FIRE REGULATIONS AND

STANDARDS
Prepared by
K.R.M.Suhail
Fentons-MEP Division
 FIRE SAFETY

Life safety Property safety

Fire Protection

2
 FIRE PROTECTION

ACTIVE PASSIVE
Structural
Fire fire
suppression protection

Automatic Means of
fire escape
detection
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
Portable fire extinguisher
Hose reel system
Wet riser system
Fire Hydrant system
Sprinkler system
Fire detection system
Voice communication system
Fire alarm system with manual call point
REGULATIONS/SPECIFICATIONS/STANDARDS/LISTING
• REGULATIONS
• a rule or order issued by an executive authority or regulatory agency of a government and having
the force of law
• SPECIFICATIONS
• an act of identifying something precisely or of stating a precise requirement.
• STANDARDS ; NFPA/BS
• something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of

• comparison; an approved model.

• LISTINGS ; UL/LPCB/
• Equipment, materials, or services included in a list published by an organization acceptable to the AHJ and
concerned with evaluation of products or services and that maintains periodic inspection of production of
listed equipment, materials
NFPA CODES AND STANDARS
NFPA 13 Installation of Sprinkler Systems
NFPA 14 Fire hose and stand pipes
NFPA 17 Clean agent fire suppression systems
NFPA 2001: Standard for Clean agent Fire Extinguishing Systems
NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC)
NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm Code
NFPA 20: Standard for Installation of stationary fire pumps for fire
protection
 BRITISH STANDARD
BS 7671 Standard for Electrical Installation
BS EN3 Portable fire extinguishers
BS EN 54 Fire detection and fire alarm systems
BSEN 14384 Pillar fire hydrants
BS EN 12101 Smoke and heat control systems
BS7346 Components for smoke and heat control systems
BS EN 671 Fixed fire fighting systems-hose systems
BS EN 1869 Fire blankets
BS 336:2010 Hose couplings and ancillary equipment
BS 750 Underground fire hydrants and surface box frames and covers
BS 5306 Fire extinguishing and equipment on premises
BS EN 60228 Conductors of insulated cables
BS 6883 Requirements & Dimensions for cables suitable for lighting, power, control instrumentation
BS 6266.2011 Fire protection for electronic equipment installations
BSEN 14339 Underground fire hydrants
BSEN 848 Specification for balancing and vibration
BS 5163 Double flanged cast iron wedge gate valves for waterworks Purposes
BS EN 60079 Electrical apparatus for potentially explosive atmospheres
ANSI CODES AND SPECIFICATION
ANSI B16.1 Cast pipe flanges and flanged fittings
ANSI B16.5 Pipe flanges and flanged fittings
ASTM A 47 Specification for ferrite malleable iron castings
ASTM A 106 Specification for seamless carbon steel pipe for High Temperature Service
ASTM A 135 Specification for Electric-Resistant-welded steel pipe
ASTM A 183 Specification for carbon steel track bolts and nuts
ASTM A 197 Specification for cupola malleable iron
ASTM A 234 Specification for pipe fittings of wrought carbon steel and alloy for moderate and
elevated temperatures
ASTM A 395 Specification for ferrites ductile iron pressure retaining castings for use at elevated
temperatures
ASTM A 536 Ductile iron castings
ANSI B1.20.1 Standard for pipe threads, General Purpose
UL2127: Standard for Clean agent Extinguishing System Units
 LOCAL FIRE REGULATIONS - OVERVIEW
• REGULATOR AND IMPLEMENTING BODY
• CIDA ACT
PUBLISHED BY CIDA
1.FIRE REGULATIONS – REVISED IN JULY-2018
2.SPECIFICATION FOR FIRE DETECTION, PROTECTION & SUPPRESSION SYSTE MARCH 2015

AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION(AHJ)

