| GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 1.1 Every building shall be so designed, constructed and equipped that in case of fire: (a) The protection of occupants or users therein is ensured and that provision is made for the safe evacuation of such occupants or users.
(b) The spread and intensity of such fire within such building and the spread of fire to any other building will be minimized.
(c) The spread and generation of smoke will be minimized or controlled to the greatest extent as reasonably as practicable.
(d) Provision is made for such means of detection of fire, means for giving warning to the occupants or users and means for controlling such fire (in the building) as may be necessary.
1.2 The requirements of para 1.1 shall be deemed to be satisfied where the design, construction and equipment of any building:- (a) Is the subject of an acceptable rational design prepared by a registered architect (or other approved competent person) for a building of less than 400 meter square.
(b) Complies with the requirements of these regulations. CONSULTING THE FIRE AUTHORITY In respect of the provisions of fire safety measures and prior to the issue of a permit, the authorised representative of the building authority shall: (a) As soon as practicable consult the fire authority, giving them sufficient plans to show whether the work described in the permit would, satisfy the standard of fire safety requirements.
(b) As soon as practicable consult the fire authority, giving them sufficient plans to show whether the building or the building as extended will be provided with means to satisfy the standard of fire requirements .
(c) Where the authorised representative of the building authority is required by paragraph (a) and (b) to consult the fire authority:-
i. He shall have regard to any views they express.
ii. He shall supply such documents as may be required.
CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDINGS For the purpose of these regulations, buildings shall be classified in purpose groups as per table 1 TABLE 1 - CLASSIFICATION OF PURPOSE GROUPS | TITLE | GROUP | PURPOSE | Residential
(Dwelling)
| 1 | One or more building which in association constitute
(a) A detached house.
(b) One or more attached dwellings, each being a building separated by a fire-resisting wall.
(c) A boarding house, hotel or the like with a total floor area not exceeding 300 m², in which not more than 12 persons would ordinarily be resident, and which is not located above or below another group of building.
(d) A building containing two or more “sole – occupancy” units each being a separate dwelling.
(e) Flats or maisonnettes more than three storey. | Residential
(Institutional)
| 2 | A residential building other than group 1 which is a common place of long term or transient living for a group of persons including
(a) A boarding house, guest house, hostel, lodging – house, or
(b) The residential part of an hotel or motel, or
(c) The residential part of a school, or training institutions, or
(d) Accommodation for the aged, disabled, or children or
(e) The residential part of a health care building .
(f) The residential part of a place of detention.
(g) A place where people sleep other than group one and two (a) to (f). | Health Care
Institution
| 3 | A health care building including:-
Non residential day care centers
Clinics, health centers
Hospitals
Dispensaries
Private consulting / surgical rooms | | Office | 4 | An office building used for administrative and clerical work of professional or commercial purposes excluding building of group 1,2 ,3,5,6,7 and 8. | | Shop and Commercial | 5 | A shop or other building for the sale of goods by retail, auction, self – selection, over-the-counter wholesale trading or the supply of services direct to the public including:-
(a) Café, restaurant, milk or soft drink bar or
(b) Dining rooms, bar, shop kiosk or part of a hotel.
(c) Hairdresser’s or barber’s shop, public laundry, or undertaker’s establishment.
(d) Market, salesroom, showroom or service station. | | Assembly and recreational | 6 | Place of public assembly, entertainment or recreation including.
(a) Bingo halls, bowling halls, billiard rooms, casinos, dance halls
(b) Exhibition, leisure and conference centers
(c) Fun fairs and amusement arcades
(d) Museums and art galleries
(e) Non residential clubs and holiday centers
(f) Theatres, cinema and concert halls
(g) Educational establishments and libraries open to the public
(h) Sport pavilions, stadia, swimming pool and gymnasium buildings
(i) Churches and other places of workshop
(j) Passenger stations, terminal and public toilets. | | Industrial | 7 | A building used for manufacturing, assembling, altering repairing, packing, finishing, cleaning, washing, breaking-up adapting or processing any article and generating power | | Storage and other non residential | 8 (i) | Place of storage or deposit of goods or materials and any buildings not within any of the purpose groups 1 to 6 and including
(a) An atrium
(b) A warehouse, bonded warehouse
(c) Cold rooms
(d Explosive store
(e) Chemical store | (ii) | Car parks designed to admit and accommodate only cars, motorcycles, passengers and light good vehicles weighing not more than 2500 kilograms gross. | (iii) | A private garage; shed or the like to admit and accommodate vehicles above 2500 kilograms. | (iv) | Temporary structure |  Note:- 1. Each part of a building must be classified separately and where part have different purposes, - if not more than 10% of the floor area of a storey is used for a purpose which is of different classification, the classification applying to the major use may apply to the whole storey.
