For many years there has been a saying ‘What came first the Chicken or The Egg’ and for many years I am still no closer to an answer, but that is just evolution.  

Over the last few months, we have been seeing a very similar scenario going through the building warrant process. As Architects, designers, specifiers we are able to design and show indicative symbols on drawings that cover lighting, small power (data, sockets etc.), plumbing and fire alarm so that we comply with the most current edition of the building regulations.

Sprinkler Systems

However, when it comes to sprinkler systems this is out of our control. Sprinkler systems are designed in accordance with BS 9251 (or BS EN 12845 for residential blocks of flats outside of the scope of BS 9251). Each sprinkler designer is trained to ensure that the systems are fully compliant with the relevant British Standard, BS EN 12845 – LPC Rules for Automatic Sprinkler Installations 2009 this is training that most Architects, designers, specifiers don’t have.

The scenario that we are seeing more and more is building control requesting a design for a sprinkler system so a warrant can be granted and the client saying they don’t want to appoint a sprinkler company until the warrant is granted due to the potentially large cost for the system. This is where we come to the chicken and egg scenario ‘Building control require a design to approve, Client requires a warrant approval so they can appoint’.

Design of a fire system

After Grenfell the need for the design of a fire system has become more critical. In May 2020, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities published their amendments to the guidance through Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1. These amendments changed the height requirement for sprinklers by stating that ‘blocks of flats with a top storey more than 11 metres above ground level should be fitted with a sprinkler system throughout the building.’

These guidelines are what must be followed to get approval for warrant but what comes first,

‘Building control require a design to approve, or the Client requires a warrant approval so they can appoint’.