BS5839: Part 1: 2002 TESTING AND MAINTENANCE
WEEKLY TESTING BY THE USER
Ensure that all indicators
show by resetting according to the instructions provided with the panel
and check that the internal sounder operates. Operate a manual call point to test the system. Check that the sounders operate. Reset the fire alarm
panel. Each week choose a different manual call point so that are the manual
call points in the building are tested in rotation over a prolonged
period. Check all call points and detectors and
ensure that none are obstructed in any way. Enter results of tests into the log book.
PERIODIC INSPECTION AND TEST OF THE SYSTEM
This consists of multiple checks and tests made by a competent
person with the aim of ensuring the fire alarm system remains functional, is in
good working order and is still compliant with the code.
ANNUAL TEST
As per above. Additionally
test all detectors and call points and check for correct operation.
EVERY 2 - 3 YEARS
Clean smoke detectors to
ensure correct operation and freedom from false alarms. Special equipment
is required for cleaning smoke detectors.
EVERY 4 YEARS
Replace sealed lead acid
batteries. If the operating temperature exceeds 25oC continuously, then
the battery may need to be replaced sooner.
BS5839 Requirements-
Most commercial and industrial
premises require a fire detection system to protect life and property.
National and local legislation cover a variety of buildings and their safety
requirements, therefore it is always advisable to consult the local Fire
Prevention Officer about specific premises. The following guide is intended
as a reference only, and BS 5839 Part 1 2002 should be consulted for all
fire system design requirements.
SYSTEM GUIDELINES -
BS5839 Part 1 : 1988 (2003 major changes to be updated soon)
System Classifications
Type P systems are automatically
activated fire detection systems designed to protect property.
These systems are then sub-divided
into:
Type P1 Fire system installed
throughout building.
Type P2 Fire system only
installed in a defined part of the building.
Type L systems are automatically
activated fire detection systems designed to protect life. These systems
are then sub-divided into:
Type L1 Fire system installed
throughout building.
Type L2 Fire system only
installed in a defined part of the building.
Type L3 Fire system only
installed for the protection of escape routes.
Type M systems encompass
all manually activated fire systems.
System Zoning
To quickly and accurately
identify the fire source, the building should be divided into zones. Each
zone should be accessible from the main circulation routes leading from
the location of the control panel. If the total floor area of the building
does not exceed 300m', it need only have one zone, no matter how many floors
it has. Otherwise, each floor should be treated as an individual zone.
The total floor area for anyone zone should not exceed 2000m'.
A searcher should not have
to travel more than 30m into a zone for visual indication of the fire's
position. The use of remote indicators outside doors may allow a zone area
to be increased.
A fire compartment is an
area bordered by a fire resisting structure with a resistance of at least
30 minutes. If a stairwell or a similar structure extended beyond one floor
but was in one fire compartment, the stairwell should be a separate zone.
If the zone covered more than one fire compartment, the zone boundaries
should follow the compartment boundaries.
If a building were split
into several occupancies, no zone should ever be split between two occupancies.
If a detector were removed
from the zone circuit this must not isolate a break glass call point on
the same circuit.
Control Panels
The type of control panel
will depend upon the size of the building and the extent of the automatic
protection provided. The panel is chosen according to the number of zone
and sounder circuits, ancillary control relays, battery standby time and
any other individual customer requirements.
The central control panel
must be positioned in a low fire risk area that provides the Fire Brigade
with easy access in cases of emergency. The area must be well lit, therefore
provision of emergency lighting may be necessary. A plan of the building
and the zone locations must be kept beside the control panel.
Detectors
Choose the correct detector
type. With more and more flame retardant treatments used in building materials
and furniture, photoelectric (optical) smoke detectors tend to be the most
popular choice.
Optical smoke detectors are
best suited to the detection of slow burning, smouldering fires caused
by materials such as plastic, PVC or foam. Optical detectors react best
to the large smoke particles produced by such fires and help to avoid false
alarms from cooking fumes etc. Ionisation detectors are the preferred choice
for the detection of the small smoke particles produced by flaming or fast
burning fires, e.g. fires involving liquid fuels. They may be quicker to
respond in the room of the fire's origin. Heat detectors (fixed heat or
rate of rise heat) will provide adequate protection in areas unsuitable
for smoke detectors.
Always ensure detectors are
evenly spaced and allow for any obstructions, such as beams and partitions.
Always consider the environmental conditions - there is a higher risk of
false alarms if smoke detectors are placed in areas of high air movement,
or where steam, vapour or exhaust fumes are likely to be present.
