Multi-room ventilation systems such as MVHR and MEV systems are becoming more popular in the UK. The need for centrally-positioned installations in homes to cover all indoor spaces generally leads to units mounted in loft spaces. It's not only ventilation systems that are taking up residence in lofts across the country, Photo-Voltaic (PV) systems, heating system hubs, Smart system hubs, and boiler solutions are all finding their way into these convenient out-of-sight-out-of-mind locations. With more electrical tech ending up in lofts this imposes a new hazard and one that requires action to be considered by the homeowner or designer.
According to the British Standards Institution, BSI (BS5839-6:2019+A1:2020 section 11.1.1):
“In 2019 it is increasingly common for electrical equipment to be installed in loft spaces, particularly in premises fitted with photovoltaic power systems and other plant (e.g. boilers). In such cases, a Category LD2 system needs to incorporate a smoke detector within the loft space.”
OK, let’s unpack this. The short answer here is:
Electrical equipment in loft = fire protection required!
Simply put, whatever electrical equipment you are utilising in your loft space, it is now deemed to represent a fire risk and therefore you are required to protect yourself and occupants of the building by incorporating smoke detection in your loft space.
So what is category LD2? LD stands for Life safety Domestic property. There are three levels to this category.
LD3 - Minimum Protection. This requires smoke detectors installed in escape routes such as hallways, landings and converted lofts.
LD2 - Medium Protection. This requires protection for escape routes and high risk areas, such as smoke detectors in hallways, landings, converted lofts and living rooms and heat detectors in kitchens.
LD1 - High Protection. This requires protection in all areas where a fire could start; Smoke detectors in hallways, landings, living rooms, bedrooms, airing cupboards, meter cupboards and heat detectors in kitchens - Essentially the whole house excluding toilets, shower/wet rooms and bathrooms!
LD2 therefore requires you to incorporate a smoke detector into your loft space if electrical equipment is installed there, as this is now classed as a high-risk area. This throws up a couple of potential issues; can you hear a smoke alarm that is mounted in your loft and how do you easily access it to test/reset?
Ideally utilising a system that allows the smoke alarms to sync to your other detectors throughout your home will cover the issue over audibility as all alarms should sound when one smoke detector is triggered. Many linked systems also have options for a central control hub that allows you to sync detectors as well as allowing you to test/reset detectors from one easily accessible position in your home. Although mains-powered fire protection is recommended - and in fact required by law depending on the household situation (rented properties, social housing etc.), wireless connectivity between mains or battery powered systems is more readily available.
Image courtesey of Aico
We recommend the Aico systems for complete peace of mind and ease of set-up and installation. The 3000 range offers a wide range of hard-wired, mains-powered sensors for smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detection as does the 600 range which offers the same in a battery powered solution. These ranges are available with wireless connectivity that can connect to the Ei450 alarm controller which allows you to test, locate and silence the alarms from a single location in the home. The controller is completely wireless and runs on its own internal, tamper-proof, 10-year life lithium cell.
However, there is one other implication that needs to be taken into consideration. If you are installing an MVHR or PIV system in your loft space which introduces air into your property, this adds a new complication for fire safety, litterally fanning the flames!
Having a fan forcing fresh air into the property can help a fire progress by supplying it with oxygen. Additionally, if the fire is in your loft, then a PIV system will force the smoke into your property (yes, the units have filters but this won’t stop accelerating the introduction of the harmful gases in smoke into the habitable spaces of your home). Aico has a solution for this - installing their Ei414 alarm interface in conjunction with their smoke detectors and your MVHR or PIV system in your loft space solves the issue. The alarm interface is installed so that the power for the ventilation system is routed through the interface and is wirelessly synced with all fire detectors in the house, including the loft-mounted detector. Now, should any of the detectors trigger due to a fire, the alarm interface can cut the power to your MVHR or PIV system.
It is vital that with any installation, all variables and possibilities are thought through and actioned to ensure a safe living environment for you, your family or any inhabitants of your property. This is why we will always ensure that any design pack specification that requires ducting to pass through fire walls will include suitable fire-suppression connections and why we urge you to in turn to take the advice in this article to heart and make sure you have suitable fire protection in place if your loft now includes tech that could pose a fire risk.