Building Codes

Designed by Corporate L&D Instructional Designing Team

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Module Introduction Introduces the module objectives and duration. 5 minutes

Module Overview This Module is developed to brief about Building codes. 40 minutes

Module Summary List the key learning points of the training module 5 minute

Total Duration 50 minutes

(approximately)
Module Introduction

Welcome to the Building Codes Learning module

This module will brief you about

• Classification of Building
• Fire Prevention & Life Safety requirements
• Fire prevention & protection in high rise building

It will take you approximately 50 minutes to complete this

training module.
Module Objective

By the end of this module learner will be able to ensure:

• Fire Protection system

• Fire Prevention & Life Safety
• Fire and Safety in building
Building codes

Building Code deals with safety from fire. It

specifies

• Demarcation of fire zones,

• Restrictions on construction of buildings in each fire zone,
• Classification of buildings based on occupancy,
• Building construction according to Fire resistance of the
structural and non-structural components
• To minimize danger to life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic
before the buildings can be evacuated.

Building Code recognizes that safety of life is more than a

matter of means of exits and accordingly deals with various
matters which are considered essential to the safety of life.

GMS-L&D-Fire
Building Codes: Classification of Buildings

Classification of Buildings Based on

Occupancy.(NBC-2005)

General Classification:

All buildings, whether existing or hereafter erected, shall be

classified according to the use or the character of
occupancy in one of the following groups:

• Group A Residential
• Group B Educational
• Group C Institutional
• Group D Assembly
• Group E Business
• Group F Mercantile
• Group G Industrial
• Group H Storage
• Group J Hazardous
Building Codes: Classification of Buildings

Group A : Residential Buildings:

I. Lodging or Rooming houses

II. One or two-family private dwellings
III. Dormitories
IV. Apartment houses (flats)
V. Hotels
VI. Hotels (Starred)

Group B: Educational buildings:

I. school, college, other training institutions

II. purposes involving assembly for instruction,
III. Schools up to senior secondary level
Building Codes: Classification of Buildings

Group C : Institutional Buildings:

I. Hospitals and Sanatoria

II. Custodial institutions
III. Penal and Mental institutions

Group D : Assembly Buildings:

I. shopping,
II. cinema theatres,
III. Restaurants.
Building Codes: Classification of Buildings

Group E : Business Buildings:

I. Laboratories, research establishments, libraries

and test houses;
II. Computer installation
III. Telephone exchanges;
IV. Broadcasting stations and T.V stations

Group F : Mercantile Buildings:

I. Shops, stores, departmental stores, markets,
II. shopping centers. Storage and service facilities
Building Codes: Classification of Buildings

Group G Industrial Buildings:

Hazardous industries. I.e. processing units

Group H Storage Buildings:

I. Warehouses
II. cold storage
III. freight depots, transit sheds
IV. storehouses
V. Hangars, grain elevators

Group J Hazardous Buildings:

I. Building or storage, processing unit of highly
combustible or explosive materials
Fire Zones

Fire Zones
Based on fire hazards inherent in the buildings and
structures according to occupancy
The fire zones are designated as follows:

Fire Zone No. 1

I. Rresidential,
II. Educational,
III. Institutional ,
IV. Assembly Buildings

Fire Zone No. 2

I. Business and industrial buildings

Fire Zone No. 3 -

I. high hazard industrial buildings , Storage Buildings
Types of construction:

The types of construction according to fire resistance are classified into four categories,

 Type I Construction,
Ex.- Family Dwellings

 Type 2 Construction,
Ex.- Institutional, Assembly Buildings

 Type 3 Construction
Ex.- Processing industries

 Type4 Construction.
Ex.- Hazardous industries,
Explosive & Flammable storages,
Life Safety

Every building shall be as constructed, equipped, maintained and

operated as to avoid undue danger to the life and safety of the
occupants from fire, smoke, fumes or panic during the time
period necessary for escape

Means Of Escape

I. Travel Distance
II. Occupant load
III. Fire Resistance Ratings of Structural and Non-
Structural Elements
IV. Time Of Evacuation
V. Illumination of Exit
VI. Staircase & Staircase pressurization
Means of Escape : Travel Distance

Means the distance to be travelled from any point in a building to a protected escape route, external
escape route or final exit.