Smoke and heat detectors
are placed at the highest points of the enclosed areas, as this is where
smoke and heat from fires is most concentrated.
The heat sensitive element
of a heat detector should be sited between 25mm and 150mm below the ceiling
or roof. The smoke detector's sensor element should be sited between 25mm
and 600mm below the ceiling or roof. If the area has a pitched or north
light roof, smoke detectors should be installed in each apex.
Under flat horizontal ceilings
and corridors more than 5m wide, the maximum horizontal distance between
any point in the area and the nearest detector should be 5.3m for point
Heat Detectors, covering a maximum area of 50m2 and 7.5m for point Smoke
Detectors, to cover a maximum area of 100m2.
Manual Call Points
The break glass call point
allows personnel to raise the alarm in the event of a fire. Manual call
points should be located on exit routes, including exits to the open air,
and on stairwell landings. They should be mounted 1.4 metres above the
floor in easily accessible, conspicuous positions. Building occupants should
not have to travel more than 30 metres within a building to reach a manual
call point. This maximum distance may need to be reduced if the occupants
are elderly or infirm.
In general, all call points
within a building should be of the same type and operation. Exceptions
to this rule would include weatherproof call points or those designed for
use in hazardous areas.
If a call point is to be
used on a 240V AC supply the provision of earth continuity between external
circuits is required in order to comply with paragraph 4.1.7 of BS 5839,
Part 2.
Sounders
Alarm sounders are used to
alert and evacuate occupants. They are normally bells or electronic sounders
and all audible warning devices in the same system must have a similar
sound. This distinguishes them from other audible alarms.
The sound should not permanently
damage hearing but it should be a minimum of 65dBA or 5dBA above any background
noise likely to exceed 30 seconds. Should excessive noise be present, a
visual indication of the alarm condition should also be provided. If the
alarm is to wake sleeping occupants, such as in a hotel, the sound level
should be a minimum of 75dBA at the bedhead. Sound level frequencies should
normally be kept within the range of 500 to 1,000Hz
No matter how small the system,
a minimum of two sounders are required and the correct sound levels must
be maintained in all parts of the building.
The sound level is reduced
by approximately 20dBA by a door and by approximately 30dBA by a fire door.
Multiple small sounders produce
a better sound distribution than a few large ones. In some areas, a large
number of quieter sounders may be preferable to a few very loud sounders
to prevent noise levels becoming too loud. Due to individual site characteristics,
sound level checks should be carried out to ensure minimum sound levels
are obtained.
Stand-By Power Supplies
Automatically charged batteries
often supply standby power. Automotive type batteries must not be used.
The supply must be able to operate the alarm for 30 minutes after a certain
minimum duration. The minimum duration varies with type of system and occupancy.
For property protection,
if the mains failure is immediately recognised, a standby duration of 24
hours is required, if not the required duration is 24 hours longer than
the building may remain unoccupied, For life protection, a standby duration
of 24 hours after the fault is detected is required.
Cables and Interconnections
All permissable fire system
cables are described in BS5839, Part 1. Fireproof cables are preferred
for fire alarm installations. However, as a minimum they must be utilised
for any circuits that are required to operate after Jetection of a fire
e.g. sounder circuits, power supplies and signalling interconnections.
Fireproof cables require fireproof supporting clips.
Detection circuits may be
wired in pvc/pvc e.g. twin and earth in line with guidelines provided in
BS5839, Part 1.
Conductors carrying fire
alarm power or signals should be segregated from conductors used for other
systems.
Where possible all cable
joints should be made within one of the system components. If a joint is
unavoidable then it should be enclosed in a suitable reserved junction
box labelled "Fire Alarm", Joints and terminations should only be carried
out by competent persons.
Connections to the mains
should be via an isolating protective device e.g. an isolating switch fuse,
the cover of the device should be red and should be labelled "Fire Alarm:
Do Not Switch Off",
Cables other than M.I.C.C.
should be provided with mechanical protection when necessary i.e. if physical
damage or rodent attack is likely, or if they are less than 2.25 metres
above the floor. Mechanical protection may be provided by conduit, trunking
or by laying in cable tray.
Certification and Testing
A commissioning certificate,
log book and system diagram are required to be given to the system user
upon the completion of an installation. After installation, every system
should be regularly tested and serviced. BS5839, Part 1 recommends the
following:
Daily (User) - Keep a daily
record of faults and report them.
Weekly (User) - Activate
a different call point or detector to check the system, log the details
and report any faults.
