Chapter 3Fire Prevention

3.1 Classification of Buildings Based on Occupancy

3.2.1 Demarcation

The city or area under the jurisdiction of the 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 (see 3.1), which shall be called as ‘Fire Zones’.

3.2.2 Number and Designation of Fire Zones

3.2.2.1 The number of fire zones in a city or area under the jurisdiction of the Authority depends upon the existing layout, types of building construction (see 3.3), classification of existing buildings based on occupancy (see 3.1) and expected future development of the city or area. In large cities or areas, three fire zones may be necessary, while in smaller ones, one or two may be adequate.

3.2.2.2 The fire zones shall be made use of in land use development plan and shall be designated as follows:

a) Fire Zone No. 1 — This shall comprise areas having residential (Group A), educational (Group B), institutional (Group C), assembly (Group D), small business (Subdivision E-1) and mercantile (Group F) buildings, or areas which are under development for such occupancies.

b) Fire Zone No. 2 — This shall comprise business (Subdivisions E-2 to E-5) and industrial buildings (Subdivisions G-1 and G-2), except high hazard industrial buildings (Subdivision G-3) or areas which are under development for such occupancies.

c) Fire Zone No. 3 — This shall comprise areas having high hazard industrial buildings (Subdivision G-3), storage buildings (Group H) and buildings for hazardous uses (Group J) or areas which are under development for such occupancies.

3.2.3 Change in the Fire Zone Boundaries

When the boundaries of any fire zone are changed, or when it is intended to include other areas or types of occupancies in any fire zone, it shall be done by following the same procedure as for promulgating new rules or ordinances or both.

3.2.4 Overlapping Fire Zone

3.2.4.1 When any building is so situated that it extends to more than one fire zone, it shall be deemed to be in the fire zone in which the major portion of the building or structure is situated.

3.2.4.2 When any building is so situated that it extends equally to more than one fire zone, it shall be deemed

PART 4 FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY

to be in the fire zone having more hazardous occupancy buildings.

3.2.5 Temporary Buildings or Structures

3.2.5.1 Temporary buildings and structures shall be permitted only in Fire Zones No. 1 and 2 as the case may be, according to the purpose for which these are to be used, by special permit from the Authority for a limited period and subject to such conditions as may be imposed in the permit.

3.2.5.2 Such buildings and temporary structures shall be completely removed on the expiry of the period specified in the permit.

3.2.5.3 Adequate fire precautionary measures in the construction of temporary structures and Pandals shall be taken in accordance with good practice [4(4)].

3.2.6 Restrictions on the Type of Construction for New Buildings

These shall be as follows:

a) Buildings erected in Fire Zone No. 1 shall conform to construction of Type 1, 2, 3 or 4.

b) Buildings erected in Fire Zone No. 2 shall conform to construction of Type 1, 2 or 3.

c) Buildings erected in Fire Zone No. 3 shall conform to construction of Type 1 or 2.

3.2.7 Restrictions on Existing Buildings

The existing buildings in any fire zone shall not be required to comply with the requirements of the Code unless these are altered, or in the opinion of the Authority, such building constitutes a hazard to the safety of the adjacent property or to the occupants of the building itself or is an unsafe building. In the event of alteration, it shall be necessary to obtain permission of the Authority for such alteration consistent with fire hazard (see Part 2 ‘Administration’ of the Code).

Alterations/modifications/renovations shall be accomplished so as to ensure conformity with all the safety requirements of the new buildings. Such alterations shall not in any way bring down level of fire and life safety below that which existed earlier. Any addition or alterations or construction of cubicles or partitioning, for floor area exceeding $500 \, m^{2}$ for all high rise buildings shall be with the approval of local fire authority.

