Chapter 1 — General Provisions

1.1 Scope

This Part of the Code prescribes regulations for safeguarding life and property in the use or occupancy of buildings or premises from the hazards of smoke and fire, and explosions. The provisions of this Part include general requirements of fire protection, precautionary requirements, means of egress, equipment and in-built facilities standard installations required for firefighting, and firefighting arrangements required for all occupancy groups.

1.2 Terminology

This Section provides an alphabetical list of the terms used in and applicable to this Part of the Code. In case of any conflict or contradiction between a definition given in this Section and that in Part 1, the meaning specified in this Part shall govern for interpretation of the provisions of this Part.

ALARM                   It consists of a circuit, controls, relays, switches and associated
CONTROL UNIT            system which receive signals from alarm initiating devices and
                        transmit to alarm signaling devices.
ALARM                   An equipment operated manually or automatically which, when
INITIATING              activated, initiates an alarm through an alarm signaling device.
DEVICE
ALARM SIGNAL            Signals of audible or visual in nature, indicating the existence of
                        a fire and/or smoke condition. Audible devices may be bells,
                        horns, chimes, speakers or similar devices. Visual Alarms is a
                        strobe light emitting bright white light with approved insanity.
ALARM SIGNAL            The equipment that produces the alarm signal.
DEVICE
ALARM SYSTEM            It is a combination of compatible devices, which when activated
                        with necessary electrical energy can produce an alarm in the
                        event of fire.
ALARM ZONE              It describes a defined area of the building or buildings for alarm
                        initiating locations.

ANNUNCIATOR       Equipment capable of indicating the zone or area of a building
                  from which an alarm has been initiated or the location of such
                  devices and the operational condition of alarm circuit of the
                  system.
AUTOMATIC         These include all types of fire detecting and alarm signaling
FIRE DETECTING    devices which activate themselves during a fire without manual
AND ALARM         intervention. The equipment/devices include temperature
SYSTEM            sensitive fuses, thermostat, fluid filled tubes and electronic
                  devices which can detect a fire and transmit automatic alarm
                  signals.
AUTOMATIC         The system consists of an array of pipe-works fitted with fusible
SPRINKLER         solder or glass bulb. This system shall activate at a
SYSTEM            predetermined temperature and the required water shall be fed to
                  the system from any source. In the event of fire or smoke the
                  system shall activate automatically by sensing the temperature
                  of fire and discharge water to extinguish. These devices also
                  actuate an audible alarm automatically.
AUTOMATIC         This system applies water in the form of a conical spray
HIGH VELOCITY     consisting of droplets of water discharged at high velocity
WATER SPRAY       through specially designed projectors to extinguish fire by
SYSTEM            emulsification, cooling and smothering.
BUILDING          Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any
                  use or occupancy.
BUILDING,         A building erected or officially authorized prior to the effective
EXISTING          date of the adoption of this edition of the Code by the agency of
                  jurisdiction.

CARBON            This installation consists of a group of one or more cylinders of
DIOXIDE           carbon dioxide, interconnected by a manifold and feeding into a
EXTINGUISHING     system of high pressure distribution pipe work fitted with
SYSTEM            special discharge nozzles.

COMBUSTIBLE Any material which burns and enhances the magnitude of fire. MATERIAL

DRY-CHEMICAL      This system consists of specially designed pipe works and
EXTINGUISHING     discharge nozzles linked to the dry powder containers and
SYSTEM            gaseous cylinders which are automatically/manually operated in
                  case of fire.

