Planning a Domestic Fire Suppression Project? What Information Should You Send Your Installer and Building Control?
Planning a domestic fire suppression system usually starts with the property drawings and the reason suppression is being considered. Your installer needs enough information to understand the layout, escape route, protected areas, water supply and Building Control requirements before advising whether water mist, sprinklers or another solution is suitable.
Good information at the start also makes quotations and installation planning more accurate.
NPHS works with homeowners, landlords, architects and builders on domestic fire suppression projects across the UK.
What counts as a domestic fire suppression project?
For NPHS, domestic means an individual home.
Typical projects include:
- Loft conversions
- Open-plan kitchens
- Open-plan ground floors
- Home extensions
- Refurbishment projects
- Changes to escape routes
- Removal of internal doors or walls
- Landlord-owned houses
- Retrofit fire suppression
- New individual dwellings
Flats, apartment blocks, care homes and housing schemes fall under residential fire suppression rather than domestic.
That distinction matters because the building type, buyer, fire strategy and applicable standards can differ.
Why might Building Control ask about fire suppression?
Automatic fire suppression can arise during Building Control discussions when a proposed home layout affects the fire-safety approach.
A common example is a loft conversion where the escape route passes through an open-plan ground floor. Another is a renovation where doors or walls forming part of the existing fire-protection arrangement are being removed.
The exact requirements depend on the property and proposed works.
For projects in England, Approved Document B Volume 1 provides statutory guidance relating to fire safety in dwellings. Building Control will consider the proposed work against the applicable Building Regulations route and the specific details of the project.
At the time of writing, further Approved Document B amendments are due to take effect on 30 September 2026, subject to transitional arrangements. For live projects, use the current online version and check which amendments apply to the work.
An architect, designer or fire-safety professional may also propose suppression as part of the design approach.
Approved Document B: Sprinklers & Water Mist
GOV.UK: Approved Document B, Fire Safety
What should you send your fire suppression installer first?
For most domestic enquiries, floor plans are the best starting point.
Send whatever drawings are available, even if the project is still at an early stage.
Useful documents include:
- Existing floor plans
- Proposed floor plans
- Sections
- Loft-conversion drawings
- Extension drawings
- Building Control comments
- Architect’s notes
- Fire-safety or fire-strategy information
- Planning drawings where they show useful layout information
Your installer can then see how the property works as a whole.
A photograph of one room rarely tells the full story. The escape route may run through several other spaces that change the technical discussion.
Do the drawings need to be final?
Early drawings can still be useful.
At initial enquiry stage, NPHS can often review planning or Building Control drawings and identify the information needed next.
The design may develop later. If the property layout changes, tell the suppression contractor before installation. Nozzle positions, protected areas and pipe routes may need reviewing.
The key is to provide the current drawing revision and make later changes visible to everyone involved.
What Building Control information should you send?
If Building Control has already raised fire suppression, send their comments exactly as issued.
That could include:
- Plan-check comments
- Email correspondence
- Conditions
- Requests for further information
- References to the proposed escape arrangement
- Requests for automatic suppression
- Comments about fire doors
- Comments about open-plan layouts
- Requests for product or standards information
Avoid paraphrasing a technical comment from memory if you have the original email or document.
The actual wording helps the installer understand what question needs answering.
Should you send the whole Building Control report?
Usually, yes.
Even comments that appear unrelated can provide useful context about the project.
A suppression contractor may need to understand:
- Number of storeys
- Escape route
- Stair arrangement
- Protected hallway
- Open-plan areas
- Loft layout
- Fire doors
- Smoke detection
- Compartmentation
- Property use
Fire suppression sits within the wider fire-safety design of the home.
Seeing the relevant Building Control discussion helps NPHS advise within that context.
What property details does the installer need?
Alongside the drawings, provide a short project summary.