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

The fire resistance of a building or its structural and non-structural elements is expressed in minutes against a specified fire load which is expressed in kcal/m $^{2}$ , and against a certain intensity of fire. The fire-resistance test for structural element shall be done in accordance with accepted standards [4(2)]. For the purpose of the Code, the types of construction according to fire resistance shall be classified into four categories, namely, Type 1 Construction, Type 2 Construction, Type 3 Construction and Type 4 Construction. The minimum fire resistance ratings of structural and non-structural members for various types of construction shall be as given in Table 1.

Non-combustible materials should be used for construction of buildings, and the internal walls of staircase enclosures should be of brick work or reinforced concrete or any other material of construction with minimum of 120 min rating. The walls for the chimney shall be of Type 1 or Type 2 Construction depending on whether the flue gas temperature is above $200^{\circ}$ C or less, respectively.

3.3.2 It is required that a structural and/or non-structural element/component shall have the requisite fire resistance rating as per Table 1. The fire resistance rating for the structural and non-structural elements shall be based on guidelines as per approved and accepted standards. The fire rating shall be validated and certified with a view to meeting the requirements of Table 1. In the absence of any validated/certified rating, guidance may be obtained from the information available in Annex C.

3.3.3 Load bearing steel beams and columns of buildings having total covered area of $500 \, m^{2}$ and above shall be protected against failure/collapse of structure in case of fire. This could be achieved by use of appropriate methodology using suitable fire resistance rated materials along with suppression system (see Annex C, Table 25 and Table 26).

3.3.4 The false ceiling, including all fixtures used for its suspension, shall be of non-combustible material and shall provide adequate fire resistance to the ceiling in order to prevent spread of fire across ceiling.

3.4.1 General

All buildings shall satisfy certain requirements, which contribute, individually and collectively, to the safety of life from fire, smoke, fumes and panic arising from these or similar causes. There are, however, certain general principles and common requirements, which are applicable to all or most of the occupancies.

3.4.2 Exceptions and Deviations

Exceptions and deviations to the general provisions of requirements of individual occupancies are given as applicable to each type of occupancy in 6.1 to 6.9. In case of practical difficulty or to avoid unnecessary hardship, without sacrificing reasonable safety, local head, fire services may consider exemptions from the Code.

3.4.3.1 A building or portion of the building may be occupied during construction, repairs, alterations or additions only if all means of exit and fire protection measures are in place and continuously maintained for the occupied part of the building.

3.4.3.2 A high rise building during construction shall be provided with the following fire protection measures, which shall be maintained in good working condition at all the times:

a) Dry riser of minimum 100 mm diameter pipe with hydrant outlets on the floors constructed with a fire service inlet to boost the water in the dry riser and maintenance should be in accordance with good practice [4(5)].

b) Drums of 2 000 litre capacity filled with water with two fire buckets on each floor;

c) A water storage tank of minimum 20 000 litre capacity, which may be used for other construction purposes also.

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3.4.4 Maximum Height, Floor Area Ratio and Open Spaces

3.4.4.1 Every building shall be restricted in its height above the ground level and the number of storeys, depending upon its occupancy and the type of construction. The height shall be measured as specified in Part 3 ‘Development Control Rules and General Building Requirements’ of the Code. The maximum permissible height for any combination of occupancy and types of construction should necessarily be related to the width of street fronting the building, or floor area ratios and the local firefighting facilities available.

NOTE — Set-back distances (according to the permissible height for each type of building as per the occupancy), width of streets providing approach to the building, permitted floor area ratio (FAR), permitted open space around or inside buildings, provision of adequate passageway and clearances required for firefighting vehicles, etc shall be strictly governed by the provisions of Part 3 ‘Development Control Rules and General Building Requirements’ of the Code.

3.4.4.2 Floor area ratio

The comparative floor area ratios for different occupancies and types of construction are given in Table 2 (see also Part 3 ‘Development Control Rules and General Building Requirements’ of the Code).

3.4.4.3 The requirements of open space around the building(s) shall be in accordance with Part 3 'Development Control Rules and General Building Requirements' of the Code.

