Chapter 1212.FIRE Protection and Fire Safety Requirements

12.1 Scope

This part covers the requirements of the fire protection for the multi-storeyed buildings (high rise buildings) and the buildings, which are of 15m and above in height and low occupancies of categories such as Assembly, Institutional, Educational (more than two storeyed and builtup area exceeds 1000Sq.m), Business (where plot area exceeds 500Sq.m), Mercantile (where aggregate covered area exceeds 750Sq.m), Hotel, Hospital, Nursing Homes, Underground Complexes, Industrial Storage, Meeting/Banquet Halls, Hazardous Occupancies.

12.2 Procedure for obtaining NOC and Clearance Certificate from DFES

The procedure of obtaining NOC from Department of Fire & Emergency Services (DFES) is detailed in clause no. 3.10.5 and the procedure of obtaining Clearance Certificate is detailed in Clause no. 3.17

12.3 Renewal of fire clearance

On the basis of undertaking given by the Applicant and the professional on record, the Chief Fire Officer shall renew the fire clearance in respect of all High-Rise buildings on annual Basis

12.4 Fee

For augmentation of fire service facilities for effecting rescue/fire fighting operation in high rise building, fee payable to Chief Fire Officer by the applicant(s) along with sets of plans for obtaining the No Objection Certificate shall be as notified by the Government.

12.5 Responsibility of providing Fire Protection & Fire Fighting Measures

The engaged Competent Professional on record for preparation of plans for NOC and the professional on record for supervising the works (as per Appendix-I) of the project shall be responsible for making provisions for fire protection and fire fighting measure as provided in this Chapter.

12.6 Terminology

For the purpose of this Chapter all the technical terms shall have the meaning as defined in National Building Code of India, Part-IV, Fire Protection as amended from time to time but for the terms which are defined otherwise in these bye-Laws.

The DFES may insist on suitable provisions in the buildings from fire safety and means of escape point of view depending on the occupancy, height or on account of new developments creating special fire hazard, in addition to the provision of these building bye laws and part IV (Fire Protection) of National Building Code of India, which are not contradicting to the provision of the Zonal Regulations.

12.7.1 Fire Resistance of Types of Constructions / Building Components

The fire resistance ratings for various types of construction for structural and non-structural members shall be as given in Table 1 of Part-4 of the NBC, 2016. Building elements/components such as walls, columns, beams and floors shall have the requisite fire resistance rating in accordance with the accepted standards as specified in Part-4 of the NBC 2016.

12.7.3 Exit Requirement

As provided in Section 4.2 of Part 4, NBC 2016

As provided in Section 4.2 of Part 4, NBC 2016

Type of Exits: As provided in Section 4.2 of Part 4, NBC 2016

Number of Size of Exits: As provided in Section 4.4.2.1 of Part 4, NBC 2016.

Arrangements of Exits: As provided in Section4.4.2.2 of Part 4, NBC 2016

Occupant Load: As provided in Section 4.3 of Part 4, NBC 2016.

Capacity of Exit: As provided in Section4.4.2.3 of Part 4, NBC 2016

Staircase Requirements: As provided in Section 4.4.2.4.3 of Part 4, NBC 2016.

Minimum Width Provision for Stairways: As provided in Section 4.4.2.4.3.2 of Part 4, NBC 2016

Minimum Width Provision for Passageway/Corridors: As provided in Section 4.4.2.4.2 of Part 4, NBC 2016

Doorways: As provided in Section 4.4.2.4.1of Part 4, NBC 2016

Stairways: As provided in Section 4.4.2.4.3.2 of Part 4, NBC 2016

(1) Fire escape including Occupant load and Travel distance shall not be taken into account while calculating the number of staircases for a building.

(2) All fire escapes shall be directly connected to the ground.

(3) Entrance to the fire escape shall be separate and remote from internal staircase.

(4) The route to fire escape shall be free of obstructions at all times except the doorway leading to the fire escape which shall have the required fire resistance.

(5) Fire escape shall be constructed of non-combustible materials.

(6) Fire escape stairs shall have straight flight not less than 125cm wide with 25cm treads and risers not more than 19cm.

(7) Handrails shall be at a height not less than 100cm.

