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5
THE ESSENTIAL CHANGES TO
BS 5839: Pt.6: 2004 – AT A
GLANCE
THE DOCUMENT ITSELF
Each clause of the document is now split
into 2 parts. Firstly, there is the
commentary – in italics – this sets out the
reasoning behind what at first sight may
appear to be arbitrary recommendations.
The recommendations are in normal type,
so it is quite possible to simply refer to
these alone. The intention is to make the
document easier to use; whether it
succeeds in this aim is a matter of
personal perception.
NEW BUILD PROPERTIES
There are now extended
recommendations with regard to new
build properties. Essentially these are:
• All properties must have mains
powered alarms with a back-up
supply – Grade D system
• Smoke alarms should be positioned
in escape routes
• Heat alarms should be fitted in
the kitchen and possibly the
principal habitable room. The
definition of a principal habitable
room is ‘habitable room that is
normally the most frequently used
room for daytime living purposes’.
This would normally be the living
or dining room
CHANGES TO GRADES
There is essentially no change to
Grade F, although a five year
minimum battery life is
recommended in tenanted
properties, along with a
recommendation that the battery
can only be removable by the use
of a special tool. A slot headed
screwdriver is not considered as
meeting this requirement as many
articles can be used as an
alternative.
Grade C systems now require a central
control, rather than a level of control as
previously.This implies that some form of
panel is required and security systems are
put forward as a possible means of
meeting this requirement.
Grades D, E and F now include heat
alarms.
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
Fire Risk Assessment receives brief
coverage at the start, with much greater
emphasis given to the subject in Annex A
at the back of the document.
It is worth noting the Commentary of
Section 4.1: “It is considered that the level
of fire risk in dwellings covered by this part
of BS 5839 is unlikely ever to be sufficiently
low to obviate the need for some form of
fire detection and fire alarm system”.
LEVEL OF COVERAGE
LD1, LD2 and LD3 remain unchanged.
However, the terminology has changed.
The Code now refers to ‘Category’ of
system instead of ‘Type’ of system.