137 UBBL 1984

Clause 137 : Compartment Floor

In any building which exceeds 30 metres in height,

any floor which is more than 9 metres above ground
floor level which separates one storey from another
storey, other than a floor which is either within a
maisonette or a mezzanine floor shall be
constructed as a compartment floor.
 1984 UBBL cl 137

137
All Buildings above 30m 30m

All floors above 9m to be

Compartment Floors

9m
Floors 9m or below
need not be
compartmented
 1984 UBBL cl 137

137
30m

By inference, Buildings
below 30m……….

…….need not have

compartmented floors
9m
137 UBBL 2021

Clause 137 : Compartment Floor

(1) In any building not exceeding 30 metres in height, any

floor which is more than 9 metres above ground floor
level which separates one storey from another storey,
other than a floor which is either within a maisonette or a
mezzanine floor shall be constructed as a compartment
floor.
(2) In any building exceeding 30 metres in height, all floors
shall be constructed as compartment floors, other than a
compartment which is within a residential maisonette
which may comprise two storey levels.
 2012 UBBL cl 137

137
Any building 30m
NOT exceeding 30m

All floors above 9m to be

Compartment Floors

9m
Floors 9m or below
need not be
compartmented
 2012 UBBL cl 137

137
Any building 30m
exceeding 30m

All floors to be
Compartmented

9m
Including floors
below 9m
 2012 UBBL cl 137

137
30m
Openings between
floors shall be
designed as an
ATRIUM

An atrium shall comply

with the requirements of
9m
by-law 252A.
1984 2021

144. Cladding on external wall. 144. Cladding on external wall.

(1) Any cladding on any external walls, if such cladding is (1) Any cladding on any external wall situated less than 2
situated less than 1.2 metres from any point on the metres from any point on the relevant boundary or if the
relevant boundary, shall have a surface complying with building is more than 18 metres in height, the cladding shall
the requirements for Class O specified in by-law 204. be constructed entirely of non-combustible materials and
when tested, shall demonstrate compliance in accordance
with BS 8414.
(2) Any cladding on any external wall situated 1.2 metres or (1) Any cladding on any external wall, if such cladding is
more from the relevant boundary shall, if the building is situated more than 2 metres from any point on the relevant
more than 18 metres in height, have a surface complying boundary and the building is less than 18 metres in height,
with the requirements specified for Class O in by-law 204 the cladding shall have a surface complying with the
except that any part of such cladding below the height of requirements for Class O when tested in accordance with in
18 metres from the ground may consist of timber of not by-law 204
less than 10 millimetres finished thickness or of a
material having a surface which, when tested in
accordance with BS 476: Part 6: 1968, has an index of
performance not exceeding twenty.
144
External cladding to be constructed with non-
CLADDING ON EXTERNAL WALL combustible material which comply with BS-8414
Part 1 or Part 2

UBBL 144(1)
• 144. (1) Any cladding on
any external wall situated
‘X’ less than 2 metres
less than 2 metres from
any point on the relevant
boundary or if the building

‘H’ Building of any height

is more than 18 metres in
height, the cladding shall
be constructed entirely of
non-combustible materials
and when tested, shall
demonstrate the
compliance
• in accordance with BS
8414.

Relevant boundary from

< 2m from boundary OR

external wall

Diagram 4.5.8
> 18m height, comply with BS8414 Schematic of external cladding of building <18m height
144 CLADDING ON EXTERNAL WALL ‘X’ any distance

UBBL 144(1)
• 144. (1) Any cladding on
any external wall situated
less than 2 metres from

‘H’ Building more than 18 metres

any point on the relevant
boundary or if the building
is more than 18 metres in
height, the cladding shall
be constructed entirely of
non-combustible materials
and when tested, shall
demonstrate the
compliance
• in accordance with BS
8414.

< 2m from boundary OR Relevant boundary from external wall

Diagram 4.5.9
> 18m height, comply with BS8414 Schematic of external wall of building >18m height
144 CLADDING ON EXTERNAL WALL
Cladding surface comply with
Class O requirements
UBBL 144(2)
• Any cladding on any external
wall, if such a cladding is
situated more than 2 metres ‘X’ more than 2 metres from external
from any point on the relevant cladding

‘H’ Building height less than 18 metres

boundary and the building is
less than 18 metres in height,
the cladding shall have a
surface complying with the
requirements for Class O when
tested and in accordance with
by-law 204.