Maximum Travel Distance Maximum Travel Distance

Sr. No Group of occupancy
Construction Construction

Types 1 & 2 m Types 3 & 4 m

1 Residential(A) 30 22.5
2 Educational(B) 30 22.5
3 Institutional(C) 30 22.5
4 Assembly(D) 30 30
5 Business(E) 30 30
6 Mercantile (F) 30 30
7 Industrial(G) 45 30
8 Storage(H) 30 30
9 Hazardous(J) 22.5 30
Means of Escape : Occupant Load

Occupant Load:
For determining the exits required, the number of persons within any floor area or the occupant load
shall be based on the actual number of occupants, but in no case less than that specified in Table below

Sr. No Group of occupancy Occupant load, Floor area in M2/ Person

1 Residential(A) 12.5
2 Educational(B) 4
15(Occupant load in dormitory portions of homes for the aged, orphanages, insane
asylums, etc., where sleeping Accommodation is provided, shall be calculated at not less
3 Institutional(C) than 7.5 m2 gross floor area/person.)

0.6, 15, (The gross floor area shall include, in addition to the main Assembly room or
space, any occupied connecting room or Space in the same storey or in the storeys above
or below, where entrance is common to such rooms and spaces and they are Available for
4 Assembly(D)
use by the occupants of the assembly place. No deductions shall be made in the gross
area for corridors, closets or other sub-d]visions; the area shall include all space serving
the particular assembly occupancy.)

5 Mercantile (F) 3, 06
6 Industrial & business 10
7 Storage(H) 30
8 Hazardous(J) 10

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Means of Escape : Fire Exit

Types of Exit

I. Exits shall be either of horizontal or vertical type.

II. An exit may also include horizontal exit leading to an

adjoining building at the same level.

III. Numbers and size of various exists shall be provided,

based on the population in each room, area and floor based
on the occupant load, capacity of exits.

IV. Travel distance on the floor shall not exceed 22.m & 30m
for assembly, business, industrial occupancies..

V. There shall be a minimum of two staircase one shall be an

enclosed stairway and other on the external walls of
buildings and shall open directly to the exterior, interior
open space or to any open place of safety.

GMS-L&D-Fire
Means of Escape : Fire Exit

Fire Exit; General Requirements

I. An exit may be a doorway, corridor; passageway to an
internal staircase, or external building or a refuge area.

II. An exit may also include a horizontal exit leading to an

adjoining building at the same level.

III. Every building shall be provided with exits sufficient to

permit safe escape of occupants

IV. No building shall be so altered as to reduce the number,

width or protection of exits

V. Exits shall be clearly visible

VI. route to reach such exits shall be clearly marked

VII. signs posted to guide the occupants of the floor

concerned.

VIII. The color of the exit signs shall be green.

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Means of Escape : Illumination

 All wires and other accessories used for emergency light shall
have fire retardant property

 Staircase and corridor lighting shall also be connected to

alternative supply:

 The alternative source of supply maybe provided by battery

continuously trickle charged from the electric mains

 The horizontal luminance at floor level on the centerline of an

escape route shall be not less than 10 lux. In addition, for escape
routes up-to 2m wide, 50% of the route width shall be lit to a
minimum of 5 lux.

 Emergency lighting systems shall be designed to ensure that a fault

or failure in any one lummaire does not further reduce the
effectiveness of the system 4.16.6.

 The luminaries shall be mounted as low as possible, but at-least

2m above the floor level.

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Means of Escape : Staircase & Staircase pressurization

I. All emergency staircases floor landings shall have

fire rated doors of 1Hr.

II. No electrical shafts/AC ducts or gas pipes, etc.

shall pass through or open in the staircases. Lifts
shall not open in staircase.

III. No combustible material shall be used for

decoration/wall paneling in the staircase.