Quarterly - Check the log
book, operate a call point, simulate faults to check the control panel,
visually check for any structural alterations, and log all details.
Annually - Carry out normal
quarterly testing and also test every detector in situ and ensure all cable
fittings are secure.
BS5839 Part 6
The purpose of this simple
guide is to assist specifiers and installers in complying with the recommendations
of BS 5839 Part 6 when installing smoke alarms in dwellings and while every
reasonable endeavor has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information,
it is the responsibility of the reader to ensure that they satisfy the
recommendations of the British Standard in any particular case. No liability
is accepted for the consequences of any errors or omissions in this guide.
The guide is not intended to be a substitute for the British Standard,
the contents of which should be carefully studied by contractors installing
smoke alarms in dwellings. There are a lot of similarities between the
latter part 6 of BS 5839 1995 and the earlier BS 5839 Part 1 for commercial
properties but in essence part 1 demands a fully monitored centrally controlled
system with alert devices throughout the premises achieving at least 65
Db(A) with the following levels most commonly implicated but there are
others.
Scope
BS 5839 part 6 covers all
residential dwellings, both new and old. This part applies to bungalows,
multi storey houses, individual flats and maisonettes, mobile homes, sheltered
houses, NHS housing in the community for mentally handicapped or mentally
ill people, mansions and houses divided into several self contained family
dwelling units. It does not apply to hostels, caravans or boats (other
than permanently moored boats used solely as residential premises), or
to the communal parts of purpose built sheltered housing and blocks of
flats or maisonettes. Compliance with the standard does not of itself confer
immunity from legal obligations.
The Products
The British Standard recommends
that all smoke alarms should conform to BS 5446 : Part 1. It also recommends
that they should have been type tested, and preferably have been approved
under a recognised approval scheme. All TTS smoke alarms fully meet the
requirements of BS 5446 : Part 1 and have BSI kitemark and CE approval.
This facilitates incorporation of a domestic heat detector, which can be
used to trigger a nearby smoke alarm to which it is wired. Heat detectors
are very much slower in their response to fire than smoke detectors. They
should only be used as supplementary protection to smoke alarms, in rooms,
such as kitchens, where constant false alarms would occur if smoke alarms
were installed (or, less commonly, in rooms in which a fire would not cause
an early threat to escape routes). In particular, heat detectors should
never be installed in circulation spaces that form escape routes from the
house; smoke alarms must be used in these areas.
Applications
It should first be ensured
that standard smoke alarms are a suitable form of fire detection. Smoke
alarms are suitable for most flats, maisonettes and single or two storey
houses (including houses in multiple occupation) unless they are:
(i) very large (more than
200 m² on any floor);
or (ii) unusually high (with
the upper floor more than 4.5m above ground level).
Larger properties need a
form of fire detection and alarm system with a central control panel. The
system then becomes BS 5839 Part 1 design. However, in a house in
multiple occupation, regardless of size, smoke alarms may be used to give
warning to occupants of a fire in their own accommodation, while communal
escape routes are protected by a full fire detection and alarm system.
For new dwellings, battery
operated smoke alarms should not be used. These should only be used for
retrofitting in existing bungalows, flats and owner occupied two storey
houses in which there is adequate means of escape in the event of fire.
Mains operated smoke alarms should be used for all new dwellings and for
retrofitting in rented maisonettes and two storey houses. (They should
also be used for single storey bungalows and flats if, for example, occupants
could be trapped in a lounge, dining room or bedroom, due to a fire in
another room through which it is necessary to pass in order to escape from
the property; this might occur if, for example, there is a bedroom off
a lounge, and there is no window in the bedroom suitable for escape.) Mains
operated smoke alarms should also be used in preference to battery operated
devices if the occupants are considered to be at high risk from fire or
if they may not be able to replace batteries soon after a low battery fault
warning is given.
Both the ionisation chamber
and optical smoke alarms have a wide application range, and either type
will be effective in giving a sufficiently early warning of fire in many
circumstances. However, the optical smoke alarm responds better to some
types of fire than the ionisation chamber type, whereas other fires are
more readily detected by the ionisation chamber smoke alarm. Avoidance
of false alarms may also dictate the use of one type of smoke alarm in
a particular location, rather than the other. The most common
cause of false alarms is fumes generated by cooking. Optical smoke alarms
are generally less sensitive to, for example, smoldering toast than ionisation
chamber smoke alarms (although the optical smoke alarm will respond if
the toast catches fire). Because of this, BS 5839 : Part 6 recommends that
the smoke alarm nearest to a kitchen should be of the optical type. For
effective fire detection, the British Standard also recommends that optical
smoke alarms should be used in the circulation areas of the house. Accordingly,
to comply with the British Standard, optical smoke alarms should be used
in the hallways and staircases. This should be particularly noted if compliance
with the British Standard is a requirement of a building control authority.
