Description of BS 9991:2011 2011

This British Standard gives recommendations and guidance on the design, management and use of the following building types, to achieve reasonable standards of fire safety for all people in and around:

1. dwellings (single-family dwelling houses, self-contained flats or maisonettes);

2. residential accommodation blocks (e.g. for students or hospital staff), with individual bedrooms and the provision of kitchen/sanitary facilities constructed within a fire compartment, accommodating not more than six persons;

3. sheltered housing and extra care housing.

It is not applicable to hotels, caravans/mobile homes, hospitals, residential care/nursing homes, places of lawful detention, hostels or houses of multiple occupancy.

This British Standard is applicable to the design of new buildings, and to material alterations, extensions and material change of use of an existing building. It also provides guidance on the ongoing management of fire safety in a building throughout the entire life cycle of the building, including guidance for designers to ensure that the overall design of a building assists and enhances the management of fire safety. It can be used as a tool for assessing existing buildings, although fundamental change in line with the guidelines might well be limited or not practicable.

NOTE 1 See the Building (Amendment) Regulations 2011 [1] regarding the definition of material alterations, extensions and material change of use.

The recommendations and guidance given in this British Standard are intended to safeguard the lives of building occupants and fire-fighters. Whilst some of the recommendations and guidance might also assist in the achievement of other fire safety objectives – such as protection of property, the environment, communities and business/service viability – additional measures might be necessary which are outside the scope of this British Standard.

This British Standard does not cover fire safety design strategies for extreme events such as terrorist actions.

NOTE 2 Requirements for means of escape from caravans and mobile homes are given in BS 3632.

NOTE 3 Refer to section 255 of the Housing Act 2004 [3] regarding the definition of an HMO.

About BSI

BSI Group, also known as the British Standards Institution is the national standards body of the United Kingdom. BSI produces technical standards on a wide range of products and services and also supplies certification and standards-related services to businesses.