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 fire and explosions. The provisions of this part include general
requirements of fire protection, precautionary requirements for resisting a fire, means of escape
requirements, equipment and in-built facilities required for fire fighting, and fire fighting arrangements
required for various 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 CONTROL UNIT : It consists of a circuit, controls, relays, switches and associated system which
receive signals from alarm initiating devices and transmit to alarm signalling devices.

ALARM INITIATING DEVICE : An equipment operated manually or automatically which, when activated,
initiates an alarm through an alarm signalling device.

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ALARM SIGNAL : Signals of audible or visual nature or both, indicating the existence of a fire condition.
Audible devices may be bells, horns, chimes, speaker or similar devices.

ALARM SIGNAL DEVICE : The equipment that produces the alarm signal.

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 FIRE DETECTING AND ALARM SYSTEM : These include all types of fire detecting and
alarm signalling devices which activate themselves during a fire without manual intervention. The
equipment/devices include temperature sensitive fuses, thermostat, fluid filled tubes and electronic devices
which can detect a fire and transmit automatic alarm signals.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM : The system consists of an array of pipe works fitted with fusible
solder or glass bulb in a predetermined temperature fed from town main, elevated private reservoir, gravity
tank, pressure tank or automatic pump supply and other connecting equipment which operate
automatically by sensing the heat of fire and discharge water to extinguish it. These devices also actuate an
audible alarm automatically.

AUTOMATIC HIGH VELOCITY WATER SPRAY : This system applies water in the form of a conical spray
consisting of droplets of water discharged at high velocity through specially designed projectors to
extinguish fire by emulsification, cooling and smothering. High velocity system is used for the protection of
medium and heavy oils or similar flammable liquids.

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

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

DOWN COMER : See WET RISER-CUM-DOWN COMER STANDPIPE SYSTEM.

DRY-CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM : This system consists of specially designed pipe works and
discharge nozzles linked to the dry powder containers and CO2 cylinders which are automatically/
manually operated in case of fire.

DRY RISER : A dry riser is a vertical pipe which is normally kept empty of water, fitted with outlets at
various floor levels in the building. It is not connected to a water supply, but is charged when required, by
means of fire pumps.

FIRE EXIT : A continuous and unobstructed means of escape to a public way, which includes doors,
corridors, stairway, aisles, gates, balconies, ramps, horizontal exits, fireproof enclosures etc.

FIRE RESISTANCE RATING : It denotes the property of a building construction material and/or
construction itself and is expressed as a period of time during which the materials/constructions are (a)
resistant to collapse due to fire, (b) resistant to flame penetration and (c) resistant to excessive temperature
rise on the unexposed surface.

FIRE SEPARATION : Horizontal or vertical fire resistance rated assembly of materials having protected
openings or a clear area around a building for the purpose of preventing the spread of fire.

FIRE TOWER : These are open to outer air staircases separated from any building which can be approached
from various floors of a building by connecting corridors, landings or lobbies and are separated from the
floor area and main staircase by fire resisting doors.

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FIRE WALL : A fire resistance rated wall having protective openings, which is constructed from the ground
level to at least 1m above the roof of a building to restrict the spread of a fire.

FOAM EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM : This system operates automatically/manually to extinguish special

fires. It consists of several types, of which pump operated mechanical foam type, self contained pressurised
type and pre-mixed foam types are commonly used.

HALOGENATED EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM : This system consists of distribution of pipe works and
specially designed nozzles which are sited strategically around the fire risk zone. The chemicals are kept
under pressure and released automatically/manually in case of fire. At present only B.T.M. (HALON-1301)
is internationally recommended for fixed system.

HORIZONTAL EXIT : An escape system which connects a floor horizontally with an adjacent structure at or
near the same level.

ROOF EXIT : The exit which opens at the roof and is accessible from the ground level.

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

TRAVEL DISTANCE : The travel distance of an escape route from a location within the building.