Local Authority Fire Brigade/ Chief Fire Officer/ Fire Prevention Officers under a statutory
organization
TEAM/INSTITUTES INVOLVED IN PREPARATION OF
REGULATIONS/ SPECIFICATIONS OF CIDA
(1) Architects (SLIA)
(2) Association of Consulting Engineers-SL
(3) Institute of Quantity Dept. of Fire Services
(4) Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE)SL Branch
(5) Building Services Engineering Sectional committee of IESL
(6) Lanka Association of Building Service Engineers
(7) Sri Lanka Institute Surveyors - SL
(8) Fire Engineering & Equipment Traders Association( FEETA)
PORTABLE FIRE EXINGUISHER
 PORTABLE FIRE EXINGUISHER
• In any building where rooms or spaces designated as electrical switch
rooms, transformer rooms, generator rooms, lift machine rooms, fuel
storage etc ..
• Shall be available at readily accessible locations and escape paths.
• Maximum travel distance-30 M.
• shall be charged, tested and maintained in fully operational
conditions, at all times.
• Shall be marked the classes of extinguishers according to their
intended use.
CLASSES OF FIRE

Also known as class F

 MINIMUM SIZES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
FOR CLASS A FIRE HAZARDS
Minimum Maximum Travel Area to be protected per extinguisher (m²)
extinguisher distance to low hazard ordinary hazard high hazard
rating extinguisher occupancy occupancy occupancy

3A 30M 30 15 8
5A 30M 50 25 15
8A 30M 80 40 20
13A 30M 130 65 35
21A 30M 210 105 55
27A 30M 270 135 70
34A 30M 340 170 85
43A 30M 430 215 110
55A 30M 550 275 140
 MINIMUM SIZES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
FOR CLASS B FIRE HAZARDS
Types of hazard Basic minimum Maximum travel distance to
extinguisher rating extinguisher (m)
Light 34B 15
144B 25
ordinary 144B 10
183B 15
High 183B 7
233B 10
HOSE REEL SYSTEM
HOSE REEL SYSTEM
• Minimum required area- 800m²
• Ø19mm, 45m length of hose.
• Ø25mm, 30m length of hose.
• Branch with Jet/Spray /Shut off type nozzle.
• Nozzle discharge 30 L/s.
• Hose reel inlet height from FFL-1.2m.
• Throwing capacity of jet nozzle-6m
• Required Water capacity – 2000-2700 L.
REF-CIDA/DEV/14
WET RISER SYSTEM
WET RISER SYSTEM
• Every 900 m²- 01 rising main.
• maximum system pressure- 20 bar.
• Riser Ø 100 when Building height < 30 M
• Riser Ø 150 when Building height > 30 M and more than one landing valve in a floor.
• Pressure reducing valve with landing valve at each level.
• delivery hose- 2 Nos(15mX64mm) and branch pipe with 12.5 mm nozzle kept in the
cabinet.
• Breeching inlet 2 way/4 way- External.
• Required water capacity. 45000L- 67500L
• Dedicated power supply for pump set (Electrical and fuel)
REF-CIDA/DEV/14
 BREECHING INLET
• 2 way or 4 way inlet.
• located within 18 meters from the main
entrance with clear access for Fire Brigade
Vehicles.
• At a height of 1 m from surrounding ground.
• Sign of “No Parking” to preventing vehicle to
park and block Fire Vehicle access.
• Provided to fill the fire suction tank For high
rise and super high rise buildings.
FIRE HYDRANT SYSTEM
LANDING VALVE
• The landing valves are located,
Within the protected ventilated or smoke free lobby/ fire fighting lobby.
External corridor immediately outside the door of the exit staircase to
the escape path inside the staircase.
If there are no fire fighting lobby/ smoke stop lobby/ external corridor
CAN BE USED THE common area and within a protected shaft,
immediately outside the door of the exit staircase.
• Maximum Horizontal distance between two landing valves-60m.
• Pressure range 4-5 bar.
• Flow rate shall be 500 L/s.
EXTERNAL PILLAR HYDRANT
• Part of the ring main system.
• Single or double outlet pillar hydrant.
• Siting of hydrant Points:
• located not more than 18M from the main entrance.
• 6M apart from the building/Risk & Not more than 90 m from
building/Risk.
• Consist of 2 no's of 65mm outlet.
• provided with a fire hose cabinet consisting of 3x15 m, Ø65
mm fire hoses, with instantaneous coupling and one jet/spray
shut off branch pipe.
• flow rate of500 liter/ min at 4 Bar.
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM
SPRINKLER HEAD
 FUNCTIONS OF SPRINKLER SYSTEM
•Detect a fire.
•Raise an alarm.
•Extinguish the fire.
•Prevent the spread of fire.
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
The following shall be provided with an automatic sprinkler system:
• All indoor car parks.
• All high rise & Super High Rise Buildings and should cover all story's including the
basements.
Where sprinklers not be used
• Toilet.
• Electrical switch gear room.
• Server room.
• Any other area where water damages are significant. REF-CIDA
OCCUPANCY AND COMMODITY CLASSIFICATION

