BS9991 – Does the new regulation affect Electrical Cables?
British Standard BS 9991:2024, the national standard for fire safety design, management and use in residential buildings, became effective as of November 2024. Since then, our technical team have had numerous queries about how this affects electrical cables – this is the response!
What does BS9991 say?
The revised standard reflects the latest recommendations for firefighting systems, for protecting the people living / working in the building, and for providing environmental protections. It goes further than before in scope, including fire safety provisions to protect vulnerable people such as those in residential care homes.
It looks variously at Sprinkler system installations, recommendations for single stairwell buildings, fire doors, lifts and smoke control in tall buildings, and the fire performance classifications for load-bearing structures. It also provides enhanced provisions for evacuation procedures and the design of kitchens and ancillary areas in these buildings.
In relation to where it intersects and links to the Construction Products Regulation, which applies to all buildings and constructions and covers a vast array of products and materials used within, the standard specifically and exclusively references standard BS EN 13501-1.
What does BS EN 13501-1 apply to?
There are three categories that the British adoption of EN 13501-1 applies to, which are all treated separately:
- Construction products, excluding floorings and linear pipe thermal insulation products
- Flooring
- Linear pipe thermal insulation products
Electrical cables as it relates to CPR fall under BS EN 13501-6 (Part 6) – meaning they are outside the bounds of the references within BS9991.
Why doesn’t CPR B2ca class apply to BS9991?
There are references to electrical cables within BS9991 but because these cables are not within EN 13501-1, the CPR B2ca classification does not apply. (It’s worth remembering that the suffix ‘ca’ is specific to electrical cables, eg: B2ca – there are many other products and materials that may have a B2 classification rating under CPR).
So what cables are covered by BS9991? The references to electrical cables and cable installations are linked to fire engineering solutions and require the use of circuit integrity cables.
- Evacuation alert systems (48.3)
- Life safety and firefighting equipment (Clause 21)
- Smoke control systems (F.5.6)
Circuit integrity cables are excluded from the Construction Products Regulation, so hold no CPR classification and can be used without reference to the regulations.
There has long been an intention to bring circuit integrity cables into CPR, yet eight years on from it becoming mandatory for all other types of electrical cables used in building and constructions, we are seemingly no closer to this coming into force.
What are circuit integrity cables?
Circuit integrity cables are also known various as: fire performance cables, fire systems cables, fire alert cables, and FP cables (note this last one is also brand reference FP200, FP400, FP600 – a bit like how the brand Hoover is synonymous with vacuum cleaners!). They are designed to continue providing performance and maintaining the electrical circuit for a prescribed period of time. These are fire resistant (rather than just flame retardant). Depending on the classification, that will variously be 30 mins, 60 mins (1hr), 90 mins or 120 mins (2hrs). Example cables include the Standard & Enhanced Fire Performance cables in accordance with BS 5839-1 26.2(d) and 26.2( e), and the NHXH FE180 cables which meet the requirements of IEC 60331.
Still got questions? For further clarification or to request a quotation, speak to the team.
