CHAPTER 5

Specific Requirements for

Various Occupancies

5.1 SCOPE

The provisions of this chapter shall control the installation of fire detection and fixed fire fighting
arrangement in low rise buildings of different occupancy groups. The term 'Lowrise Building' shall include
all structures which are not taller than 20 m from the finished ground level and do not have more than six
floors.

The fire detection and fire fighting arrangement required for highrise buildings are specified in Appendix
D.

5.2 OCCUPANCY A: RESIDENTIAL

In addition to the general provisions covered under Chapter 4, the following requirements for lowrise
buildings shall be complied with.

5.2.1 Occupancy A1 : Detached Single Family Dwelling

Fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required.

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5.2.2 Occupancy A2 : Flats and Apartments

Fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required.

5.2.3 Occupancy A3 : Mess, Boarding House and Hostels

For buildings upto 2 storey height, fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required.
Buildings having 3 floors or above and having floor area less than 300m2 shall not require fire detection and
fixed fire fighting arrangements. But if the floor area of such building is more than 300m2 per floor having
central corridor with rooms on both sides, manually operated electric fire alarm system shall be provided
along with portable fire extinguishers.

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5.2.4 Occupancy A4, : Minimum Standard Housing

Fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required.

5.2.5 Occupancy A5 : Hotels and Lodging Houses

For building upto 2 storey height, fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required.
Buildings having more than 2 floors or having an area of more than 300m2 per floor, shall be provided with
manually operated electric fire alarm system. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per
instruction of the authority.

5.3 OCCUPANCY B: EDUCATIONAL

In addition to the general provisions specified in Chapter 4, the following requirements for Occupancy B
shall be complied with.

5.3.1 Educational buildings upto 2 storey height and having less than 100m2 floor area per floor shall not require
fixed fire detection and fire fighting arrangements.

5.3.2 Educational buildings having more than 2 storey shall be provided with manually operated electric fire
alarm system.

5.3.3 Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.4 OCCUPANCY C: INSTITUTIONAL

The following provisions shall be complied with for lowrise institutional buildings.

5.4.1 Occupancy C1 : Institution for Care of Children

Fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required. Portable fire fighting appliances
shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.4.2 Occupancy C2 : Custodial Institution for the Physically Capable

Fire detection and fixed fire fighting arrangements shall not be required. Portable fire fighting appliances
shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.4.3 Occupancy C3 : Custodial Institution for the Physically Incapable

Manually operated electric fire alarm system shall be installed. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be
kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.5 OCCUPANCY D: HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

In addition to the general provisions, as detailed under Chapter 4, the following requirements shall be
complied with.

5.5.1 Occupancy D1 : Normal Medical Facilities

Manually operated electric fire alarm system and/or automatic fire alarm system shall be installed in the
duty room, so that the duty personnel receive the fire warning well in advance. Requirements of manual or
automatic fire alarm system or both shall be decided and approved by the appropriate authority. Portable
fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.5.2 Occupancy D2 : Emergency Medical Facilities

The requirements shall include the installation of manually operated electric fire alarm system and/or
automatic fire alarm system as per Sec 5.5.1 above. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per
instruction of the concerned authority.

5.6 OCCUPANCY E: ASSEMBLY

The special requirements for Occupancy E shall include the following.

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5.6.1 Occupancy E1 : Large Assembly with Fixed Seats

All auditorium, corridor, green rooms and canteen attached to assembly buildings shall be fitted with
automatic fire alarm system and the performing stage shall preferably be covered by an automatic sprinkler
system. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.6.2 Occupancy E2 : Small Assembly with Fixed Seats

Shall comply with the requirements laid down in Sec 5.6.1 above.

5.6.3 Occupancy E3 : Large Assembly without Fixed Seats

Automatic fire alarm system shall be provided. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be kept as per
instruction of the concerned authority.

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5.6.4 Occupancy E4 : Small Assembly without Fixed Seats

Requirements specified in Sec 5.6.3 shall be complied with.

5.6.5 Occupancy E5 : Sports Facilities

Manually operated electric fire alarm system shall be provided. Portable fire fighting appliances shall be
kept as per instruction of the concerned authority.

5.7 OCCUPANCY F: BUSINESS AND MERCANTILE

In addition to the general provisions covered under Chapter 4, the following requirements for Occupancy
F shall be complied with.

