Civil Defense Comments

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Archive for the ‘QCDD Fire Safety Standards’ Category

FSS 1.5 (Refuge Floor)

March 7, 2009

FSS 1.5REFUGE FLOOR

High-rise building (more than 30 storeys) shall be provided with at least one refuge floor at an
interval of not more than 20 storeys.

The refuge floor shall comply with the following requirements:

1. It shall be of masonry construction having fire resistance rating not less than 2 hours.
2. At least 50% of the gross floor area of the refuge floor shall be designated as holding area.
3. There shall be no commercial activities in the holding area.
4. The size of the holding area shall be adequate to accommodate at least half the total occupant
load of all storeys above and below the refuge floor, basing on 0.30 sqm per person.
5. The holding area shall be separated from other areas of the refuge floor by compartment wall
having fire resistance rating not less than 2 hours. Link of the holding area with other occupied
rooms/areas shall be via external corridor, or a smoke-stop lobby.
6. The holding area shall be naturally ventilated with permanent openings on at least 2 sides of
external walls. Height of opening shall not be less than 1200mm high and the total area of
ventilation openings shall not be less than 25% of the floor area of the holding area. All parts of
the holding area shall be within 9m of any ventilation opening. Ventilation opening shall be
located at least 1.5m horizontally and 3m vertically above adjoining unprotected opening.
7. The holding area can also be mechanically ventilated or air-conditioned in the event of
emergency.
8. The ventilation equipment shall be connected to secondary power supply via 2 hour fire
resistance cable. The ventilation system shall be indicated and shall not share with other areas.
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 9. Sprinkler system shall be provided for the refuge floor.
10. Escape routes leading to the holding area shall be through smoke-stop / fire fighting lobby or
external corridor.
11. A sign depicting “REFUGE FLOOR” shall be displayed inside the staircase and on wall
immediately outside the staircase at the refuge floor. The sign of lettering size not less 50mm
shall be displayed at a height of 1500mm above the landing / finished floor level.
12. Emergency lighting shall be provided to cover all areas of the holding area. Such lighting shall
be connected to secondary power supply, i.e. generator, battery, etc.

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FSS 2.1 (Fire Protection Water Supplies)

August 24, 2008

FSS 2.1 (Fire Protection water Supplies)

Item Provisions Notes

1.0 Water Supplies quantities shall be determined with the Applicable Codes
use of the fire codes including the QCD Particular
Requirements and the NFPA.

2.0 Water supplies shall be secure and dedicated for fire

protection use only.

3.0 Fire Protection water storage tanks shall be constructed Tank Construction
of non-combustible materials. They shall be constructed
with compartments that allow maintenance without
impairment to the system. Each compartment shall be
not more than 50%.

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 Each compartment shall have its own independent
automatic supply inlet.

4.0 The net effective capacity of the tank(s) shall be sized to Capacity
meet the minimum duration of flow for the fire
protection systems determined in accordance with the
applicable codes.

The net effective capacity of the water tank shall be

verified on the fire protection plans of the fire safety
submission. These drawings shall clearly indicate size
and allowances for fittings, freeboard, inlet pipe
arrangement, overflow pipe, suction pipe and fittings,
any allowances and the clear volume of water available
for use by the fire protection systems.

The effective capacity shall also be clearly indicated on

the tank in lettering of a minimum height of 100mm.

5.0 Each water tank shall have the following minimum Attachments
attachments.

- Automatic infill such that the tank may be refilled from

empty within a time period of 6 hours. In case it shall not
be less than the size of the Kahramaa supply pipe.

- Visual water level indicator of non combustible

construction

- Balance valve

- Drain valve having a minimum size shall be 80mm

nominal diameter

- Suction connections

- Test return pipe(s)

- Overflow pipe of minimum size, one diameter larger

than the inlet pipe

All pipe and other openings into the tank shall be fitted
with devices to prevent the ingress of insects.

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 6.0 Fire pumps shall be listed for service or approved by an
authority acceptable t the Qatar Civil Defense.

Performance curves on which the system curve and duty

point shall be submitted together with hydraulic
calculations with the fire protection plans fire safety
submission.

7.0 Fire pumps shall be sized and selected in accordance

with the NFPA 20 to meet the single largest system
demand.

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FSS 1.6 (Dormitories)

August 24, 2008

FSS 1.6 (Dormitories)

Item Provisions Notes

1.0 Water Supplies quantities shall be determined with the Applicable Codes

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 use of the fire codes including the QCD Particular
Requirements and the NFPA.

2.0 Water supplies shall be secure and dedicated for fire

protection use only.

3.0 Fire Protection water storage tanks shall be constructed Tank Construction
of non-combustible materials. They shall be constructed
with compartments that allow maintenance without
impairment to the system. Each compartment shall be
not more than 50%.

Each compartment shall have its own independent

automatic supply inlet.

4.0 The net effective capacity of the tank(s) shall be sized to Capacity
meet the minimum duration of flow for the fire
protection systems determined in accordance with the
applicable codes.

The net effective capacity of the water tank shall be

verified on the fire protection plans of the fire safety
submission. These drawings shall clearly indicate size
and allowances for fittings, freeboard, inlet pipe
arrangement, overflow pipe, suction pipe and fittings,
any allowances and the clear volume of water available
for use by the fire protection systems.

The effective capacity shall also be clearly indicated on

the tank in lettering of a minimum height of 100mm.

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 0 The provisions of NFPA 101 Chapter 28 shall be applied to all Dormitory occupancies except as
modified by the following Particular Requirements.

2. DORMITORIES WITH A HABITABLE HEIGHT LESS THAN 28m

2.1 Dormitories having a habitable height of 28m and less shall not require sprinkler protection
provided all of the following conditions are met.

All other provisions of NFPA 101, Chapter 28 are met

The floor area per storey does not exceed 2,400sqm

The building construction type is Type II (111) or better

An automatic smoke detection system is installed throughout the building

Fire hose reels and portable extinguishers are installed throughout the building

Where access to fire escapes are through internal corridors, the building has a smoke control
system designed to pressurize the corridor in accordance with NFPA 92A

2.2 Where a sprinkler system is required, the sprinkler systems may be limited to protection of the
corridors and common areas subject to the approval of the Qatar Civil Defense.

3. DORMITORIES WITH HABITABLE HEIGHT GREATER THEN 28m ABOVE FIRE ENGINE
ACCESS LEVEL

3.1 Dormitories having a habitable height 28m or more shall require an automatic sprinkler system
designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 13 light hazard, for the corridors and common
spaces only provided all of the following conditions are met.

- All other requirements of NFPA 101, Chapter 28 are met

- The building construction type is type is type II (III) or better

- The floor area per storey does not exceed 2,400 sqm

- An automatic smoke detection system is installed throughout the building

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 - Fire Hose Reels and portable extinguishers are installed throughout the building

Posted in QCDD Fire Safety Standards | 1 Comment »

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