3.4.5.1 At the time of designing openings in fire resistant walls and floors, particular attention shall be paid to all such factors which limit fire spread through these openings and maintain fire rating of the structural members.

3.4.5.2 For Types 1 to 3 constructions, a doorway or opening in a fire resistant wall on any floor shall be limited to $5.6\mathrm{m}^2$ in area with a maximum height/width of $2.75\mathrm{m}$. Every wall opening shall be protected with fire-resisting doors, having the fire rating of not less than $120\mathrm{min}$. The openings in the floors shall be protected by vertical enclosures extending above and below such openings, such enclosures having a fire resistance of not less than $120\mathrm{min}$ and all openings therein being protected with a fire-resisting assembly as specified in 3.4.5.6.

For escalator openings, the smoke spill shall be avoided by provision of smoke barrier (of 450-600 mm) thereby creating smoke compartment. Further, the protection shall be ensured through installation of sprinklers on all sides of the cut out opening on each floor (see Fig. 3 for details).

3.4.5.3 For Type 4 construction, openings in the fire separating walls or floors shall be fitted with $120\mathrm{min}$ fire-resistance rated assemblies.

(see Note 5)

UL — Unlimited.

NP — Not permitted.

1 The FAR values given in this table are subject to overall restrictions on the heights of buildings in the case of educational, institutional, assembly, storage and hazardous occupancies as specified in col 2 of Table 7.

2 This table has been prepared, taking into account the combustible content in the different occupancies as well as the fire resistance offered by the type of construction.

3 This table should be modified by the Authority, taking into account the other aspects as given below:

a) Density in terms of dwelling units per hectare;

b) Traffic considerations;

c) Parking spaces;

d) Local fire-fighting facilities; and

e) Water supply, drainage and sanitation requirements.

4 The FAR values specified in this table may be increased by 20 percent for the following services:

a) A basement or cellar space under a building constructed on stilts and used as a parking space and air conditioning plant room used as accessory to the principal use;

b) Watchman's booth, pump house, garbage shaft, electric cabin or substation and other utility structures meant for the services of the building under considerations;

c) Projections and accessory buildings as specifically exempted under the Code; and

d) Staircase room and lift rooms above the topmost storey; architectural feature; and chimneys and elevated tanks of dimensions as permissible under the Code; the area of the lift shaft shall be taken only on one floor.

5 In so far as single storey storage and hazardous occupancies are concerned, they would be further governed by volume to plot area ratio (VPR) to be decided by the Authority.

3.4.5.4 Service ducts and shafts

Openings in walls or floors which are necessary to be provided to allow passages of all building services like cables, electrical wirings, telephone cables, plumbing pipes, etc, shall be protected by enclosure in the form of ducts/shafts having a fire resistance not less than 120 min. The inspection door for electrical shafts/ducts

FIG. 3 SPRINKLERS AROUND ESCALATOR OPENING

shall be not less than 120 min. Further, medium and low voltage wiring running in shafts/ducts, shall either be armoured type or run through metal conduits.

The space between the electrical cables/conduits and the walls/slabs shall be filled in by a fire stop material having fire resistance rating of not less than 120 min. This shall exclude requirement of fire stop sealing for low voltage services shaft.

For plumbing shafts in the core of the building, with shaft door opening inside the building, the shafts shall have inspection doors having fire resistance rating not less than 30 min.

For plumbing shafts doors which open in wet areas or in naturally ventilated areas or on external wall of the building, the shafts may not require doors having any specified fire rating.

NOTE — In the case of buildings where it is necessary to lower or lift heavy machinery or goods from one floor to the other, it may be necessary to provide larger openings in the floor. Such openings shall be provided with removable covers which shall have the same strength and fire resistance as the floor.

