Standards Development

Scope

This British Standard gives recommendations and guidance on the design, management and use of buildings to achieve reasonable standards of fire safety for all people in and around buildings.

This British Standard is not applicable to the following types of building, which are covered in BS 9991:

a) dwellings (single-family dwelling houses, self-contained flats or
maisonettes);

b) residential accommodation blocks (e.g. for students or hospital staff), with individual bedrooms and the provision of kitchen/sanitary facilities constructed within a fire compartment;

c) specialized housing.

It is not applicable to houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) or buildings in which occupants receive medical care. It might have only limited applicability to certain specialist buildings and areas of buildings (e.g. areas of lawful detention).

This British Standard is applicable to the design of new buildings, and to material alterations, extensions and material change of use of an existing building.

Purpose

The following items are under consideration for inclusion in a future revision of BS 9999:2017 . These are proposals only and have not been agreed at this stage:

Updating terminology and references: replace obsolete BS standards (e.g. BS 476) with EN standards, align with BS 9991:2024, and adopt neutral terms such as “Automatic Water Fire Suppression Systems (AWFSS)” rather than “sprinklers” and/or "watermist"

Reviewing occupancy characteristics and risk profiles to reflect modern building use, large/complex layouts, and emerging warehouse/storage practices.

Review of water mist following publication of BS 9991:2024 and MHCLG data. 

Reviewing travel distance provisions, including whether enhancements (alarms, suppression, smoke control) justify extensions.

Strengthening guidance on firefighting access: hose-laying distances, hydrant placement, high-reach access, and firefighting shaft requirements.

Reassessing structural fire resistance benchmarks, particularly for car parks, hotels, and tall buildings; clarifying assumptions behind risk-based fire resistance tables.

Addressing modern methods of construction (MMC), mass timber, façades, and external wall fire spread.

Providing new guidance on emerging risks: electric vehicle charging, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic (PV) panel installations.

Updating provisions for evacuation lifts and inclusive design, aligning with BS EN 81-76:2025 and ensuring appropriate refuge, smoke control, and phased evacuation strategies.

All points remain subject to further drafting, consultation, and committee decision.