BS 9999:2008
Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings

Standard No.

BS 9999:2008

Release Date

2008

Published By

British Standards Institution (BSI)

Status

Be replaced 2017-01

Replace By

BS 9999:2017

Latest

BS 9999:2017

Replace

08/30158435 DC-2008 BS 5588-0:1996 BS 5588-5:2004 BS 5588-6:1991 BS 5588-7:1997 BS 5588-8:1999 BS 5588-9:1999 BS 5588-10:1991 BS 5588-11:1997 BS 5588-12:2004 BS DD 9999:2005

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. It is not applicable to individual dwelling-houses, and 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 alterations, extensions and changes of use of an existing building. It also provides guidance on the ongoing management of fire safety in a building throughout the entire life cycle of the building, including guidance for designers to ensure that the overall design of a building assists and enhances the management of fire safety. It can be used as a tool for assessing existing buildings, although fundamental change in line with the guidelines might well be limited or not practicable. The recommendations and guidance given in this British Standard are intended to safeguard the lives of building occupants and fire-fighters. Whilst some of the recommendations and guidance might also assist in the achievement of other fire safety objectives – such as protection of property, the environment, communities and business/service viability – additional measures might be necessary which are outside the scope of this British Standard. This British Standard does not cover fire safety design strategies for extreme events such as terrorist actions.

BS 9999:2008 Referenced Document

• BS 1635 Recommendations for Graphic symbols and abbreviations for fire protection drawings
• BS 3251 Specification Indicator plates for fire hydrants and emergency water supplies
• BS 4533 Luminaires. Particular requirements. Specification for photo and film luminaires (non-professional)
• BS 476 Fire tests on building materials and structures - Method of test to determine the classification of the surface spread of flame of products
• BS 4790 Method for Determination of the effects of a small source of ignition on textile floor coverings (hot metal nut method)
• BS 5234 Partitions (including matching linings) — Part 2 : Specification for performance requirements for strength and robustness including methods of test
• BS 5266-1  Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises*， 2016-05-31 Update
• BS 5306-0  Fire protection installations and equipment on premises. Guide for selection, use and application of fixed firefighting systems and other types of fire equipment*， 2020-08-31 Update
• BS 5306-1 Code of practice for fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises – Part 1 : Hose reels and foam inlets
• BS 5306-2 Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises — Part 2 : Specification for sprinkler systems
• BS 5306-3  Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises. Commissioning and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers. Code of practice*， 2017-10-31 Update
• BS 5306-4 Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises. Specification for carbon dioxide systems
• BS 5306-8 Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises - Selection and positioning of portable fire extinguishers. Code of practice*， 2023-11-30 Update
• BS 5395-1 Stairs - Code of practice for the design of stairs with straight flights and winders*， 2010-02-28 Update
• BS 5395-2 Stairs, ladders and walkways – Part 2 : Code of practice for the design of helical and spiral stairs
• BS 5410-1  Code of practice for liquid fuel firing. Installations for space heating and hot water supply purposes for domestic buildings*， 2019-08-31 Update
• BS 5410-2  Code of practice for liquid fuel firing. Non-domestic installations*， 2018-04-30 Update
• BS 5499 Graphical symbols and signs - Safety signs, including fire safety signs - Creation and design of graphical symbols for use in safety signs - Requirements
• BS 5651 Method for cleansing and wetting procedures for use in the assessment of the effect of cleansing and wetting on the flammability of textile fabrics and fabric assemblies
• BS 5655-6 Lifts and service lifts. Code of practice for the selection, installation and location of new lifts*， 2011-11-30 Update
• BS 5656-1 Safety rules for the construction and installation of escalators and moving walks. Examination and test of new escalators before putting into service. Specification for means of determining compliance with BS EN 115-1:2008+A1:2010*， 2013-11-30 Update
• BS 799-5 Oil burning equipment - Carbon steel oil storage tanks - Specification*， 2010-04-30 Update

BS 9999:2008 history

• 2017 BS 9999:2017 Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. Code of practice
• 2008 BS 9999:2008 Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings
• 2005 BS DD 9999:2005 Code of practice for fire safety in the design,construction and use of buildings
• 2004 BS 5588-5:2004 Fire precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings - Access and facilities for fire-fighting
• 1999 BS 5588-9:1999 Fire precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings - Code of practice for ventilation and air conditioning ductwork
• 1997 BS 5588-7:1997 Fire precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings - Code of practice for the incorporation of atria in buildings
• 1996 BS 5588-0:1996 Fire precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings - Guide to fire safety codes of practice for particular premises/applications
• 1991 BS 5588-6:1991 Fire precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings - Code of practice for places of assembly