3.4.5.5 Refuse chutes

Refuse chutes, if any provided in a building, shall have opening at least 1 m above roof level for venting purpose and they shall have an enclosure wall of non-combustible material with fire resistance of not less than 120 min. They shall not be located within the staircase enclosure or service shafts, or air conditioning shafts. Refuse chutes inspection panel and doors shall be tight fitting with 60 min fire resistance. Sprinkler protection system shall be provided for the refuse chutes. Refuse chutes shall be at least 6 m away from exits.

3.4.5.6 Vertical opening

Every vertical opening between the floors of a building shall be suitably enclosed or protected, as necessary, to provide the following:

a) Reasonable safety to the occupants while using the means of egress by preventing spread of fire, smoke, or fumes through vertical openings from floor to floor to allow occupants to complete their use of the means of egress. Further it shall be ensured to provide a clear height of 2 100 mm in the exit access.

b) Limitation of damage to the building and its contents.

3.4.6.1 For requirements regarding electrical installations from the point of view of fire safety, reference may be made to good practice [4(6)] and Part 8 'Building Services, Section 2 Electrical and Allied Installations' of the Code.

In general, it is desirable that the wiring and cabling are with flame retardant property. Medium and low voltage wiring running in shafts, and within false ceiling shall run in metal conduit. Any 230 V wiring for lighting or other services, above false ceiling, shall have 660 V grade insulation.

The electric distribution cables/wiring shall be laid in a separate shaft. The shaft shall be sealed at every floor with fire stop materials having the same fire resistance as that of the floor. High, medium and low voltage wiring running in shaft and in false ceiling shall run in separate shaft/conduits.

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Water mains, gas pipes, telephone lines, intercom lines or any other service line shall not be laid in the duct for electrical cables; use of bus ducts/solid rising mains instead of cables is preferred.

All metallic items like steel structural members, etc, shall be bonded properly to the earthing system.

3.4.6.2 Emergency power for fire and life safety systems

Emergency power supplying distribution system for critical requirement for functioning of fire and life safety system and equipment shall be planned for efficient and reliable power and control supply to the following systems and equipment where provided:

a) Fire pumps.

b) Pressurization and smoke venting; including its ancillary systems such as dampers and actuators.

c) Fireman's lifts (including all lifts).

d) Exit signage lighting.

e) Emergency lighting.

f) Fire alarm system.

g) Public address (PA) system (relating to emergency voice evacuation and annunciation).

h) Magnetic door hold open devices.

j) Lighting in fire command centre and security room.

Power supply to these systems and equipment shall be from normal and emergency (standby generator) power sources with changeover facility. If power supply, is from HV source and HV generation, the transformer should be planned in standby capacity to ensure continuity of power to such systems. Wherever transformers are installed at higher levels in buildings and backup DG sets are of higher voltage rating, then dual redundant cables shall be taken to all transformers. The generator shall be capable of taking starting current of all the fire and life safety systems and equipment as above. Where parallel HV/LV supply from a separate substation fed from different grid is provided with appropriate transformer for emergency, the provision of generator may be waived in consultation with the Authority.

The power supply to the panel/distribution board of these fire and life safety systems shall be through fire proof enclosures or circuit integrity cables or through alternate route in the adjoining fire compartment to ensure supply of power is reliable to these systems and equipment. It shall be ensured that the cabling from the adjoining fire compartment is protected within the compartment of vulnerability. The location of the panel/distribution board feeding the fire and life safety system shall be in fire safe zone ensuring supply of power to these systems.

Circuits of such emergency system shall be protected at origin by an automatic circuit breaker with its no-volt coil removed. Master switches controlling essential service circuits shall be clearly labelled.

Cables for fire alarm and PA system shall be laid in metal conduits or armoured to provide physical segregation from the power cables.

3.4.6.3 Substation/Transformers

Areas in substation shall not be used as storage/dump areas or for other utility purposes other than those required for the functioning of the substation.

The substation area should be adequately ventilated.

An independent, ventilated or air conditioned MV panel room shall be provided on the ground level or first basement. This room shall be provided with access from outside (or through exit passageway accessible from outside). The MV panel room shall be provided with fire resistant walls and doors of fire resistance of not less than 120 min.

