scope:

This Guidance distinguishes between internal walls and other internal vertical elements in public areas of sub-surface stations. A definitive list of these stations can be found in LU Cat 1 Standard 1-086 - Fire Safety Classification of Stations.

Regulation 8(1) and 8(2) do not apply to external walls/facades - i.e. those walls that provide weather protection to the station. Therefore the fire performances of these are defined by the fire strategy for the works - which normally requires compliance with Standard 1-085 and with National Building Regulations.

Purpose

The purpose of this Guidance is to support the delivery of projects and/or maintenance works at stations to which The Fire Precautions (Sub-Surface Railway Stations) (England) Regulations 2009 apply ("sub-surface stations"). This Guidance relates in particular to Regulation 8(1) requiring that any material used in the construction of an internal wall in any public area is of limited combustibility and Regulation 8(2) which prescribes what materials may be applied to the surface of such walls. "Limited combustibility" is clearly defined in the Building Regulations Approved Document Part B2 Table A7 and the Communities and Local Government Publication "Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - Guidance Note 3: Fire Safety on sub-surface railway stations".

LU must also ensure compliance with Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which requires LU to consider the likely effect of its operations on crime and disorder and to take all reasonable preventative measures. The LU Network Security Team will guide those involved in the project regarding the identification of key blast and ballistic risks at each station, taking account of relevant government guidance. These risks will always be a relevant consideration, but will be particularly important at major interchanges.

Compliance with LU Cat 1 standard 1-085 - Fire Safety Performance of Materials is a requirement for all materials and products discussed in this Guidance.

This Guidance has been produced to assist Architects/Designers, Specifiers, Contractors, Suppliers, Planners, Installers, Project Managers, Project Engineers, Asset Managers and all who are involved in the delivery of projects and/or maintenance works at sub-surface stations. It focuses on giving guidance as to which elements in a station fall within the definition of "wall" and are therefore covered by the requirements in Regulation 8(1) and 8(2). Although ceilings are also covered by Regulation 8(1) and 8(2), this document does not give guidance on what falls within the definition of "ceiling" as the authors are unaware of any issues being raised about that term.