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Our building control officer has said we need sprinklers to mitigate for fire access for our new build project (it's ridiculous as a fire engine would definitely get here in reality, but on paper our lane isn't wide enough and is unmade), and on a category 2 provision, so 30 minutes run time. We are building three single storey replicas of the pig farm buildings that were previously on the site (long planning battle once conversion couldn't be achieved) which will create two houses, one with a garage which also requires sprinklers. They are all timber frame construction with mostly timber cladding, so we do understand the benefits to having a sprinkler system if the worst should happen, but still feel very forced into having it. Typically our mains water supply doesn't meet the flow and pressure required so we're now looking at a 3000 litre tank and pump. Still working out if it can be underground (but would still need an overground control centre as it would be shared with my brother in law's property) or if it will have to be overground...which causes panic in terms of what it looks like/implications for planning as we are in a conservation area within no class E permitted development. We have been working with a sprinkler company so far but they haven't been great, and as things have got more complicated in terms of the tank etc, we are even less impressed with them. We're already at first fix on our house so need them their first fix in soon, but need to know what the full set up will entail before we fully commit (including pipes and cables in and out of the house), and currently don't feel we want them anywhere near! We have started talking to other companies again, too, but getting conflicting advice about the tank (under or over ground) etc. We would love to hear if anyone else has got a tank and pump for their sprinkler system, what it looks like and sizes, and if you have been able to put the tank underground, or if there is any overground set up and what that looks like, too.

Hi As my project is in Wales, I need a fire suppression system. Am I allowed to install it myself ? I am thinking a mist system is the way forward..... Cheers

Building control came today and stated that the 2.8 meter by 2.1 meter porch is a habitable space and therefore the fire safety requirement to the building and means of escape need to be reviewed and increased. Is this right??

Hi Buildhub members, I'm hoping you can help me. I live in a flat above a chip shop (originally bought from the owners of the chip shop) and I'm trying to find out what the fire safety regulations are for having a fire boundary between a commercial property like this and a residential one? Currently they have poorly fitting polystyrene ceiling tiles then I think it's just joists then our floor. To me it seems like legally there should have to be a fire barrier like you'd have in a party wall? Does anyone know what the regulations say about this and which regulations I should be looking for? Doesn't seem that safe to me. Thanks for any help you can give. Tim

I’m sourcing 3 flat roof lights for the ground floor of our self build extension. One of them is on a fire exit route from the first floor so have been informed by our architect that we need glazing for this window with a 30 minute fire safety rating. Does anyone have any recommended suppliers? It will be 2100 x 800 in size, fixed pane. many thanks in advance!

We have recently purchased a 1bed ground floor flat located in a terrace and are looking to remove the existing (poor quality) rear extension and erect a new 6m long full width extension in its place. As you will see from image 3 (attached) we are hoping to create a new bedroom within the new space. This bedroom would be entirely internalised as it falls within the building line of the upper floors (shown in blue on image 2). We would like to ensure that light does get to this room and are looking whether the solutions would be to insert clerestory windows within the building line (roughly sketched out in image 1 - attached). I have a couple of queries regarding this solution: 1) Is it acceptable in planning and building regs terms that the only windows serving this new habitable room are (likely unopenable) high level clerestory windows which would not provide an escape route in case of fire, or manual ventilation. 2) The property is south facing and receives great sunlight all year round. What are the chances that the Council (Wandsworth) would object to these types of windows on daylight/sunlight grounds 3) Structurally, are clerestory windows going to work in this instance when the majority of the existing wall will likely remain in place. This is our first home (and project) and any help this community can offer would be greatly appreciated by us.

My planning says that we must have a sprinkler system because of the distance from our nearest fire hydrant and because a fire engine would not be able to access the house due to the driveway and the restrictions placed on that. Please can someone explain to me how they work, in simple terms, how do they get the water, how do they know when to run, are they all linked so if the one in the snug goes off will the one in the master bedroom 20m away also go off. Do they need electricity. Do they ever fail, we will have a wood burning stove and sometimes the smoke 'leaks', will that set it off. If they go off, will insurance cover any damage done, assuming it is an accident and not a fire, which is obviously covered. TIA Jill