UNIT 10

PART B: PASSIVE CONTROL: FIRE PROTECTION IN BUILDINGS

1. FIRE PREVENTION: This part covers aspects of fire prevention pertaining to design
and construction of buildings on passive fire protection measures, also describing the
various types of building materials and their fire ratings.

5.1 General Classification: [NBC of India]

Clause 3.1.1 of Part 4 of NBC makes classification of buildings based on occupancy,

which is as follows:

A) Residential: Sub-divided into A-1 Lodging or rooming houses, A-2 One or two family
dwellings, A-3 Dormitories, A-4 Apartment Houses (flats), A-5 Hotels, and A-6 Hotels
(starred)

B) Educational: Sub-divided into B-1 Schools up to senior secondary level, B-2 All
others/training institutions.

C) Institutional: C-1 Hospitals and Sanatoria, C-2 Custodial institutions, and C-3 Penal
and mental institutions.

D) Assembly: Sub-divided into D-1 Buildings having theatrical or motion picture or any
other stage and fixed seats for over 1000 persons, D-2 do same as above but up to
1000 persons, D-3 Buildings without permanent stage having accommodation for 300 or
more persons but no permanent seating arrangement, D-4 Do same as above but less
than 300 persons, D-5 All other structures including temporary structures designed for
assembly of people not covered by D-1 to D-4 at ground level, D-6 Buildings having
mixed occupancies providing facilities such as shopping, cinema theatres and
restaurants, D-7 All other structures, elevated or underground, for assembly of people
not covered by D-1 to D-6.

E) Business: Sub-divided into E-1 Offices, Banks, Professional establishments, and

Police stations, E-2 Laboratories, Research establishments, Libraries and Test houses,
E-3 Computer installations, E-4 Telephone exchanges and E-5 Broadcasting and
television studios.

F) Mercantile: Sub-divided into F-1 Shops, Stores, Departmental stores, Markets with
area up to 500 sq, m, F-2 same as above but area more than 500 sq. m, F-3
Underground shopping centres.

G) Industrial: Sub-divided into G-1 Buildings used for low hazard industries, G-2 same
as above but with medium hazard industries, and G-3 same as above but with high
hazard industries.
 H) Storage: These include all storage facilities except those that involve highly
combustible or explosive products or materials, and

J) Hazardous: These shall include any building which is used for the storage, handling,
manufacture or processing of highly combustible or explosive materials or products.

5.2 Fire Zones:

The city or area under jurisdiction of authority shall for the purpose of the Code, be
demarcated into distinct zones, based on fire hazard inherent in the buildings and
structures according to occupancy, which shall be called as ‘Fire Zones’.

Fire Zone No. 1: This shall comprise of residential areas like Groups A, B, C, D and
small business sub-division E 1, Retail mercantile F.

Fire Zone No. 2: This shall comprise business sub-divisions E2 to E5, and industrial
buildings sub-divisions G1 and G2, except high hazard buildings sub-division G3.

Fire Zone No. 3: This shall comprise areas having high hazard industrial buildings sub-
division G3, storage buildings Group H and buildings for fire hazardous use Group J.

5.3 Types of Construction:

The design of any building and the type of materials used in its construction are
important factors in making the building resistant to complete burn-out and preventing
the rapid spread of fire, smoke or fumes, which may otherwise contribute to the loss of
life or property.

The fire resistance of a building or its structural and non-structural elements is

expressed in hours against a specified fire load which is expressed in kcal / m2, and
against a certain intensity of fire.

For the purpose of the code, the types of construction according to fire resistance shall
be classified in to four categories namely, Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4, in
which Type 1 shall have maximum hours of fire resistance.

5.4 Classification of Fire-proof Materials:

Some materials are combustible while others are so slow that they may be used as fire-
proof materials in building construction. According NBC clause no. 3. 4. 15. 2, building
materials can be classified as:

5.4.1 Surface of very Low Flame spread: these materials can resist fire for very long
periods of time are fire insulating such as boards with fire retardant surface treatment,
asbestos and other non combustible materials, like Fire boards, insulated with asbestos
and other metal based plywood. Besides, they extremely dense and homogeneous.
5.4.2 Surface of Low Flame spread: these are impressed straw boards or synthetic
resin bonded boards or sheets.

5.4.3 Surface of Medium Flame spread: hard boards, fire boards and timber or
plywood weighing more than 25 lbs/ft3.

5.4.4 Surface of Rapid Flame spread: timber or plywood weighing less than above
also acrylic sheets and glasses.

The following are recommended fire resisting periods for building elements:

No Material Resistance Period

1 230 thk brick wall 2 hrs
150 thk brick wall 1.5 hrs
2 230 thk hollow concrete blocks 4 hrs
150 thk hollow concrete blocks 2 hrs
100 thk hollow concrete blocks 1.5 hrs
3 180 thk RCC walls 4 hrs
115 thk RCC walls 2 hrs
4 230 thk Hollow Clay blocks 2 hrs
115 thk Hollow Clay blocks 1 hr
5 19 thk Partition finished with plaster board 1 hr
12 thk Partition finished with plaster board 0.5 hr
6 150 thk RC Floor Slab 4 hrs
125 thk RC Floor Slab 2 hrs
100 thk RC Floor Slab 1 hr
7 300X300 min RC Column 2 hrs
300X300 min RC Column with wire mesh 4 hrs
8 RC Stair Case 1 hr
9 Rolling Shutter 2 hrs
10 Sliding Steel Shutter with metal frame 2 hrs
11 Double Steel Shutter or Double Rolling Shutter 4 hrs
12 Solid Frame T.W. Panelled Doors & Windows 1 hr

5.5 Electrical Installation:

For requirements regarding electrical installation from the point of view of fire safety,
reference may be made to good practice [4(9)] See also Part 8 ‘Building Services’,
Section 2, ‘Electrical and allied installation’.

5.5.1 Transformers in the basement shall be located in a room having 4 hours of fire
resistance. The room shall be located on the periphery of basement. Entrance to the
room shall be through a door of 2 hours fire resistance.
5.5.2 Electrical distribution cables shall be laid in separate shafts. This shaft shall be
sealed at every alternate floor with non-combustible material having same fire
resistance as that of the shaft. Access doors of the shaft shall have 1 hr. fire rating.
Other services like water mains, gas pipes, telephone lines shall not be run in the shaft
for electrical cables.

5.6 Air Conditioning and Ventilation:

Air conditioning and ventilation requirements of different rooms or areas in any

occupancy shall be as given in Part 8 ‘Building Services, Section 1 Lighting and
Ventilation, and Section 3 Air conditioning Heating and Mechanical ventilation’.

5.6.1 Escape routes like staircases, common corridors, and lift lobby shall not be used
as return air passage.

5.6.2 Ducting shall be made of substantial gauge as per I. S. Code. The materials used
for insulating the system shall have very low flame spread. Whenever ducts pass
through fire walls or floors, the opening around the ducts shall be sealed with fire
resisting materials, mineral wool etc.

Metallic ducts shall be used for return air instead of the space above the false ceiling.
Air ducts serving main floor areas shall not pass through the stair well.

5.6.3 The air handling units shall be as far as possible separate for each floor and ducts
for every floor shall be independent and in no way inter-connected with any other floor.
If an AHU serves more than one floor, the following rules shall be complied with:

a) Proper arrangement shall be made for isolating ducting of any other floor from the
main by automatic fire-dampers which shall close by gravity in the direction of air
movement and shall remain tightly closed on operation of the fire alarm based on
smoke detectors.

b) Arrangement shall be made to automatically switch off the AHU of the respective
floors when the fire alarm operates.

c) All filters of AHU shall be of non-combustible material.

5.7 Fire Control (Propagation):

The use of fire resistant cells or compartments within a buildings are a means of
confining an outbreak of fire to the site of origin for a reasonable time to allow the
occupants a chance to escape and the fire fighters to tackle, control and extinguish the
fire.
5.7.1 Each portion of a building which is separated by one or more continuous fire
resistant walls and floors shall have fire resistance of 2 Hours, provided that the
openings if any should also have fire resistance of not less than 2 hours.

5.7.2 Open Spaces: The open spaces around or inside the building shall confirm to the
requirements of Part 3 ‘Development Control Rules and general Building
Requirements’.

5.7.2.1 Inner Courts: No dimensions of inner court on which windows open shall be
less than 6.10 m and the minimum area of internal court shall be 37.2 sq. m. or square
of 1/5th height of the tallest wall in the court wall. Windows of any WC and bath shall
abut on a court of minimum dimension of 2.4 m and area of 18.3 sq. m.

5.8 Access to Fire Tenders:

a) The width of the street of approach on which the building stands shall be 7.2 m wide
with no bends. The approach road shall be able to take the load of 12000 kgs fire
engine.

b) The entrance to the site and internal roads and open space around the building shall
be min. 4.6 m. wide.

c) Building of height over 30 m. at least two sides of it shall have court yards and open
spaces of minimum7.2 m width and other two sides shall have courtyard 6.1 m. wide.
These widths shall be free from car parking, weather sheds and other projections.

d) Courtyards should be hard surfaced to take the load of 12 tonne fire engine.

5.9 Car Parking:

Car parking may be permitted in the basement, ground floor and on upper floor levels
provided that the parking area is completely segregated from the dwelling occupancy by
an adequate fire separation.

a) Parking areas on ground and upper floor level shall not be enclosed by walls. Open
grilled area above 1 m parapet is allowed.

b) Car parking may be permitted in 9.2 m wide open space leaving 5 m width clear to
allow movement of fire tender.

c) Where parking is provided for more than 10 cars in the basement and at upper floor
levels, two separate ramps shall be provided away from each other preferably at
opposite ends.
5.10 Lifts:

Walls of lift shaft shall have 2 hour fire resistance. Lift shafts should have permanent
ventilation of 2 sq. m. area. Exit through lift lobby should be through a self closing
smoke-stop door with 1and 1/2 hour’s fire resistance.

Lift shall not communicate with basement, only one lift may but have a smoke –stop
door with 2 hr. fire resistance.

5.11 Some NBC, Part 4 Terminologies and Definitions:

5.8.1 Fire Door: A fire resistive door approved for opening in fire separation.

5.8.2 Fire Exit: A way out leading to an escape route having panic bar hardware
provided on the door.

5.8.3 Fire Separation: The distance in meters measured from the external wall of the
building concerned to the external wall of any other building on the site or from other
site or from opposite side of street or other public space for the purpose of preventing
spread of fire.

5.8.4 Fire Separating Wall: The wall provides complete separation of one building from
another or a part of building from another or part of the building from another part of the
same building to prevent any communication of fire or heat transmission to wall itself
which may cause or assist in the combustion of materials on the side opposite to that
portion which may be on fire.

5.8.5 Fire Stop: A fire resistant material, or construction, having fire resistance rating of
not less than the fire separating elements, installed in concealed spaces or between
structural elements of a building to prevent the spread / propagation of fire and smoke
through walls, ceilings and like as per laid down criteria.

5.8.6 Fire Tower: An enclosed staircase which can only be approached from various
floors through landings or lobbies separated from both the floor areas.

5.8.7 High Rise Building: For the purpose of this part, all buildings 15 m in height or
above shall be considered as high rise buildings.

5.8.8 Means of Egress: A continuous and unobstructed way of travel from any point in
a building or structure to a place of comparative safety.

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