(8) Fire escape staircase in the mercantile, business, assembly, hotel buildings above 24m height shall be a fire tower and in such a case width of the same shall not be less than the width of the main staircase. No combustible material shall be allowed in the fire tower.

12.8.1 Spiral Stairs

(1) The use of spiral staircase shall be limited to low occupant load and to building height of 9m.; and

(2) A spiral stair shall not be less than 150cm in diameter and shall be designed to give the adequate headroom.

12.8.2 Staircase Enclosures

(1) The external enclosing walls of the staircase shall be of the brick or the R.C.C.

Construction having fire resistance of not less than two hours. All enclosed staircases shall have access through self-closing door of one-hour fire resistance. These shall be single swing doors opening in the direction of the escape. The door shall be fitted with the check action door closers.

(2) The staircase enclosures on the external wall of the building shall be ventilated to the atmosphere at each landing.

(3) Permanent vent at the top equal to the 5% of the cross-sectional area of the enclosure and openable sashes at each floor level with area equal to 1 to 15% of the cross-sectional area of the enclosure on external shall be provided. The roof of the shaft shall be at least 1m above the surrounding roof. There shall be no glazing or the glass bricks in any internal closing wall of staircase. If the staircase is in the core of the building and cannot be ventilated at each landing, a positive of 5-mm. e.g. by electrically operated blower/blowers shall be maintained.; and

(4) The mechanism for pressurizing the staircase shaft shall be so installed that the same shall operate automatically on fire alarm system/sprinkler system and be provided with manual operation facilities.

12.8.3 Ramps

(1) Ramps of slope of not more than 1 in 8 may be substituted for and shall comply with all the applicable requirements of all required stairways as to enclosure capacity and limiting dimensions. Larger slopes shall be provided for special uses but in no case

greater than 1 in 8. For all slopes exceeding 1 in 10and where the use is such as to involve danger of slipping, the ramp shall be surfaced with approved non-slipping material.

(2) The minimum width of the ramps in the Hospitals shall be 2.4m and in the basement using car parking shall be 6.0m or as specified in the Zonal Regulations.

(3) Handrails shall be provided on both sides of the ramp.

(4) Ramp shall lead directly to outside open space at ground level or courtyards of safe place.

(5) For building above 24.0m in height, access to ramps from any floor of the building shall be through smoke fire check door.

(6) In case of nursing homes, hospitals etc. area exceeding 300Sq.m at each floor one of the exit facility shall be a ramp of not less than 2.4 m in width.

(1) Provision of the lifts shall be made for all multi-storeyed building having a height of 15.0m and above.

(2) All the floors shall be accessible for 24 hours by the lift. The lift provided in the buildings shall not be considered as a means of escape in case of emergency.

(3) Grounding switch at ground floor level to enable the fire service to ground the fire man lift car in case of emergency shall also be provided.

(4) The lift machine room shall be separate and no other machinery be installed in it.

(5) The Karnataka Lifts Escalators and Passenger Conveyors Act, 2012 shall also be complied with.

12.9.1 Lift Enclosure / Lift

General requirements shall be as follows

(a) Walls of lift enclosures shall have a fire rating of two hours. Lift shafts shall have a vent at the top of area not less than 0.2Sq.m

(b) Lift motor room shall be located preferably on top of the shaft and separated from the shaft by the floor of the room (not applicable for machine room less lifts).

(c) Landing door in lift enclosures shall have a fire resistance of not less than one hour.

(d) The number of lifts in one lift bank shall not exceed four. A wall of two hours fire rating shall separate individual shafts in a bank.

(e) Lift car door shall have a fire resistance rating of 1 hour.

(f) For buildings 15.0m and above in height, collapsible gates shall not be permitted for lifts and solid doors with fire resistance of at least one hour shall be provided.

(g) If the lift shaft and lobby is in the core of the building a positive pressure between 25 and 30 pa shall be maintained in the lobby and a possible pressure of 50 pa shall be maintained in the lift shaft. The mechanism for the pressurization shall act automatically with the fire alarm/sprinkler system and it shall be possible to operate this mechanically also.

(h) Exit from the lift lobby, if located in the core of the building, shall be through a self-closing fire smoke check door of one-hour fire resistance.

(i) Lift shall not normally communicate with the basement. If, however, lifts are in communication, the lift lobby of the basement shall be pressurized as in (g) with self-closing door as in (h).