5.7.1 Occupancy F1 : Offices

i) Office buildings less than 2 storey No provision required except portable fire
high and 500 m2 floor area extinguishers.

ii) Office buildings more than 2 storey Manually operated electric fire alarm system shall
high or floor area more than 500m2 be provided along with portable fire extinguishers

iii) Other mercantile buildings more Automatic fire alarm system required along with
than 2 storey high and more than portable fire extinguishers.
500m2 in floor area

iv) Laboratories with precession Automatic fire alarm system and fixed automatic
instruments CO2 fire extinguishing system shall be provided in
addition to portable fire extinguishers.

v) Buildings dealing with flammable Automatic foam or CO2 or dry chemical fire
liquids extinguishing system required along with portable
fire extinguishers.

vi) Solvent storage in office Automatic foam or CO2 or dry chemical fire
extinguishing system required along with portable
fire extinguishers.

vii) Computer installation Automatic fire alarm system and fixed CO2 or
fixed vaporising liquid fire extinguishing system
required along with portable fire extinguishers.

viii) Electrical switch board room/sub- Automatic fire alarm and/or fixed CO2 or fixed
station vaporising liquid fire extinguishing system shall
be installed along with portable fire extinguishers.

ix) Space under false ceiling Automatic fire alarm system shall be installed.

5.7.2 Occupancy F2 : Small Shops and Markets

i) Whole sale establishments, Automatic sprinkler or automatic fire alarm
warehouses, transport booking system shall be provided along with portable fire
establishments extinguishers.

ii) Other premises (other than shops, Automatic fire alarm system shall be provided
stores, markets etc.) along with portable fire extinguishers.

5.7.3 Occupancy F3 : Large Shops and Markets

i) Shopping arcade with central Automatic fire alarm system and portable fire
corridors open to sky extinguishers shall be provided

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ii) Shopping complex under covered Automatic fire alarm and venting system, fixed
roof with areas more than 500m2 and portable CO2 fire extinguisher shall be
on each floor installed. Provision for portable fire pump with
relevant accessories and conservance of water
shall be provided along with trained personnel.

iii) Underground shopping complex Automatic fire alarm, sprinklers and fixed and
portable CO2 fire extinguisher shall be installed.

5.7.4 Occupancy F4 : Garages and Petrol Stations

i) Petrol pump station, automobile Fixed wall hung CO2 or dry chemical fire
garages extinguisher shall be provided or arrangements
shall be made as directed by the authority.
ii) Aircraft hangars Foam or dry chemical or CO2 Fire extinguishers
shall be installed.

5.7.5 Occupancy F5 : Essential Services

Automatic fire alarm system and automatic fire sprinkler shall be provided along with portable fire
extinguishers.

5.8 OCCUPANCY G : INDUSTRIAL

In addition to the general provision covered under Chapter 4, the following requirements for Occupancy G
shall be complied with.

5.8.1 Occupancy G1 : Low Hazard Industries

Manually operated electric fire alarm system shall be installed along with portable fire extinguishers.

5.8.2 Occupancy G2 : Moderate Hazard Industries

a) Area upto 750 m2 shall be installed with automatic fire alarm system along with portable fire
extinguishers.

b) Area above 750 m2 shall be fitted with Automatic sprinkler and/or automatic fire alarms system along
with portable fire extinguishers.

5.9 OCCUPANCY H: STORAGE

In addition to the general provisions covered under Chapter 4, the following requirements for Occupancy H
shall be complied with.

5.9.1 Occupancy H1 : Low Fire Risk Storage

Manually operated electric fire alarm system shall be installed. Depending on the type of materials to be
stored, other detection and fire fighting system shall be provided as per direction of the Authority.

5.9.2 Occupancy H2 : Moderate Fire Risk Storage

Automatic fire alarm system shall be installed. Depending on the type of stored materials other fire
detection and fire fighting arrangement shall be provided as per direction of the Authority.

5.10 OCCUPANCY J: HAZARDOUS

In addition to the general provisions covered under Chapter 4, the following requirements for the
occupancy group shall be complied with.

All hazardous occupancies shall be installed with Automatic Fire Alarm and Sprinkler System. CO2 or foam
or dry chemical extinguishing system shall be installed as per direction of the Authority.

5.11 OCCUPANCY K: MISCELLANEOUS

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Fire detection and fire fighting arrangements shall be installed as and where directed and approved by the
Authority.

Related Appendix

Appendix D Special Requirements of Buildings more than 20 Metre High

Bangladesh National Building Code 4-7