Health Technical Memorandum 05-02: Firecode – Fire safety in the design of healthcare premises
Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 05-02, titled Firecode: Guidance in support of functional provisions, is a regulatory guidance document issued by the Department of Health in the United Kingdom. This 2015 edition supersedes all previous versions, including the 2007 edition, and is designed to assist healthcare providers, architects, and engineers in meeting the functional requirements of Part B of Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations 2010. It provides a specific framework for fire safety in the design of new healthcare buildings, major extensions, and alterations to existing facilities, as well as changes of use to healthcare purposes.
The scope of the memorandum applies to all premises regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), regardless of ownership. This includes acute services, hospices, mental health facilities, and urgent care centres. The document is structured around the five key functional requirements of fire safety: B1 (Means of warning and escape), B2 (Internal fire spread — linings), B3 (Internal fire spread — structure), B4 (External fire spread), and B5 (Access and facilities for the fire and rescue service). It introduces specific healthcare concepts such as Progressive Horizontal Evacuation and detailed considerations for patient dependency, ranging from independent to very high dependency individuals.
This technical memorandum serves as a reference for the design and procurement of healthcare facilities, providing criteria for compartmentation, sub-compartmentation, and the identification of fire hazard rooms. It includes detailed appendices covering fire resistance periods, doorset specifications, thermoplastic materials, and the provision of fire drawings.
Principles of Fire Safety and Evacuation Strategy
Fire safety in healthcare settings is based on the principle that total immediate evacuation is often undesirable due to patient mobility and survival dependency on electrical or mechanical equipment. The memorandum advocates for Progressive Horizontal Evacuation, which involves moving patients away from a fire into a fire-free compartment or sub-compartment on the same level.
- Stage 1: Horizontal evacuation from the area of origin to an adjoining sub-compartment.
- Stage 2: Horizontal evacuation to an adjoining compartment on the same floor.
- Stage 3: Vertical evacuation to a lower floor or to the outside.
- Extreme Emergency Sequence: Priority is given to those in immediate danger, followed by ambulant patients, and finally non-ambulant patients.
Patient Dependency Classifications
The design of escape routes and compartmentation is influenced by the mobility and clinical condition of the occupants. Firecode defines three distinct classifications for patient dependency:
- Independent: Patients who can physically leave the premises without staff assistance or who rely on minimal assistance to negotiate stairs and comprehend wayfinding.
- Dependent: All patients not classified as independent or very high dependency.
- Very high dependency: Patients whose clinical treatment (e.g., intensive care, operating theatres) creates a high dependency on staff, or for whom evacuation would be life-threatening.
Compartmentation and Sub-compartmentation
Compartmentation is used to divide storeys into places of temporary safety. In healthcare premises, the maximum area of a compartment should not exceed 2000 m² in multi-storey buildings or 3000 m² in single-storey buildings.
- Sub-compartmentation: Necessary if a compartment exceeds 750 m², contains departments where more than 30 patients have access, or includes sleeping accommodation for more than 30 patients.
- Fire Resistance: Sub-compartment walls must provide a minimum fire resistance of 30 minutes.
- Hospital Streets: A special type of compartment connecting final exits and stairway enclosures, serving as a fire-fighting bridgehead and a safe evacuation route.
Internal and External Fire Spread
The memorandum specifies performance ratings for internal linings and structural elements to inhibit fire growth and maintain building stability.
- B2 (Linings): Wall and ceiling finishes must meet specific national or European classifications (e.g., Class 0 or B-s3,d2) based on their location.
- B3 (Structure): Minimum periods of fire resistance for structural frames, load-bearing walls, and floors range from 30 to 90 minutes depending on building height and sprinkler provision.
- Fire Hazard Rooms: High-risk areas such as chemical stores, laboratories, laundries, and ward kitchens must be enclosed in at least 30 minutes of fire-resisting construction.
Access and Facilities for Fire and Rescue Services
Requirements under functional provision B5 ensure that fire appliances can access the building and that internal facilities support fire-fighting operations.
- Site Access: A minimum of two access points should be provided for fire appliances.
- Fire-fighting Shafts: Required in buildings where the highest storey exceeds 18 m or where there are deep basements, unless a hospital street is provided.
- Fire Mains: Wet rising mains are required in healthcare premises with a floor over 50 m above ground level.
- Basement Venting: Smoke outlets should be provided for basement storeys exceeding 200 m² or those more than 3 m below ground level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary fire evacuation strategy for non-ambulant patients?
The strategy is Progressive Horizontal Evacuation, which involves moving patients on their beds or in wheelchairs through fire-resisting barriers to an adjoining refuge area on the same level.
When is sub-compartmentation required in a healthcare building?
Sub-compartmentation is required if a compartment has a floor area greater than 750 m², contains departments where more than 30 patients have access, or has sleeping accommodation for more than 30 patients.
What are the fire resistance requirements for sub-compartment walls?
Sub-compartment walls should be enclosed by walls having a minimum period of fire resistance of 30 minutes, terminating at the underside of a compartment floor or roof.
Which rooms are classified as fire hazard rooms in HTM 05-02?
Examples include chemical stores, cleaners' rooms, clothes storage, disposal rooms, laboratories, laundries, main kitchens, and patient bedrooms specifically for people with mental health needs or learning disabilities.
Are sprinklers mandatory in all healthcare buildings according to HTM 05-02?
Sprinklers are generally not required for patient care areas unless the building height exceeds 30 m, although they may be used to justify reductions in fire resistance periods for structural elements.
What is a 'hospital street' and what are its functions?
A hospital street is a special type of compartment that links departments, stairways, and exits. It serves as a circulation route for evacuation and a bridgehead for fire-and-rescue service operations.
What is the maximum travel distance within a sub-compartment?
The maximum travel distance from any point within a sub-compartment should be no more than 30 m to an adjoining compartment/sub-compartment or to a stairway/final exit.
What fire safety information must be provided under Regulation 38?
The person carrying out building work must provide sufficient information to the owner/occupier to operate and maintain the building safely, including the fire safety strategy, as-built plans, and maintenance schedules for fire protection measures.