DRY RISER           A riser or standpipe system is normally kept empty of water, but
                    is capable to discharge water within 45 seconds and its
                    installation is equivalent to wet-riser system.
ELEVATOR            A system, including a vertical series of elevator lobbies and
EVACUATION          associated elevator lobby doors, an elevator shaft(s), and a
SYSTEM              machine room(s), that provides protection from fire effects for
                    elevator passengers, people waiting to use elevators, and
                    elevator equipment so that elevators can be used safely for
                    egress.
ELEVATOR            A space from which people directly enter an elevator car(s) and
LOBBY               to which people directly leave an elevator car(s).
EXTERIOR            A stairway in which at least one side have openings more than
STAIRWAY            50% in an Exterior wall in such a way that there shall be no
                    accumulation of smoke during fire.
FIRE BARRIER        A fire-resistance-rated wall inside a building, designed to
                    restrict the spread of smoke and fire. Opening in that wall, shall
                    be protected by fire protected doors or windows.
FIRE                A space within a building that is enclosed by fire barriers on all
COMPARTMENT         sides, including the top and the bottom to limit the transfer of
                    fire.
FIRE DAMPER         A device installed in air ducts or air transfer openings or any
                    openings designed to close automatically upon detection of fire
                    or smoke.
FIRE DOOR           See Fire door assembly.
FIRE DOOR           Any combination of door leaf, frame, hardware and all other
ASSEMBLY            accessories that together provide a specific degree of fire and
                    smoke protection to the opening where it is placed.
FIRE                It expressed as a period of time and denotes the property of a
RESISTANCE          building construction material or elements and/or construction
RATING              as a whole during which the materials or elements or
                    constructions are (a) resistant to collapse due to fire, (b) resistant
                    to flame penetration and (c) resistant to excessive temperature
                    rise to the unexposed surface.

FIRE SEPARATION Refers to a fire-resistance-wall or slab between two buildings or two spaces to protect spread of smokes or fire vertically and horizontally.

FIRE TOWER Refers to a stairway open or enclosed, detached and isolated from any building by a distance and can be approached from various floors of a building or buildings by connecting passage only. FLOOR AREA, The floor area within the inside perimeter of the outside or GROSS exterior walls of the building under consideration with no deduction for hallways, stairs, closets, thickness of interior walls, columns, or other features. Gross floor area of a building means summation of gross floor areas of all the floors of a building. FLOOR AREA, The floor area within the inside perimeter of the outside or NET exterior walls of the building under consideration with deduction for hallways, stairs, closets, thickness of interior walls, columns, or other features or spaces not used for human occupancy. FOAM This system discharge foam to extinguish special fires. EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM HORIZONTAL Crossing a fire barrier of a building or connecting building in EXIT the same level shall be treated as horizontal exit. INTERIOR A designated area on ground or on water or on a portion of a STAIRWAY building for helicopter landing or takeoff without servicing, repairing and refueling facilities. INTERIOR A stairway within a building envelope. STAIRWAY PARTY WALL A fire resistance rated wall where openings are protected, which is constructed from the ground level and continued up to at least 1m above the roof of a building to restrict the spread of a fire. PUBLIC WAY A Street, alley, or other similar parcel of land essentially open to the outside air deeded, dedicated, or otherwise permanently appropriated for building users or for public use or a single loaded corridor that is one lateral side opened to outer air, designed in such a way that there shall be no accumulation of smoke in case of fire. This corridor may be placed at any level of a building having a clear width and height of not less than 3 meter having guards and connected to the exit termination or refuge areas by exterior or enclosed stairs shall be treated as public way.

ROOF REFUGE      When occupants are relocated at the flat roof of a building
AREA             which are not connected with any means of exit shall be treated
                 as isolated refuge area and must have provisions for placing of
                 leaders of fire department excess vehicles.

SMOKE            A devise capable of sensing visible or invisible particles
DETECTOR         produced during combustion.

TRAVEL           Straight line distance between the remotest point of a space of a
DISTANCE         floor and the exit access door placed thereof.

TRAVEL PATH Length of a passage from the remotest point of a space up to the exit access door placed thereof.

VENTILATION Natural or mechanical intake of fresh air from outside and removal of inside air of an enclosed space.

VESTIBULE A compartment provided with two or more doors with smoke lock system where the intended purpose is to prevent continuous and unobstructed passage by allowing the release of only one door at a time.

VENT, FIRE A system which activates itself automatically or manually during a fire or can be activated manually to release the heat and smoke generated by the fire and smoke.

RAMP A walking surface that has a slope steeper than 1 in 20 and accessible ramps are not steeper than 1 in 12.

