BS 9991:2024 – A Crucial Update in Residential Fire Safety Standards
Overview of BS 9991:2024 – Fire Safety in Residential Buildings and Summary of Updates
BS 9991:2024, published in November 2024 is the UK’s primary fire safety standard for residential buildings.
It provides comprehensive guidance to enhance life safety, property protection, and fire risk management. This standard represents a critical step forward, integrating modern fire safety practices, emerging trends, and the complexities of contemporary residential designs.
What is BS 9991:2024?
BS 9991 offers clear recommendations for achieving adequate life safety during a fire while safeguarding nearby properties and the environment. It applies to a wide range of residential building types, including:
- Single-family houses, self-contained flats, and maisonettes.
- Blocks of flats and residential accommodation blocks (e.g., student housing or staff accommodations).
- Specialised housing and care homes.
It ensures a unified approach to fire safety across the UK by addressing residential-specific challenges, such as high-rise configurations and the needs of vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.
What’s New in BS 9991:2024?
The 2024 edition reflects the latest legislation, fire safety research, and technological advancements. Key updates include:
Sprinkler Focus: Fixed firefighting systems now exclusively refer to sprinkler systems, reflecting their proven efficacy.
Material Flexibility: Explicit exclusions on timber have been removed. The scope now limits reaction-to-fire classifications for load-bearing elements, allowing for mass timber use in medium and high-rise buildings while ensuring safety.
Height Restrictions: The maximum height for buildings is capped at 100m, with additional guidance for structures over 50m.
Residential Care Inclusion: The scope now covers residential care homes, addressing unique evacuation and fire safety challenges.
Revised Guidance: Updates include new height limits for single-stair buildings, sprinkler installation recommendations, and European classifications for fire doors.
Smoke Control and Lifts: Enhanced recommendations for smoke control systems and evacuation lifts improve safety in tall buildings.
Area-Specific Updates: Guidance for kitchens, ancillary spaces, and external wall systems has been modernised.
Why Use BS 9991:2024?
Comprehensive Guidance
The standard provides tailored recommendations for all residential building types, ensuring effective and appropriate fire safety measures.
Occupant Safety
It ensures equitable fire protection for all occupants, including vulnerable groups, while assisting fire services in efficient rescue and firefighting operations.
Consistency and Innovation
BS 9991 standardises fire safety practices across projects, reducing variability and supporting innovative approaches in modern, sustainable designs.
Future-Proofing
The 2024 updates incorporate the latest knowledge and practices, offering a forward-looking approach to fire safety planning and management.
Benefits for Key Stakeholders
- Architects & Designers: Integrate advanced fire safety into building designs.
- Fire Safety Professionals: Conduct detailed assessments using updated methodologies.
- Building Owners & Managers: Maintain compliance, mitigate risks, and protect occupants.
- Fire and Rescue Services: Rely on standardised designs for safer, more effective operations.
BS 9991:2024 is available here from the British Standards Institute.
Alternatively get in touch with us to speak to an expert and see how we can help you ensure your buildings meet the latest fire safety standards.