IV. Handrails shall be provided to all staircase.

V. Mirrors shall not be provided in the staircase

corridor (escape route)

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Refuge Area

Refuge Area :
I. Area Especially made for the Emergency survival of Building
occupant with sitting & drinking water facilities
II. Emergency lighting arrangement must be provided.
III. Provisions for all high- rise buildings except multi-family
dwellings
IV. Refuge area of not less than 15 m2 shall be provided on
external walls in buildings

V. Refuge Area-For all buildings exceeding 15 m in height, refuge

area shall be provided as follows
• For floors above 15 m and upto 24 m -one refuge area
on the floor immediately above 18m.

• For floors above 24 m and upto 36 m-one refuge area on

the floor immediately above 24m.

• For floors above 36 m-one refuge area per every five

floors above 36m

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Fire Protection

All buildings depending upon the occupancy use and

height shall be protected by

I. Auto Detection System, Manual operated Electrical Fire

Alarm System
II. First Aid Fire Fighting Appliances i.e. Fire Extinguishers,
Hose reels etc.
III. Fixed Fire fighting installations i.e Hydrant System, Hose
Box with delivery and branches
IV. Sprinkler System
V. Compartmentation

GMS-L&D-Fire
Fire Detection & Alarm Systems ( NBC, 4.18)

Fire Detection & Alarm Systems

I. Where it is necessity, to warn Occupants at early stage of the

existence of fire, so that they may escape

II. In high rise buildings, provisions shall be made to provide adequate

warning to occupants through automatic fire detection and / or
manually operated electric fire alarm systems in the early stage of
fire.

III. Selection of automatic fire detection systems in different fire

developing situations along with choice, requirements, selection of
detector etc. should be made accordance.
(Refer IS 2189, 2175)

Alarm hooter
 Provision of first aid fire fighting

I. The first aid fire fighting equipments shall be provided on all floor
including basements, occupied terrace, lift rooms in accordance
with IS : 2217-1982

II. Recommendations for providing First Aid Fire Fighting

Arrangements in Public Buildings in consultation with the Chief
Fire Officer.

III. The fire fighting appliances shall be distributed over the building
in accordance with IS 2190 Code of Practice for selection,
installation and maintenance of portable first aid fire appliances.

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Fixed Fire Fighting Installations

I. The Wet Riser installations shall conform to lS: 3844-

1966CodeofPracticefor Installation of internal fire
hydrants in multi-storey buildings.

II. In addition, Wet Risers shall be designed for Zonal

distribution ensuring that unduly high pressure are not
developed in risers and have ripes.

III. In addition to wet risers, first aid hose reels shall be

installed on all the floors of the buildings and shall
conform to IS: 884-1969 specification for first aid hose
reel for fire fighting (fixed installations). The first aid
hose reel shall be connected to one of the female
couplings of twin couplings of landing valves of the wet
riser installations by means of adopter.

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Water Storage Tank

I. A satisfactory supply of water exclusively for the purpose of fire fighting shall always be available
in the form of underground static storage tank with sufficient capacity specified in NBC Part-IV.

II. The static storage water supply required for the above mentioned purpose should entirely be
accessible to the fire tenders of the fire service.

III. The static water storage tank shall be provided with a fire brigade collecting branching with 4
Nos. 63mm dia instantaneous male inlets arranged in a valve box with a suitable fixed pipe not
less than 15 cm dia to discharge water into the tank. This arrangement is not required where
down comer is provided.

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Automatic sprinkler system installations

Automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in the

following buildings:

I. All buildings of 24 m. and above in height, except group

housing and 45 m.
II. All hotels, mercantile, and institutional buildings of 15 m.
and above.
III. Mercantile building having basement more than one floor
but below 15 m.
IV. Underground Shopping Complex.
V. Underground car / scooter parking /enclosed car parking.
VI. Basement area 200 sq m. and above.
VII. Automatic heat/smoke detection system and M.C.P. need
not be insisted upon.

