FIRE NORMS

CODES OF PRACTICE
AND BYE LAWS
 FIRE SAFETY
The provisions are applicable to,
A) all high rise buildings(15m or above) and special buildings, those are,

1) hotel, educational, institutional, business, mercantile, industrial, storage, hazardous and mixed
occupancies, where any of these buildings have floor area more than 500 m2 on any one or more
floors;

2) educational buildings having height 9 m and above;

3) institutional buildings having height 9 m and above;

4) all assembly buildings;

5) buildings, having area more than 300 m2 of incidental assembly occupancy on any floor; and
6) buildings with two basements or more, or with one basement of area more than 500 m2.
 CLASSIFICATIONS OF BUILDINGS
Group A residential (hotels)

Group B educational

Group C institutional

Group D assembly (recreational places, theatres, multiplex)

Group E business (offices, banks, professional establishments)

Group F mercantile (shops, stores, market, display, sale of merchandise)

Group G industrial

Group H storage

Group J hazardous

Fire zone

A) fire zone no. 1- residential (group A), educational (group B), institutional (group C), assembly (group D), small business (subdivision E-1) and
mercantile (group F) buildings, temporary structures.

B) fire zone no. 2- business (subdivisions E-2 to E-5) and industrial buildings (subdivisions G-1 and G-2), except high hazard industrial buildings
(subdivision G-3)

C) fire zone no. 3- high hazard industrial buildings (subdivision G-3), storage buildings (group H) and buildings for hazardous uses (group J)
 FIRE ZONE
Restrictions on the type of construction for new buildings

A) buildings erected in fire zone no. 1 shall conform to construction of type 1,

2, 3 or 4.

B) buildings erected in fire zone no. 2 shall conform to construction of type 1,

2 or 3.

C) buildings erected in fire zone no. 3 shall conform to construction of type 1

or 2.

Non-combustible materials should be used for construction of buildings, and

the internal walls of staircase enclosures should be of brick work or reinforced
concrete or any other material of construction with minimum of 120 min
rating. The walls for the chimney shall be of type 1 or type 2 construction
depending on whether the flue gas temperature is above 200°C or less,
respectively.

The false ceiling, shall be of non-combustible material and shall provide

adequate fire resistance to the ceiling in order to prevent spread of fire across
ceiling.
Fire Hazard
A situation in which there is a greater than normal risk of harm to people and property due to fire
The Fire Triangle, for a Fire to start following are needed
1. Fuel (Gases, Liquids or Solids)
2. Oxygen
3. Ignition source
Once the fire starts the rising temperature creates more flammable gases and increase intensity of fire
Fire safety deals with taking steps to avoid completion of Fire triangle

Causes of Fire in buildings

Accumulation of Scrap, waste material, trash etc. increases the risk of fire
Under the right conditions the build up of dust from wood, plastic or certain metal operations can lead to
fire or explosions
Fires are Classified as,
A-type
B-type
C-type
D-type
K-type
A-type fire: ordinary combustible
Commonly used house hold materials like paper, card board, wood and products made from these materials
Foam or plastic cups, utensils when close to heat burn rapidly and give off toxic dense black smoke
Oily rags or other materials soaked in oil can also spontaneously combust

B-type fire: flameable liquids

The unsafe storage, dispensing or disposal of flammable liquids can be a prime source of this type of fires and
explosions
Commonly used flammable liquids like Oil, grease, diesel, petrol, paint, solvents and tar are primary source of these
fires

C-type fire: electrical equipment

Over loaded circuits, fuse boxes, damaged wiring and defective switches can lead to this type of fires
Extension chords, multi plug adapters etc. can also lead to initiation of sparks which if come in contact with
flammable materials can cause fire

D-type fire: combustible metal

Hot work involving metals and open flames can cause this fire hazard
Machines when not lubricated properly can over heat and start fire
Combustible metals like magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium and potassium can react with
extinguishing material used in A,B,C type of fires and increase the intensity of fire hence special type of
Extinguishers are needed for D-type fires

K-type fire:combustible cooking

Kitchen fires involving large amounts of heated oil, flames coming from gas pipes etc.
Important terminology –
1.Fire prevention – covering aspects of fire prevention pertaining to design and construction of buildings
on passive fire protection measures also describing the various types of building materials and their fire
rating.

2.Life safety – Covering life safety provisions in the event of fire and similar emergency, also addressing
construction and occupancy features that are necessary to minimize danger to life from fire, smoke, fumes
or panic.