2. A plant room, machinery room, lift motor room, boiler room or the like must have the same classification as the part of the building in which it is situated.
3. Two or more buildings adjoining each other form one united building if they are connected through openings in the walls dividing them and together comply will all requirements as through they are a single building. MEANS OF ESCAPE There shall be provided adequate means of escape which form an integral and structural part of the building, which can be safely used to evacuate all the occupants from the building to a place of safety, in the event of a fire.
In order to determine escape facilities, the occupant capacity as per table 2 shall be considered. TABLE 2 - OCCUPANT CAPACITY TYPE OF ACCOMODATION /USE | AREA PER PERSON IN M² | Dance halls, Assembly halls, Bingo halls, Concert halls, Clubs, Amusement arcade, Sport pavillions, stadia, Grand Stand (standing) Bar. | 0.5 | Dining room, Restaurant, Café bar, Kiosks, Canteens, Conference and committee rooms. | 1.0 | Exhibition halls, Banking Halls, Prayer halls, Gymnasium, Theatres, cinema, Seating gallery. | 1.5 | Shops, Sales area, Lounge, library - reading room, school- general classrooms. | 2.0 | Passengers station and terminals | 2.25 | Office-individual rooms | 3.5 | Dormitories, Showrooms, Display area, covered malls, Art galleries, Museums, Factory, Work rooms and other work place. | 5.0 | Office-Multiple occupation | 5.5 | Laundry, Bowlings halls, Billard halls, Library- Stack area. | 10 | Boarding House, Guest house, Hostels, Lodging house, Hotel, Motels, Car park – open | 15 | Ware house, other storage place, Garage | 30 | PROVISION OF ESCAPE ROUTES 1. One or more escape routes shall be provided in any building. The minimum requirements of escape routes shall be as per table 3. TABLE 3 - REQUIREMENTS OF ESCAPE ROUTES Purpose Group | Requirement of routes | 1 (e)
4
5 & 7
| In addition to any horizontal exits not less than two exits shall be provided where the number of storey exceeds three. | 2, 3, 6 and 8 | In addition to any horizontal exits not less than two exits shall be provided from each storey. | Note: The exits shall be alternate. For group 2 (g) ref to circular letter 8844/91. 3. A spiral staircase shall not be accepted as a means of escape for buildings in purpose group 1(e) to 8. TRAVEL DISTANCE 1. Travel distance is measured by the way of the shortest route if (i.) There is fixed seating or other fixed obstructions, is along the centre line of travel– ref figure 1.
(ii.) It includes a stair, is along the pitch line on the centre line of travel – ref figure 2.
(iii.) The internal layout of partitions is not known when plans are deposited, direct distances may be used for assessment. The direct distance is taken as 2/3 of the travel distance. 2. The travel distance in relation to the purpose group of building shall be as per table 4. TABLE 4 - TRAVEL DISTANCE Purpose Group | Maximum travel distance where travel is possible in: | One direction | More than one direction | | 1 (e) | 9 M | 18 M | 2 | The travel distance shall not exceed 15m | 3 | The travel distance shall not exceed 15m | 4 | 18 M | 40 M | 5 | 12 M | 36 M | 6 except public toilets in para (j)
| The travel distance shall not exceed 15m | 7 | 12 M | 36 M | 8(i) except private garage and Temporary structure
| The travel distance shall not exceed 15m | 8(ii) Car Parks | Travel distance 36 m | The number of exits required shall be determined according to table 5. Table 5 - EXITS REQUIREMENTS Occupant capacity of room or storey | Number of exits | | 1 - 60 | 1 | 61 - 600 | 2 | 601 - 1000 | 3 | 1001 - 1400 | 4 | 1401 - 1700 | 5 | 1701 - 2000 | 6 | 2001 - 2250 | 7 | 2251 - 2500 | 8 | 2501 - 2700 | 9 | Over 2700 | One additional exits for every 300 persons or part thereof. | The determination of width of exits and stairs shall be calculated as per table 6. Table 6 - MINIMUM WIDTH OF STAIRWAYS AND EXITS Number of Persons | Total width of stairway or exit (in m) | 0 - 50
| 0.90 | 50 - 150 | 1.20 | 150 - 200 | 1.80 | 200 - 225 | 2.10 | 225 - 250 | 2.40 | 250 - 275 | 2.70 | 275 - 300 | 3.00 | Where the number of persons exceeds 300 but does not exceed 600, the width of the stairway or exit shall be increased by 0.30m for each additional 25 persons or part thereof. CONSTRUCTION OF STAIRCASES. 1. Treads shall not be less than 255 mm wide.