VENTILATION : Natural or mechanical intake of fresh air from outside and removal of trapped air of an
enclosed space.
VENT (FIRE) : A system which activates itself automatically during a fire or can be activated manually to
release the heat and smoke generated by the fire and prevents lateral spread of fire and smoke.

WET-CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM : A system where a solution of water and potassium

carbonate and/or potassium acetate based chemical forms the extinguishing agent.

WET RISER-CUM-DOWN COMER STANDPIPE SYSTEM: Wet riser consists of an array of pipes installed
vertically in a building with outlets (landing valves) at various levels throughout the building containing
permanently charged water at a specified pressure for fire fighting purposes.

'Down comer' is similar in function to that of a Wet Riser which is constructed as vertical piping, but is
supplied with water from a tank on the roof or at intermediate levels.

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 Limitation

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 Sec 1.8 of Part 3.

1.3.2 Open Space Requirement

For the purpose of applying the provisions of open space requirements of a building at its side, rear and
front, Sec 1.7, 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 the following requirements.

1.3.3.1 Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of 4.5 m and the minimum vertical
clearance shall be 5m. The width and vertical clearance of fire apparatus access roads may be increased
when in the opinion of the fire authority, the clearances are not adequate to provide fire apparatus access.

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1.3.3.2 Fire apparatus access roads having a dead end longer than 30 m from the main road shall be
provided with appropriate provisions for turning around of the fire apparatus.

1.3.3.3 The fire apparatus access road shall be marked by an approved sign.

1.4 FIRE DRILL

Fire drills based on fire order shall be arranged to train the occupants of a building in fire fighting and
evacuation. The occupants shall be made thoroughly conversant with fire order, fire fighting and evacuation
procedures in the event of an emergency.

The guidelines of fire drill 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.

1.5.1 The fire resistance ratings of building assemblies and structural elements shall be determined in accordance
with ASTM E 119.

1.5.2 The construction materials which are intended to be classified as noncombustible shall be tested in
accordance with ASTM E 136.

1.5.3 Flame resistance rating of all materials used for interior finish and trim shall be tested in accordance with
ASTM E 84.

1.5.4 The fire door assemblies shall conform to the test requirements of ASTM E 152.

1.5.5 The fire windows and fire shutters shall meet the test requirements of ASTM E 163.

1.5.6 The fire resistance rating of structural elements, which are widely used in Bangladesh, are provided in
Table 4.1.1 below, as a guideline. These ratings shall be used unless tests conducted in accordance with the
above indicate higher fire resistance ratings, in which case the higher values may be used.

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Table 4.1.1
Fire Resistance Rating of Common Construction Elements

Structural Element Fire Resistance Rating

1. SOLID WALLS

a. 75 mm thick walls of clay bricks 0.75 hour

b. 125 mm thick walls of clay bricks 1.5 hours
c. 250 mm thick walls 5.0 hours

2. RC WALLS

a. 150 mm thick RC wall 3.0 hours

b. 200 mm thick RC wall 4.0 hours
c. 250 mm thick RC walls 5 hours
d. 300 mm thick RC walls 6 hours

3. RC SLABS

a. 100 mm RC slabs with 13 mm cover 1 hours

over reinforcement
b. 150 mm RC slabs with 19 mm cover 2.5 hours
over reinforcement
c. 200 mm RC slabs with 19 mm cover 3.75 hours
over reinforcement
d. 250 mm RC slabs with 25 mm cover 5.0 hours
over reinforcement

4. RC COLUMNS (1:2:4)

a. 250 mm x 250 mm with 25 mm cover 3.0 hours

over reinforcement
b. 300 mm x 300 mm with 25 mm cover 4.0 hours
over reinforcement
c. 400 mm x 400 mm with 25 mm cover 6.0 hours
over reinforcement
d. 400 mm x 400 mm with 50 mm cover 8.0 hours
over reinforcement

Related Appendix

Appendix A Guidelines for Fire Drill and Evacuation Procedure for High Rise Buildings

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