Table A.1 — Choice of appropriate category of a fire detection and fire alarm system

Type of premises	Typical category of system	Comments
Common workplaces include offices, shops, factories, warehouses, and restaurants.	M or P2/M A or P1/M	A Category M system typically meets legislative requirements but is often combined with a Category P system to satisfy insurers, company asset protection policies, or to prevent business interruptions
These premises include hotels, hostels, student accommodation, and houses in multiple occupations.	L1 or L2	Bedroom areas usually follow Category L3 system recommendations. However, detectors are installed in most other rooms, making the system at least Category L2, often effectively Category L1, with possible variations in detector placement in bedrooms following Category L3 guidelines.
Large public houses (No residential accommodation)	M	–
Public houses with residential accommodation	L2	–
Schools, other than small single- storey schools with less than 160 pupils	M or M/P2 or M/ P2/L4 or M/P2/L5	System categories are typically determined by fire risk assessments. Many schools use a Category P system to address arson risks. For schools partially occupied at times, such as during evening classes or community use, a Category L4 or L5 system may be appropriate.
Hospitals	L1 (with possible minor variations)	Detailed guidance on areas to be protected and possible variations is given in HTM 05-03 Part B [N1] (in England and Wales) or SHTM 82 [N26] (in Scotland).

Table A.1 — Choice of appropriate category of a fire detection and fire alarm system (Continued)

Type of premises

Typical category of system

Comments

Places of assembly include cinemas, theaters, nightclubs, exhibition halls, museums, galleries, leisure centers, and casinos. They are categorized into small premises (accommodating fewer than 300 people) and other premises.

M

L1 to L4

–

L1 systems are often provided in large or complex buildings.

Transportation terminals

M/L5

–

Covered shopping centers

L1 to L3

The exact design needs to be “tailor made” and often forms part of a fire engineering solution.

Residential care premises

L1 to L3

L1 is regarded as appropriate for large premises.

Prisons

M/L5

–

Phased evacuation buildings

L3

–

Buildings in which other fire precautions, such as means of escape, depart from recognized guidance

M/L5

Automatic fire detectors are sited in such a way as to compensate for the lower standard in other fire precautions.

In buildings with "inner rooms," where escape requires passing through an "access room" and there's inadequate visibility between the two rooms, safety considerations need to be addressed.

M/L5

Smoke detectors are sited in the access room.

Buildings in which automatic fire detection is required to operate other fire protection systems (e.g. magnetic door holders)

M/L5

Automatic fire detectors must be placed to prevent cool smoke from bypassing them and keeping magnetic door holders open.

Fire can quickly spread from unoccupied areas, endangering escape routes from occupied areas.

M/L4 or M/L5

It's not customary to place automatic fire detectors in all unoccupied areas like plant rooms and storage areas.

Any building in which automatic fire detection is provided as a requirement of a property insurer or to attract an insurance premium discount

M/P1 or M/P2

–

Annex A(informative) Choice of appropriate category of fire detection and fire alarm system