Relevant boundary from

> 2m from boundary AND

external wall

Diagram 4.5.10
< 18m height, comply with Class O Schematic of external cladding of building<18m height
144 CLADDING ON EXTERNAL WALL

INTRODUCTION OF BS 8414 TEST METHOD

• The uncontrollable fire spread on the facade of high-rise buildings have illustrated the
importance of adequately testing external wall systems on a realistic scale.
• The BS 8414 test methods were developed by the Building Research Establishment
(BRE). They evaluate whether a cladding system subject to fire breaking out of an
opening (such as a window) in an external wall, will result in excessive fire spread up the
outside of the building and the potential for fire to re-enter at a higher level.
• This test method is used to evaluate the design of a cladding system installed on the
external walls and it is different from BS 476 which only conduct fire test on building
materials and structures separately.
• This test is carried out in specialist laboratories such as SIRIM QAS International, and are
performed on full-scale systems rather than small-scale samples which are carried out by
BS 476 tests.
• It documents the fire propagation response of a complete cladding system as well as the
conditions of elements of the cladding system such as cladding sheets, fixings, joints,
corner flashing, insulation, fire stop and cavities at the end of the test.
• It does not cover the performance of doors, windows, balconies, or ancillary
penetrations installed on the external walls. It also does not cover the exposure to
radiant heat from the fire developed on the cladding to adjacent building.
144 CLADDING ON EXTERNAL WALL
BS 8414 IS A TWO PART STANDARD:

• 1. BS 8414-1:2015+A1_2017
• This test method is to document the fire performance characteristics of non-loadbearing
external cladding systems, rain screen over cladding systems, and external wall
insulation systems when fixed to, and supported by, a masonry substrate and exposed to
an external fire under controlled conditions.
• The peak fire exposure is intended to be representative of an external fire source or a
fully developed (post-flashover) fire in a room venting from an aperture that exposes the
cladding to the effects of external flames.
• This part of BS 8414 is solely intended to give an indication of fire spread across or
within an external cladding system.

• 2. BS 8414-2:2015+A1_2017
• This test method is to document the fire performance characteristics of non-loadbearing
external cladding systems when fixed to, and supported by, a structural steel frame
and exposed to an external fire under controlled conditions.
• The peak fire exposure is intended to be representative of an external fire source or a
fully developed (post-flashover) fire in a room venting from an aperture that exposes the
cladding to the effects of external flames.
• This part of BS 8414 is solely intended to give an indication of fire spread across or
within an external cladding system.
144 CLADDING ON EXTERNAL WALL
BS 8414 TEST FOR EXTERNAL CLADDING (cont’d)

• BS 8414 is a large-scale system test that mimics a fire breaking out of a window
and exposing a cladding system to a severe fire.
• The cladding system must be tested to the full test duration of 60 minutes
without any early termination of the test. The 60 minute test measures and
evaluates fire spread and mechanical performance, including a 30 minute
observation to evaluate propagation behaviour post exposure.
• Performance criteria for assessing cladding systems tested using BS 8414 are as
follows:
• 1. External Fire Spread
• Failure due to external fire spread is deemed to have occurred if the temperature
rise above start temperature, Ts of any of the external thermocouples at level 2
exceeds 600°C for a period of at least 30 seconds, within 15 minutes of the start
time, ts.

• 2. Internal fire spread

• Failure due to internal fire spread is deemed to have occurred if the temperature
rise above start temperature, Ts of any of the internal thermocouples at level 2
exceeds 600°C, for a period of at least 30 seconds, within 15 minutes of the start
time ts.

