BSI invites comment on construction sector-focused PAS 9970-1 and PAS 9970-2

The expected date of the public consultation process is 30 April-13 June for PAS 9970-1 and 23 June-5 August for PAS 9970-2. The expected date of publication for both is February 2026.

Fire is an ever-present danger on construction sites and notably so where hot works are being performed. While several guidance documents have been published (ie Fire Safety in Construction HSG 168 and the Joint Code of Practice on the Protection from Fire of Construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation), these documents lack detailed guidance on how to design, specify, install, maintain and monitor temporary fire detection and alarm systems. No other fire standards are available specifically for construction.

Given the dynamic nature of a construction project, related standards for buildings are generally not suitable. Guidance regarding the systematic risk management processes and principles through which fire safety should be managed on a construction site is not currently available. This makes designing, specifying, installing, maintaining and monitoring temporary fire detection and alarm systems for effective fire safety management sub-optimal.

The PAS aims to address these gaps in the standard landscape by providing a specification for temporary fire detection and alarm systems for construction projects, along with guidance on the assessment of construction fire safety requirements and site equipment needs.  

Draft scope

Part 1 of this PAS applies to all relevant types of construction activity and projects defined and covered by the Fire Safety Order and the Construction Design and Management Regulations where a fire risk assessment is required and/or defined by legislation.

Construction sites with special hazards and the potential for high risk to life require consideration of additional factors associated with these hazards. Their means of control are not currently included in this PAS and might require consideration of additional requirements.

Part 1 makes recommendations for (and gives guidance on) fire safety practices in the construction sector. This includes recommendations relevant for construction contractors to suitably and sufficiently manage organisational and site fire safety risk through the use of proportionate risk management systems, as well as the assessment of site equipment needs, installation, maintenance and monitoring.

PAS 9970-2 establishes the minimum requirements of temporary fire detection and alarm systems for construction sites. It will define minimum requirements for the technical specification and capabilities of these systems.

These requirements will cover:

*the minimum list of components that must be present for a system to meet the requirements (eg base station, Call Points and detectors) and their various types

*an extended list of components that some installations may also use (eg stand-alone sounders, information points, remote monitoring interfaces and general purpose I/O devices, etc

*a minimum specification for how system functionality (including network integrity) is verified and reported, with a list of product requirements for how those responsible for maintenance will ensure the system is tested

*a minimum specification for how alarms are reported and the time taken between detection and reporting, with consideration around zoning and the needs of a large construction site.

*a specification for battery life in quiescent and alarm conditions

*a specification for how the products may be powered (eg requirements on the safety performance of batteries in the event of crushing episodes, etc)

*a specification for water and particle ingress protection (eg an IP rating)

*a specification for how system and device resets are handled

*the technical requirements for a product that implements remote monitoring

*the minimum list of standards against which the product must be certified   

PAS applicability

The PAS applies to all sites of construction activity where a temporary fire alarm and/or fire detection system is required or recommended following a fire risk assessment, as defined by the current legislation.

This PAS is not applicable to permanent fire alarm or fire detection systems, nor finished structures or premises where a permanent fire alarm or fire detection system is required by legislation.

Construction sites or premises undergoing construction where a fire risk assessment is not required by legislation are beyond the scope of this PAS.

The requirements within this PAS aim to address life safety considerations for those in the immediate vicinity of a construction site including employees, contractors, visitors and members of the public from the risks posed by fire. These requirements also aim to minimise the risk to property (the premises and their contents), the environment and disruption of construction activity in the event of a fire on-site.

This PAS is for use by fire engineers, construction managers, construction sector Health and Safety/fire safety managers, temporary alarm system manufacturers, temporary alarm system installers and insurance companies.

Review Panel members will be invited to submit comments electronically during a public consultation via the BSI Standards Development Portal in March 2025 (Part 1) and April 2025 (Part 20. There are not going to be any Review Panel meetings.