BUILDING CODES & BYELAWS
Course Code: ARCH233
Course Credit: 02
B.Arch.
4th Sem.
INTRODUCTION TO BUILDING CODES & BYELAWS
Talk by: Ar. Shaffali Joshi
COURSE CONTENT
TODAY’S TOPIC
➢ Special Requirements for Physically Challenged;
➢ Fire and Life Safety;
▪ Concept of Fire Zoning, Doorways,
▪ Stairways, Passages, Fire Escapes, etc.,
▪ Norms for Building Materials;
NORMS FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
NORMS FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
INTRODUCTION TO FIRE
Fires, whether in the house or commercial building, are
preventable. However, there are instances where accidents
happen and unintentional fires ignite. Having a fire escape
plan in place can save lives.
COMMON REASONS FOR FIRES IN THE WORKPLACE
1. Faulty electrical system: this includes an older electrical system with poor circuit
as well as loose wires, and overloaded plugs. It is part of fire code to make sure a
workplace’s electricity be updated.
2. Flammable materials: it is not uncommon to come across flammable substances
and materials in the workplace, but how they are handled and stored is where
mistakes are made and fires are started.
3. Inadequate training of staff: human error is a major cause of workplace fires.
When staff are not trained properly, they are at risk of making
catastrophicmistakes.
4. Negligence: failure to follow protocols and procedures as well as failing to update
systems so they meet code is general negligence which can result in afire.
FIRE HAZARD
o Asituation in which there is a greater than normal risk of harm to
people and property due to fire.
o The FireTriangle,for a Fire to start following are needed;
▪ Fuel (Gases, Liquids or Solids)
▪ Oxygen
▪ Ignition source
o Once the fire starts the rising temperature creates more
flammable gases and increase intensity of fire
o Fire safety deals with taking steps to avoid completion of Fire
triangle
FIRE SAFETY
Causes of Fire in buildings
o Accumulation of Scrap,waste material, trash etc. increases the risk of fire
o Under the right conditions the build up of dust from wood, plastic or certain metal
operations can lead to fire or explosions.
o Fires are Classified as,
• A-type
• B-type
• C-type
• D-type
• K-type
FIRE SAFETY
A-type fire:
o Commonly used house hold materials like paper, card board, wood and
products made from these materials
o Foam or plastic cups, utensils when close to heat burn rapidly and give
off toxic dense black smoke
o Oily rags or other materials soaked in oil can also spontaneously
combust.
FIRE SAFETY
B-type fire:
o The unsafe storage, dispensing or disposal of flammable liquids can be
a prime source of this type of fires and explosions
o Commonly used flammable liquids like Oil, grease, diesel, petrol,
paint, solvents and tar are primary source of these fires
FIRE SAFETY
C-type fire:
o Over loaded circuits, fuse boxes, damaged wiring and defective switches can
lead to this type of fires.
o Extension cords, multi plug adapters etc. can also lead to initiation of
sparks which if come in contact with flammable materials can cause fire.
FIRE SAFETY
D-type fire:
o Hot work involving metals and open flames can cause this fire hazard
o Machines when not lubricated properly can over heat and start fire
o Combustible metals like magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium
and potassium can react with extinguishing material used in A,B,C type of
fires and increase the intensity of fire hence special type of Extinguishers are
needed for D-type fires
FIRE SAFETY
K-type fire:
o Kitchen fires involving large amounts of heated oil, flames coming from
gas pipes etc.
IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGY
o Fire prevention – covering 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 rating.
o Life safety – Covering life safety provisions in the event of fire and similar emergency, also addressing construction and
occupancy features that are necessaryto minimize danger to life from fire, smoke,fumes or panic.
o Fire protection – covering the significant accessories and their related components and guidelines for selecting the
correct type of equipment and installation meant for fire protection of the building depending on the classification and type
of building.
o Flammable – Material that can catch fire and burn easily at normal working temperatures [as per OSHA - 100°F
(37.8°C)]
o Combustible – Material that requires higher than normal temperatures to ignite.
o Down-comer - An arrangement of firefighting within the building by means of down-comer pipe connected to terrace
tank through terrace pump, gate valve and non-return valve and having mains not less than 100 mm internal diameter with
landing valves on each floor/ landing.
IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGY
o Dry Riser – An arrangement of firefighting within the building by
means of vertical rising main not less than 100 mm internal
diameter with valves on each floor/landing, which is normally
dry but is capable of being charged with water usually by pumping
from fire service appliances.
o Wet Riser - An arrangement for firefighting within the
building by means of vertical rising mains not less than 100 mm
nominal diameter with landing valves on each floor/landing for
firefighting purposes and permanently charged with water from
a pressurized supply.
IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGY
o Fire Resistance - a property of an element of building construction and is the measure of
its ability to satisfy for a stated period, some or all of the following criteria,
o Load bearing capacity - ability of a load bearing element to withstand fire exposure without any
loss of structural stability.
o Integrity - Resistance to penetration of flame and hot gases
o Insulation - Resistance to temperature rise on the unexposed face up to a maximum of 180°C at
any single point and average temperature of 140°C
o Fire rating – The time that a material or construction will withstand the standard fire
exposure as determined by fire test done in accordance with the standard methods of fire
tests of materials/structures.
BUILDING PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR FIRE PREVENTION
1) Passive Fire Protection (PFP) – PFP attempts to contain fires or slow the spread through
use of fire-resistant walls, floors, and doors.
2) Non combustible materials – Building Components like floors, walls, columns, beams,
ceilings, roofs, shafts etc. should be fire rated building elements and have fire resistance
rating as stated in the NBC.
