Detection in electrical cupboard

[Guest Barp]

Hi all!

First time poster, long time lurker... I'm the director of a management company.

As background, we have an electrical cupboard on the lower ground floor of the building (newly built block of 7 flats) with it's own entrance door opening to the exterior. The door doesn't open onto an escape route.

Previously we carried out fireproofing works to ensure the service penetrations in this cupboard were sealed with proper fire related materials (as opposed to the builder's foam used by previous managing agent...).

We had a FRA review performed recently, and one of the comments made is:

"Is there a means of fire detection in the common areas? No
There is no detection within the electrical cupboard"

This is the first time a comment to this effect has been made, in several years.

I'm interested to understand if it is a legal requirement to have fire detection in such a cupboard (opening onto the outside, and not onto an escape route), or is the assessor just being super cautious?

If it's a legal requirement then of course it must be done, but then why hasn't it come up before with various companies having performed FRA's for us previously?

Would be interested in any relevant insights and legislation here.

Thanks in advance!

[AnthonyB]

No, if it's a stay put block and the cupboard is in it's own fire compartment there is no need for detection even if it did open to the stairs, far less so with an exterior door!

[Lyledunn]

But is the assessor saying a detector is required or merely answering the question posed. If one accepts the electrical intake position is a common area and it doesn’t have detection, then the answer given is correct. It doesn’t necessarily mean a detector is required. Of course, if the Action Plan states the detector is required, then I think you need to go back to the assessor for clarification.

Setting legal requirements aside, I am aware of at least one insurance provider that requires detection in or in proximity to electrical intakes even where there is no sleeping risk. Presumably a property protection issue driven by the increased loadings of EVSE, heat pumps etc.