Useful details include:
- Property address
- House type and number of storeys
- Current use of the property
- Proposed use after the work
- Whether the property is occupied during the works
- Current construction stage
- Approximate ceiling heights
- Location of the incoming water supply if known
- Available cupboard, utility or plant space
- Preferred programme dates
- Whether Building Control, an architect or a fire-safety professional has requested suppression
You do not need every answer before making contact.
Send the information you have and NPHS can identify what is missing.
What should you tell the installer about the proposed layout?
Describe what is changing.
For example:
Two-storey house with proposed loft conversion. Existing ground-floor kitchen and dining room will be opened into the hallway. Building Control has requested further information about automatic fire suppression because the staircase discharges into the open-plan area.
That tells the suppression contractor far more than: “Need a sprinkler quote.”
Useful details include:
- Which walls are being removed
- Which doors are being removed
- Whether the staircase is being altered
- Where the loft stairs arrive
- Whether rooms are changing use
- Whether the ground floor will become open plan
- Which areas Building Control has identified
- Whether work has already started
Specific information gets you to a useful answer faster.
What should you send for an open-plan kitchen project?
For an open-plan kitchen or ground-floor project, send:
- Existing floor plan
- Proposed floor plan
- Section if available
- Staircase position
- Final exit location
- Building Control comments
- Ceiling heights
- Kitchen position
- Details of walls and doors being removed
- Proposed smoke or fire detection information if known
The installer needs to understand how the open-plan area relates to the escape route.
Water mist may be suitable for some projects, subject to the property design, system evidence, current standards position and approval route.
Water Mist for Open-Plan Kitchens
What should you send for a loft conversion?
For a loft conversion, useful information includes:
- Full property floor plans
- Proposed loft plan
- Sections
- Staircase arrangement
- Final exit route
- Building Control comments
- Number of existing storeys
- Proposed loft use
- Ceiling heights
- Areas where fire doors or compartmentation are affected
The entire escape route matters.
Sending only the loft drawing can leave out the exact part of the property that triggered the suppression discussion.
Water Mist for Loft Conversions
What should you send for a retrofit project?
Existing homes need extra installation information because the building fabric is already in place.
Helpful information includes:
- Floor plans
- Photographs
- Ceiling construction
- Accessible voids
- Cupboard locations
- Utility-room space
- Existing service routes
- Water supply information
- Photographs of potential equipment locations
- Areas where decoration has already been completed
Retrofit design needs to consider how pipework and equipment can be installed with controlled disruption.
Finished ceilings, fitted kitchens and completed decoration are all useful to mention before pipe routes are planned.
Does the installer need water supply information?
Water supply information helps assess both water mist and sprinkler options.
If available, send details such as:
- Incoming mains location
- Known mains pressure
- Known flow information
- Water storage
- Existing pumps
- Utility cupboard location
- Available plant space
If you do not have this information, that does not prevent an initial review.
The installer can advise what needs checking later.
System selection should take account of the water supply alongside the building layout, relevant standard and fire-safety requirements.
Should you choose water mist before contacting the installer?
A project may arrive with water mist already specified.
Where the suppression type has not been decided, give the installer the project information first.
Domestic projects can use different automatic suppression routes depending on the property and requirements.
Water mist may suit some homes because compact equipment, smaller pipework and discreet nozzles can help with installation. Domestic sprinkler systems may suit other projects.
The proposed solution should be assessed against the property, water supply, available space, relevant standards, supporting evidence and approval route.
What standards information should you provide?
If a Building Control comment, architect’s specification or fire-safety document names a standard, include that document with the enquiry.
Domestic sprinkler systems may involve BS 9251:2021, which covers fire sprinkler systems for domestic and residential occupancies.
Domestic water mist documentation may contain references to BS 8458:2015. BSI withdrew BS 8458 in July 2025, so current projects need the relevant water mist standards position checked carefully.
Current water mist standards include the BS EN 14972 framework, including the residential occupancy fire-test protocol in BS EN 14972-17:2025.
NPHS can review the information supplied and advise on the likely technical route.