If the licensees agree to provide meters on upper floors, the licensees' cables shall be segregated from consumers' cables by providing a partition in the shaft. Meter rooms on upper floors shall not open into staircase enclosures and should be ventilated directly to open air outside or in electrical room of 120 min fire resistant walls.

Electrical MV main distribution panel and lift panels shall be provided with $CO_{2}$ /inert gas flooding system for all panel compartments with a cylinder located beside the panel.

3.4.6.4 Standby supply

Diesel generator set(s) shall not be installed at any floor other than ground/first basement. If the same are installed indoors, proper ventilation and exhaust shall be planned. The DG set room shall be separated by 120 min fire resistance rated walls and doors.

The oil tank for the DG sets (if not in the base of the DG) shall be provided with a dyked enclosure having a volumetric capacity of at least 10 percent more than the volume of the oil tank. The enclosure shall be filled with sand for a height of 300 mm.

For detailed information regarding fire safety requirements for hazardous petroleum products, reference may be made to The Petroleum Act, 1934 and the Rules framed thereunder.

3.4.6.5 Lightning protection of buildings

Routing of down conductors (insulated or uninsulated) of lightning protection through electrical or other service shafts are not allowed as it can create fire and explosion during lightning. For details, see Part 8 'Building Services, Section 2 Electrical and Allied Installations' of the Code.

Exit access, exits and exit discharge shall be properly identified, with adequate lighting maintained in the elements of the egress systems so that all occupants shall be able to leave the facility safely.

3.4.7.1 Lighting

a) The exit, exit access and exit discharge systems shall be illuminated continuously. The floors of the means of egress shall be illuminated at all points, including angles and intersections, in corridors and passageways, stairwells, landings of stairwells and exit.

b) Emergency lighting shall be powered from a source independent of that supplying the normal lighting.

c) Escape lighting shall be capable of,

1. indicating clearly and unambiguously the escape routes;

2. providing adequate illumination along such routes to allow safe movement of persons towards and through the exits; and

3. ensuring that fire alarm call points and firefighting equipment provided along the escape routes can be readily located.

e)

d) The horizontal luminance at floor level on the centreline of an escape route shall not be less than 10 lumen/m². In addition, for escape routes up to 2 m wide, 50 percent of the route width shall be lit to a minimum of 5 lumen/m². In auditoriums, theatres, concert halls and such other places of assembly, the illumination of floor exit/access may be reduced during period of performances to values not less than 2 lux.

Required illumination shall be arranged such that the failure of any single lighting unit, such as the burning out of one luminaire, will not leave any area in darkness and does not impede the functioning of the system further.

The emergency lighting shall be provided to be put on within 5 s of the failure of the normal lighting supply. Also, emergency lighting shall be able to maintain the required illumination level for a period of not less than 90 min in the event of failure of the normal lighting even for smaller premises.

g) Battery pack emergency lighting, because of its limited duration and reliability, shall not be allowed to be used in lieu of a diesel engine driven emergency power supply.

h) Escape lighting luminaires should be sited to cover the following locations:

1. Near each intersection of corridors,

2. At exits and at each exit door,

3. Near each change of direction in the escape route,

4. Near each staircase so that each flight of stairs receives direct light,

5. Near any other change of floor level,

6. Outside each final exit and close to it,

7. Near each fire alarm call point,

8. Near firefighting equipment, and

9. To illuminate exit and safety signs as required by the enforcing authority.

NOTE — For the purpose of this clause ‘near’ is normally considered to be within 2 m measured horizontally.

j) The luminaires shall be mounted as low as possible, but at least $2\mathrm{m}$ above the floor level.

k) Signs are required at all exits, emergency exits and escape routes, which should comply with the graphic requirements of the relevant Indian Standards.

3.4.7.2 Exit passageway (at ground) and staircase lighting shall also be connected to alternative supply. The alternative source of supply may be provided by battery continuously trickle charged from the electric mains.

PART 4 FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY

3.4.7.3 Suitable arrangements shall be made by installing double throw switches to ensure that the lighting installed in the staircase and the corridor does not get connected to two sources of supply simultaneously. Double throw switch shall be installed in the service room for terminating the stand-by supply.

The emergency lighting system shall be well maintained by periodical inspections and tests so as to ensure their perfect serviceability at all times.

3.4.7.4 Exit signage

Where exit access is provided through corridors/paths, the occupants shall be able to easily identify the way to exits. Exit signs shall be provided such that no point in an exit access is more than 30 m from a visible exit directional sign. An exit sign indicating the direction to an exit shall be provided at all changes in direction.

Exits shall be clearly visible and the route to reach the exits shall be clearly marked and signs posted to guide the occupants of the floor concerned. Signs shall be illuminated and wired to an independent electrical circuit on an alternative source of supply. The sizes and colours of the exit signs shall be in accordance with good practice [4(7)]. The colour of the exit signs shall be green.

NOTE — This provision shall not apply to A-2 and A-4 occupancies less than 15 m in height.

The exit sign with arrow indicating the way to the escape route shall be provided at a suitable height from the floor level on the wall and shall be illuminated by electric light connected to corridor circuits. All exit way marking signs should be so installed that no mechanical damage shall occur to them due to moving of furniture or other heavy equipment. Further, all landings of floor shall have floor indicating boards prominently indicating the number of the floor.

Photo luminescent markings shall be pasted at internal hydrant boxes.

3.4.8.1 Air conditioning and mechanical ventilation requirements of different rooms or areas in any occupancy shall be as given in Part 8 ‘Building Services, Section 1 Lighting and Natural Ventilation’ and ‘Section 3 Air conditioning, Heating and Mechanical Ventilation’ of the Code.

Air conditioning and ventilating systems shall be so installed and maintained as to minimise the danger of spread of fire, smoke or fumes from one floor to other or from outside to any occupied building or structure.

Many high-rise buildings integrate smoke management systems into their conventional HVAC systems. In such installation, it requires special design considerations,

including safe and adequate controls, acceptable and documented testing and regular maintenance systems.

Wherever batteries are provided, the same shall be segregated by 120 min fire rated construction. Ventilation to the room shall be provided as per manufacturer's instructions.

3.4.8.2 Air handling unit

3.4.8.2.1 From fire safety point of view, separate air handling units (AHU) for each floor shall be provided so as to avoid the hazards arising from spread of fire and smoke through the air conditioning ducts. The air ducts shall be separate from each AHU to its floor and in no way shall interconnect with the duct of any other floor. Within a floor it would be desirable to have separate air handling unit provided for each compartment.

Air handling unit shall be provided with effective means for preventing circulation of smoke through the system in the case of a fire in air filters or from other sources drawn into the system, and shall have smoke sensitive devices for actuation in accordance with the accepted standard $[4(8)]$ and control.

3.4.8.2.2 Shafts or ducts, if penetrating multiple floors, shall be of masonry construction with fire damper in connecting ductwork or shall have fire rated ductwork with fire dampers at floor crossing. Alternatively, the duct and equipment may be installed in room having walls, doors and fire damper in duct exiting/entering the room of 120 min fire resistance rating. Such shafts and ducts shall have all passive fire control meeting 120 min fire resistance rating requirement to meet the objective of isolation of the floor from spread of fire to upper and lower floors through shaft/duct work.

NOTE — Zoned and compartmented HVAC systems are encouraged with an approach to avoid common exhaust shafts and fresh air intake shafts which will limit the requirement of such passive measure and fire rated duct work and dampers.

