BS 5839 Part 1Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings – Part 1: Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises is a standard published by the British Standards Institution. BS 5839-1:2013 supersedes BS 5839-1:2002+A2:2008, which has been withdrawn.
5839
BS 5839 Part 1 provides recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems for non-domestic premises. Recommendations for fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises are given in BS 5839-6. It does not recommend whether or not a fire detection and alarm system should be installed in any given premises, nor does it provide any exceptions for non-domestic premises which are under construction. The term "fire detection and fire alarm systems" is a fairly wide definition, including small systems whose field devices consist only of sounders and manual call points, to complex networked systems with a large number of automatic fire detectors, manual call points and sounders, connected to numerous networked control and indicating panels. BS 5839 Part 1 does not cover systems whose primary function is to control or extinguish fire, but does cover the secondary alarm signal generated by such systems. It also does not cover voice alarm systems, or systems that integrate fire alarm functions with non fire related functions. It also does not cover manually or mechanically operated notification devices, such as hand-cranked bells. The NHS Estates publications HTM 05-03 Part B or SHTM 82 provide recommendations for fire detection and fire alarm systems in hospitals. System components should comply with the appropriate EN 54 family part, developed by British Standards Institution as BS EN 54-.
are installed in premises in order to protect either life, property or both. Other objectives, such as the protection against business interruption or protection of the environment are likely to be met by the recommendations of BS 5839 Part 1. BS 5839 Part 1 categorises fire alarm systems as:
"L" - automatic systems intended for the protection of life, and
"P" - automatic systems intended for the protection of property.
Categories for automatic systems are further subdivided into L1 to L5, and P1 to P2:
"L5" - systems designed to satisfy a specific fire safety objective.
"L4" - installed within escape routes comprising, such as corridors and stairways.
"L3" - as "L4", plus automatic detection to rooms which open onto an escape route.
"L2" - as "L3, plus automatic detection installed in defined parts of the building.
"L1" - systems installed throughout all areas of the building.
"P2" - systems installed only in defined parts of the premises.
"P1" - systems installed throughout the premises.
No recommendations are made in BS 5839 Part 1 as to which category to specify for any given premises. System category recommendations can be found in BS 9999.
