recommended and in the case of a typical two storey dwelling
house, an optical type on the ground floor storey and an ionisation type on the upper floor is the most appropriate.
The number and location of smoke alarms and heat alarms will be determined by the system type (see 1.5.5.2). In circulation areas, no door to a habitable room should be further than 7.5 m from the nearest smoke alarm. The location of smoke alarms, particularly in relation to doorways to bedrooms and the spacing of units, should be such as to ensure that the audibility requirements specified in BS 5839: Part 6: 2004 will be achieved. Smoke and heat alarms should preferably be fixed to the ceiling, at least 300 mm from any wall or light fitting. The method of fixing and location/spacing should take into account instructions provided by the manufacturer of the alarms.
It should be possible to reach all smoke and heat alarms to carry out, easily and safely, routine maintenance such as testing and cleaning. Instructions on maintenance requirements should be provided with all smoke alarm systems.

This prety much says it all currently - i.e. minimum Grade D LD2 spec for a normal domestic home - i.e. mains powered interlinked smoke alarms in halls, stairs, living room and heat alarms in kitchen.

This is likely to be increased in the upcoming revisions to TGD-B, with alarms required in all habitable rooms, as well as carbon monoxide alarms in any room with a fuel burning appliance- which is what I advise people to do if possible in any case.

Gumbo

civdef wrote: »

This is likely to be increased in the upcoming revisions to TGD-B, with alarms required in all habitable rooms, as well as carbon monoxide alarms in any room with a fuel burning appliance- which is what I advise people to do if possible in any case.

This is already in force with the revised TGD Part J since late last year.

CO in any room with the appliance, room that the flue passes through and also either within in all habitable rooms or within 5m of the entry point to those habitable rooms, so in effect on every landing is what most developers go with.

budhabob

Cheers All,

I had received a quote for work to include what you describe and indication it was required by the regs. When i couldnt find anything clear I was a little skeptical. Happy to do everything by the book and right, just didnt wanna go overkill, budget is a little tight.

Thanks again,

Rob