STANDARDS UPDATES
2025 has seen several standard changes which we show below.
SANS 10400-T – Application of the National building regulations.
SANS 10400 = T:2024 Edition 5.1 was updated late last year and included the following changes. This commentary is for fire detection only. Section 4.31:
• General NOTE removed
• Fire detection table now Table 14
• Table 14 - FD (Fire Detection) changed to AFD (Automatic Fire Detection)
• Table 14 - Note regarding local authority removed
• 4.31.4 – Reference to SANS 246 removed
SANS 322 – Fire detection in Hospitals
SANS 322:2024 Edition 2 was published in November 2024. This update was conducted based on the requirements of British standard HTM05-03 Part B.
SANS 322 is a specific standard for hospitals and healthcare premises E2 an E4 of the building regulations. It is used to supplement SANS10139.
This was a major re-write with many changes, too numerous to detail. The new standard provides deeper explanations of most topics.
The notable changes are:
- Reference to multi state addressable systems have been removed.
- Networked systems are mentioned, and network connections must be made with “enhanced fire-resisting cables: PH120.
- Previously mention of fire detection in certain voids and roof spaces that could be excluded from L1 systems has been removed.
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The need to provide “alert alarms”.
For those who work in or supply services to hospitals and/or healthcare services it is highly recommend you purchase a copy of this latest version of SANS 322.
SANS 10139:2021 – Fire detection for buildings
Our SANS 10139 follows the recommendations in BS 5839-1. The BS standard was updated in the first quarter of this year and provides clearer guidance for designers and installers to follow.
The new layout of BS 5839-1 provides a more descriptive approach allowing better understanding of different topics within the document.
Noticeable changes include:
• Interfaces for fire detection systems should not be installed within the fire panel enclosure.
• In residential care premises or hospitals with facilities for more than 10 people to sleep and would need assistance to evacuate, the system should be addressable.
• For detection in shafts or enclosed chutes positioning of detectors is now determined by the category of system.
• For pitched roofs where the angle on each side of the roof differs the smaller of the angles should be used to determine detector spacing.
• A cause and effects matrix or text description should now be provided to the client in the hand over documentation.
• Concerns of cybersecurity for systems with remote monitoring and control have been added along with recommendations.
• Responsibility held the “responsible person” has been changed to the premises management.
• A formula for calculating false alarm rates has been added to Annexure FSANS are busy appointing a workgroup for comparing the new BS standard and upgrading of the current SANS 10139:2021