• 3. Visible flaming
• Failure of the system is deemed to have occurred if visible flaming, which Image source: BS 8414 Diagram 4.5.11
exceeds the confines of the test rig either vertically or laterally during the full 60 Schematic of standard requirement for
Test Apparatus
minute test period, is observed. For the purposes of this clause, visible flaming is
defined as a continuous flame which is observed for more than 60 seconds
duration (i.e. not intermittent or glowing)
144 CLADDING ON EXTERNAL WALL

BS 8414 TEST FOR EXTERNAL CLADDING

• 4. Mechanical performance
• Failure will be deemed to have occurred if there is collapse of
the system or part thereof, flaming or not, onto the floor of the
test facility outside the designated crib collapse zone, see note 1,
within the duration of the full 60 minute test period.

• 5. Burning debris and pool fires

• Failure is deemed to occur if burning debris or a pool fire
develops on the floor of the test facility, outside the designated
crib collapse zone, see note 1.
• Burning debris is defined as visible flaming for more than 60
seconds duration (i.e. not intermittent or glowing) within the
duration of the full 60 minute test period.
• Note 1: The crib collapse zone is defined as a 2.4m x 1.2m
positioned centrally on the centre line of the hearth opening
(2.4m length parallel to the face of the hearth).

• 6. Additional Requirement
• Where system burn-through occurs so that fire reaches the
internal surface, failure is deemed to have occurred if continuous
flaming, defined as a flame with a duration in excess of 60 Diagram 4.5.12
Schematic of standard requirement for
seconds, is observed on the internal surface of the test specimen Image source: BS 8414 Test Apparatus(2)
at or above a height of 0.5m above the combustion chamber
opening within 15 minutes of the start time ts.
174A. Final exit.
(1) Each exit shall give access to –

(a) a final exit;

(b) a protected corridor leading to a final exit, where the protected corridor shall not exceed a
travel distance and dead end for corridor according to Seventh Schedule;

(c) a protected staircase leading to a final exit;

(d) an external route leading to a final exit which may comprise an open sided external
corridor with no commercial activity and is shall not be more than 5 metres from the building eave
line; or

(e) an open to sky corridor which is having a minimum width of 1.2 metres and two way
escape paths leading to a place of safety outside the building, and any unprotected openings along
the corridor shall not be located lower than 1.8 metres from the floor level.

Provided always that the vertical route to the final exit shall take the shortest direct route to a place
of safety.
174A
Travel distance
Final exit
 storey exit
174A
Travel distance

Exit route

Final exit
174A storey exit

Travel distance

Travel distance Travel distance Exit route

horizontal exit

Final exit
174A storey exit

Travel distance

Travel distance Travel distance Exit route

horizontal exit

Path from storey exit

discharge to final exit Final exit
174A
(2) In a sprinkler protected building, a maximum of 50 percent of the total number of exit staircase
can be may discharged directly to the ground level covered circulation space provided that if all of
the following are complied with:

(a) the discharge point of the exit staircase into the ground level circulation space shall be
within sight of and with direct access to a place of safety outside the building;

(b) the maximum distance between the discharge point of an exit staircase to a place of safety
outside the building shall not exceed 10 metres;

(c) where there are commercial activities e.g. such as shops, kiosks or carts located along one
side or both sides of the designated escape passageway leading to a the place of safety outside the
building, a minimum separation distance of 10 metres shall be maintained between the commercial
activities and the designated escape passageway. The circulation space shall also be installed with an
engineered smoke control system, and alternatively, the commercial activities shall be fire
compartmented with walls and doors of a minimum 1 hour fire resistance period; and

(d) the clear width of the an exit doors leading to a the place of safety outside the building
shall be adequate to receive the occupant load of the discharge floor and the total number of people
persons discharging from the internal exit staircases.
 DEFINITION OF TYPES OF EXITS
174A
50% of total exit
staircases
FINAL EXIT (cont’d) UBBL 174A

• (2) In a sprinkler protected building,

a maximum of 50 percent of the
total number of exit staircases may
discharge directly to the ground
level covered circulation space if all
of the following are complied with:

• (a) the discharge point of the exit

staircase into the ground level
10m
circulation space shall be within
sight of and with direct access to a
place of safety outside the building;
Less than 10m
• (b) the maximum distance between
the discharge point of an exit
staircase to a place of safety outside
the building shall not exceed 10
metres;
50% of total exit
staircases

