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THE ELECTRICAL Safety Council has issued a new best practice guide for electrical contractors and installers. Electrical installations and their impact on the fire performance of buildings: Part 1 – domestic premises: Single family units, gives practical fire safety advice and guidance for electrical installation work in new and existing domestic premises.
Fire safety in buildings generally requires that certain walls, floors and ceilings provide fire separation for the purposes of constructing fire compartments and/or protected escape routes. It is also important that the structure resists collapse in the event of a fire, giving occupants valuable time to evacuate safely.
Electrical work which penetrates the linings that form the walls and ceilings of a home – such as the installation of flush-mounted consumer units, concealed and recessed luminaires, such as downlighters, flush-mounted socket-outlets and switches – can significantly reduce the fire performance of those elements.
With this in mind, the new document provides practical guidance aimed at preserving the fire separation between areas and the structural stability of domestic premises. It also takes into account the latest edition of BS 7671: Requirements for electrical installations. IEE Wiring Regulations.
The guide has been produced in conjunction with other organisations, including the Association of Building Engineers, the Chief Fire Officers’ Association, the Electrical Contractors Association and Local Authority Building Control.
The Electrical Safety Council says it plans to issue further guidance on the impact of electrical installations on the fire performance of other types of premises in due course.
The guide is available free of charge from the ‘Business and community’ section of: www.esc.org.uk
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