3.Fire protection – covering the significant accessories and their related components and guidelines for
selecting the correct type of equipment and installation meant for fire protection of the building
depending on the classification and type of building

4.Flammable – Material that can catch fire and burn easily at normal working temperatures [as per OSHA -
100°F (37.8°C)]

5.Combustible – Material that requires higher than normal temperatures to ignite

6.Down-comer - An arrangement of firefighting within the building by means of down-comer pipe

connected to terrace tank through terrace pump, gate valve and non-return valve and having mains not
less than 100 mm internal diameter with landing valves on each floor / landing
7.Dry Riser – An arrangement of firefighting within the building by means of vertical rising main not less
than 100 mm internal diameter with valves on each floor/landing, which is normally dry but is capable of
being charged with water usually by pumping from fire service appliances

8.Wet Riser - An arrangement for firefighting within the building by means of vertical rising mains not less
than 100 mm nominal diameter with landing valves on each floor/landing for firefighting purposes and
permanently charged with water from a pressurized supply

9.Fire Resistance - a property of an element of building construction and is the measure of its ability to
satisfy for a stated period, some or all of the following criteria,

10. Load bearing capacity - ability of a load bearing element to withstand fire exposure without any loss of
structural stability.

11. Integrity - Resistance to penetration of flame and hot gases

12. Insulation - Resistance to temperature rise on the unexposed face up to a maximum of 180°C at any
single point and average temperature of 140°C

13.Fire rating – The time that a material or construction will withstand the standard fire exposure as
determined by fire test done in accordance with the standard methods of fire tests of materials/structures
 OCCUPATION OF BUILDINGS
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
A high rise building during construction shall be provided with the following fire
protection measures, which shall be maintained in good working condition at all
the times:

A) dry riser of minimum 100 mm diameter pipe with hydrant outlets on the floors
constructed with a fire service inlet to boost the water in the dry riser and
maintenance should be in accordance with good practice.

B) drums of 2000 liter capacity filled with water with two fire buckets on each
floor;

C) A water storage tank of minimum 20 000 liter capacity, which may be used for
other construction purposes also.
OPENINGS IN WALLS
Doorway or opening in a fire-resistant wall on any floor shall be
limited to 5.6 m2 in area with a maximum height/width of 2.75
m. Every wall opening shall be protected with fire-resisting doors,
having the fire rating of not less than 120 min.

The openings in the floors shall be protected by vertical

enclosures extending above and below such openings, such
enclosures having a fire resistance of not less than 120 min and
all openings therein being protected with a fire-resisting
assembly.

For escalator openings, the smoke spill shall be avoided by

provision of smoke barrier (of 450-600 mm) thereby creating
smoke compartment. Further, the protection shall be ensured
through installation of sprinklers on all sides of the cut out
opening on each floor.
 SERVICE DUCTS AND SHAFTS
Ø Openings in walls or floors , necessary to be provided to allow
passages of all building services like cables, electrical wirings,
telephone cables, plumbing pipes, etc, shall be protected by enclosure
in the form of ducts/shafts having a fire resistance not less than 120
min.

Ø The inspection door for electrical shafts/ducts shall be not less than
120 min.

Ø The space between the electrical cables/conduits and the walls/slabs

shall be filled in by a fire stop material having fire resistance rating of
not less than 120 min.

Ø For plumbing shafts in the core of the building, with shaft door
opening inside the building, the shafts shall have inspection doors
having fire resistance rating not less than 30 min.

Ø For plumbing shafts doors which open in wet areas or in naturally

ventilated areas or on external wall of the building, the shafts may not
require doors having any specified fire rating.
 REFUSE CHUTES AND VERTICAL
OPENING
v Refuse chutes shall have opening at least 1 m above roof level for venting purpose.

v The enclosure wall of non-combustible material with fire resistance of not less than 120
min.

v They shall not be located within the staircase enclosure or service shafts, or air
conditioning shafts.

v Refuse chutes inspection panel and doors shall be tight fitting with 60 min fire resistance.

v Sprinkler protection system shall be provided for the refuse chutes.

v Refuse chutes shall be at least 6 m away from exits.

Pressurization :-
Reasonable safety to the occupant while using the means of egress by preventing spread of fire,
smoke, or fumes through vertical openings from floor to floor to allow occupants to complete
their use of the means of egress.