(j) Grounding switch (es), at ground floor level shall be provided to enable the fire service to ground the lifts.

(k) Telephone/talk back communication facilities may be provided in lift cars for communication system and lifts shall be connected to the fire control room of the building.

(l) Suitable arrangements such as providing slope in the floor of the lift lobby shall be made to prevent water used during fire fighting, etc. at any landing from entering the lift shafts.

(m) A sign shall be posted and maintained on every floor at or near the lift indicating that in case of fire, occupants shall use the stairs unless instructed otherwise. The sign shall also contain a plan for each floor showing the location of the stairways. Floor marking shall be done at each floor on the wall in front of the lift-landing door.

(n) Alternate power supply shall be provided in all the lifts.

12.9.2 Fire Lift

Following details shall apply for a fire lift in addition to above requirements:

(a) To enable fire service personnel to reach the upper floors with the minimum delay, one or more of the lifts shall be so designed so as to be available for the exclusive use of the fireman in an emergency and be directly accessible to every dwelling/lettable floor space on each floor.

(b) The lift shall have a floor area of not less than 1.4Sq.m It shall have a loading capacity of not less than 545kg. (8 persons lift) with automatic closing doors.

(c) The electric supply shall be on a separate service from electric supply mains in a building and the cables run in a route safe from fire that is within a lift shaft. Lights and fans in the elevator having wooden panelling or sheet steel construction shall be operated on 24- volt supply.

(d) In case of failure of normal electric supply, it shall automatically switch over to the alternate supply. For apartment houses, this changeover of supply could be done through manually operated changeover switch. Alternatively, the lift shall be so wired that in case of power failure, it comes down at the ground level and comes to stand still with door open.

(e) The operation of a fire lift shall by a single toggle of two-button switch situated in a glassfronted box adjacent to the lift at the entrance level. When the switches on landing; call points will become inoperative and the lift will be on car control only or on a priority control device. When the switch is off, the lift will return to normal working. This lift can be used by the occupants in normal times.

(f) The words ‘F1RE LIFT’ shall be conspicuously displayed in fluorescent paint on the lift landing doors at each floor level.

(g) The speed of the fire lift shall be such that it can reach to the top floor from ground level within one minute.

As provided in Clause 5.1.9 and 6.4.5 of these Building Bye-Laws. 12.10.1 Requirements

(1) The access to the basement shall be either from the main or alternate staircase providing access and exit from higher floors. Where the staircase is continuing, the same shall be enclosed type serving as a fire separation from the basement floor and higher floors. Open ramps shall be permitted if they are constructed within the building line subject to the provision of the (4).

(2) In case of basement for office, sufficient number of exit ways and access ways shall be provided with a travel distance not more than 15.0m. The travel distance in case of deadend shall be 7.5m.

(3) The basement shall be partitioned and in no case compartment shall be more than 500Sq.m and less than 50Sq.m area except parking. Each compartment shall have ventilation standards as laid down in Bye-Laws separately and independently. The partition shall be made in consultation with Chief Fire Officer.

(4) The first basement (fully below ground level) can be used or services/parking/other permissible services. Lower basements, if provided, shall exclusively be used for the uses permitted in the Zonal Regulations only.

(5) Each basement shall be separately ventilated. Vents with cross-sectional area (aggregate) not less than 2.5 percent of the floor area spread evenly round the perimeter of the basement shall be provided in the form of grills or breakable starboard lights or pavement lights or by way of shafts. Alternatively, a system of air inlets shall be provided at basement floor level and smoke outlets at basement ceiling level. Inlets and extracts may be terminated at ground level with starboard or pavement lights as before. But ducts to convey fresh air to the basement floor level have to be laid. Starboard and pavement lights shall be in positions easily accessible to the firemen and clearly marked ‘SMOKE OUTLET’ or ‘AIR INLET’ with an indication of area served at or near the opening.

(6) The staircase of basement shall be of enclosed type having fire resistance of not less than two hours and shall be situated at the periphery of the basement to be entered at ground level only from the open air and in such positions that smoke from any fire in the basement shall not obstruct any exit serving the ground and upper stories of the building and shall communicate with basement through a lobby provided with fire resisting self-closing door of one hour rating. In case of basement being used as car parking only, the travel distance shall be 45m.

