This part of BS 5839 gives recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises that are:
Designed to accommodate a single family
Houses in multiple occupation comprising a number of self-contained units, each designed to accommodate a single person or family
Sheltered housing, including both the dwelling units and common areas
Supported housing
The recommendations apply to both new and existing domestic premises.
 
Who is BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020 for?
Architects and other building professionals
Enforcing authorities
Installers
Others responsible for implementing fire precautions in domestic premises
NOTE: This standard is not intended for occupiers, for whom government advice is published. However, recommendations are given for simple systems that may be installed by non-specialists.
 
Why should you use BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020?
This British Standard gives recommendations on the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises that are:
a) Designed to accommodate a single family
b) Houses in multiple occupation that comprise a number of self-contained units, each designed to accommodate a single family
c) Sheltered housing, including both the dwelling units and the common areas
The recommendations apply to both new and existing domestic premises and include recommendations for routine attention.
The systems covered range from those comprising a single self-contained smoke alarm to systems of the type described in BS 5839-1.
The recommendations in BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020 may also be applied to the fire detection components of combined domestic fire and intruder alarm systems or fire and social alarm systems.
 
What’s new about BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020?
This is an amendment to the 2019 edition to correct errors identified since the original publication and to address an issue regarding research suggesting some children may be unable to hear fire alarm tones while asleep.
The principal changes are:
a) Commentary has been amended with new text, including a warning to householders regarding the tendency of children to sleep through fire alarm signals
b) Recommendations have been amended with new text on warning it should not be assumed that children will be woken by fire alarm tones.
c) Annex C has been corrected from Annex C to Annex B
d) Figure D.4 has been corrected
e) Figure E.1 has been corrected