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Glam Journal

Is BS 9999 a legal requirement?

Author

Matthew Perez

Updated on March 04, 2026

Is BS 9999 a legal requirement?

One of those standards is BS 9999: Code of Practice for Fire Safety in the Design, Management & Use of Buildings. This standard is not the only legal requirement for fire dampers, but the person responsible for the building must be aware of BS 9999 and ensure the rules are applied in their premises.

What is the latest version of BS 9999?

British Standard BS 9999:2017 has been revised for 2017!

  • Revision of recommendations for mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning systems;
  • Revision of recommendations for shopping complexes;
  • Removal of content now covered by BS 9991;
  • General update to take into account new and revised standards published since 2008.

What is BS 9999?

What is BS 9999? BS 9999 gives recommendations and guidance on the design, management and use of buildings to achieve reasonable standards of fire safety for all people in and around them.

What does bs9999 cover?

Covers the entire life cycle of a building, using a risk assessment approach and risk profiles. Looks at means of escape and evacuation strategy, access and fire-fighting facilities, building structure including load and non-load bearing elements and special risk protection.

How often should fire dampers be replaced?

BS 9999:2017 also states that: Arrangement’s should be made for all fire dampers to be tested by a competent person on completion of the installation and at least annually, and to be repaired or replaced immediately if found to be faulty.

Are fire dampers mandatory?

When ducts serve a hazard room, then fire dampers are required. (Figure 15 iii). Ductwork passing through cavity barriers is covered in Figure 16, with both damper and fire resisting ducts being covered.

Can a lift be used in the event of a fire?

Normally, a properly maintained lift is extremely safe – even safer than taking the stairs. Fire damage to the lifts electrical supply can cause it to stop abruptly between floors – and if fire has breached the elevator shaft, anyone trapped in the lift is in danger of massive heat and smoke exposure.

What is the British Standard for Fire Doors?

Fortunately for the industry, BS 8214 is the benchmark standard for the correct installation and maintenance of timber-based fire doors.”

What is the British standard for fire stopping?

What are the requirements in BS 7671:2018 for fire stopping? BS 7671:2018 Regulation 527.2 sets out the requirements for the sealing of wiring system penetrations, Regulation 527.2.

Are fire dampers statutory?

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order it is a legal requirement to test fire dampers at regular intervals in accordance with fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings code of practice (BS:9999 2017), using a method known as ‘drop testing’.

What is bs9991?

Overview. BS 9991:2015 Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice. BS 9991 exists to help people put adequate fire safety measures in place in residential buildings. This includes fire detection and alarm systems and fixed fire-fighting systems.

What is bs99992017?

BS 9999 was revised in 2017 to align the standard with current good practice, new technology, and consistency with other fire recently revised safety standards, namely BS 9990 and BS 9991. The main changes in BS 9999 over the standard it replaces are: Inclusion of watermist fire suppression systems.

What is BS 9999 fire safety?

BS 9999: Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the UK National Standards Body (NSB). It publishes standards and provides a range of books, self- assessment tools, conferences and training services.

What is the difference between BS 9999 and BS 7974?

Many of the measures recommended in BS 9999 are based on fire safety engineering principles, although it is not intended as a guide to fire safety engineering; and c) Fire safety engineering. This is the level for which BS 7974 is provided.

What’s new in BS 9999?

BS 9999 was revised in 2017 to align the standard with current good practice, new technology, and consistency with other fire recently revised safety standards, namely BS 9990 and BS 9991 . An inclusion of a flowchart showing the sequential steps in the design process, to assist users in the application of the standard .

When did BS 5588 come into effect?

It was published in 2008, when it part-superseded BS 5588 Fire precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings, parts of which are still relevant to residential buildings. It also replaced DD 9999 Code of practice for fire safety in the design, construction and use of buildings .