● Light Hazard
● Ordinary Hazard
● Extra Hazard
It is important to note, that these classifications in NFPA13 is
for sprinkler installation, design, and water supply
requirements only,
LIGHT HAZARDS
“...quantity and/or combustibility of contents is low and fires with
relatively low rates of heat release are expected.”

➔ Churches ➔ Museums
➔ Clubs ➔ Offices
➔ Educational ➔ Conference rooms
➔ Hospitals ➔ Residential
➔ Animal Shelters ➔ Unused attic spaces
➔ Meeting room ➔ Conference room
➔ Prisons ➔ Data processing
 ORDINARY HAZARDS
Ordinary Hazard (Group 1). Ordinary Hazard (Group 2).
Automobile parking and showrooms Agricultural facilities
Bakeries Barns and stables
Beverage manufacturing Cereal mills
Canneries Chemical plants — ordinary
Dairy products manufacturing and processing Confectionery products
Electronic plants Distilleries
Glass and glass products manufacturing Dry cleaners
Laundries Exterior loading docks
Restaurant service areas

Ref:James_D._Lake_Nfpa_13_Automatic_Sprinkler_SystemBook
 EXTRA HAZARD
Extra Hazard (Group 1).
where the quantity and combustibility of contents are very high and dust, lint, introducing the probability of
Rapidly developing fires with high rates of heat release but with little Flammable liquids.
• Aircraft hangars .
• Combustible hydraulic fluid use areas
• Die casting and Metal extruding
• Plywood and particleboard manufacturing
• Printing [using inks having flash points below 100°F (38°C)]
• Rubber reclaiming, compounding, drying, milling, vulcanizing
• Saw mills and Textile picking, opening, blending, garneting, or carding, combining of cotton, synthetics,
• Wool shoddy, or burlap and Upholstering with plastic foams
 EXTRA HAZARD
Extra Hazard (Group 2).
Extra hazard (Group 2) occupancies shall be defined as occupancies or portions of other occupancies
with moderate to substantial amounts of flammable or combustible liquids or occupancies where
shielding of combustibles is extensive
• Asphalt saturating
• Flammable liquids spraying
• Flow coating
• Manufactured home or modular building assemblies (where finished enclosure is present and has
combustible interiors)
• Open oil quenching
• Plastics manufacturing
• Solvent cleaning
• Varnish and paint dipping
 DESIGN DENSITY
Minimum design density Assumed maximum area of
Hazard mm/min operation in (m²)
Light 2.25 84
Ordinary
Group I 5 72
Group II 5 144
Group III 5 216
Group IV 5 360
High Hazard
Group I 7.5 260
Group II 10 260
Group III 12.5 260
Group IV Deluge System Complete deluge protection for each
building
SPRINKLER PIPE SCHEDULE

NFPA
COVERAGE AND SPACING FOR SPRINKLER
MANUAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
 MANUAL CALL POINTS(MCP)
• Used only for fire alarm initiation.
• Time from the operation of call point to the actuation of alarm
signal - (3) seconds.
• MCP’S shall be installed on all escape routes and in particular all
stairwell entrances and all exits to open air.
• Installed in easy accessible locations.
• Travel/search distance -45m.
MANUAL CALL POINTS(MCP)

• The center MCP -1.4m (+/-200mm) from floor level.

• Where wheel chair access is used- 0.9m-1.2m from FFL.
• Installed within 1.5m from exit door way opening.
• Mounted on both sides of the grouped opening if the width is
more than 12m.