Diagram 3.3.6
Final Exit UBBL 174A
 DEFINITION OF TYPES OF EXITS
174A FINAL EXIT (cont’d) UBBL 174A
Smoke control
system

• (c) where there are commercial

activities such as shops, kiosks or
carts located along one side or both
sides of the designated escape
passageway leading to the place of
safety outside the building, a kiosk
minimum separation distance of 10
metres shall be maintained kiosk
between the commercial activities
and the designated escape
passageway, the circulation space
shall also to be installed with an Less than 10m
engineered smoke control system kiosk
and alternatively, the commercial
activities shall be fire
compartmented with walls and Min 10m
doors of a minimum 1 hour fire
resistance period; and 1hr fire rated
Less than 10m
final exit
Designated
escape
passageway Diagram 3.3.7
Final Exit UBBL 174A
 DEFINITION OF TYPES OF EXITS
174A FINAL EXIT (cont’d) UBBL 174A Exit width adequate for
occupant load for floor and
Fire rated walls
• (d) the clear width of an exit door stairs
leading to the place of safety outside
the building shall be adequate to
receive the occupant load of the
discharge floor and the total number
of persons discharging from the
internal exit staircase.

• (3) There shall be no unprotected

10m
opening of an occupancy area or 3m
combustible material or construction
within 3 metres from a discharge
1.5m min
point of the exit staircase (both
internal and external) and this
distance may be reduced to 1.5
metres if the unprotected opening is
along the same plane of the staircase
exit.”.

Diagram 3.3.8
Final Exit UBBL 174A
224A. Hospital.

Every hospital shall comply with the following additional requirements:

(1) A patient accommodation area containing a beds shall not be located in the basement storeys.

(2) The minimum clear width of an exit door opening shall be not be less than 1.2 metres.

(3) Every upper storey used for the accommodation of patients shall be provided with at least two areas of
refuge, and the size of the areas of refuge shall be sized adequately to accommodate the number of beds for
at least 50 percent of the total beds patients from the floor concerned-
(a) for an area of refuge not adjacent to the patient ward, the routes leading to the area of refuge shall
be through:-
(i) an external corridor; or
(ii) a protected lobby separated from the adjoining areas of the building by a wall and door of at
least one hour fire resistance period, and the protected lobby shall have a minimum size of 4
metres (length) by 2 metres (width) and shall be ventilated;
(3) Every upper storey used for the accommodation of patients shall be provided with at least two areas of
refuge, and the size of the areas of refuge shall be sized adequately to accommodate the number of beds
for at least 50 percent of the total beds patients from the floor concerned-
(a) for an area of refuge not adjacent to the patient ward, the routes leading to the area of
refuge shall be through:-
(i) an external corridor; or
(ii) a protected lobby separated from the adjoining areas of the building by a wall
and door of at least one hour fire resistance period, and the protected lobby
shall have a minimum size of 4 metres (length) by 2 metres (width) and shall be
ventilated;
(b) for an area of refuge immediately adjacent to a patient ward, the routes leading to the
area of refuge need may not be through an external corridor provided that both the area
of refuge and the adjacent patient ward are:
(i) fire compartmented from each other by a wall and door of at least one hour fire
resistance period;
(ii) provided with an engineered smoke control and the design smoke layer height
shall be at least 2.5 metres above the finished floor; and
(iii) provided with a minimum of two remotely located exit access between them.
(4) The provision of fire escape bed lifts shall be as follows:
a) at least two fire escape bed lifts shall be provided for premises with more than one storey;
b) It fire escape bed lifts shall be located remotely from each other and sited adjacent to a
protected staircase;
c) each area of refuge shall also be served by at least one fire escape bed lift;
d) fire lifts can may double-up as a fire escape bed lifts provided that there is are more than
one fire lift and at least one shall remain as a dedicated fire lift, and where the fire lift
doubles up as fire escape bed lifts, its dimensions shall be as specified in subparagraph
224A (4)(c)(f)
e) the fire escape bed lift shall be contained within a fire fighting shaft;
f) the entry into the fire escape bed lift and the exit staircase shall be through a common
protected lobby, and the fire escape bed lift shall have a minimum clear platform size of
2.7 metres (depth) by 1.8 metres (width).
g) A the signage shall be displayed outside the fire escape bed lift stating “FIRE ESCAPE BED LIFT”.
h) The escape exit route for the fire escape bed lift at the designated floor shall be protected from
other occupancy areas by one hour fire resistance separation and shall discharge directly into a
safe area;
i) A fire escape bed lift that opens directly into an external corridor and which is sited adjacent to a
protected staircase does not require a protected lobby, provided that there is no unprotected
opening within 3 metres horizontally from the fire escape bed lift door opening, and the fire
escape bed lift provided in this situation may be treated as a common bed lift that can may serve
multiple compartments located on the same floor;
 j) a fire escape bed lift shall be provided with the following features:
(i) a secondary power supply from an emergency generating plant; and
(ii) a switch labelled as “Fire Escape Bed Lift”, situated next to the lift landing door
at the final exit storey.