What information may Building Control need about the proposed system?
Requirements vary by project, but the project team may need to provide information covering:
- Proposed suppression system
- Relevant standard
- Product information
- System design
- Supporting fire-test evidence where applicable
- Nozzle or sprinkler-head layouts
- Water supply
- Installation information
- Commissioning arrangements
- Certification or technical evidence where required
The designer, installer and Building Control team should have a clear understanding of what information will be required for the particular project.
Final acceptance remains with the relevant approving body.
When should you contact the fire suppression installer?
Contact the installer once suppression has been proposed or appears likely.
Earlier contact gives more freedom to plan:
- Pipe routes
- Equipment locations
- Ceiling access
- Cupboard space
- Installation dates
- Interaction with electricians and plumbers
- Commissioning
- Documentation
This is particularly useful during refurbishments.
Installation becomes harder once ceilings are closed, kitchens are fitted and final finishes are complete.
When should the system be installed?
The best installation point depends on the project.
For renovations and loft conversions, pipework may be easier to install while ceilings and walls are open.
Equipment and nozzle positions still need to follow the agreed design.
Coordinate the suppression installer with:
- Builder
- Electrician
- Plumber
- Heating engineer
- Drylining team
- Kitchen installer
- Architect or designer
A short programme discussion before site work can avoid repeated visits and making-good costs.
What should you expect after installation?
A domestic suppression project should finish with testing, commissioning and appropriate handover information.
Depending on the system and project, records may include:
- Installed-system information
- Commissioning records
- Equipment information
- Operating guidance
- Maintenance requirements
- Product documentation
- Relevant certification
- Service information
Keep these records with the property documents.
They will be useful for future servicing, alterations and property management.
Will a domestic fire suppression system need maintenance?
Yes. Installed fire suppression systems need ongoing inspection and maintenance in line with the applicable system requirements.
Maintenance may involve checking:
- Nozzles or sprinkler heads
- Pumps
- Controls
- Valves
- Water supply
- Fault indications
- System condition
- Service records
For landlords, maintenance documentation can also form part of the wider property record.
A simple checklist before contacting NPHS
For the quickest initial review, send:
- Existing and proposed floor plans
- Any Building Control comments
- A short description of the project
- Sections or ceiling heights if available
- Photographs where useful
- Fire-safety information or architect’s notes
- Water supply information if known
- Current construction stage
- Preferred programme dates
- Your contact details and project address
Incomplete information is fine.
NPHS can review what you have and tell you what is needed next.
Frequently asked questions
What should I send a water mist installer for a quote?
Send your existing and proposed floor plans, Building Control comments, a description of the proposed work, property address and any relevant sections or fire-safety information. Water supply details and photographs are also useful if available. NPHS can identify any further information needed after the initial review.
Does Building Control need drawings for a domestic water mist system?
Building Control may require technical information relevant to the proposed suppression system and project. The exact documents depend on the building work and approval route. System drawings, technical evidence, standards information and commissioning documentation may form part of the information required.
Can I get a fire suppression quote before Building Control has approved my plans?
An initial review or budget quotation may be possible from early drawings. The final system design and installation requirements should reflect the confirmed project layout, applicable standards and Building Control route. Tell the installer if drawings or approval comments change.
What information is needed for water mist in a loft conversion?
Provide drawings for the whole property, including the proposed loft, staircase and ground-floor escape route. Include Building Control comments, sections, ceiling heights and details of any open-plan areas or removed fire doors. The wider property layout can be as important as the loft itself.
Can NPHS review my Building Control comments before I choose a system?
Yes. Send NPHS the Building Control comments, drawings and any architect or fire-safety information. The team can review the project and advise on the likely suppression options, installation considerations and technical information needed for the next stage.
Need advice on a domestic fire suppression project?
If Building Control, your architect or builder has raised the need for water mist or sprinkler protection, send NPHS the project information before committing to a system.
Start with your drawings and any Building Control comments.