Further it shall be ensured to provide a clear height of 2 100 mm in the exit access.
 EXITS
v Exit signs shall be provided such that no point in an exit access is more than 30 m from a visible
exit directional sign.
v An exit sign indicating the direction to an exit shall be provided at all changes in direction.

v The colour of the exit signs shall be green.

v The minimum required number of exits in a building shall be determined based on occupant
load and width required per person as appropriate to the type of exit for respective
occupancies, subject to complying with maximum travel distance requirement
v
For example , if an exit doorway measures 2000 mm in clear width , it would be defined as
providing exit capacity for 2000/15 occupants , that is 133 persons ( for an institutional
building) . This is how we can calculate exit doorways depending upon the occupant load .

v Further, consider the situation of doors opening to an exit stairway. If the stairway provides an
exit capacity of 133 persons, and the doors leading into the stairway provide an exit capacity of
133 persons, the overall exit system would be considered to provide the minimum exit capacity
of only 133 persons afforded by the stairway. The exit planning will be limited by the most
restrictive exit calculation under the means of egress.

v
TRAVEL DISTANCE
v Arrangement of exits
v Exits shall be so located that the travel distance on the floor shall not
exceed the distance given in Table 5.
v Travel distance shall be measured from the most remote point within a
storey or a mezzanine floor along the natural and un- obstructed path of
horizontal or vertical egress travel to the door to an exit.
v The dead-end corridor length in exit access shall not exceed 6 m for
educational, institutional and assembly occupancies. For other
occupancies, the same shall be 15 m.
v For residential, assembly, business, mercantile the travel distance should
not exceed 30 m
REFUGE AREA
v An area within the building for a temporary use during egress. It generally serves as a
staging area which is protected from the effect of fire and smoke.

v Refuge area provided shall be planned to accommodate the occupants of two

consecutive floors (this shall consider occupants of the floor where refuge is provided
and occupants of floor above) by considering area of 0.3 m2 per person for the
calculated number of occupants and shall include additionally to accommodate one
wheel chair space of an area of 0.9 m2 for every 200 occupants, portion thereof,
based on the occupant load served by the area of refuge or a minimum of 15 m2.

v The refuge area shall be provided on the periphery of the floor and open to air at
least on one side protected with suitable railings.

v Refuge area(s) shall be provided at/or immediately above 24 m and thereafter at

every 15 m or so.

v Refuge areas shall connect to firefighting shaft (comprising fireman's lift, lobby and
staircase)

v No storage of combustible products and materials, electrical and mechanical

equipment, etc shall be allowed in such areas.

v Refuge area shall be provided with adequate drainage facility to maintain efficient
storm water disposal.

v Entire refuge area shall be provided with sprinklers.

 STAIRCASE
v The minimum width of tread without nosing shall be 250 mm for staircase
of residential buildings.

v This shall be minimum 300 mm for assembly, hotels, educational,

institutional, business and other buildings.

v The treads shall be constructed and maintained in a manner to prevent

slipping.

v The maximum height of riser shall be 190 mm for staircase of residential

buildings and 150 mm for other buildings.

v The number of risers shall be limited to 12 per flight.

v A sign shall be posted and maintained within each stair

v enclosure on every floor, indicating the number of the

v floor, 1500 mm ground level.

v Minimum width of staircase for an institutional building
should be 2000mm.

v A handrail shall be provided on both sides of the staircase

of width 1 500 mm and more.

v The projection of handrail(s) in the staircase width shall not

be more than 115 mm.

v Handrails may project inside the measured width by not

more than 90mm.

v Handrails shall be of a height not less than 1 000 mm and

not exceeding 1200 mm.

v There shall be provisions of balusters with maximum gap of

150 mm.

v Individual floors shall be prominently indicated on the wall

outside the staircase and facing it.

v All the exits and exit passageways to exit discharge shall

have a clear ceiling height of at least 2.4 m. However, the
height of exit door shall be at least 2.0 m
DOORWAY
v Every exit doorway shall open into an enclosed stairway or a
horizontal exit of a corridor or passageway providing continuous
and protected means of egress (see Fig. 7 on unaccepted
arrangement of doors in a stair).

v No exit doorway shall be less than 2000 mm in width.

v Doorways shall be not less than 2000 mm in height.

v Exit doorways shall be operable from the side which they serve,
without the use of a key.

v Mirrors shall not be placed on exit doors and in exits to avoid

confusion regarding the direction of exit.
 FIRE HOSE CABINET
v Hydrants for firefighting and hose reels shall be located in the
lobby in firefighting shaft.

v Those hydrants planned to be provided near fire exit staircase

on the floor shall be within 5 m from exit door in exit access.

