The LWF Blog
Fire Safety for Healthcare Premises – Car Parks – Part 54
December 28, 2018 12:06 pmIn LWF’s blog series for healthcare professionals, the aim is to give information on best practice of fire safety in hospitals and other healthcare premises. In part 53 of this series, we began looking at the ventilation methods which can be employed in the case of car parks which are not open-sided. In part 54, we continue from that point.
In car parks which are not open-sided, additional ventilation must be added either through permanent openings to provide natural ventilation (see part 53 of this series for requirements) or through mechanical ventilation systems.
It should be noted that all ventilation discussed in this blog series relates to ventilation for smoke and fumes in a fire situation and not, in this instance, for the purpose of removing car exhaust fumes.
In order that the mechanical ventilation system contains at least one failsafe, it must run in two parts with each part capable of extracting half the rates indicated above and designed so that each part can operate both together or independently.
In addition, each part of the system must have an independent power supply in case of a power failure to the main supply and extract points must be arranged so half of the outlets are at a high level and half at a low level.
The fans of the systems should be rated to run at 300°C for a minimum of 60 minutes and the ductwork and fixings (and all composite materials) must have a melting point of not less than 800°C.
Information on the equipment required for removing hot smoke can be found in BS EN 12101-3:2015 – Smoke and heat control systems. Specification for powered smoke and heat control ventilators (Fans).
Alternative methods of smoke ventilation from enclosed car parks can be found in the BRE Report 368: ‘Design methodologies for smoke and heat exhaust ventilation’.
The Fire Safety for Healthcare Premises blog series will continue with part 55 and will look at the provision of any necessary access and facilities for the fire and rescue service in healthcare buildings and will relate to the guidance given in HTM 05-2 and also in Part B of Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations 2010, which states ‘The building shall be designed and constructed so as to provide reasonable facilities to assist firefighters in the protection of life’ and ‘Reasonable provision shall be made within the site of the building to enable fire appliances to gain access to the buildings’.
In the meantime, if you have any questions about this blog, or wish to discuss your own project with one of our fire engineers, please contact us.
Lawrence Webster Forrest has been working with their clients for over 25 years to produce innovative and exciting building projects. If you would like further information on how LWF and fire strategies could assist you, please contact Peter Gyere on 020 8668 8663.
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.