BS5839-1 Cable
Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings according to British Standard BS5839 Part 1
British Standard BS5839-1 is a code of practice for the design, commissioning, installation and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic buildings.
Standard BS5839-1 : Cable Applications
All cables are designed to ensure that the interconnections between fire alarm systems operate correctly for an appropriate length of time in the event of an evacuation. These range from single manual call points to complex networked systems with numerous automatic fire detection and communicating control panels. BS5839 Standard covers the operation of fire protection systems such as smoke control, emergency lighting, automatic door release, fire alarm systems, voice alarm systems, fire extinguishing systems, and any associated safety measures such as elevator grounding, valve closing, or air handling shutdowns.
Standard BS5839-1 Fire Resistance
BS5389 cable standard refers to ‘Standard’ and to ‘Enhanced’ grade cables, which determines the level of fire resistance that the cables offer. The ‘Enhanced’ grade are designed for use where the fire detection and fire alarm systems need to support evacuation for a greater duration than that offered by the general use ‘Standard’ grade fire proof cables during a fire situation.
Definitions for this can be found un Clause 26.2d for Standard and Clause 26.2e for Enhanced
- 26.2d : Standard fire resisting cables should meet the PH30 classification when testing in accordance with BS EN 50200 and additionally the 30 mins survival time when tested in accordance with Annex E of that standard.
- 26.2e : Enhanced fire resisting cables should meet the PH120 classification when tested in accordance with BS EN 50200 and the 120 mins survival time when tested in accordance with BS8434-2
BS5839 Part 1 Fire Alarm cable, fire alarm systems & fire survival cable products
The list of products, other than cables, covered under this standard include:
| Control and indicating equipment including voice alarm and power supplies |
| Wireless, flame, beam, aspirating, smoke, heat and multi-sensor detectors |
| Manual call points |
| Line units including input and output devices |
| Alarm warning devices including visual alarms, loudspeakers and sounders |
| Alarm transmission equipment |
| Signalling systems |
BS5839 Part 1 Enhanced Grade
Enhanced fire resistant cables are also recommended for the following applications:
| in unsprinklered buildings (or areas) in which the fire strategy involves evacuation of occupants in four or more phases |
| In unsprinklered buildings of greater than 30m in height |
| In unsprinklered premises and sites in which a fire in one area could affect cables of critical signal path associated with areas remote from fire, in which it is envisaged people will remain in occupation during the course of the fire |
| In any setting where, on the basis of a fire risk assessment, the designer, specifier or regulatory authority considers that use of Enhanced fire resisting cables is required. |
The different parts of this Standard cover the variations in practice for domestic and non-domestic usage as well as other applications and should be referred to directly when commissioning and designing any project.
BS5839-1 - cross-referenced standards
BS5389 Part 1 Technical Support
We supply a comprehensive range of fire performance cables (also known as fire survival cables and fire alarm cable) manufactured to meet the requirements of fire performance cables as determined by BS5839-1, including BASEC-approved and LPCB-approved cables. Please contact our technical engineers for advice on system design and cable selection or for more information on testing BS5389-1 cables in our cable testing laboratory.
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