2. Risers shall not be more than 190 mm high.
3. The angle of descent shall not exceed 45º.
4. There shall be not more than 16 risers in a flight.
5. There shall be not more than 2 flights without a change in direction.
6. External staircase shall not be sited near windows or other such openings.
7. Materials used for external staircase shall be protected against corrosion and slips. CONSTRUCTION OF RAMPS 1. Any ramps forming part of an exit shall be constructed in unbroken flights, each having a uniform slope having a gradient of not greater than 1 in 12.
2. The ramp shall be guarded on each side by a wall or secure balustrade or railing in each case to a height of not less than 900 mm measured vertically from the surface of the ramp.
3. Between any two successive flights of the ramp there shall be a landing not less in length in the direction of travel and measured on the centre line of the ramp than: (i.) In the case of buildings of purpose group 2 and 6, 2 m.
(ii.) In the case of any other building, 1.2 m. PROTECTION OF ESCAPE ROUTES 1 FIRE DOORS All fire doors shall have a minimum fire resistance as per table 7.
All fire doors shall be fitted with an automatic self closing device.
Where a self closing device is considered a hindrance to the normal use of the building, such doors may be held open by: (a) A fusible link connected to a fire detection system
(b) An automatic release mechanism. Any hinge on which a fire door is hung shall be made entirely of :- (a) Non combustible materials
(b) Materials having a melting point of at least 800?C Table 7 - Provision for fire doors | Position of door | Minimum fire resistance of door in terms of integrity (minutes) | | 1. In a compartment wall separating buildings | As for the wall in which door is fitted, but a minimum of 60 | | 2. In a compartment wall: a. If it separates a flat or maisonette from a space in common use, b. Enclosing a protected shaft forming a stairway situated wholly or partly above the adjoining ground in a building used for Flats, Other Residential, Assembly & Recreation,or Office purposes, c. Enclosing a protected shaft forming a stairway not described in (b) above, | FD 30S FD 30S Half the period of fire resistance of the wall in which it is fitted but 30 minutes and with suffix S. | | 3. In a compartment floor | As for the floor in which it is fitted | | Forming part of the enclosures of: a. a protected stairway (except where described in item 9) b. lift shaft, or c. service shaft,
which does not form a protected shaft in 2(c) above | FD 30S FD 30 FD 30 | | Forming part of the enclosure of: a. a protected lobby approach (or protected corridor) to a stairway b. any other protected corridor | FD 30S
FD 20S | | 6. Affording access to an external escape route | FD 30 | | 1. Sub-dividing a. corridors connecting alternative exits b. dead-end portions of corridors from the reminder of the corridors from the reminder of the corridor | FD 20S FD 20S | | 2. Any door: a. forming part of the enclosures to a protected stairway in a single family dwelling house b. forming part of the enclosures to a protected entrance hall or protected landing in a flat or maisonette c. within any other fire resisting construction in a dwelling not described elsewhere in this table | FD 20 FD 20
FD 20 | 2 STAIRCASE ENCLOSURES Every stairway forming part of the escape route shall be enclosed in a protected shaft constructed of non combustible materials. Where between a stairway and the access to the open air at ground level there is a vestibule forming part of the same exit, the stairway enclosure shall be so constructed as to separate the vestibule from the remainder of the building (lobby approach). Every stairway enclosure shall be enclosed by a combination of any of the following: (i.) Compartment walls
(ii.) Compartment floors
(iii.) External walls
(iv.) The lowest floor of the building
(v.) The roof of the building. 3 LIGHTING OF ESCAPE ROUTES 1. All escape routes shall have adequate artificial lighting. Routes and areas listed in table 8 shall have lighting which illuminates the route if the main supply fails.
