Residential Park Homes (to BS 3632)
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When purchasing a residential park home or lodge, the term BS3632 standard may have been used in relation to its construction. But what exactly is it, and what does it mean?
This legislation impacts on residential park homes, whether you are planning to live there or use it for leisure purposes.
What is BS3632?
BS3632 is the British Standard to which residential park homes (and some lodges) are built. They are suitable for permanent residence (depending on the site licence) and are for all year round use.
BSI produces a range of standards for businesses and products to ensure they are fit for purpose.
First published in 1963, the BS3632 standard for residential park homes covers the quality of residential park homes. It also includes a list of criteria to ensure that all models fit their specific intention and are safe for dwelling. Finally, the technical aspects of the legislation cover all requirements and codes of practice that must be adhered to. These mainly concern the construction and design of the residential park home itself. This includes water, gas and electric supplies, ventilation systems, and preservation and maintenance of the residential park home. It will also have the measurements and size of the building itself.
If the residential park home manufacturer designs to System B of the BS3632 Standard there are the following requirements
5.12.4.3. System B – Trickle ventilation
5.12.4.3.1. General
Trickle ventilator (see 3.14) openings shall be not less than 1.7m above floor level (see 3.6).
NOTE 1. There is no requirement for low level ventilators.
In each habitable compartment and wet room, a trickle ventilator with an area of not less than 2500mm2 shall be permanently open and shall not have a mechanism for closing.
NOTE 2. Additional ventilators may have a mechanism for closing.
NOTE 3. For a storage cupboard containing a washing machine and/or tumble dryer see 5.12.1.
The path of ventilation between the internal and external ventilator covers shall not allow air into the external envelope structure.
NOTE 4 Sealed ducting or trunking can be used, but joints between timbers are not airtight unless they are sealed.
5.12.4.3.2. Habitable compartments and wet rooms which do not contain fuel-burning appliances other than room sealed
Each habitable compartment and wet room shall be provided with ventilation openings with a minimum area of not less than 2500mm2.
Each habitable compartment and wet room shall be provided with ventilation openings calculated and apportioned as follows:
a) Calculate the whole home requirement using the equation: 5000mm2 multiplied by the number of habitable rooms, plus 2500mm2 multiplied by the number of wet rooms.
b) Apportion not less than 2500mm2 in each habitable compartment and wet room.
c) If additional ventilators are required, these shall be distributed around the home in suitable locations.
NOTE In order to meet the whole home requirement for the entire residential park home, the minimum provision in any compartment(s) may be exceeded unless otherwise stated.
5.12.4.3.3. Habitable compartments and wet rooms which contain fuel-burning appliances that are not room sealed
Where a non-room-sealed fuel-burning appliance is installed, additional ventilation for the supply of combustion air shall be provided conforming to the appliance manufacturer’s installation instructions. As a minimum, the compartment shall be provided with background ventilation openings conforming to 5.12.4.3.2.
5.12.4.3.4. Non-habitable wet rooms with no exterior door, window, or other sub-assembly component fitted into the external envelope structure
If a wet room requiring a trickle ventilator has no exterior door, window or other subassembly component fitted into the external envelope structure, the following shall be installed:
a) a wall mounted trickle ventilator; or
b) a ceiling mounted ventilator with an equivalent area of not less than 2500mm2 or a free area of not less than 4000mm2 ducted through the roof.
Glazpart have developed our range of Link Vents to adhere to BS3632. The 2500, 4000 & 5000EQA Link Vents can all be closed from the inside of the property as required in note 2. We have also developed a permanently open solution by using two canopies which takes away the ability to close off the ventilation. This has been independently tested with the BRE and can achieve the required 2500EQA.
The Link Vent canopies are fitted as a set, with the external canopy positioned in the traditional manner to avoid the collection of rainwater and the internal canopy inverted to direct airflow upwards and avoid unwanted drafts.
In the table for the results of the testing of the 4000, which is the required minimum.
The 2500, 4000 and 5000 Link Vents have all gone through additional EQA testing for a permanently open canopy to canopy solution, with the results listed below.
Note : Tricklevents will show the normal EQA rating when tested as a vent and canopy combination!
Fitting instructions can be found here
To see the full report follow this link Insert test report link here
A copy of BS 3632:2023 | 30 Sep 2023 | BSI Knowledge (bsigroup.com) can be purchased using this link
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Glazpart Ltd
Wildmere Ind Est
Banbury
Oxfordshire
OX16 3JU