[
A new guide on the consequences of electrical work in domestic premises to a building’s fire separation has been published by the Electrical Safety Council.
The guide – Electrical Installations and their impact on the fire performance of buildings: Part 1 – domestic premises: Single family units – gives practical advice and guidance for electrical installation work in new and existing domestic premises. It highlights the issues of fire compartmentation and escape routes and the importance of ensuring their fire performance.
It warns of the potential of penetrating wall and ceilings with the installation of flush-mounted consumer units, concealed and recessed luminaires, including downlighters, and flush-mounted socket-outlets and switches. The guide takes into account the publication of BS 7671: 2008 and provides practical guidance aimed at preserving the fire separation between areas and the structural stability of domestic premises.
“Those carrying out electrical work in homes have a critical role in ensuring that the fire safety of the property is maintained,” says Mike Clark, technical director at the Electrical Safety Council. “The guidance is offered with the aim that any electrical installation work will not compromise the fire performance provisions that are mandatorily required to be incorporated into domestic premises under relevant building regulations. We plan to bring out further guidance covering the impact of electrical installations on the fire performance of other types of premises in due course.”
The guide is available to download free of charge from the ‘business & community’ section of the Electrical Safety Council’s website www.esc.org.uk . The Electrical Safety Council will also be giving seminars on the topic at Sandown Park, Surrey on 2nd and 3rd December as part of Elex 2008.
2023 Fire Safety eBook – Grab your free copy!
Download the Fire Safety in 2023 eBook, keeping you up to date with the biggest news and prosecution stories from around the industry. Chapters include important updates such as the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and an overview of the new British Standard for the digital management of fire safety information.
Plus, we explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.
