This part of BS 5588 provides guidance for designers and the building construction team on the incorporation of ventilation and air conditioning ductwork into new and existing buildings other than premises covered by BS 5908.
NOTE 1 It is essential that the recommendations given in this part of BS 5588 are applied anew if physical alterations are made to an existingbuilding which have a detrimental effect on the means of escape from the building, even if such alterations are not structural.
The standard covers non-combustible building service ducts, and ductwork manufactured from metal and/or rigid mineral based components which exhibit:
a) high integrity when exposed to fully developed fire conditions;
b) resistance to penetration by flame;
c) an ability to exclude or contain fire.
It does not cover ductwork manufactured from materials that rapidly melt, shatter or degrade during fire exposure, for example glass and plastics materials.
The standard covers precautions to prevent the spread of fire and smoke and other by products of combustion within a building through the movement of air for environmental control, i.e. ventilation, heating and cooling. It does not cover the movement of air for purposes other than for environmental control, e.g. boiler flues, pneumatic information transfer systems, nor smoke control systems, pressure differential systems and industrial process plant extract systems.
NOTE 2 The design and construction of service ducts is covered in BS 8313, the design of pressurization systems for smoke control in protected escape routes is covered in BS 5588-4, and the design of smoke control systems within atria buildings, places of assembly and shopping complexes are covered in BS 5588-6, -7 and -10 respectively.
BS 5588-9:1999 history
2017BS 9999:2017 Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. Code of practice
2008BS 9999:2008 Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings
1999BS 5588-9:1999 Fire precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings - Code of practice for ventilation and air conditioning ductwork