Museums, libraries, civic centres...any new construction will automatically be built to comply with regulations, codes of practice, insurance guidelines and modern active and passive fire protection. Unfortunately, old and historic buildings don’t have this luxury. Regardless, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (amended 2021) demands they meet new fire safety and related life safety standards.
So the question is - how should you respond?
Traditional building methods, material selection and obsolete electrical installations and equipment all pose significant fire risk. The challenge is to find the optimum path between providing maximum fire protection whilst preserving the authenticity and character of a building--its aesthetics and contents.
This should also be done in a way that satisfies surveyors, planning officers, the Fire and Rescue Services, safety engineers and heritage specialists.
Fitting ASD (Aspirating Smoke Detection) systems in buildings could be an ideal solution as they are acutely sensitive to very low concentrations of smoke and provide early warning systems. Equally important is that they are virtually invisible because piping can be concealed. Wireless systems, reliable redundancy technology and very long battery lifetimes make these (as well as linear smoke detectors for rooms that are 6m or taller) ideal for buildings with ornate ceilings and fire risk.
Ace are approved installers, with leading manufacturers including Vesda / Xtralis, Honeywell Gent and Hochiki among others.
In the case of fire, smoke presents the greatest danger to life, and all possible measures should be taken to manage smoke infiltration throughout a building to protect life, fixtures and fittings. Compartmentalisation is important, and smoke should be restricted from accessing voids and cable ducting.
Smoke control systems or smoke clearance systems are beneficial for old or historic buildings. For example, Grade II listed Buxton Opera House uses a smoke extraction system without impacting the building’s interior. The fan and ductwork is fitted within the roof space, and the external roof mounted smoke louvre is installed below the existing parapet wall façade. It is finished to match the building’s slate roof aesthetic. The system can extract 8 m3/sec and is integrated with the building’s fire and smoke detection system.
Early detection, coupled with smoke extraction, is designed to preserve the contents of the building and help occupants escape safely.
For many historic buildings, appropriately-placed foam fire extinguishers are suitable to tackle the majority of small fires early on. Fire hose reels can tackle larger incidents, and, using modern technology, sprinkler systems can be used and justified with very minimal water output. Larger historic buildings, however, will require more specialised fire extinguishing solutions:
Deciding on the most appropriate fire safety strategy is a balance between optimal fire protection, aesthetic sensitivity and preservation of life. While each site is unique, here are seven principles to keep in mind.
Fire protection and life safety – read more
Fire and detection alarms – read more
Emergency Voice Communication Systems - read more
Passive fire protection – read more
Fire risk assessments – read more
Types of fire extinguishers - read more