REF_CIDA
 AUDIABLE AND VISUAL ALARMS
• The minimum sound level -65dB(A) or 10dB(A) above a
background noise (if lasting more than 30 seconds).
• Frequency between 500Hz and 1000Hz.
• The maximum sound level should not exceed120dB(A).
Location Sound Level (dBA)
Business occupancies 55
Educational occupancies 45
Industrial occupancies 80
Institutional occupancies 50
Consider whichever is higher.
Places of assembly 55 Refer the table for Ambient sound
Residential occupancies 35 levels
Storage occupancies 30
AUDIABLE AND VISUAL ALARMS

At the bed head with all doors closed -75dB(A)

 VISUAL ALARM
• Addition to audible alarms where necessary.
• Locations where visual alarms are used.
Health care Centre and wards
Educational purpose and hostels
Children's home or elder’s home
Daycare/infant care and kindergarten.
Where the ambient sound level is high, which compels the
occupants to wear ear protection, strategically located visual
alarms shall be provided.
• Rate of flashes per minute= 30 to 130.
• Mounting height - 2.1 m, but no closer to the ceiling
than 150 mm
AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION
SELECTING THE DETECTOR
The “detector” shall be selected taking the following into consideration
• The speed of response required
• The need to minimize false alarms
• The nature of the fire hazard
• The possibility of presence of smoke/heat under normal operating conditions.
Commonly used detectors
• Heat:(Fusible alloy type, Expansion type, Alloy type)
• Smoke:(Ionization, Optical, smoke sampling)
• Radiation:(Infra red, UV)
• Beam detectors
 SMOKE DETECTORS
• Spacing of the detectors on a flat ceiling-10.6m
• From wall-5.3m
• coverage area -112m² per device.
• Radius of circle-7.5
 SMOKE DETECTORS
• In corridors less than 2m wide the horizontal spacing of detectors can
be increased.
• The area of coverage need not overlap.
• Any corridor over 2m wide is deemed as a room and most adhere as
specified

Note: Heat detectors are not

recommended for use in corridors.
 SMOKE DETECTORS
WHERE THE SMOKE DETECTORS CANT BE INSTALLED……
• Temperature below 0°C (32°F).
• Temperature above 38°C (100°F).
• Relative humidity(RH) above 93 percent.
• Air velocity across the detector is greater than
1.5 m/sec(300 ft/min).
• The height of the detector from the floor level is more
than 10.5m.
SMOKE DETECTORS
• A device should not be mounted within 500mm of any obstruction.
• If the top of a solid partition is less than 300mm from the ceiling
then it should be treated as a wall.
• Similar, ceiling obstructions such as beams should be treated as
walls if deeper than 10% of the ceiling height
• If the ceiling void >800mm in depth, separate detector to be
installed.
• fire detectors shall be placed within any enclosed stairwell, lift shaft
or other similar enclosed
SMOKE DETECTORS
REF-BS.CIDA

• A device should not be mounted within 500mm of any

obstruction.
• If the top of a solid partition is less than 300mm from the ceiling
then it should be treated as a wall.
• Similar, ceiling obstructions such as beams should be treated as
walls if deeper than 10% of the ceiling height
SMOKE DETECTORS
REF-BS.CIDA

• If the ceiling void >800mm in depth, separate detector to be

installed.
• fire detectors shall be placed within any enclosed stairwell, lift shaft
or other similar enclosed.
 HEAT DETECTORS

• Spacing of the Heat detectors on a flat ceiling-7.5m

• From the wall-3.8m

• coverage area -56.3m² per device.

• Radius of circle-5.3m.
OPTICAL BEAM-TYPE SMOKE DETECTORS
OPTICAL BEAM-TYPE SMOKE DETECTORS

shall be provided where point detectors can not be effectively used.

• Where a large open area requires detection and ceiling heights are very high.
• Operating range of up to 100m.
• coverage = 7.5m either side
• Distance between detectors = 15m
• Qty required to cover 1,500m² = 1 unit REF- BS, CIDA
2 WAY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH FIRE
COMMAND CENTER (FCC)
2 WAY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH (FCC)
• Provided for high rise and super high rise buildings.
• Provided between FCC and the following areas .
• Every firefighting lobby.
• In basements, where the number of basements exceeds 2.
• Firefighting related mechanical rooms.
• Fire service lifts.
• Rooms having smoke control equipment.
• Each area of refuge.
FIRE MAN TELEPHONE SYSTEM

• For the use of fire service only.