(7) In multi-storeyed basements, intake duct may serve all basements levels, but each basement and basement compartment shall have separate smoke outlet duct or ducts. Mechanical extractors for smoke venting system from lower basement levels shall also be provided. The system shall be of such design as to operate on actuation of smoke, heat sensitive detectors/sprinklers, if installed, and shall have a considerably superior performance compared to the standard units. It shall also have an arrangement to start it manually.

(8) Mechanical extractors shall have an internal locking arrangement so that extractors shall continue to operate and supply fans shall stop automatically with the actuation of fire detectors. Mechanical extractors shall be designed to permit 30 air changes per hour in

case of fire or distress call. However, for normal operation, only 30 air changes or any other convenient factor can be maintained.

(9) Mechanical extractors shall have an alternate source of power supply.

(10) Ventilating ducts shall be integrated with the structure and made out of brick masonry or RCC as far as possible and when this duct crosses the transformer area of electrical switchboard, fire dampers shall be provided.

(11) Kitchens working on gas fuel shall not be permitted in basement/sub-basement.

(12) If cut-outs are provided from basement to the upper floors or to the atmosphere, all side cut-out openings in the basements shall be protected by sprinkler headset closed spacing so as to form a water curtain in the event of a fire.

(13) Dewatering pump shall be provided in all bases.

12.11 Provision of helipad

All high-rise buildings of height 200m and above shall have provision for a Helipad as per clause no 6.5.8 of the Bye-Laws. The same shall be approved by the Authority.

(a) Service duct shall be enclosed by walls and door, if any, of 2 hours fire rating. If ducts are larger than 10Sq.m the floor shall seal them, but provide suitable opening for the pipes to pass through, with the gaps sealed.

(b) A vent opening at the top of the service shaft shall be provided between one fourth and one-half of the area of the shaft. Refuge chutes shall have an outlet at least of wall of non-combustible material with fire resistance of not less than two hours. They shall not be located within the staircase enclosure or service shafts or air-conditioning shafts. Inspection panel and door shall be tight fitting with 1 hour fire resistance; the chutes shall be as far away as possible form exits.

(c) Refuge chutes shall not be provided in staircase walls and A/C shafts etc.

Electrical Services shall conform to the following:

a) The electric distribution cables/wiring shall be laid in a separate duct shall be sealed at every floor with non-combustible material having the same fire resistance as that of the duct. Low and medium voltage wiring running in shaft and in false ceiling shall run in separate conduits.

b) Water mains, telephone wires, inter-com lines, gas pipes or any other service lines shall not be laid in ducts for electric cables.

c) Separate conduits for water pumps, lifts, staircases and corridor lighting and blowers for pressuring system shall be directly from the main switch panel and these circuits shall be laid in separate conduit pipes, so that fire in one circuit will not affect the others. Master switches controlling essential service circuits shall be clearly labelled.

d) The inspection panel doors and any other opening in the shaft shall be provided with airtight fire doors having fire resistance of not less than 1 hour.

e) Medium and low voltage wiring running in shafts and within false ceiling shall run in metal conduits. Any 230-voltage wiring for lighting or other services, above false ceiling shall have 660V grade insulation. The false ceiling including all fixtures used for its suspension shall be of non-combustible material.

f) An independent and well-ventilated service room shall be provided on the ground floor with direct access from outside or from the corridor for the purpose of termination of electrical supply from the licenses service and alternative supply cables. The doors provided for the service room shall have fire resistance of not less than 1 hour.

g) Miniature circuit breakers (MCB) and Earth leakage circuit breaker (ELCB) shall be provided for electrical circuit.

The staircase and corridor lighting shall be on separate circuits and shall be independently connected so that it could be operated by one switch installation on the ground floor easily accessible to fire fighting staff at any time irrespective of the position of the individual control of the light points, if any. It shall be of miniature circuit breaker type of switch so as to avoid replacement of fuse in case of crisis.

(a) Staircase and corridor lighting shall also be connected to alternate source of power supply.

(b) Suitable arrangement shall be made by installing double throw switches tonsure that the lighting installed in the staircase and the corridor does not get connected to two sources of supply simultaneously. Double throw switch shall be installed in the service room for terminating the stand by supply.

(c) Emergency lights shall be provided in the staircase and corridor.