Definition of Terms

Child

A person who is not over school age (to be construed in accordance with section 31 of the Education (Scotland) Act (1980).

Combustible

Capable of burning in the presence of oxygen.

Compartment

Part of a building (which may contain one or more rooms, spaces or storeys and includes, where relevant, the space above the top storey of the compartment) constructed so as to prevent the spread of fire to or from another part of the same building.

Dry Rising Main

A vertical pipe installed in a building for fire fighting operations, (Dry Riser)fitted with inlet connections at the Fire and Rescue Service access level and with landing valves at specified locations. The pipe is normally dry but is charged with water, usually by pumping from a Fire and Rescue Service vehicle.

Element of structure

Part of the structural frame of a building which is loadbearing.

Emergency door

A door which may be a fire door and which is intended to be used only during an emergency.

Emergency Lighting

Lighting designed to come into, or remain in, operation automatically in the event of a local and general power failure.

Escape route

A route forming part of the means of escape from any point in the building to the final exit.

Escape stair

A stair or ramp forming part of an escape route.

Final exit

Termination of an escape route from a building, giving direct access to a street or open space, where people are no longer in danger from fire.

Fire control room

A dedicated fire protected room in a building of complex design providing facilities for building management and Fire and Rescue Service use to control life safety systems during a fire incident.

Fire damper

A device within a duct, which operates automatically and will stop the passage of fire and smoke which together with its frame, has the same fire-resistance as that element of building construction through which the duct passes.

Fire door

A fire door is rated by its fire-resistance performance under test conditions: a door rated to 30 minutes (short duration) will be described as FD 30 (when tested to BS 476 Part 22) or E 30 (when tested to BS EN 1634 Part 1). A suffix is added to denote the door has a smoke control function giving FD 30S and E 30Sa respectively. An equivalent 60 minutes (medium duration) fire door will be designated FD 60S or E 60Sa. This test rating is an indication of test performance and not necessarily how a door will perform in a real fire.

Fire load

The quantity of heat which would be released by the combustion of all the combustible materials in a volume, including the facings of all bounding surfaces.

Fire safety engineering

The application of scientific and engineering principles to evaluate fire safety and calculate design and safety levels for the protection of people.

Fire stopping

The sealing between elements, components or any joints in the construction of the building in order to prevent the passage of fire or smoke through the building.

Hard standing

An area of ground which will support the weight of a Fire and Rescue Service vehicle regardless of the weather conditions.

Hazard

A situation that can give rise to a fire.

Horizontal dry fire main

A horizontal water supply pipe, fitted with an outlet and control valve at specified points, installed in a building for fire-fighting purposes.

Means of escape

Safe routes provided for people to travel from any point in a building to an unenclosed safe area beyond the premises including fire safety measures to maintain those routes.

Non-Combustible

The material is certified as non-combustible throughout according to the test specified in BS 476: Part 4 or 11.

Occupancy capacity

The number of persons a room, storey or building can safely contain in relation to the fire safety measures provided.

Place of special fire risk

Any place within, or attached to, or on a roof of a building inwhich there is installed one or more:

Protected circuit

A circuit originating at the main incoming switch or distribution board, the conductors of which are protected against fire.

Protected door

A fire door giving access to:

Protected lobby

A lobby within a protected zone but separated from the remainder of the protected zone so as to resist the movement of smoke from the adjoining accommodation to the remainder of the protected zone.

Protected zone

That part of an escape route within a building, but not within a room, and to which access is only by way of a protected door from which there is an exit directly to an unenclosed safe area beyond the premises.

Risk

The potential for a fire to occur (likelihood) and cause death or injury (consequence).

Smoke control system

A type of ventilation system that either provides permanent ventilation or automatically activates or switches into a fire mode operation in order to reduce smoke in escape routes. Examples are: natural smoke venting, smoke control function in air handling systems, mechanical extraction, and pressurisation systems for protected zones.

Unprotected zone

That part of an escape route which is separated by walls, glazed screens or any other permanent form of demarcation from any space intended for human occupation, including a protected zone.

Voice alarm system

A method that provides the means for automatically broadcasting a speech message and warning signal.

Young person

Any person who has not attained the age of 18.