• It shall be capable of permitting the simultaneous operation of any
five telephone stations in a common talk mode.
• Main fire telephone panel should indicate location of call.
• Cable should be fire rated (rated hours shall be determine by Fire
department)
FIRE MAN TELEPHONE SYSTEM
SYSTEM COMPONENT
Hand sets Wall outlets Panel
FIRE ALARM CONTROL PANEL(FACP)
FIRE ALARM CONTROL PANEL(FACP)

• Located in the Fire Command Centre (FCC) or in the absence of

such FCC, in a location manned and monitored 24 hours of the day.
• At least two independent power supplies shall be provided.
• Integrity of power supplies shall be monitored by the FACP.
• Dedicated circuit of the main supply and a standby battery.
• Non alarm condition Battery shall be capable to operate- 24 hours
• Alarm condition while all notification appliances are used- 30 min
 VOICE EVACUATION SYSTEM
• For all large buildings with gross floor area greater than 2800 m².
• When total occupant load exceeding 1000 persons.
• Large industrial and warehouse buildings with gross floor area greater
than 5000 m².
• For all buildings which are categorized as high rise and super high rise
buildings.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM CABLING

• Cables of 3-hour fire rated circuit integrity at 950 °C,

Cat CWZ .
• Cables installed inside 2-hour fire rated enclosure.
FIRE PROTECTION FOR BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION

All building under construction shall be equipped with following

Fire Fightingfacility
• A Dry Type rising main-Building floor height < 60 meters.
• A WET Type rising main-Building floor height > 60 meters.
• Breeching inlets (2 way or 4 way) shall be provided and
connected to the riser as per approved building plan.
FIRE PUMPS
FIRE PUMPS
Separate pumps sets are provided for Sprinkler and hydrant
installations other than for combination system.
a)Drivers-electric motors/diesel engines.
b)Listed and certified by an independent testing authority.
(Example: UL, FM…)
c)Not to be equipped with more than one driver.
d)Each fire pump shall have its own dedicated driver and
controller.
e)2-hour fire-rated construction for pump room.
FIRE PUMP CONFIGURATIONS
Main Pump Stand By Pump Jockey pump
Hose Reels 60lpm 60lpm
system
Hydrant System 1500lpm 1500lpm 60lpm/10% of A minimum of 500 l/min
main shall be add to each
pump flow riser having more than
rate 03 landing valves.
Maximum flow rate shall
not exceed 3000 l/min.
Sprinkler System flow rate as flow rate as per 60lpm/10% Where the building is
per the the sprinkler of main sprinklered the maximum
sprinkler hazard pump flow flow rate shall be 2500
hazard classification rate l/min.
classification REF: CIDA
FIRE PUMP CONFIGURATIONS
• Fire Pumps shall have positive suctions. If this is not feasible, vertical
turbine pumps shall be used.
• Automatic and Manual Operation
• The pumps shall start “automatically” on a fall in pressure or
demand in water, and once started automatically shall be stopped
only manually.
• Facility for starting the pump manually, overriding the automatic
controls, must be available
• Pumps in Operation - An audible and visual alarm shall be installed in
the control room to indicate that the pumps have started.
REF: CIDA
COMBINED SYSTEMS
HR & LV Systems
• HR design flow rate = 30x2= 60 l/min
• LV design flow rate = 500x3 = 1500 l/min
• For the combine system, use
– Flow rate = 1500 l/min
– Pressure = maximum pressure of the system <24bar
– If the pressure is more than 24 bar, have to have another
pumping system
COMBINED SYSTEMS
HR,LV & SPK Systems
• HR & LV floor rate = 1500 l/min (<24 bar)
• SPK flow rate
– LH – 225 l/min
– OH – 375 l/min to 1800 l/min
• For the combine systems add flow rates and keep maximum
pressure
• Per System flow rate should not exceed 3785 l/min
• Minimum stand pipe/riser diameter 100mm