v Such hydrant cabinet may finish with doors to meet interior

finishes with requirement of glass panel to provide visibility to
the installations inside and inscribed with the word: ‘FIRE HOSE
CABINET’ of letter size 75 mm in height and 12 mm in width.

v The location of such cabinets shall be shown on floor plan and

duly displayed in the landing of the respective fire exit staircase.
Fire detection and alarm systems –
Functions -
1. Detect fire in the areas.
2. Notify building occupants to take evasive action to escape the dangers of a fire.
3. Summon organized assistance to initiate or assist in fire control activities.
4. Initiate automatic fire control & suppression systems & start the alarm.
5. Supervise fire control & suppression systems to assure operational status is maintained
6. Depending on the occupancy, M.O.E.F.A. system or automatic operated system shall be provided in the
building.
7. Every building more than 15m in height shall provide both I.e. M.O.E.F.A & A.F.A.
8. Residential & office buildings between 15m & 24m in height may be exempted from installation of
automatic fire alarm system if local fire brigade is well equipped to face the emergency up to 24m.
9. One has to manually operate the glass in M.O.E.F.A.

Fire Detection System

Different types of detectors are provided as per the risk involved in the area.
Zones are made as per the risk or as per the floor.
Two way communication system to be provided which will help to contact from ground floor to specific
floor or vice-versa.
Mike on every floor has to be provided.
Manual call points, automatic detector & public address system shall be interlinked.
Detectors shall be installed as per IS 2189
 Fire tower
v Firefighting Shaft (Fire Tower)—An enclosed shaft having
protected area of 120 min fire resistance rating comprising
protected lobby, staircase and fireman’s lift, connected directly to
exit discharge or through exit passageway with 120 min fire
resistant wall at the level of exit discharge to exit discharge.
v These shall also serve the purpose of exit requirement/ strategy
for the occupants.

v The respective floors shall be approachable from fire-fighting

shaft enabling the fire fighters to access the floor and also
enabling the fire fighters to assist in evacuation through fireman’s
lift.

v The firefighting shaft shall be equipped with 120 min fire doors.
The firefighting shaft shall be equipped with firemen talk back,
wet riser and landing valve in its lobby, to fight fire by fire fighters
D O WN C O MER S Y S TEM
Down-comer—An arrangement of firefighting within the building by means
of down-comer pipe connected to terrace tank through terrace pump,
gate valve and non-return valve and having mains not less than 100 mm
internal diameter with landing valves on each floor/landing. It is also fitted
with inlet connections at ground level for charging with water by pumping
from fire service appliances and air release valve at roof level to release
trapped air inside.

TERRACE PUMP – 20000 L MINIMUM

MAINS/PIPE – MINIMUM 100 MM DIA (MS OR GI )

 DRY RISE AND WET RISE SYSTEM
Wet rise
Dry rise
 FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS
Gas based systems — Systems that use gaseous agents as
fire suppression media, such as, all agents alternate to Halon
gases, listed and approved for use by relevant Indian
Standards; other methods/types of gas based systems where
their protection is equal to or better than what is suggested
above for the type of application subject to the acceptance
of Authorities concerned may also fall under such systems,

b) Water based systems — Systems that use mainly water as

firefighting media such as hydrant system, sprinkler system,
water spray system, foam system and water mist system.
Sprinkler System -
Sprinkler system is a must for basement parking & other risk areas where large quantities of combustible
materials are stored.
Each sprinkler should have coverage radius of 8’.
Normally a separate sprinkler should be provided for a separate car.
Sprinklers may connect to main water tank & pump, but capacity of the tank & pump shall be increased in
that proportionate.
The capacity of water tank shall be calculated on the basis of sprinklers

Portable Fire Extinguishers -

First Aid Fire fighting appliances shall be provided & installed in accordance with NBC and IS 2190.
Snorkel Ladder
A platform or bucket attached onto a mechanically bending arm (or "snorkel") installed onto a fire truck.
Can be used for dousing fire and evacuation of people from buildings

Automatic Sprinkler System -

It’s a network of pipes running through the ceiling of a building holding water under pressure. In a sprinkler
a heat-sensitive plug is used which is designed to open automatically when fire breaks out.
In most sprinklers, the plug is a small glass bulb full of a glycerin-based liquid designed to expand and
shatter when it gets hot.
In some sprinklers, the plug is made of an alloy called Wood's metal, a mixture of bismuth, lead, tin, and
cadmium that melts at a relatively low temperature.