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.