1. Fire Safety in Healthcare Services Conference
Technical Guidance Document B – Volume 2 Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
Fire Safety in Healthcare Services Conference
26th April 2017

2. Welcome Declan Crilly TGD B – Volume 2 –
Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
Welcome
Declan Crilly
MSc (Fire) BEng MIEI Fire Safety Engineer
17 years experience working as a Fire Safety Consultant in Ireland

3. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
CURRENT PROJECTS
National Children’s Hospital – St James’s Hospital Campus

4. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
CURRENT PROJECTS
Connolly Satellite Centre
Tallaght Satellite Centre

5. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
TGD B, Volume 2, deals solely with dwelling houses
TGD B, Vol. 2 gives guidance which relates to non-complex dwelling houses of normal design and construction and timber frame dwellings constructed to the I.S 440 standard.
TGD B, Vol. 2 does note that were
“very large or unusual dwelling houses (over 15m in height),” is proposed, or where an alternative approach to fire compliance i.e. an engineered solution is required, then the guidance presented in Volume 1 may be needed to supplement that given by Volume 2.

6. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
The new Regulations have been introduced under S.I. No. 57 of 2017.
They can be cited as the Building Regulations (Part B Amendment) 2017.
The new Part B Regulations were introduced 28th February 2017.
They come into effect from 1st July The previous Regulations may still be applied where the works, material alteration or the change of use commence or takes place on or before 30 June 2017.
The Building Regulations, in particular the previous Part B (Fire) Regulations – 2006, have been amended by inserting after Section B5 of the Second Schedule an additional six (6) requirements entitled B6 to B11 inclusive.
The last major update of the Part B (Fire) Regulations occurred in 2006.
The last update is covered under SI 115 of 2006 (TGD Part B) - Building Regulations Amendment Regulations 2006.
The current amendment is considered in the industry to be long overdue.
The new Building Regulations, may now be cited as Part B (Fire) Regulations – 2017.

7. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
The latest versions of the Building Control Regulations & the Building Regulations, in particular Part B (Fire) are freely available for

8. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
The original Building Regulations had been broken into 5 sub-categories denoted as B1 to B5.
For distinction the new TGD B – Vol 2 has added to the original fire safety requirement headings by providing an additional six (6) headings.
In essence the main headings with respect to
Means of Escape,
Fire Spread (Internal)
Fire Spread (Structure)
External Fire Spread
Access & Facilities for the Fire Service
have all been retained.
Clause B11 provides the necessary definition. It should be noted that flats (or apartments) are excluded from TGD B – Vol 2 and guidance is available elsewhere e.g. BS 9991: 2015 “Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice”

9. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
Building Control Regulations, 1997 to 2015
11. (1) Subject to sub-article (2) and articles 3 and 6, this Part applies to—
(a) works in connection with the design and construction of a new building,
(b) works in connection with the material alteration of—
(i) a day centre,
(ii) a building containing a flat,
(iii) a hotel, hostel or guest building, or
(iv) an institutional building, or Important in the context of Healthcare
(v) a place of assembly, or
(vi) a shopping centre,
but excluding works to such buildings, consisting solely of minor works,
(c) works in connection with the material alteration of a shop, office or industrial building where—
(i) Additional floor area is being provided within the existing building, or
(ii) The building is being subdivided into a number of units for separate occupancy,
(d) works in connection with the extension of a building by more than 25 square metres,
(e) a building as regards which a material change of use takes place

10. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
Building Control Regulations, 1997 to 2015 continued
- Exemptions from the Requirement to seek a Fire Safety Certificate
The exemptions under Part III as set out within the BC(A)R 1997 – 2015 remain
(2) For the purposes of this Part, the following buildings are exempted—
(b) a building used as a dwelling other than a flat,
Therefore as before a building which is used as a “dwelling” is exempted from obtaining a Fire Safety Certificate.
Whilst noting that Fire Safety Certificates may not apply directly a building which has been subject to a Material Change of Use would require a Fire Safety Certificate.
It should be noted that requirements to issue Commencement Notices as set out under Section 7 of the BC(A)R 1997 – 2015 still remains
(a) the erection of a building,
(b) the material alteration or extension of a building, and
(c) a material change of use of a building,
to which the Building Regulations apply.

11. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
PURPOSE GROUP CLASSIFICATIONS
The most significant change within the new TGD B – Vol 2 is the introduction of the “Community Dwelling” Purpose Group
It clearly defines what a Community Dwelling House is i.e. Community Dwelling house - A Dwelling house with a maximum of 8 bedrooms which may have no more than one storey, the floor level of which is more than 4.5m above ground level occupied as a group home, under the management of a statutory or voluntary organization providing supported living and residential services.
This change is significant as under TGD B 2006 the only Purpose Group available to such buildings was Purpose Group 2(a) Residential Institutional.
This effectively classified such buildings under the same standard as Nursing Homes/Care Homes.
This classification also required such buildings to obtain Fire Safety Certificates
This lead to 1) Increased cost, 2) increased and varied fire safety specifications 3) delays in delivering such buildings
Table 0.1 of TGD B – Vol 2

12. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
Table 0.1 of TGD B: 2006
PURPOSE GROUP CLASSIFICATIONS CONTINUED
The advent of the Community Dwelling House has a particular significance to the Healthcare Industry
It allows a move away from large institutional type buildings towards more Community based care facilities

13. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
COMMUNITY DWELLING HOUSE
A new section relating identified as Section has been included within the new TGD B – Vol 2.
In addition to the general requirements, Community Dwelling houses should adhere to the following
(a) limited to 3 storeys.
(b) limited to a maximum of 8 bedrooms none of which should be an inner room
(c) required to have all escape routes protected by fire resisting construction irrespective of the height of the dwelling.
(d) required to have a Fire Detection and Alarm System designed to comply with a minimum category LD1 Life safety system in accordance with I.S Additionally a fire alarm control switch should be installed in conjunction with the LD1 FDAS to facilitate testing of the system.
(e) required to have a self-contained emergency luminaire in corridors, hallways, landings and stairways. The emergency luminaire should:
(i) provide horizontal illuminance on the floor along the centre line of an escape route of not less than 1lux and the central band consisting of not less than half of the width of the route shall be illuminated to a minimum of 50% of that value
(ii) provide full luminance within 5 seconds of the failure of the normal lighting supply
(iii) maintain the level of luminance for not less than 3 hours.
(iv) be provided with batteries rated for at least 4 years normal operation.
(f) required to have fire doors to all protected stairways and corridors in accordance with Appendix B of TGD B – Vol 2.

14. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
Community Dwelling house – Requirements in summary
1. No more than 3 storeys with only one storey allowed to exceed 4.5m in height.
2. Limited to 8 bedrooms.
3. Dwelling will require fully protected escape routes i.e. in a standard house configuration this will require a minimum 30 minutes fire resistance with FD20 fire resisting doorsets to all rooms accessing common escape
route i.e. stairs or corridors
4. A certified smoke alarm system to a LD1 standard. This
will require certification for such installations as set out
within Annex K of IS
- Weekly tests of the installations will be required as set out
under Section 10.7 of IS 3218: These should be
documented.
- Servicing of the installations to be carried out by competent
person and certification issued in format as set out within
Annex L of IS
5. Emergency Lighting required in common escape routes.
No standard referenced in document. For compliance/certification installation should be in accordance with IS 3217: 2013 and certified accordingly.

15. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
FURTHER GUIDANCE
Section of TGD B – Vol 2 also directs you to further guidance available “Fire safety in Community Dwelling Houses; Code of practice for fire safety in new and existing Community Dwellings Houses ” published by the Department of Housing Planning Community and Local Government.
This deals with additional important factors which contribute to achieving fire safety such as
Fire safety management and Training
Fire Safety Measures.
This document will be discussed in more detail by Mr Eamon O’Boyle

16. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
GENERAL MEANS OF ESCAPE REQUIREMENTS
DWELLING NOT MORE THAN 4.5M
Any habitable room, which is an inner room, to have escape window
Stairs to have full storey height construction (but need not be fire resisting)
Grade D, LD2 smoke alarm installation (except Grade LD1 for Community Dwelling)
Escape windows (or balcony doors where balconies provided) to be provided to all bedrooms
OPEN PLAN DESIGN (NOT APPLICABLE FOR COMMUNITY DWELLING)
Guidance is effectively the same as set out with Section of TGD B: 2006
Introduction of Diagram 1 provides a better definition of the 3.0m separation margin between “kitchen” i.e. the physical cooking area and the stair.
The identification of the “shield” better defines the enclosure of the stair in storey height construction.
Grade D, LD2 smoke alarm installation

17. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
OPEN PLAN DESIGN
Extract of Diagram 1 – TGD B – Vol 2

18. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
DWELLING HOUSES WITH ONE FLOOR
MORE THAN 4.5M ABOVE GROUND LEVEL
Any habitable room, which is an inner room, to have escape window and not to be located above 4.5m in height.
Stairs to have full storey height construction (would need to be enclosed within 30 min FR construction incorporating FD20 access doorsets).
(where alternative escape provided from top storey and this level is fire separated from remainder of building then stair could be non fire rated)
Grade D, LD2 smoke alarm installation (except Grade LD1 for Community Dwelling)
Escape windows (or balcony doors where balconies provided) to be provided to all bedrooms

19. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
DWELLING HOUSES WITH MORE THAN ONE FLOOR
ABOVE 4.5M ABOVE GROUND LEVEL I.E. 4 STOREYS OR MORE
Any habitable room, which is an inner room, to have escape window and not to be located above 4.5m in height.
Stairs to have full storey height construction (would need to be enclosed within 30 min FR construction incorporating FD20 access doorsets).
An alternative escape route by way of escape stairway to be provided from each storey above 7.5m from ground or access level. Where the access to the alternative escape route is by way of the protected stairway, the protected stairway at or about 7.5m above ground or access level to be separated from the lower storeys or levels by fire resisting construction.
A dwelling house constructed using timber frame construction, an automatic sprinkler system should be installed in accordance with BS 9251: 2014: Fire sprinkler systems for domestic and residential occupancies – Code of practice.
Grade D, LD2 smoke alarm installation acceptable (TGD B-2006 would state LD1)
Escape windows (or balcony doors where balconies provided) to be provided to all bedrooms

20. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
DWELLING HOUSES WITH MORE THAN ONE FLOOR ABOVE 4.5M ABOVE GROUND LEVEL I.E. 4 STOREYS OR MORE
Diagram 3 has been introduced to clarify the requirements.
TGD B – Vol 2 has gone some way to acknowledging the advantages of domestic sprinkler installations
Hasn’t dealt adequately with the alternative means of escape requirement for floors above 7.5m
Difficult to achieve in existing situations i.e. Georgian Buildings, protected structures, planning restrictions on rear stairs etc
Extract of Diagram 3 – TGD B – Vol 2

21. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
DWELLING HOUSES WITH MORE THAN ONE FLOOR
ABOVE 4.5M ABOVE GROUND LEVEL I.E. 4 STOREYS OR MORE
Reference to comparable guidance contained within BS 9991:2015 would state that the alternative escape stair could be omitted where the dwelling is provided throughout with a residential sprinkler system.
TGD B – Vol 2 has not gone that far and only makes the recommendation where timber frame construction is used.
Extract of Section 6.4 – BS 9991: 2015

22. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
EXTENSIONS
Section added to provide more clarity with regards fire detection requirements for extensions (particularly rear extensions) where one or more habitable rooms are provided.
FDA required where
(a) the rear garden is enclosed
(b) the only escape route is through a
room in the dwelling house and
(c) the provisions in Diagram 5 are not
met.
Extract of Diagram 5 – TGD B – Vol 2

23. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
LOFT CONVERSIONS
A new Appendix D has been included within TGD B – Vol 2 providing comprehensive guidance to achieve fire safety compliance.
Notes that existing walls to be fire resisting and doors to be upgraded to achieve FD20 self closing standard.
Installation of new fire door leaf within existing door frame is considered acceptable.
Section D3 acknowledges the requirement for 30 minute fire rated ceilings and that the provision of a “30 minute modified” ceiling is acceptable through upgrade techniques;
Application of additional fire resistant layer to underside of existing ceiling or
Infill the void between timber joists with fire resistant material which has been shown under test to achieve the required fire resistance.
Provision of escape windows to new storey level
Provision of Grade D, LD2 smoke alarm installation throughout entire dwelling.

24. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
INTERNAL FIRE SPREAD – LININGS
General Provisions with regards surface spread of flame classifications unchanged
Use of Thermoplastic materials in windows, rooflights and lighting diffusers unchanged

25. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
INTERNAL FIRE SPREAD – STRUCTURE
The requirements for provision of compartmentation within a dwelling remain unchanged.
One minor amendment arises with respect to separation of a garage from the dwelling in which the access door between the garage and the house has been upgraded from a FD30 to FD30S standard of doorset.
No limit to compartment sizes in dwellings – unchanged
Construction of timber frame separation walls now acknowledged and reference to IS 440: Timber framed dwellings has been cited in the standard. Original TGD B:2006 only recognised one/two storey dwellings acceptable using timber frame construction.
IS 440 deals with buildings where the maximum number of storeys is four and the maximum height from the external ground level to the top floor level is 10m.
Provision with respect to compartment construction, junction with roof etc unchanged.
Provisions with respect to cavity barriers more specific i.e. vertical cavity barriers required at compartment wall/external wall junctions, top of external cavity wall sealed, top of stair enclosure where fire resisting ceiling throughout top floor not provided, windows/doors within framed (timber or metal frame) must also be sealed.
Provisions for general firestopping unchanged.

26. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
EXTERNAL FIRE SPREAD
Space separation requirements are essentially unchanged
Section added which details further guidance with respect to canopies.
In the case of a canopy attached to the side of a building, provided that the edges of the canopy are at least 2m from the relevant boundary, separation distance may be determined from the wall (building line) rather than the edge of the canopy.
Existing buildings subject to material alteration or change of use provided that there is no increase in unprotected area and no extension to the building then no new or greater contravention would apply
Separate commentary provided in relation to extensions which acknowledges that compliance needs to be demonstrated.

27. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
ACCESS & FACILITIES FOR THE FIRE SERVICE
Essentially fire tender access within 45m of the access door to the dwelling required.
Access primarily for a pump appliance only. Buildings are not considered to be excessive in size that high reach appliances are required.
No requirements set out in relation to fire hydrants – assumes water supply on fire tender is sufficient and building sizes would not warrant specialist hydrant provision.
Where building is existing and not significantly altered then the existing access/facilities arrangements are deemed to satisfy provided no new or greater contravention has arisen.
New commentary with respect to photovoltaic panels added with TGD B – Vol 2. Requirement to isolate panel array externally as per ET TGD acknowledges provision of solar panels within modern buildings and updates the requirements accordingly.

28. TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
GENERAL NOTE
Standards and TGD references have been updated to current editions e.g.
TGD K 2014,
ET 101: 2008
IS 440 IS
BS 9991: 2015
BS 8214: 2008

29. Technical Guidance Document B – Volume 1 ???
TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
Technical Guidance Document B – Volume 1 ???

30. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
TGD B – Volume 2 – Fire Safety in Dwelling Houses
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION