ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim 1

 ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

General requirements for escape routes (fire protection code) - Part two

Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim 2

 ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

d
General requirements for escape routes (fire protection code) - Part two

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Buildings Groups according to activities:
Group Section Occupancy type Examples
Group a 1 Artistic production or spectators for this production Theatres, cinemas, operas, TV and radio studios that have spectators

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Occupancy gatherings of 2 All other closed places that did not mentioned into this group schools & colleges (that have dormitory), courts, libraries, passenger stations,
individuals gyms, lecture halls, exhibition halls(except ones mentioned in group e), religious
buildings, restaurants, closed swimming pools without stadium, cafeterias,

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recreation halls.
3 Closed halls with stadiums such as: Play halls & swimming pools with stadiums

Group b
Penal institutions and
therapeutic Occupancy
4 Open air places the purpose of participating in the recreation or Football & open stadiums or amusement parks.
sport activities or watching them
1 laces where restricted freedom is applied on their existed jails, police stations (with detention rooms), hospitals for mental diseases,
occupancies Reformatory (‫)إﺻﻼﺣﯿﺔ اﻷﺣﺪاث‬.

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2 Places where the existed occupancies need care due to their hospitals, home for the elderly, children shelter, sanatorium (‫)مصحة عالجية‬.
mental or health status
Group c
Residential occupancy

Group d
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2

1
Residences gh villas, apartments.
Places where are used for sleeping other than what mentioned hotels, youth dormitories, dormitories in schools and colleges.
in group B & group C-1
banks, clinics, offices, fire stations, car wash, police stations without detention
room, dry clean, telephone central, workshops, wireless stations.
Administrative and
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professional occupancy

Group e 1 Buildings selling or exhibit goods commercial shops, supermarkets, commercial showrooms, malls.
Commercial occupancy
Group f 1 Industrial & storage occupancy that its fire load* exceeds 100kg gas and petroleum storage, refineries, mattress factories, painting factories,
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or 2million kj (kilo joule)/m2 from the floor area or where there
are flammable material or materials that can be explode in a
quantity that can be dangerous
Industrial and storage 2 Industrial & storage occupancy that its fire load* exceeds
occupancy 50-100kg or 1-2 million kj (kilo joule)/m2 from the floor area
and not mentioned in f-1
3 Industrial & storage occupancy that its fire load* exceeds 50kg
or 1million kj (kilo joule)/m2 from the floor area
Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim
carpenter workshops, laundries, grain silos, fodder factories and paper factories.
print houses, studios, electricity stations, candy factories, cartoon factories,
aircrafts' storage places, refrigerated storage, aircraft hangars, TV. studios that do
not allow any spectators, helipad (‫)ﻣﮭﺒﻂ ھﻠﯿﻜﻮﺑﺘﺮ‬.
aboratories, garages, stores, factories, garages,workshops and storage places.
3

 ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

d
General requirements for escape routes (fire protection code) - Part two

cte
• The net clear height of any escape route part should not be less than 2.10 m.
• The clear height from floor level of any escape route part to any projections or any suspensions under the ceiling (such

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as AC duct) should not be less than 2.05 m.
• Regarding the stairs clear height is measured from any point on the inclined surface to the point above it directly on

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the flight above it.
• minimum number of exits for any floor in a building are as follows:
Table (4-C)

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Minimum Occupancy Type
Exits numbers

4
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Gathering occupancy (group A) and Commercial occupancy (group E) that occupancy
load for any floor is more than 1000 persons.
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Gathering occupancy (group A) and Commercial occupancy (group E) that occupancy
3 load for any floor is more than 600 and less than1000 persons.
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2 Other occupancy groups

Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim 1

 ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

d
General requirements for escape routes (fire protection code) - Part two

cte
• It is allowed to have only one exit if all the following conditions are existed:
A. If the occupancy group is not Occupancy individuals gatherings (group A) or Occupancy of industrial and

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storage (group F-1).
B. If the level of last floor does not exceed 13m and its occupancy group is Occupancy therapeutic and penal

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institutions (group B) or 16m for the rest of the occupancy groups.
C. If the total occupancy load for any floor is not more than 60 persons.
D. If the floor area for any floor does not exceed 600m2.

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• Exists must be distributed in a way that the occupants can take any of two opposite directions (or more) to prepare

distances is respected).
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alternative exits for them (except for the buildings that have permission of one exit in condition that the travel

• The distance between any two exits in the same floor must not be less than half of the bigger floor’s diameter with
minimum of 10m.
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• If the building floor has a lobby serving more than one tenant distance between exits does not have to be more than
10m.
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• If there is one or more exits that does not follow the regulations it is allowed to be there but it will not be counted as
escape exits.

Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim 5

 ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

d
General requirements for escape routes (fire protection code) - Part two

te cte
t pro
ri gh
py
Co

Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim 6

 ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

d
General requirements for escape routes (fire protection code) - Part two

cte
• In some cases the authority may ask (beside the required previous mentioned exits) for additional entrances or break-in
openings (‫ )ﻓﺘﺤﺎت اﻹﻗﺘﺤﺎم‬to facilitate the fire fighting.

