Guide to Conversion of Traditional Buildings

2.13 Fire and rescue service water supply

Standard 2.13

Every building must be provided with a water supply for use by the fire and rescue service.

2.13.1 Type of standard

Mandatory Standard

In the case of proposed conversions, the finished building must meet the requirement of this standard.

2.13.2 Commentary

Under the provisions of Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, it is the duty of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in case of fire to ‘take all reasonable measures for securing the supply of an adequate supply of water, and for ensuring that it will be available for use`, If the supply is inadequate, SFRS may enter into an agreement to secure the use of water under the control of a person other than Scottish Water for the provision of additional supplies.

This might be from a privately owned swimming pool, lake, fixed water tank, spring, canal loch or pond, which are accessible for a pumping appliance or light portable pump. It should be noted that SFRS cannot require those ‘other persons’ to provide additional supplies.

Every domestic building should be provided, with a water supply to assist with fire-fighting and rescue operations. The fire service will be consulted when a warrant is applied for.

An existing hydrant may be used to supply water for fire-fighting in non-domestic buildings where:

• the building has a footprint of not more than 280 m²; and
• the hydrant is located not more than 100 m away from the building; and
• no compartment has an area more than 280 m²; and
• top floor is at a height of not more than 7.5 m above access level.

Every non-domestic building should be provided with a water supply to assist with fire-fighting and rescue operations. Non-domestic buildings with a footprint or compartment area of more than 280m2 should be provided with at least 1 hydrant.

Domestic and non-domestic water supplies should be from:

• a public water supply, or
• an alternative water supply

A hydrant should be connected to a public water supply service pipe capable of delivering water at a flow rate of at least 1500 litres per minute and more for large complexes, provided by a water main vested in a public authority or a supply provided under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (as amended). Alternative arrangements, including private supplies should be agreed with the verifier and water authority, where relevant.

Fire hydrants should be constructed in accordance with BS 750 2012 Specification for underground fire hydrants and surface box frames and covers and clearly indicated by a plate affixed nearby in accordance with BS 3251: 1976. Where relevant, reference should be made to the Technical Handbooks for the location of hydrants fire appliance parking and access.

Alternative water supplies should be provided where no pipe supply is available, or where there is insufficient pressure and flow in the water main, or an alternative arrangement is proposed. The alternative source of water should be in accordance with the following.

• a charged static water tank of at least 45,000 litres capacity; or
• a spring, river, canal, loch or pond capable of providing or storing at least 45,000 litres of water at all times of the year, the depth of which should be at least 2.5 times the diameter of the suction hose and to which access, space and a hardstanding are available for a pumping appliance, or
• the fire and rescue service will take a pragmatic approach and will use whatever means practicable for providing water for fire-fighting operations.

2.13.3 Issues to be considered

Issue - Risks to historic / traditional buildings

1. Fire hydrants Installing new hydrants and upgrading existing water mains can damage historic landscapes and may disturb buried archaeology.

2. Open emergency water supplies Provision of suitable hard standing adjacent to open water and less than 8 metres from the surface may be difficult to achieve without disturbing the site or the building itself.

3. Fire-fighting water tanks The installation of above ground storage tanks can be visually intrusive within historic sites.

2.13.4 Recommendations to meet the standard

If improving water supplies for fire-fighting is not possible without harming a historic site or a building’s character and setting, the following measures to compensate for deficiencies should be considered.

a) Dry fire main

In certain cases, the provision of a ‘dry’ fire main may enable water to be pumped remotely from a tank or open water source to a hydrant or hydrants close to and around the building to supplement the water supplies carried on fire service appliances.

b) Temporary dam

Means for damming small burns quickly such as sluice gates or similar, together with facilities to enable light portable pumps to be used and transported on 4 x 4 vehicles along existing tracks.

c) Water tanks

In some circumstances, above-ground tanks may be necessary to meet the requirements of fire and rescue water supply. In these cases, careful thought should be given to the location and design of the tank and any associated landscaping to reduces its impact on the historic environment.

d) Fire suppression

Automatic fire suppression may be utilised to compensate for poor water supplies by reducing the intensity and spread of fire (or possibly even extinguish it, if the fire is not shielded from the water droplets). This gives more time for fire-fighters to gain access to the fire and possibly extinguish it with the original supply carried on pumping appliances, before other water sources are obtained.