A decade since its inception and following a two-year consultation period, BS 8519 (selection and installation of fire‑resistant power and control cable systems for life safety, fire‑fighting and other critical applications – code of practice) has been revised.
BS 8519: 2020 came into effect on the 30 June 2020 and is a full revision, introducing a number of principal changes. These include additional recommendations respect to standby generators including fuel storage and fuel polishing requirements and the selection of auto transfer switches.
The document also provides informative commentary (Annex A) on the selection and specification of uninterruptable power supply (UPS) systems – a much debated topic when it comes to the source of secondary (standby) power supply. Its observations include a number of reservations, including:
- Battery recharge time required to recharge a fully discharged battery. Typically, this is a period of 24 hours and during this extended recharge time, the occupants of the building are not fully protected. By comparison, a standby generator can refuel in a matter of hours.
- Battery selection and operating temperature – mechanical cooling (and heating) of the battery plantroom by suitably resilient plant. By comparison, a standby generator requires only basic ventilation.
- The issue of regenerative loads (caused by lift services) and other transient conditions affect the rating of the UPS equipment.
Insight FM has experience in the correct design, selection and maintenance management of BS 8519 compliant electrical distribution systems. For more information, please contact James Bevis.
under BS 8519 2020 can you advise what is the requirement for cabling serving Lighting on escape staircases. The lighting is maintained 3 hour self contained emergency type.
Does the lighting circuitry need to be Fire Rated and if so to what time rating.
Hi Jeff,
If it’s a standard escape route, non-fire rated cabling would be acceptable since the light fittings are self-contained.
Fire rated cabling would be required if the fittings were served by a remote central battery and/or the escape route was a designated firefighting core (these are typically adjacent to firefighting lifts).
Make sure that all your cabling is affixed with metal type fixings though (per the 18th Edition!).
James.