BS 9999:2008

After 10 years in development, BSI British Standards has published BS 9999:2008 Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings.

BS 9999 gives recommendations and guidance on the design, management and use of buildings to achieve acceptable levels of fire safety for all people in and around buildings.

BS 9999 is applicable to the design of new buildings, and to alterations, extensions and changes of use of an existing building, with the exception of individual homes and with limited applicability in the case of certain specialist buildings. It also provides guidance on the ongoing management of fire safety in a building throughout the entire life cycle of the building, including guidance for designers to ensure that the overall design of a building assists and enhances the management of fire safety. It can be used as a tool for assessing existing buildings, although fundamental change in line with the guidelines might well be limited or not practicable.

BS 9999 contributes to the protection of people in buildings by:

• Working to prevent fires occurring in the first place
• Being aware of the types of people in the building and any special risks or needs (such as disabled people, see BS 8300 Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people. Code of practice)
• Ensuring that all of the fire safety measures in the building are kept in working order, and in particular that the means of escape are always available
• Training staff and organizing the evacuation plan, to ensure that occupants leave quickly if a fire occurs
• Taking command in the event of a fire until the fire and rescue service arrives.

The standard builds on government guidance to legislative requirements, providing an advanced approach to fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. It promotes a more flexible approach to fire safety design through use of structured risk-based design where designers can take account of varying human factors. The guidance on means of escape for disabled people (in respect of both design and management) is greatly expanded within BS 9999 from that in DD 9999 to reflect the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and the principles of inclusive design.

Who should use BS 9999?

• Architects
• Designers
• Surveyors
• Facilities/building managers
• Fire and rescue service
• Building control officers
• Fire safety engineers
• Fire risk consultants
• NRAC and other qualified access consultants.

Cross References:
BS 476
BS 799-5
BS 1635
BS 3251
BS 4533
BS 4790
BS 5234
BS 5266-1
BS EN 1838
BS 5306-0
BS 5306-1
BS 5306-2
BS 5306-3
BS 5306-4
BS 5306-5
BS 5306-6
BS 5306-8
BS 5395-1
BS 5395-2
BS 5410-1
BS 5410-2
BS 5438:1989+A2:1994
BS 5499
BS 5651
BS 5655-6
BS 5656-1
BS 5656-2
BS 5839-1:2002+A2:2008
BS 5839-3
BS 5839-9:2003
BS 5852:2006
BS 5867-2:2008
BS 5906
BS 6180
BS 6262-4
BS 6263-2
BS 6644
BS 6798
BS 7036
BS 7157:1989
BS 7176
BS 7273-4
BS 7346-3
BS 7346-4
BS 7346-6
BS 7346-7:2006
BS 7671
BS 7807
BS 8214
BS 8300
BS 8313
BS 8414-1
BS 8414-2
BS 8486-1
BS 8486-2
BS 9251
BS 9990
BS EN 54-7
BS EN 54-11:2001+A1:2006
BS EN 81
BS EN 115
BS EN 378
BS EN 671
BS EN 1125
BS EN 1154
BS EN 1155
BS EN 1363
BS EN 1364
BS EN 1365
BS EN 1366
BS EN 1634-1
BS EN 1634-3
BS EN 12101
BS EN 12150-1
BS EN 12416-2
BS EN 12845
BS EN 13501
BS EN 13823
BS EN 14179-1
BS EN 60702-1
BS EN 60702-2
BS EN ISO 306
BS EN ISO 1182
BS EN ISO 1716
BS EN ISO 12543-2
BS EN ISO 14122-4
BS ISO 10294-5
BS ISO 14520
ISO 834-1
BS 2782
BS 4422
BS 4514
BS 5255
BS 5516-2
BS 5655-11
BS 5655-12
BS 6133
BS 6187
BS 6266
BS 6336
BS 7974
BS 25999-1
PD 6520
PD 7974-1
PD 7974-3
PD 7974-7
BS EN 179
BS EN 1021-1
BS EN 1021-2
BS EN 1158
BS EN 1366-7
BS EN 1991-1-2
BS EN 1993-1-2
BS EN ISO 13943
BS EN ISO 9000
DD ENV 1187:2002
CEN/CENELEC Guide 6


Replaces BS 5588 Parts 0, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and DD 9999:2005 which remain current.

All current amendments available at time of purchase are included with the purchase of this document.