3.4.8.2.3 The air filters of the air handling units shall be made of non-combustible materials.

3.4.8.2.4 The air handling unit room shall not be used for storage of any combustible materials.

3.4.8.3 Duct work

3.4.8.3.1 Air ducts serving main floor areas, corridors, etc, shall not pass through the exits/exit passageway/exit enclosure. Exits and lift lobbies, etc, shall not be used as return air passage.

3.4.8.3.2 As far as possible, metallic ducts shall be used even for the return air instead of space above the false ceiling.

3.4.8.3.3 Wherever the ducts pass through fire walls or floors, the opening around the ducts shall be sealed

with materials having fire resistance rating of the compartment. Such duct shall also be provided with fire dampers at all fire walls and floors unless such ducts are required to perform for fire safety operation; and in such case fire damper may be avoided at fire wall and floor while integrity of the duct shall be maintained with $120\mathrm{min}$ fire resistance rating to allow the emergency operations for fire safety requirements.

3.4.8.3.4 The ducting within compartment would require minimum fire resistance rating of 30 min. Such ducting material in substantial gauge shall be in accordance with good practice [4(9)]. If such duct crosses adjacent compartment/floor and not having fire dampers in such compartment/floor, it would require fire resistance duct work rating of 120 min. The requirements of support of the duct shall meet its functional time requirement as above.

3.4.8.3.5 The materials used for insulating the duct system (inside or outside) shall be of non-combustible type. Any such insulating material shall not be wrapped or secured by any material of combustible nature.

3.4.8.3.6 Inspection panels shall be provided in the ductwork to facilitate the cleaning accumulated dust in ducts and to obtain access for maintenance of fire dampers.

3.4.8.4 Fire or fire/smoke dampers

3.4.8.4.1 These dampers shall be evaluated to be located in supply air ducts, fresh air and return air ducts/passages at the following points:

a) At the fire separation wall,

b) Where ducts/passages enter the vertical shaft,

c) Where the ducts pass through floors, and

d) At the inlet of supply air duct and the return air duct of each compartment on every floor.

3.4.8.4.2 Damper shall be of motorized type/fusible link. Damper shall be so installed to provide complete integrity of the compartment with all passive fire protection sealing. Damper should be accessible to maintain, test and also replace, if so required. Damper shall be integrated with Fire Alarm Panel and shall be sequenced to operate as per requirement and have interlocking arrangement for fire safety of the building. Manual operation facilities for damper operation shall also be provided.

3.4.9.1 Installation of chimney and heating apparatus shall be in accordance with good practice [4(10)].

3.4.9.2 Boiler rooms

3.4.9.2.1 Provisions of boiler and boiler rooms shall conform to The Boilers Act, 1923.

3.4.9.2.2 Further, the following additional aspects may be taken into account in the location of boiler room:

a) The boilers shall be installed in a fire resisting room of 180 min fire resistance rating.

b) Entry to this room shall be provided with a composite door of 120 min fire resistance rating.

c) The boiler room shall be provided with its dedicated natural or mechanical ventilation system. Mechanical ventilation system for the boiler room would be accepted with 120 min fire resistance rating ductwork, if it has interface with other mechanical areas. Ventilation system should not be allowed to be routed through electrical room area or through exit corridor/exits.

d) The oil tank for the boiler shall be provided with a dyked enclosure having a volumetric capacity of at least 10 percent more than the volume of the oil tank. The enclosure shall be filled with sand for a height of 300 mm.

3.4.10.1 The glazing shall be in accordance with Part 6 'Structural Design, Section 8 Glass and Glazing' of the Code. The entire glazing assembly shall be rated to that type of construction as given in Table 1. This shall be applicable along with other provisions of this Part related to respective uses as specified therein. The use of glass shall not be permitted for enclosures of exits and exit passageway.

3.4.10.2 Glass facade shall be in accordance with the following:

a) For fully sprinklered buildings having fire separation of 9 m or more, tempered glass in a non-combustible assembly, with ability to hold the glass in place, shall be provided. It shall be ensured that sprinklers are located within 600 mm of the glass facade providing full coverage to the glass.

