PVC conduit in escape routes

Hello
I'm planning an emergency lighting circuit for a communal domestic setting.
Someone's already fitted PVC trunking for the fire alarm system, hopefully with steel clips within...

Is it bad practice if I were to fit PVC conduit, if fitted with steel saddles? for the purpose of emergency escape routes.
I don't want to fit steel conduit throughout as it won't look nice aesthetically.

Assuming you are installing to amendment 2 then the containment must not propagate when exposed to a flame. I would personally use FP200.

Trunking is supposed to be fire retardant.

so is the way to go just clipped direct with FP200 with metal clips although the uPVC stuff doesn't actually contribute towards a fire?

Luckyboy said:

so is the way to go just clipped direct with FP200 with metal clips although the uPVC stuff doesn't actually contribute towards a fire?

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That is what I would do pvc trunking is nasty.

You need to check your design with the responsible fire engineering team.
If the route is a formal protected escape route, then PVC conduit is unlikely to be acceptable surface run through the area.

Sidewinder said:

You need to check your design with the responsible fire engineering team.
If the route is a formal protected escape route, then PVC conduit is unlikely to be acceptable surface run through the area.

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Never heard of a formal protected escape route?

I may well be wrong but ( may only be NON domestic ) does Amd3 not ban cables from being run in escape routes, specifically main corridors??

Do they not require to be fixed with metallic fixings?

kerching said:

I may well be wrong but ( may only be NON domestic ) does Amd3 not ban cables from being run in escape routes, specifically main corridors??

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Carp - is that out already?

I've recently had to buy AMD 2

Fleeting said:

Never heard of a formal protected escape route?

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Check out the wording in Amd2.

Sharpend said:

Do they not require to be fixed with metallic fixings?

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Yeah it would be fixed to the ceiling/wall with metal fixings, with the conduit being uPVC

Sidewinder said:

Check out the wording in Amd2.

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definition : protected escape route (page 40 in amd 2) - points you to Escape route

definition : Escape route (page 35 in amd 2) - points you to protected escape route)

Fabulous

I'm thinking that very few people need to get involved in this!

AMD 2 AMD3 yahda Yahda Yahda.......I've lost count

Probably is AMD2

Sidewinder said:

Check out the wording in Amd2.

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Too many pages can you finger walk me to it. I do fire risk assessments and have never heard this term.

Murdoch said:

definition : protected escape route (page 40 in amd 2) - points you to Escape route

definition : Escape route (page 35 in amd 2) - points you to protected escape route)

Fabulous

I'm thinking that very few people need to get involved in this!

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No they aren't defining them as such just bouncing you back and forth. Not all escape routes are 'protected' for example a circulation space may have routes to a stairwell escape and whilst the stairwell maybe 'protected' the route to it isn't.

Fleeting said:

No they aren't defining them as such just bouncing you back and forth. Not all escape routes are 'protected' for example a circulation space may have routes to a stairwell escape and whilst the stairwell maybe 'protected' the route to it isn't.

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i agree with your point. Trying to understand @Sidewinder point !

A protected escape route is apparently a common term in fire engineering.
The definition of such locations is not the responsibility of the electrical designers or contractors.
It is down to the fire engineering/strategy for the building and is the responsibility of the fire design organisation and the building client/architect.

K

Sidewinder said:

A protected escape route is apparently a common term in fire engineering.
The definition of such locations is not the responsibility of the electrical designers or contractors.
It is down to the fire engineering/strategy for the building and is the responsibility of the fire design organisation and the building client/architect.

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I know about the types of escape route but where in BS7671 does it state formal protected route.

Fleeting said:

K

I know about the types of escape route but where in BS7671 does it state formal protected route.

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I don't think you will find that in BS7671, it's a term from fire alarm standards. The NICEIC changed the AC status a few years ago not to include fire protection systems, in reflection of the fact few sparkies knew the appropriate standards well enough. I was rather annoyed by that at the time, but now think they may have had a point