WET-CHEMICAL     A system where a solution of water and potassium carbonate
EXTINGUISHING    and/or   potassium     acetate     based   chemical   forms   the
SYSTEM           extinguishing agent.

WET RISER        A vertical pipe or consists of an array of pipes installed
STAND PIPE       vertically in a building having landing valves with appropriate
SYSTEM           outlets at various levels of a building containing charged water
                 at a specified pressure for fire extinguishing purposes.

1.3 General Requirements

The provisions of this Section shall specify the general requirements in respect of height and area limitations, open space requirements and access facilities for the fire service, which are to be provided for a building to protect it from potential fire hazards.

1.3.1 Height and Area Limitations

The height and area limitations of all buildings and structures shall be governed by the occupancy group classification, floor area ratio and type of construction, which are specified in Part 3 of this Code.

1.3.2 Open Space or Fire Separation Requirement

For the purpose of applying the provisions of open space or fire separation requirements of a building at its side, rear and frontages in Part 3 of this Code shall be followed.

1.3.3 Access Facilities for Fire Service

The access facilities for fire service vehicles and engines shall meet provisions provided in Part 3 of this Code.

1.4 Fire Drill

Fire drills based on fire order shall be arranged to train the occupants of a building in first-aid firefighting, relocation and orderly evacuation. The occupants shall be made thoroughly conversant with fire order, firefighting, and relocation and evacuation procedures in the event of an emergency. The guidelines of fire drill, relocation and evacuation procedure are given in Appendix A.

1.5 Fire Tests and Fire Resistance Rating

The fire resistance rating of individual building construction components shall be
determined by standard materials testing procedure as detailed below.
        (a)     The fire resistance ratings of building assemblies and structural elements
                shall be determined in accordance with ASCE 29 or ASTM E 119.
        (b)     The construction materials which are intended to be classified as non-
                combustible shall be tested in accordance with ASTM E 136.
        (c)     Flame resistance rating of all materials used for interior finish and trim shall
                be tested in accordance with ASTM E 84.
        (d)     The fire door assemblies shall conform to the test requirements of ASTM
                E 152.

(e) The fire windows and fire shutters shall meet the test requirements of ASTM E 163.

(f) The fire resistances rating of structural elements are provided in Table 4.1.1. For details refer to ASCE 29.

Table 4.1.1: Fire Resistance of Structures

  Concrete        Minimum Equivalent Thickness of Concrete Walls, Floors, and
  Aggregate                   Roofs for Fire Resistance Rating
    Type               1 hr              1.5 hr              2 hr               3 hr                 4 hr
                 in         mm      in       mm         in         mm     in       mm          In       mm
Siliceous        3.5          89    4.3      109       5.0         127    6.2         157      7.0      178
Carbonate        3.2          81    4.0      102       4.6         117    5.7         145      6.6      168
Sand-light       2.7          69    3.3         84     3.8          97    4.6         117      5.4      137
weight
Lightweight      2.5          64    3.1         79     3.6          91    4.4         112      5.1      130

 Concrete              Minimum Column Dimension for Fire Resistance Rating
 Aggregate           1 hr              1.5 hr               2 hr               3 hr                  4 hr
   Type
                In       mm        in       mm         in      mm         in          mm       in       mm
Siliceous        8       203       9        229        10      254       12           305      14       356
Carbonate        8       203       9        229        10      254       11           279      12       305
Sand-light       8       203       8.5      216        9       229       10.5         267      12       305
weight

      Clay        Minimum Required Equivalent Thickness of Masonry for Fire
     Masonry                        Resistance Rating
      Unit       0.5 hr        0.75 hr          1 hr        1.5 hr       2 hr           3 hr           4 hr
                 in mm in mm in mm in mm in mm in mm in mm
Brick of clay or 1.7 43 2.0 51 2.3 58 2.85 72 3.4 86 4.3 109 5.0 127
shale, unfilled
Brick of clay or 2.3 58 2.65 67 3.0 76 3.7 94 4.4 112 5.5 140 6.6 168
shale, grouted
or filled with
perlite,
vermiculite, or
expanded shale
aggregate

1.6 Related Appendix

Appendix A Fire Drill and Evacuation Procedure