Fire dispensation for building control in Scotland

[Meabh]

Hi - we are in Scotland (East Lothian) and waiting for our warrants to be granted. The only thing they are waiting on is.

" the dispensation response from the fire and rescue service which is required as the building is over 200m² footprint.  They have said they expect the response in 2-3 weeks.

 

It is now just over 3 weeks and I asked my architect to chase building control. BC emailed fire and said they'd be in touch when they hear back from them. We have demo scheduled for the end of March!

 

Anyone have issues with fire before? What are they checking for - escape routes etc? 

 

Thanks

 

 

[MR10]

We had a query regarding a hydrant, see link below. It was taking forever for BC to get a response so our architect sent a copy of the water map which showed a hydrant around 150m from the build location. SFRS responded by email that it was ok and this was forwarded to BC with the warrant approved a week later.

 

Your architect should be able to tell you what it is they are checking or querying.

 

https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbook-2022-domestic/2-fire/2-13-fire-rescue-service-water-supply/

[Meabh]

38 minutes ago, MR10 said:

We had a query regarding a hydrant, see link below. It was taking forever for BC to get a response so our architect sent a copy of the water map which showed a hydrant around 150m from the build location. SFRS responded by email that it was ok and this was forwarded to BC with the warrant approved a week later.

 

Your architect should be able to tell you what it is they are checking or querying.

 

https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbook-2022-domestic/2-fire/2-13-fire-rescue-service-water-supply/

Thanks - we've got a fire hydrant and hose marked on the warrant drawings. (I read the fire standards 3 weeks ago and nothing jumped out). Architect says it's just "dispensation from fire service, no specific query"....I'll tell them to chase for more specific info.

[Meabh]

The architect is saying we need the dispensation because the house footprint is over 200m², and therefore the domestic regulations don’t cover it.

 

Anyone had this before? 

[matt_814]

Hi Meabh,

 

Did you find a solution that satisfied building control/sfrs? We are in a similar position and cannot get a specification from SFRS.

 

Thanks

matt

[saveasteading]

We got no response from the fire service. The warrant was granted anyway. We assume the bco decided our proposal was good. A 10,000 litre tank.

I did an extensive proposal on water, access and turning.

 

Now we have to relocate the tank for practical reasons and it is being sent to sfrs again. I expect silence again.

 

There doesn't appear to be any definitive requirement of 10,000 litres but it has been mentioned as being enough.

 

A modern building or refurb is low fire risk.

A fire engine carries 1,800 litres, on the basis that this deals with most fires, so 10,000 is a lot.

[matt_814]

Thanks. Yes they say there is no definitive spec for the tank, which seems odd because someone somewhere in SFRS must decide what is acceptable. Did you find a good supplier for the tank and valve?

 

[saveasteading]

41 minutes ago, matt_814 said:

Did you find a good supplier for the tank and valve?

We are having an above ground non-potable tank, and probably not a valve but a big cover and a step ladder to it. From the local drainage merchant.