NOTE — In case of all other buildings, fire resistance rating of glass facade shall be in accordance with Table 1.

b) All gaps between floor-slabs and facade assembly shall be sealed at all levels by approved fire resistant sealant material of equal fire rating as that of floor slab to prevent fire and smoke propagation from one floor to another.

c) Openable panels shall be provided on each floor and shall be spaced not more than 10 m apart measured along the external wall from centre-to-centre of the access openings. Such openings shall be operable at a height between 1.2 m and 1.5 m from the floor, and shall be in

PART 4 FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY

the form of openable panels (fire access panels) of size not less than 1 000 mm × 1 000 mm opening outwards. The wordings, ‘FIRE OPENABLE PANEL — OPEN IN CASE OF FIRE, DO NOT OBSTRUCT’ of at least 25 mm letter height shall be marked on the internal side. Such panels shall be suitably distributed on each floor based on occupant concentration. These shall not be limited to cubicle areas and shall be also located in common areas/corridors to facilitate access by the building occupants and fire personnel for smoke exhaust in times of distress.

3.4.11.1 The use of combustible surface finishes on walls (including facade of the building) and ceilings affects the safety of the occupants of a building. Such finishes tend to spread the fire and even though the structural elements may be adequately fire resistant, serious danger to life may result. It is, therefore, essential to have adequate precautions to minimise spread of flame on wall, facade of building and ceiling surfaces. The finishing materials used for various surfaces and decor shall be such that it shall not generate toxic smoke/fumes.

3.4.11.2 The susceptibility of various types of wall surfaces to fire is determined in terms of the rate of spread of flame. Based on the rate of spread of flame, surfacing material shall be considered as divided into four classes as follows {see also good practice [4(11)]}:

a) Class 1 Surfaces of very low flame spread.

b) Class 2 Surfaces of low flame spread.

c) Class 3 Surfaces of medium flame spread.

d) Class 4 Surfaces of rapid flame spread.

3.4.11.3 The uses for which surface materials falling into various classes shall be adopted in building construction are given below:

NOTE — Panelling (lining) shall be permitted in a limited area. It shall not be permitted in a vestibule.

3.4.11.4 Materials of Class 4 which include untreated wood fiberboards may be used with due fire retardant treatment as ceiling lining, provided the ceiling is at least, 2.4 m from the top surface of the floor below, and the wall surfaces conform to requirements of class [see Note under 3.4.11.3]. Class 4 materials shall not be used in kitchens, corridors and staircases. Some materials contain bitumen and, in addition to risk from spread of fire, emit dense smoke on burning; such materials shall be excluded from use under these conditions and shall also not be used for construction of ceiling where the plenum is used for return air in air conditioned buildings.

3.4.11.5 When frames, walls, partitions or floors are lined with combustible materials, the surfaces on both sides of the materials shall conform to the appropriate class, because there is considerable danger from fire starting and rapidly spreading within the concealed cavity unknown to the occupants whose escape may be hampered thereby. For detailed information on materials and details of construction with their fire resistance rating, reference may be made to good practice [4(12)].

a) Fire command centre shall be on the entrance floor of the building having direct access. The control room shall have the main fire alarm panel with communication system (suitable public address system) to aid floors and facilities for receiving the message from different floors.

b) Fire command centre shall be constructed with 120 min rating walls with a fire door and shall be provided with emergency lighting. Interior finishes shall not use any flammable materials. All controls and monitoring of fire alarm systems, pressurization systems, smoke management systems shall happen from this room. Monitoring of integrated building management systems, CCTVs or any other critical parameters in building may also be from the same room.

c) Details of all floor plans along with the details of firefighting equipment and installations (2 sets laminated and bound) shall be maintained in fire command centre.

d) The fire staff in charge of the fire command centre shall be responsible for the maintenance of the various services and firefighting equipment and installations in coordination with security, electrical and civil staff of the building.