2. Lighting to escape routes shall be on a separate circuit from that supplying any other part of the building. Table 8 - PROVISIONS FOR ESCAPE LIGHTING
| Purpose group of the building or part of the building | Areas requiring escape lighting | | Residential | All common escape routes | | Office, Shop and Commercial Industrial, Storage, Other non-residential | a. Underground or windowless accommodation b. Stairways in a central core or serving storey(s)
c. Internal corridors more than 30m long
d. Open-plan office areas of more than 60 m² | | Shop and Commercial and car parks to which the public are admitted | All escape routes (except in shop of 3 or lower storeys with no sales floor more than 280 m² provided that the shop is not a restaurant or bar) | | Assembly and Recreation | All escape routes and accommodation except for : a. accommodation open on one side to view sport or entertainment during normal daylight hours.
b. Toilet accommodation having a gross floor area not more than 8 m². | | Any purpose group | a. electricity generator rooms
b. switch room/battery room for emergency lighting system
c. emergency control room | 4 SAFETY SIGNS Except in dwellings, every doorway or other exit providing access to a means of escape, other than exits in ordinary use shall be marked by an exit sign in green marking / drawing of minimum size 100 mm high on a white background. Illuminated directional signs shall be displayed to indicate the escape routes. 5 GLAZING ELEMENTS 1. The use of glazed elements on escape routes shall be limited as per table 9 unless they provide the same fire resistance as the structure where the glazed elements are fitted. Table 9 – LIMITATIONS OF GLAZING ELEMENTS Position of glazed element | Maximum total glazed area in part of a building with access to: | | A single stairway | more than one stairway | | Walls | door leaf | Walls | door leaf | | 1. single family dwellinghouses within the enclosures of a protected stairway or within fire resisting separation | Fixed fanlights only | unlimited | Fixed fanlights only | unlimited | | 2. within the enclosures of a protected entrance hall or protected landing of a flat or maisonette | Fixed fanlights only | Unlimited above 1.1m from floor | Fixed fanlights only | Unlimited above 1.1m from floor | | 3. Between residential/sleeping accommodation and a common escape route (corridor, lobby or stair) | nil | nil | nil | nil | | 4. Between a protected stairway (1) and:
i. the accommodation; or
ii. a corridor which is not a protected corridor. Other than in item 3 above | nil | 25% of door area | Unlimited above 1.1m(2) | 50% of door area | | 5. Between:
i. a protected stairway and a protected lobby or protected corridor; or
ii. accommodation and a protected lobby. Other than in item 3 above | Unlimited above 1.1m from floor | Unlimited above 0.1m from floor | Unlimited above 0.1m from floor | Unlimited above 0.1 from floor | | 6. Between the accommodation and a protected corridor forming a dead end. Other than in item 3 above. | Unlimited above 1.1m from floor | Unlimited above 0.1m from floor | Unlimited above 0.1m from floor | Unlimited above 0.1m from floor | 6 VENTILATION Any system of ventilation shall be designed so that in case of a fire the air movement in the building is directed away from protected escape routes and exits; or that the system is closed down. Where a pressurisation system is installed, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the building shall be compatible with it when operating under fire conditions. INTERNAL FIRE SPREAD (STRUCTURE) 1 The building shall be so constructed that, in the event of fire, its stability will be maintained for a reasonable period. 2 The building or any altered part of the building shall be sub-divided into compartments where there is necessary to inhibit the spread of fire in the building. 3 Concealed spaces in the structure or fabric of the building or any extended part of the building shall be fire stopped and sub-divided where this is necessary to inhibit the unseen spread of fire and smoke. 4 A wall common to two or more buildings shall offer adequate resistance to the spread of fire and smoke. 5 The fire resistance of an element of structure shall be in accordance to table 10 Table 10 – FIRE RESISTANCE OF ELEMENT OF STRUCTURE (In minutes) | | FIRE | RESISTANCE | | | ELEMENT OF STRUCTURE | STABILITY | INTEGRITY | INSULATION | | 1. Structural frame, beam or column | 90 | Not applicable | Not applicable | | 2. Load bearing wall | 90 | Not applicable | Not applicable | | 3. Floors | | | | | (a) In upper storey of 2 storey | 30 | 15 | 15 | | (b) Any other floor including | | | | | compartment floor | 60 | 60 | 60 | | 4. Roofs | | | | | (a) Any part forming an | 30 | 30 | 30 | | escape route. | | | | | (b) Any roof that performs the | | | | | function of a floor | 30 | 15 | 15 | | 5. Compartments and | | | |
