What does Approved Document B say regarding automatic fire suppression?
Approved Document B (Volume 1, 2019 edition, page i) specifically provides for the use of non-standard systems, explaining that:
‘although approved documents cover common building situations, compliance with the guidance set out in the approved documents does not provide a guarantee of compliance with the requirements of the regulations because the approved documents cannot cater for all circumstances, variations and innovations.…Where the guidance in the approved document has not been followed… the person carrying out building works should demonstrate that the requirements of the regulations have been complied with by some other acceptable means or method.’
There are also a number of other alternative guidance documents which support the use of Automatic water fire suppression systems (AWFSS) to meet building regulations:
- BS 9991:2024 Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice
- BS 7974:2019 Application of fire safety engineering principles to the design of buildings. Code of practice
Read more - Is there any fire engineering research that supports the use of Automist?
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to all of the aspects of the building regulations but rather a useful source of background information. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the contents of this document are correct at the time of publication, it should never be used as any form of substitution for the guidance documents. Plumis shall be under no liability whatsoever in respect to the contents of this document. It should be noted that there may be specific additional requirements dependent upon local authority building regulations and/or fire authority.