The requirements, effective from 1 January 2016, apply throughout Wales and apply to new build and change of use applications relating to:

New houses and flats

Care homes

Rooms for residential purposes (other than in a hotel, hospital, prison or short stay leisure hostel)

Registered group homes and sheltered housing

There has been a period of transition. However, applications already submitted but not commenced until after 1st January 2017 must include fire suppression.

The specific building regulations requiring fire suppression are set out in Wales Approved Document B “Fire Safety” 2016 (inc 2010 and 2013), and are summarised as follows:

Volume 1 for Dwelling Houses

Volume 2 for Buildings other than Dwelling Houses

These volumes replace the 2006 edition (incorporating 2010 and 2013 amendments)

Reflects changes due to Regulation 37A (fire suppression systems) in the Building Regulations 2010

Section 3 amended to reflect requirement for automatic fire suppression systems in flats

Standard for domestic and residential occupancies updated to BS 9251: 2014

 

The 2014 Welsh Assembly legislation 37A required fire suppression in new and converted care homes, residential homes, boarding houses, halls of residence

The 2016 Welsh legislation extended the requirement to new and converted houses and flats

Julian Parsons, writing on behalf of the National Fire Chiefs Council:

“It heartens me to think that increasingly sprinklers appear in the guidance documents for fire safety in the built environment. I applaud the devolved administrations in their approach to regulate the inclusion of sprinklers in many types of buildings. I had the privilege of being in the public gallery of the Welsh Assembly when the historic vote to regulate for sprinklers in new residences was passed.”