Design Project September 2019 New Retail/Office Development

NEW OFFICE DEVELOPMENT

INTRODUCTION
Planning has been obtained for a proposed new retail/office development on an existing site located
in Northern Ireland.

Architectural plans for the development are in the process of being finalised for a Building Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2012, submission. To assist with Building Control approval for the scheme the
client wants to be satisfied there are no issues that may jeopardise the application, including fire
safety issues or requirements that would make the scheme financially unviable.

Input from a Fire Engineering Consultant is now required to review the current proposals and to report
to the client on the key fire safety considerations that need to be integrated into the building design to
ensure that it complies with the requirements of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.

BUILDING DESCRIPTION
The building comprises 7 storeys of accommodation. At Ground Floor level provision is required for a
retail outlet. The upper levels are dedicated to office accommodation. The top floor of office
accommodation is at 20.0m above ground level and it is proposed to let each floor to individual
tenants. An enclosed rooftop plant room is also part of the proposed development.

The site is bounded on the North and East Elevations by public roads. On the South Elevation the
proposed site is adjacent to an existing building, whereas on the West Elevation there is a public
laneway.

The building construction comprises reinforced concrete columns and flat slabs. External cladding to
the building includes a combination of traditional masonry cavity wall construction and architectural
cladding panels.

Figure 1: Indicative Section through Building

Rooftop Plantroom

Fifth Floor [20.0] FFL

Fourth Floor [16.0] FFL

Third Floor [12.0] FFL

Second Floor [8.0] FFL

First Floor [4.0] FFL

Ground Floor [0.0] FFL

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Design Project: September New Office
Figure 2: Indicative Ground Floor Plan

Adjacent
Building North
Centreline of
5m Shore Road
2.5m
Adjacent
Building

9m

20m

27.5
Adjacent 30m Net m 10m Adjacent
Building Lettable
Floor Area Building
27.5 750m2 25
m m

Shore York Lane

Adjacent
Building

Adjacent
Building
1.5m Centreline
30m of York
Road

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Design Project: September New Office
Figure3: Indicative Upper Floor Plan

Adjacent Building

Centreline of
5m Shore Road
2.5m
Adjacent
Building

9m

20m

27.5m
Adjacent 30m Net 10m Adjacent
Building Lettable
Floor Area Building
27.5 800m2 25
m m

Shore York Lane

16m
Adjacent
Building

Adjacent
Building
1.5m Centreline
30m of York
Road

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 Design Project: September New Retail/Office

CLIENT BRIEF

Requirements
The client requires a report that outlines the key fire safety features of the building and that
demonstrates compliance with the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012. The report should
also be suitable to submit to Building Control as part of the Building Regulations Approvals process.

Services to be provided
The services required from the fire-engineering consultant are to prepare a report advising on the
following key fire safety issues:

 Means of escape design

 Analysis of performance criteria of building construction including:
o Fire resistance of structure
o Compartmentation requirements
 Review of active fire safety systems required
 Analysis of external fire spread
 Analysis of fire-fighting provisions

REPORTING

The building must comply with The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012
(http://www.buildingcontrol-ni.com/regulations) and the client requires a report outlining in detail the
necessary requirements to obtain Building Regulations approval. The report should be a statement of
what fire safety provisions will be provided in the scheme and should include technical justification for
the proposed development. Technical Booklet E Fire Safety 2012 (http://www.buildingcontrol-
ni.com/regulations/technical-booklets) should be adopted as the principle source of guidance.

Sub-headings within the report should include:

 Project Overview
 Compliance with Legislation
 Means of Escape
o Occupancy
o Storey exit sizing
o Travel distances
o Method of evacuation.
o Stair sizing
o Disabled means of escape provision
 Construction
o Structural Fire Resistance
o Compartmentation
 Active Fire Safety Systems
o Detection
o Alarm
o Suppression
o Smoke control provisions
o Escape lighting
 External Fire Spread
o Assessment Principles
o Space Separation
o Impact on cladding design
 Fire Service Provisions
o Vehicle access
o Personnel access
o Fire-fighting Facilities
 References i.e. Technical Booklet E

29th

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Design Project: September New Retail/Office