(5) A patient accommodation ward with access through an internal corridor shall comply with the following
requirements:
(a) each ward shall be separated from the internal corridor by a wall having at least one hour
fire resistance period;
(b) doors opening into an internal corridor shall have at least half hour fire resistance period
and be fitted with an automatic self-closing device;
(c) an internal corridor shall be naturally ventilated with fixed openings in an external wall,
such ventilation openings being not less than 15 percent of the floor area of the internal
corridor;
(d) the ventilation opening in the external walls shall not be less than 3.5 square metres, with
at least 1.75 square metres on each side and shall be unobstructed by a parapet walls or
balustrade levels upwards and be positioned on opposite sides of the internal corridor
such that it provides effective cross ventilation throughout the entire space of the
corridor;
(e) the ventilation openings in the external walls shall not be more than 12 metres from
any part of the internal corridor;
(f) an internal corridor may be provided with mechanical ventilation and pressurisation in
lieu of natural ventilation; and
(g) other non-patient accommodation areas or spaces which open into or form part of the
internal corridor, and or which can may jeopardise the means of escape provision, shall
be compartmentalised by one hour fire-rated enclosures and half hour fire doors.
(6) External access to a patient accommodation ward shall be through external corridor.

(7) For a smoke lobby to the escape staircase:

(a) An entry into an escape the exit staircase from any part of a building of more than four
storeys above the ground level shall comply with the requirements of the smoke lobby
under by-law 196; and
(b) Where a the smoke lobby is provided to an escape the exit staircase to serve a patient
accommodation floor, or any area where a patients may need to be is evacuated on a
beds or stretchers, the smoke lobby shall have a minimum clear space (unobstructed by
door swing) of 6 square metres which is unobstructed by a door swing.

(8) For the staircase landing width/ or depth.

(a) Escape an exit staircases that serve a patient accommodation floor to be used by a
patients in an emergency fire situation shall be designed to allow the evacuation of the
patients on a beds or stretchers.
(b) The width of stairs a staircase, and staircase landing width and depth shall comply with
the Eleventh Schedule.

(9) Other outpatient clinics.

For an outpatient clinics without a ward that do does not fall under the above categories, the fire safety
requirements under this by-law 224A are not applicable.
224A HOSPITAL: AREAS OF REFUGE
Example 1
Ward(s)

AoR AoR

1) At least 2 Areas of Refuge (AoR)

remote from each other

Ward(s)

AoR AoR

Ward(s)
Example 2
Diagram 3.9.7
Arrangement of Areas of Refuge
224A HOSPITAL: AREAS OF REFUGE
Example 1
Ward(s)

AoR AoR
External Corridor

1) At least 2 Areas of Refuge (AoR)

remote from each other
2) Ward access to AoR via
a) External corridor or
Ward(s) b) Protected lobby or
c) Adjacent (horizontal access)

AoR Protected AoR

Lobby

Ward(s)
Example 2
Diagram 3.9.8
Arrangement of Areas of Refuge 2
224A HOSPITAL: AREAS OF REFUGE
Example 1
Ward(s)