In other locations, smoke
alarm choice should depend mainly on the type of fire that may be expected.
In many cases, this will be something of an unknown, and, often, either
type of detector can be used. Under these circumstances, avoidance of false
alarms should be taken into account. In some dwellings, electricity
supplies may be disconnected because the occupiers are unable to pay for
supplies. Disconnection may be at a coin or card operated meter or may
be due to deliberate disconnection by the supplier. If this is likely to
occur, smoke alarms with battery back-up should be installed. In practice,
in many cases, there will be insufficient information regarding the occupiers,
who may, in any case change. Accordingly, TTS recommend the use of smoke
alarms with battery back-up in most circumstances, as is now quite common
practice.
Connection to Mains Supply
Warning: Installation of
mains powered smoke alarms should be undertaken only by a qualified electrician.
Installation should be undertaken in accordance with BS 5839 : Part 6 and
BS 7671 (IEE Wiring Regulations). Mains-only smoke alarms with no
battery back-up should be connected on a single independent, dedicated
circuit at the dwelling’s distribution board. No other electrical equipment
should be connected to this circuit. The circuit should preferably not
be protected by any r.c.d., whether dedicated to the circuit or common
to all circuits derived from the distribution board. If, however, r.c.d.
protection is essential for electrical safety, the British Standard recommends
two options:
(i) The r.c.d. should be
dedicated to the smoke alarm circuit (which should then not be served by
any other r.c.d.);
or
(ii) The r.c.d. protection
should be arranged so that the r.c.d. serving the smoke alarm circuit operates
independently of any r.c.d. protection for circuits supplying socket outlets
or portable equipment. (For example, this could be satisfied by a distribution
board with a time delayed 100mA r.c.d. serving the entire board, and 30mA
r.c.d. protection on socket outlets, etc. It would be expected that, in
the event of earth leakage on a socket outlet circuit, the 30mA r.c.d.
would operate without the 100mA r.c.d. necessarily operating.)
BS 5839 : Part 6 recommends
that there be a method of silencing or disabling smoke alarms in the event
of a prolonged false alarm, perhaps due to a fault or a build p of pollution
in the detector chamber. However, to comply with BS 5839 Part 6,
there must be a means of silencing or disablement. This recommendation
can be satisfied if the dedicated circuit serving the smoke alarms is protected
by a miniature circuit breaker (as opposed to a fuse); the British Standard
recognizes a miniature circuit breaker as a suitable and readily
accessible means of silencing.
Because of the back-up batteries,
these smoke alarms can be connected to either:
(i) a single dedicated circuit
at the distribution board.
or
(ii) a separately electrically
protected, regularly used local lighting circuit. However, if the
smoke alarms are connected to a lighting circuit, isolation of the detector
for maintenance may be less convenient due to the need to isolate the lighting
circuit.
For models with battery
back-up, the British Standard does not specifically recommend against r.c.d.
protection of the relevant circuit. However, TTS would still advise
that it be ensured that the circuit used is not subject to nuisance tripping
due to r.c.d. protection.
Interconnection of Smoke
Alarms
If two or more smoke alarms
are installed, they should normally be interconnected to maximise the extent
of the audible warning when one detects a fire. In new dwellings, smoke
alarms should always be interconnected. It is essential that interconnected
smoke alarms are all supplied from a single common circuit.
Wiring
All wiring should be installed
in accordance with BS 7671 (IEE Wiring Regulations). The wiring of smoke
alarms need not be fire resisting. The mains supplies, and any interconnections
between smoke alarms, may be wired in any suitably rated cable designed
for a.c. mains installations. However, care should be taken to ensure
that the mains supply cable, and the cable used for interconnection of
smoke alarms, is not exposed to damage. BS 5839 : Part 6 recommends that
the cables are protected, by for example capping under plaster, conduit,
or trunking, in any areas where they may be subject to impact, abrasion
or rodent attack.
Where cables pass through
walls, a smooth clearance hole should be provided. If additional mechanical
protection is necessary, a smooth-bore sleeve should be sealed into the
wall. Care should be taken to ensure that the ends of the sleeve are free
from sharp edges. Cable penetrations should be filled and should maintain
the fire resistance of any fire resisting walls or floors.
Joints in cables should be avoided but, where unavoidable, should be enclosed
in a suitable and accessible junction box. Reliable termination methods
should be adopted.
Grades of System
BS 5839 : Part 6 defines
various ‘Grades’ of system. These will be used by enforcing authorities
and specifiers to specify the type of fire detection equipment that is
to be installed. Smoke alarms can be used in Grade C*, D, E and F systems,
which are suitable for protection of most normal flats, maisonettes and
houses.
Grade F systems comprise
one or more battery-powered smoke alarms.
Grade E systems comprise
one or more mains-powered smoke alarms.
Grade D systems comprise
one or more mains-powered smoke alarms,
each with an integral standby
supply, such as a battery.
The grades are intentionally
defined in such a way that higher grades are always of a better standard
than lower grades. So, if a specification calls for a Grade F system, this
can always be satisfied by installing mains powered smoke alarms. Similarly,
if a specification calls for a Grade E system, the requirement can be satisfied
by installing mains-powered smoke alarms either with or without battery
back-up.
Grade C systems comprise
one or more smoke detectors / alarms with a central control panel, however,
Grade C systems may also comprise 12V smoke detectors integrated with an
intruder alarm system, subject to the integrated system complying with
BS 5839: Part 6. Grade A and B systems are not considered in this
Guide. Smoke alarms cannot be used to satisfy the recommendations of the
British Standard for Grade A or B systems; these systems use complete fire
detection and alarm systems with separate detectors, sounders and control
equipment. TTS Fire & Security Ltd. has a comprehensive range
of radio fire detection products for Grade A and B systems. TTS should
be consulted for guidance on the design of these systems, which require
to be more ‘tailor made’ for the particular premises.
Although BS 5839 : Part 6
recommends type LD3 protection as the minimum standard of protection for
those single-family dwellings in which smoke alarms are suitable, it should
be stressed that the Standard recommends the installation of additional
smoke alarms (so providing LD2, or in some cases even LD1, protection)
if: The risk to occupants is higher than in a ‘typical’ dwelling.
Possible examples could be the need for smoke alarms to be installed in
living rooms and dining rooms if the occupiers smoke, or in bedrooms if
they smoke in bed. It might also be appropriate to install smoke alarms
in rooms, particularly bedrooms, in which portable heaters or solid-fuel
fires are used during the night, or in which electric blankets are used,
particularly by high-risk groups such as the elderly. Houses in which the
principal occupant is elderly or in which there are several elderly occupants
or young children may warrant additional smoke alarms. If occupants’ mobility
is impaired, additional smoke alarms may also provide greater time for
them to escape in the event of fire. The means of escape from the
dwelling suffers from some shortcoming. A particular example would be a
lounge, dining room or bedroom with no suitable window for escape, located
off another room e.g. a bedroom off a lounge. A fire in the lounge could
trap people in the bedroom, and a smoke alarm should be provided in the
lounge to give early warning of fire.
Where any doubt exists as
to the need for, or appropriate locations of, additional smoke alarms,
the advice of the fire brigade or other fire safety specialists should
be sought. Advice can also be provided by the TTS Fire & Security Ltd.
Locating and Siting Smoke
Alarms
Smoke alarms should be sited
in accordance with the following guidance to ensure both adequate detection
and alarm sounder audibility:
¯ At least one smoke
alarm should be located between the sleeping areas and the most likely
sources of fire (living room and kitchen).
¯ In a single storey
dwelling, one smoke alarm may be sufficient, in which case it should be
sited as close as possible to the living accommodation. If there are rooms
(other than toilets, bathrooms or shower rooms) on either side of a bedroom,
a smoke alarm should be sited in the hallway, mid-way between these rooms.
¯ In a two storey house,
at least one smoke alarm should be located on each storey.
In a conventional two storey house, one smoke alarm should be sited on
the ground floor between the staircase and any room in which fire might
start. A further smoke alarm should be sited on the upstairs landing.
¯ Additional smoke
alarms should be provided in long hallways of all dwellings. Within such
circulation areas, no door to any room should be further than 7.5 m from
the nearest smoke detector. In open-plan accommodation,
where a stair may be open to a living/dining area, the living/dining area
should be treated as a circulation area.
