Recognised resources for safer decisions.

BS 9999 provides recommendations and guidance intended to achieve an appropriate standard of fire safety for people in and around buildings.

It connects the design of a building with its ongoing use and management, recognising that fire safety depends on more than physical construction alone.

What’s included?

• Fire-safety design principles.
• Occupancy and risk profiles.
• Means of escape.
• Internal fire spread.
• Structural fire protection.
• External fire spread.
• Fire detection and warning.
• Smoke control.
• Firefighting facilities.
• Fire-safety management.
• The relationship between design and ongoing operation.

Who may use it?

• Architects and building designers.
• Fire engineers.
• Fire risk assessors.
• Building-control professionals.
• Fire and rescue services.
• Building owners and managers.
• Contractors and specialist system designers.

When might it be relevant?

BS 9999 may provide an appropriate reference for non-residential and mixed-use buildings where its scope and methodology suit the project.

Its recommendations should not be applied selectively without understanding how different provisions interact. The design, management assumptions, and building-specific fire-safety approach must be considered together.

BS 9991 provides recommendations and guidance on achieving an appropriate level of life safety in residential buildings.

It is intended to support the people involved in designing, constructing, assessing, regulating, and managing residential environments.

Its scope includes residential settings such as:

• Blocks of flats.
• Purpose-built residential buildings.
• Certain mixed-use developments.
• Specialised housing.
• Residential care buildings.
• New residential buildings.
• Relevant alterations and changes to existing buildings.

The standard addresses:

• Means of escape.
• Evacuation principles.
• Fire detection and alarm.
• Compartmentation.
• Fire resistance.
• Sprinkler provision.
• Smoke control.
• Fire-service access.
• Residential management considerations.
• Protection of occupants with differing needs.

Who may use it?

• Architects.
• Fire engineers.
• Building designers.
• Fire risk assessors.
• Developers.
• Contractors.
• Building-control professionals.
• Fire and rescue services.
• Residential building owners and managers.

When might it be relevant?

BS 9991 may support the design and management of residential buildings where it is suitable for the building, project, and applicable regulatory context.

The correct edition, transitional arrangements, and relationship with statutory guidance should always be established before relying upon it.

PAS 79-1 provides a structured methodology and documentation framework for conducting and recording fire risk assessments in non-domestic premises.

It can support assessments within premises such as:

• Offices.
• Shops.
• Commercial buildings.
• Factories and warehouses.
• Public buildings.
• Places of assembly.
• Residential care premises.
• Vacant buildings where an assessment is required.
• Relevant non-domestic areas within mixed-use buildings.

The methodology considers:

• Fire hazards.
• People who may be at risk.
• Fire-prevention measures.
• Fire-protection measures.
• Means of escape.
• Fire-safety management.
• Significant findings.
• Risk-proportionate recommendations.
• Action planning.
• Review arrangements.

What does it not cover?

PAS 79-1 does not apply to individual private dwellings or several forms of housing, including the common parts of blocks of flats, sheltered housing, extra-care housing, and supported housing. Different guidance or methodologies are required for residential settings.

When might it be relevant?

PAS 79-1 can help create a consistent, clearly documented approach to fire risk assessment for non-housing premises.

The assessor must still consider the building, relevant legislation, specialist hazards, available evidence, and whether additional technical investigation is required.

NFPA 101 is a United States code developed by the National Fire Protection Association.

It addresses the protection of people from fire and related hazards through requirements relating to building construction, protection systems, occupancy, and emergency arrangements.

NFPA 101 addresses:

• New and existing buildings.
• Different building occupancies.
• Means of egress.
• Occupant protection.
• Fire-protection systems.
• Emergency planning.
• Building features affecting life safety.
• Ongoing facility management.

Who may use it?

• Fire-protection engineers.
• Architects and designers.
• Authorities having jurisdiction.
• Code officials and inspectors.
• Building owners.
• Facility managers.
• Safety and risk professionals.

When might it be relevant?

The relevance of NFPA 101 should always be established at the outset. The applicable edition and relationship with local laws, codes, contractual requirements, and the relevant authority having jurisdiction must be confirmed.