AoR AoR
External Corridor

1) At least 2 Areas of Refuge (AoR)

remote from each other
2) Ward access to AoR via
a) External corridor or
Ward(s) b) Protected lobby or
c) Adjacent (horizontal access)
3) Each AoR to be served by at least
one Fire Escape Bed Lift (FEBL)
AoR Protected AoR
Lobby

Ward(s)
Example 2
Diagram 3.9.9
Arrangement of Areas of Refuge 3
224A HOSPITAL: AREAS OF REFUGE
Example 1
Ward(s)
FFAL1 FFAL2
AoR AoR
External Corridor

1) At least 2 Areas of Refuge (AoR)

remote from each other
2) Ward access to AoR via
a) External corridor or
Ward(s) b) Protected lobby or
c) Adjacent (horizontal access)
3) Each AoR to be served by at least
one Fire Escape Bed Lift (FEBL)
AoR Protected AoR
FFAL1 FFAL2
Lobby 4) Every FEBL to be within Fire Fighting
Shaft and adjacent to protected stair

Ward(s)
Example 2
Diagram 3.9.10
Arrangement of Areas of Refuge 4
224A independent
HOSPITAL: AREAS OF REFUGE
Example 1 Fire Lift and Fire Lift may double
FEBL as FEBL
Ward(s)

AoR AoR
External Corridor

1) At least 2 Areas of Refuge (AoR)

remote from each other
2) Ward access to AoR via
a) External corridor or
Ward(s) b) Protected lobby or
c) Adjacent (horizontal access)
3) Each AoR to be served by at least
one Fire Escape Bed Lift (FEBL)
AoR Protected AoR
Lobby 4) Every FEBL to be within Fire Fighting
Shaft and adjacent to protected stair

Ward(s) 5) Fire Lift can double as FEBL but at least

one must be a dedicated Fire Lift
Example 2
Diagram 3.9.11
Arrangement of Areas of Refuge 5
224A Direct access (horizontal exit) to Area of Refuge immediately adjacent to Ward:

Ward(s) AoR
1
2 2

1. Fire separation minimum 1hr FRP between

1
Ward and AoR
2
2. Engineered smoke control minimum 2.5m
smoke layer height in both Ward and AoR
3 Minimum 2 exit access located as far apart
as is practical

Diagram 3.9.12
Arrangement of Areas of Refuge 6
224A Wards with access through internal corridors:

High-risk
Ward(s) non-ward
areas
1 1
22 Internal corridor 3 Protected AoR
lobby
1
Ward(s) Low risk
non-ward
areas

1. Wards and high-risk non-ward areas to be fire separated from

internal corridor minimum 1hr FRP wall and 1/2hr FRP doors

2. Internal corridor to be naturally or mechanically ventilated

3. Protected Lobby ( minimum 4m L x 2m W) before Area of Refuge

Diagram 3.9.13
Wards with access through internal corridors
224A Natural Ventilation to Internal Corridor
Fixed ventilation openings (open to external space)

1) Each fixed ventilation opening to be minimum 3.5m2

2) Openings must be positioned on opposing sides to induce cross ventilation
3) Total areas of all fixed ventilation openings must not be less than 15% of the floor
area of the Internal Corridor

Fixed Ventilation Opening

Fixed Ventilation Opening

Diagram 3.9.14
Natural Ventilation to Internal Corridors 1
224A Natural Ventilation to Internal Corridor

Where fixed ventilation openings are

protected by balustrades or parapets,
minimum unobstructed area shall not be
less than 1.75m2

balustrades
parapet

Diagram 3.9.15
Natural Ventilation to Internal Corridors 2
224A Natural Ventilation to Internal Corridor

Every part of the internal corridor shall be

Internal Corridor within 12m from a Fixed Ventilation
Opening

Internal Corridor

Diagram 3.9.16
Natural Ventilation to Internal Corridors 3
224A
224A 11th Schedule:
Minimum dimensions of stair landings relative to designed stair width

• To allow stretchers with patients to be carried in a horizontal

position at all times during evacuation.

• Stair width, landing width and landing depth shall not be less than
the required exit capacity width of the stair

Diagram 3.9.17
Stretcher provisions in stairs