The LWF Blog

Fire Safety for Facilities Management Personnel – Fire Service Facilities – Part 263

July 29, 2024 10:49 am

Lawrence Webster Forrest (LWF) is a specialist fire engineering and fire risk management consultancy whose aim is to give information on best practice in fire safety for facilities management personnel through this blog series. In part 262, LWF began to look at fire and rescue service facilities. In part 263, we talk about designing access for fire appliances and for firefighters.

When designing a new building, it is important to consider the necessity of having appropriate access for fire appliances to approach the building. The necessary access requirements are imposed under the building regulations.

The practicalities of firefighting must be taken into account and different requirements apply depending upon whether or not the building is fitted with rising mains. Private roadways and access gates to sites should be designed taking into account the need for fire appliance access.

Approved Document B contains guidance supporting the building regulations and offers detailed requirements for access.

When it comes to access for firefighters, the design requirements are significant when it comes to staircases and lifts. Normal practices and understanding mainly relate to the provision of smoke protected staircases, known as firefighting staircases, to allow firefighters access in buildings with many floors, or with deep basements.

Between each landing of a firefighting staircase and the accommodation, a firefighting lobby should be provided to allow firefighters to convene and move onto each floor as required. Additionally, one or more firefighting lifts should be provided to access higher floors to allow the transport of necessary hose, equipment and personnel. These lifts should be designed and powered to continue to operate reliably during the course of a fire.

The firefighting staircases, lifts and lobbies are all enclosed in a fire-resistant construction normally known as a firefighting shaft. The shaft also contains a wet or dry rising mains. In a building that is not especially high, but is considered large in footprint, a firefighting shaft should be provided without a lift or rising main.

In part 264 of this series, LWF will continue to talk about the design and provision of access for firefighters. In the meantime, if you have any queries about your own facilities or wish to discuss this blog series, please contact LWF on freephone 0800 410 1130.

Lawrence Webster Forrest is a fire engineering consultancy based in Surrey with over 35 years’ experience, which provides a wide range of consultancy services to professionals involved in the design, development and construction and operation of buildings.

 

While care has been taken to ensure that information contained in LWF’s publications is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of this information.