What is BS9990?
Are you looking into fire protection options for your home, business, or facilities? If so, you’ll have noticed that a select few suppliers, including Eversafe, say that we design, install, and maintain our systems to the BS9990 standard. But what does that really mean – and why is it important when choosing a provider?
The British standard of excellence
BS9990 is the British Standard for Non-Automatic Firefighting Systems in Buildings. It’s a code of practice that offers guidelines for designing, installing, and maintaining some forms of fire protection.
The standard does not cover automatic solutions, like sprinkler systems, nor does it cover equipment that can be installed casually, like hose reels, or portable extinguishers that you might find in kitchens.
Instead, it focuses on systems such as wet and dry risers. These are created using specialist design concepts, installed in line with specific building requirements, and checked and inspected regularly. The standard that’s currently in place is called BS9990:2015, which replaced the older BS9990:2006.
What’s included in BS9990?
BS9990:2015 outlines best practices for both building owners, and for fire protection specialists.
For building owners, BS9990 says that it is an owner’s responsibility to ensure that all relevant equipment – primarily wet risers and dry risers – is visually inspected every 6 months. This includes a check of all hardware, as well as all equipment cupboards to ensure there is good accessibility.
Under BS9990, owners must also arrange for a full test of the system every 12 months. This test must demonstrate that the system is capable of operating to a pressure of 12 bar for at least 15 minutes.
For providers like Eversafe, BS9990 outlines how we must carry out our designs and installations.
Some of the most critical clauses in the standard state that we must…
- Design systems that can operate at 1.5 times the necessary operating pressure
- Secure pipework through approved methods such as screwing or socketing
- Install dry risers with a two-way inlet breeching for 100mm mains
- Fit all inlet breechings with a 25mm drain valve
- Incorporate air release valves into all vertical mains for drainage
- Ensure mains for wet risers are not located near external walls unless suitable insulation is in place
- Place valves on each floor of the building, including ground level
- Protect all materials and components from damage during unloading and installation
… and there’s plenty more!
Why is BS9990 important?
When wet and dry risers are designed, installed, and maintained under BS9990, it provides you with complete peace of mind that your fire protection equipment follows industry best practices. Choose a provider that adheres to this code of conduct. It’s the best way to ensure that any fire systems you invest in are designed to protect your building, your business, and your tenants, should the worst happen.
At Eversafe, we’re proud to build this British standard of excellence – and the British Standard for Fixed Firefighting Systems BS12845 – into everything we do. Get in touch with us to find out more about installing fire protection systems in your building that are designed and installed to the highest standard
