Planning Gateway One - Fire safety matters relevant to planning

The following list is not exhaustive but identifies common concerns that are raised by HSE in substantive responses.

• Stairs (including firefighting stairs) and lift shafts connecting with a basement in a single stair building.
• Single stairs made vulnerable by connection to ancillary accommodation of higher fire risk such as covered carparks, bin stores and plant rooms.
• Firefighter safety, including excessive travel distances into and within buildings leading to potentially onerous conditions for firefighters.
• The need for two or more firefighting shafts, where there is a floor above 18 metres that is greater than 900 sqm in area.
• Where two or more staircases are provided, if there are basement level(s) at least one stair should terminate at the ground floor level.
• Access to firefighting water, including long horizontal fire mains, lack of information about working fire hydrants, and poorly located dry/wet rising mains inlets and outlets.
• Lack of provision of a sprinkler system in a relevant building where additional storeys are proposed – highlighting the need for additional space for tank storage and pipework.
• External wall systems and attachments (such as balconies) that include combustible materials.
• Green roofs that are close to potential sources of ignition such as solar panels and wiring.
• External fire spread to neighbouring buildings due to proximity of adjacent buildings and radiating heat from vents and openings.
• Poor access for fire appliances.
• Provision of excessively long corridors to access a firefighting shaft, at the fire service access level.
• In mixed-use buildings, residential stairs should not serve non-residential areas (e.g., retail, hotel, office).
• Lack of proportionate evidence in planning applications to support performance-based solutions.