Mechanical Fire & Smoke Control Compliance — London & Nationwide
info@mavenmechanical.co.uk
Compliance & Legislation
The regulatory framework governing mechanical fire and smoke control systems in commercial buildings — what the standards require, what the penalties are for non-compliance, and how Maven Mechanical helps you meet your obligations.
Applies to: Building Designers, Facility Managers, Compliance Officers
BS9999:2017 — Code of Practice for Fire Safety in the Design, Management and Use of Buildings
BS9999:2017 is the primary British Standard governing fire safety in commercial buildings. It provides a risk-based approach to fire safety design and management, with specific provisions for smoke control systems, means of escape, and compartmentation.
Key Requirements
- Smoke control systems designed and installed to meet BS9999 performance criteria
- Regular inspection and testing of all smoke control components
- Cause & Effect testing to verify system interactions and control sequences
- Documentation of smoke control strategy and system performance
- Competent persons appointed to manage and maintain smoke control systems
- Records maintained of all inspections, tests, and maintenance activities
How Maven Mechanical Helps
Maven Mechanical aligns all inspection, testing, and maintenance programmes to BS9999 requirements. Our engineers understand the standard in depth and produce documentation that demonstrates compliance at asset level.
Applies to: Responsible Persons, Building Owners, Facility Managers
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales. It places a legal duty on the Responsible Person to ensure fire safety measures — including mechanical smoke control systems — are maintained in efficient working order.
Key Requirements
- Fire risk assessment carried out and regularly reviewed
- All fire safety systems — including smoke control — maintained in efficient working order
- Cause & Effect testing of smoke control systems at appropriate intervals
- Records of all fire safety maintenance and testing activities
- Competent persons engaged for specialist fire safety work
- Fire safety information provided to relevant persons
How Maven Mechanical Helps
Maven Mechanical provides the technical compliance assurance required under the Fire Safety Order — from Cause & Effect testing and SFG20-aligned maintenance to full compliance documentation and gap analysis reporting.
Applies to: Developers, Main Contractors, Building Control
Building Regulations 2010 — Approved Document B (Fire Safety)
Approved Document B sets out the requirements for fire safety in buildings, including provisions for means of escape, compartmentation, and smoke control. Compliance with Part B is required for all new buildings and material changes of use.
Key Requirements
- Smoke control systems designed to meet Approved Document B performance requirements
- Compartmentation maintained to prevent smoke spread between fire compartments
- Smoke vents (AOVs) and mechanical smoke extraction systems installed where required
- Stairwell pressurisation systems in buildings over 18m
- Car park smoke extraction systems in enclosed car parks
- All systems commissioned and tested before occupation
How Maven Mechanical Helps
Maven Mechanical provides commissioning, testing, and ongoing compliance management for all systems installed to meet Approved Document B requirements — ensuring they continue to perform as designed throughout the building lifecycle.
Applies to: Facility Managers, Building Owners, Maintenance Contractors
SFG20 — Standard Maintenance Specification for Building Services
SFG20 is the industry-standard maintenance specification for building services, published by BESA. It provides detailed task schedules for the maintenance of all building services systems, including fire and smoke control equipment. Compliance with SFG20 is increasingly required by insurers and building owners.
Key Requirements
- Maintenance tasks carried out at SFG20-specified frequencies
- All maintenance activities documented with SFG20 task references
- Competent engineers with appropriate qualifications for each task type
- Maintenance records retained and available for audit
- Defects identified and reported with recommended remediation
- Annual review of maintenance programme against current SFG20 edition
How Maven Mechanical Helps
All Maven Mechanical maintenance programmes are built to SFG20 task schedules. Our engineers reference SFG20 in all maintenance records, providing clients with documentation that satisfies insurer, auditor, and regulatory requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not Sure If Your Systems Are Compliant?
Request a compliance survey. Maven Mechanical will assess your mechanical fire and smoke control systems against current standards and provide a clear remediation roadmap.
Request a Compliance Survey