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• The authority may exclude the break in openings from the minimum height.
Calculating exits' width

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• Exit unit (‫ )وﺣـــــﺪة اﻟـﺨـــــﺮوج‬is the width that allow one person to walk through it; the exit unit width is 55cm unless
most of the building’s occupants are handicapped using walking aids such as wheel chairs.
• Exit unit capacity (‫ )طـــﺎﻗـــﺔ إﺳـــﺘﯿﻌﺎب وﺣـــﺪة اﻟﺨـــﺮوج‬is the maximum number of persons can walk through it during the

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suitable escape time.
• Exit unit capacity depends on:
- Exit type.
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- The health and body condition for the occupants.
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- The alert condition that the occupant should be on it in different timing.
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Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim 7

 ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

d
General requirements for escape routes (fire protection code) - Part two

cte
• Exit unit capacity is defined as follows to find out the exits unit width (passages, corridors,… etc.):
Table (4-D)

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Occupancy type Exit unit capacity (55cm)
Group B, Group C, Group F-1 30 persons

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Groups A-1, A-2, A-3, E
a- Passages & exits in ground floor 90 persons
b- Stairs, passages, & ramps connecting between different buildings parts 60 persons

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Group A-4 100 persons

Group D, Group F-2, Group F-3

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Group A-4 in case there is way to reach open wide space like football court 500 persons
60 persons

• Divid total load capacity by the above exit unit capacity to find out minimum required exit unit number.
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• Any door exists in the route to the exit its width must not be less than 80cm if it consists of one leaf, if it consists of
more than one leaf then each leaf must not be less than 60cm.
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• Exit door should not be less than 90cm width.

• Any passage, stair or ramp used an exit or as part of the route to exit or discharge exit must not be less than 110cm,
others passage, stair or ramp that are not used as an exit nor as part of the route to exit the minimum width for
passages must be 90cm and 72cm for stairs and ramps.
Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim 8

 ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

d
General requirements for escape routes (fire protection code) - Part two

cte
• Exit doors leaf width must not be less than 75cm and not more than 120cm.
• Any passage, stair or ramp serving an area that is used for patients that can not move by themselves its door minimum

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width is 110cm.
• Any door in a passage used as a way to exit, any exit door or any door connecting any stairway, ramp or passage used

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as exit and exit discharge; in all cases its width should not be less than ¾ the passage, stair or ramp width.
• Exit unit capacity is defined as follows to find out the number of exit units for doors:
Table (4-E)

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Group B-2
ri gh
Occupancy type where the door exists Exit unit capacity
36 persons
Groups B-1, Group C, Group F-1 45 persons
Groups A-1, Group A-2, Group A-3, Group E
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a- Passages & exits in ground floor 110 persons
b- Stairs, passages, & ramps connecting between different buildings parts 75 persons
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Group A-4 practically no doors with escape routes in this type. ————
Group D, Group F-2, Group F-3 75 persons

Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim 9

 ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

d
General requirements for escape routes (fire protection code) - Part two

cte
• First calculate the exit units and then distributed on the exit numbers requested.
• It is allowed that the number of the exit units for the exit or door or passage to be whole numbers or whole numbers

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and half taking in consideration the minimum width.
• If the exits needed is 2 then exit units should be distributed between them equally, if the number is more than 2 exits,

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then the number of exit units counted in any exit must not exceed half of the total exit units needed.
• Exit doors should be fire resistant and prevent smoke penetration.
• It is not allowed for the exit to have an opening for any machine, transformers or electric distribution boards’ rooms.

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• Calculate the width of exits units needed by dividing total occupancy load by exit unit capacity using (Table 4-D),

capacity using table (Table 4-E).

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but in order to calculate the number of exit units needed for doors is by dividing total occupancy load by exit door

• NOTE: If the result is less than 0.5 it will rounded to 0.5 if more than 0.5 and less than 1 it will be rounded to 1.
py
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Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim 10

 ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

d
General requirements for escape routes (fire protection code) - Part two

cte
• Qualitative occupant load ‫حمل اإلشغال النوعي‬:
Occupant Occupant type Qualitative occupant load
group (m2/person)

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Group A - Area for standing persons 0.4
- Closed & open stadiums 0.6
0.8

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- Area with unfixed seats
- Area with unfixed tables & seats 1.0
- Class rooms, reading halls, language labs 1.25
- Schools’ labs 3.0
- Artwork rooms, sports halls, billiard halls 1.0
- Restaurants, coffees, cafeterias 1.2
5.0

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Group B - Housing wards for persons with restricted movement for health issues or penalty
- Hospitals and elderly homes 10.0
Group C

Group D
- Dormitory gh
- Crafts’ shop, service shops, clean & repair goods shops
- Administrative & profession offices
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5.0
10.0
Group E - Shops, markets, showrooms, supermarkets: 1- Ground floor & basement 3.0
2- Above ground floor 6.0
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Group F - Factories, workshops 5.0
- Stores 30.0
- Garages & Aircraft hangars 50.0
- Places for goods & clothes repair and clean 5.0
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Other Usage
- Kitchens 10.0
- Secondary stores included in another main occupant building 50.0
- Note: 1- For gathering places with fixed seats occupant load calculated according to
seats numbers
2- For residential apartments & hotels total occupant load = 2 persons / bedroom
Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim 11

 ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

d
General requirements for escape routes (fire protection code) - Part two

cte
- Example: Calculate the exits for a restaurant in ground floor with area of 500m2.
- (Occupancy group A), occupancy load

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1.2m2/person the number of persons=
500/1.2= 416.7 persons ~ 417 persons

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- Total no. of exit units for passages = 417/90 =

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4.6 ~ 5 exit units (Table (4-D))
- Escape route width = 5X0.55 = 2.75 m
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- Total no. of exit units for doors = 417/110 = 3.8 ~
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4 exit units (distributed on 2 exits) (Table 4-E)
- Exits width / door = 4 x 0.55 = 2.20 m
- Door width (2.20m) is more than 75% of the passage width
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(2.75X0.75 = 2.06m)
- According to the exits' numbers table this
building needs 2 exits doors
Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim 12

 ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
CAIRO CAMPUS

AR542/ Regulation & Law - Lecture 08

d
General requirements for escape routes (fire protection code) - Part two

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t pro
ri gh End of Lecture 8
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Prepared by: Arch. Maged Samy Ibrahim 13