Life Safety and Firefighting Power Supplies (BG 70/2021)

This second edition takes into account changes to standards that have been made since the first edition (BG 70/2017 was published in 2017.

 The correct design, specification, installation and testing of life safety and firefighting installations are fundamental to protecting human life; both for the building occupants required to evacuate in the event of a fire and for the firefighters required to enter the building to deal with the incident. These systems depend on the integrity of their electrical supplies to operate when required to do so.

This guide provides information on designing power supplies to systems such as:

• Sprinkler pumps
• Wet riser pumps
• Smoke control systems
• Firefighters lifts
• Escape lifts

It draws together the requirements outlined in many product and application specific standards. It includes guidance on secondary power supplies, switchgear, fire-resistant cables and busbar.

 The need for an updated edition of the guide arose as a result of recent major fire incidents, particularly in large high-rise residential buildings, creating the driving force for change to existing fire safety standards. The aim is to increase the safety of building occupants and the fire and rescue services who are required to deal with incidents. Updated standards include BS 8519, republished in 2020, BS 9251, republished in 2021 and BS 9991 which is due in 2021/22.