¯ Under flat ceilings,
the distance from any point in the room or area that is to be protected
to the nearest smoke alarm should never be more than 7.5 m. (or 5.3 m in
the case of a heat detector). Smoke alarms should preferably
be mounted on ceilings, unless the ceiling temperature is likely to be
significantly greater than the general air temperature. If ceiling mounting
is not possible, wall mounting may be considered in small rooms or short
hallways. However, smoke alarms should not be mounted on poorly insulated
external walls.
If smoke alarms are mounted
on walls in small rooms or short hallways, they should be mounted so that:
the smoke entry grille is
between 150 mm and 300 mm below the ceiling; and the smoke entry
grille is above the top of any doorway. Smoke alarms should not be
mounted adjacent to, or directly above, heaters or air-conditioning vents.
Smoke alarms should be sited in positions that are reasonably accessible,
particularly in the case of models containing batteries, so that the False
Alarm Control (‘hush button’) can be operated and that the smoke alarm
may be de-mounted to change batteries. Smoke alarms should
not be located closer than 300 mm to walls or light fittings.
In order that the smoke alarms will wake people from sleep, there is a
need to ensure that there is a smoke alarm within 3 m of each bedroom door.
NOTE:
The above guidance will ensure
only protection of circulation spaces (a type LD3 system). Such protection
cannot be depended upon to save the life of anyone in the room in which
fire starts. In many circumstances, the risk of fire may justify a type
LD2 or LD1 system. This will necessitate detectors (whether heat or smoke)
in some rooms of the dwelling. In houses of multiple occupancy a manual
call point should be installed by exit doors and on each floor level.
False Alarms
Occasional false alarms from
smoke alarms are inevitable, but installers should site smoke alarms in
such a way as to avoid unnecessary false alarms. However, avoidance of
false alarms should never take precedence over effective fire detection.
Guidance on selection of the most suitable type of smoke alarm in order
to provide optimum fire detection while avoiding unnecessary false alarms.
Note that the smoke alarm nearest to any kitchen should be of the optical
type. This will normally be the case, because all smoke alarms in circulation
spaces should normally be of the optical type. However, optical smoke alarms
should not be sited close to bathrooms, showers or rooms from which steam
may escape. Nevertheless, because these rooms normally open off circulation
spaces, false alarms should normally be avoided by careful siting of the
smoke alarms, rather than using ionisation chamber detectors.
Alarm Sound Levels
It is essential that, whenever
any of the smoke alarms in the dwelling detects a fire, the sound level
of the alarm (from either that smoke alarm or other smoke alarms interconnected
with it) is sufficient to wake up at least the adult members of the household.
The sound level in any bedroom is likely to be satisfactory if there is
a smoke alarm in the bedroom, interconnected to all other smoke alarms
in the dwelling. However, if this is not the case, the nearest interconnected
smoke alarm to the bedroom, capable of sounding an alarm whenever fire
is detected anywhere in the dwelling, should not be further than 3 m from
the bedroom door.
In some dwellings, such
as flats, maisonettes and houses in multiple occupation, doors to rooms
may be fire doors, which tend to attenuate the sound from smoke alarms
more than normal, domestic doors. In these cases, great care should be
taken to ensure that the sound level in bedrooms is sufficient. In some
houses in multiple occupation, the local authority may demand that the
sound level at the bedheads in some or all bedrooms is 75dB(A) when the
bedroom doors are closed.
This should be determined
before finalising the number of smoke alarms required, because 75dB(A)
is unlikely to be produced at the bedhead unless there is a smoke
alarm within the bedroom.
If occupants suffer from
severe hearing impairment, BS 5839 : Part 6 recommends that special alarm
devices, such as high intensity beacons and vibrating pillow or mattress
pads, be provided. User Instructions Occupiers
should be provided with suitable instructions on the smoke alarms installed.
BS 5839 : Part 6 sets out the information that should be contained in these
instructions.
Certification
Once the installation has
been completed and instructions have been handed over to the occupier (or
the owner in the case of a house in multiple occupation), a certificate
of compliance with BS 5839 : Part 6 should be issued. It should be noted
that, because BS 5839 : Part 6 is only a code of practice, as opposed to
a rigid set of regulations, it may have been appropriate to deviate from
its recommendations, subject to the agreement of the purchaser and any
relevant enforcing
authority (normally building
control in the case of new dwellings or the environmental health officer
in the case of houses in multiple occupation). The certificate should specify
the type and grade of system, and should indicate any deviations from the
recommendations of the British Standard in respect of this type and grade
of system. A model installation certification is contained
in BS 5839 : Part 6. The IEE Wiring Regulations further require the
issue of a certificate for the entire electrical installation in the case
of a new house.
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