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Fire protection requirements: Group A Residential Buildings

Type of installations,
Sr.
Water supply, Pump Residential buildings
No
Capacity etc.
Lodging or Rooming Houses (A-1) (Buildings above 15m in height not to be One or two
permitted for occupanciesA-1.) Family Private
Up to 15 rooms. More than 15 and up to 30 rooms More than 30 rooms. Dwellings (A-2)
1 Fire Extinguisher Yes Yes Yes No
2 Hose reel No Yes Yes No
3 Dry Riser No Yes No No
4 Wet Riser No Yes No No
5 Down Comer No Yes No No
6 Yard Hydrant No No No No
Automobile Sprinkler Yes ( In basement if area Yes ( In basement if area exceeds Yes ( In basement if No
7 System exceeds 200m2) 200m2) area exceeds 200m2)

Manually operated No No Yes (Required to be No

electric alarm provided for buildings
8 system. with more than two
storeys (Ground+
One).)
Automatic fire alarm No No No No
9 System

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Fire protection requirements: Group A Residential Buildings

Automatic fire detection & alarm No No No No

9 System

Underground static water storage No No No No

10 tank capacity in litres

Water terrace tank capacity in litre 5000 (Required to be 5000 (Additional 10000 (Additional value No
provided if basement area value given in given in parenthesis shall
exceeds 200 m2.) parenthesis shall be added if basement area
be added if exceeds 200 m2.)
11 basement area
exceeds 200 m2.)

Pump near underground static No No No No

storage tank (fire Pump) with
minimum pressure of 3.5 kg/cm2 at
12 terrace level.

Terrace tank level pump with No 450 LPM pump 450 LPM pump capacity No
13 minimum pressure of 2 kg/ cm2 capacity

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Compartmentation

I. The building shall be suitably compartmentalized so that

the fire and smoke remain confined to the area where the
fire incident has occurred and does not spread to the other
part of the building.

II. Fire Compartmentaion is the division of the building into

discrete fire zones.

III. Fire Compartmentation is probably the most effective

means of limiting fire damage.

IV. Fire Compartmentation is designed to contain the fire to

within the area of starting point of the fire.

V. The Compartmentation approach provides at least some

protection for the rest of the building and its occupants
even if other fire prevention systems are installed and fail.

VI. Fire Compartmentation delays the spread of fire before the

fire brigade arrives on incident site.

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Ducts

Fire Ducts

I. Fire rated insulated / non insulated construction of the duct system shall be applicable.
II. In case of the penetrations as a result of the duct passing through various compartments,
III. The penetrations shall be sealed by Fire Stopping Systems.

Cable Ducts

I. The electric distribution cables / wiring shall be laid in a separate duct.

II. The duct shall be sealed at every floor with non-combustible materials
III. the penetrations shall be sealed by Fire Stopping Systems.

Fire Stopping Service Ducts & Shafts

I. Service ducts and shafts shall be enclosed by walls of 2 hour and doors of 1 hour rating.
II. All such ducts / shafts shall be properly sealed and fire stopped at all floors.
III. Fire rated barriers, access panels & hatches and fire doors tested to the required BS 476 standards

GMS-L&D-Fire
 Fire Control Room.

I. For all buildings 15m in height and above and apartment

buildings with a height of 30m

II. Entrance floor of the building with communication system

to all floors and facilities

III. There shall be a control room on the entrance floor of the

building with communication system

IV. (suitable public address system) to all floors and facilities

for receiving the message from different floors.

V. Details of all floor plans along with the details of fire

fighting equipment and installations shall be maintained in
the Control Room.

VI. The control room shall also have facilities to detect the fire
on any floor through Indicator Boards connecting fire
detecting and alarm system on all floors.

GMS-L&D-Fire
Fire Orders

Fire Orders

I. Fire notices/orders shall be prepared to fulfill the

requirements of the fire fighting and evacuation from the
building in the event of fire and other incidents.

II. The occupants shall be made thoroughly conversant with

their action in the event of the emergency, by displaying fire
notices at vantage points.

III. Such notices should be displayed prominently in broad

lettering.

GMS-L&D-Fire
Module Summary

Congratulations! You have completed Building Code training module.

Keep in mind the following points:

• Building codes deals with the requirements necessary to minimize danger to life and property
from fire and adopts an integrated approach.
• Classification of Buildings
• Fire Zones and fire safety of the Buildings

GMS-L&D-Fire