3) Staircases and lift lobbies –
o The external enclosing walls of the staircase shall be of the brick or the R.C.C. construction having fire resistance of not
less than two hours.
o All enclosed staircases shall have access through self-closing door of one-hour fire resistance
o The staircase enclosures on the external wall of the building shall be ventilated to the atmosphere at each landing.
o There shall be no glazing or the glass bricks in any internal closing wall of staircase.
o If the staircase is in the core of the building and cannot be ventilated at each landing, a positive pressure of 5-mm. e.g. by
electrically operated blower/blowers shall be maintained.
o Provision of the lifts shall be made for all multistoried building having a height of 15.0 m. and above.
BUILDING PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR FIRE PREVENTION
Staircases and lift lobbies – continued..
o All the floors shall be accessible for 24 hrs. by the lift. The lift provided in the buildings shall not be considered as a
means of escape in case of emergency.
o Grounding switch at ground floor level to enable the fire service to ground the lift car in case of emergency
shall also be provided
o Walls of lift enclosures shall have a fire rating of two hours. Lift shafts shall have a vent at the top of area not less than 0.2
sq m.
o Landing door in lift enclosures shall have a fire resistance of not less than one hour.
o The number of lifts in one lift bank shall not exceed four. A wall of two hours fire rating shall separate individual shafts
in a bank.
o Lift car door shall have a fire resistance rating of 1 hour.
o For buildings 15.0 m. and above in height, collapsible gates shall not be permitted for lifts and solid doors with fire
resistance of at least one hour shall be provided.
o If the lift shaft and lobby is in the core of the building a positive pressure between 25 and 30 pa shall be maintained in
the lobby and a possible pressure of 50 pa shall be maintained in the lift shaft.
o The mechanism for the pressurization shall act automatically with the fire alarm/sprinkler system and it shall be possible to
operate this mechanically also.
BUILDING PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR FIRE PREVENTION
4. Fire Escapes or External Stairs:
o Fire escape shall not be taken into account while calculating the number of staircases for a building.
o All fire escapes shall be directly connected to the ground.
o Entrance to the fire escape shall be separate and remote from internal staircase.
o The route to fire escape shall be free of obstructions at all times except the doorway leading to the
fire escape.
5. Air- Conditioning should conform to the following:
o Escape routes like staircase, common corridors, lift lobbies; etc. should not be used as return air
passage.
o The ducting should be constructed of metal
o Wherever the ducts pass through fire walls or floor, the opening around the ducts should be sealed with
fire resisting material of same rating as of walls/floors.
BUILDING PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR FIRE PREVENTION
6. Fire Dampers:
o These shall be located in air ducts and return air
ducts/passages
o The dampers shall operate automatically and shall
simultaneously switch off the air- handling fans.
Manual operation facilities shall also be provided.
o In case of buildings more than 24 m. in height, in non-
ventilated lobbies and corridors, smoke extraction
shaft should be provided.
BUILDING PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR FIRE FIGHTING
1. Fire Mains (Dry risers and Wet risers)
o Fire mains are provided in all buildings that are more than 15 m tall. In buildings less
than 50 m tall, either a wet riser or dry riser fire main can be provided.
o Dry risers are used when the water pressure of a building wouldn't be enough for fire
2. Water storage for Fire fighting during Construction;
suppression, and in cold climates where the wet riser pipes could freeze.
o Dry riser of min 100 mm dia.
3) However, where a building extends to more than 50 m, wet risers are necessary as the pumping pressure
o required
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landing valves at specified locations on each floor.
BUILDING PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR FIRE FIGHTING
2. Water storage for Fire fighting during Construction;
o Dry riser of min 100 mm dia.
o For high rise buildings drums of 2000 litre capacity filled with water and two fire buckets at
each floor during construction phase.
o A water storage tank with 20,000 litre capacity which can be used for other purposes also
during construction phase.
3. Water storage for Fire fighting in Residential buildings;
o Static water storage (SWS) - fire protection system needs sufficient water which should be
available at all times to fight the fire. The static storage is provided at the ground level and
terrace level of the building by means of water storage tanks.The storage is provided
generally in such a way that the municipal water supply is first received in the fire static
storage tank from where it overflows to the domestic tank.Thus water will always be
available in the event of a fire
BUILDING PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR FIRE FIGHTING
3. Water storage for Fire fighting in Residential buildings
o Requirements of Static water storage –
• For buildings upto 15 m SWS is not required but it is mandatory to have 5000-10000 litre
capacity OHT
• For building higher than 15 m but less than 35 m SWS is not required but it is mandatory to have
25,000 litre capacity OHT
• For building higher than 35 m but less than 45 m SWS should have 75,000 litres and 5,000 litre
in OHT as reserve
• For building higher than 45 m but less than 60 m SWS should have 1, 50,000 litres and 10,000 litre in
OHT as reserve
• For building higher than 60 m SWS should have 2,00,000 litres and 10,000 litre in OHT as reserve
BUILDING PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR FIRE FIGHTING
4. Fire fighting pump
o A fire pump is a part of a fire sprinkler system's water supply and powered by electricity or diesel.
The pump intake is either connected to the public underground water supply piping, or a static water
source.
o As per NBC it needs to have a minimum pressure of 3.5 kg/cm2 at remotest location in the
system.
o For buildings upto 15 m Fire pumps are not required.
o For building higher than 15 m but less than 35 m fire pump should have capacity of 900
litre/min.
o For building higher than 35 m but less than 45 m a set of pumps consisting one electric and
one diesel of capacity 2280 litre/min and one electric pump of 180 litre/min.
o For building higher than 45 m but less than 60 m a set of pumps consisting two electric and
one diesel of capacity 2280 litre/min and two electric pump of 180 litre/min.
o For building higher than 60 m a set of pumps consisting two electric and one diesel of
capacity 2850 litre/min and two electric pump of 180 litre/min.
FIRE DETECTION & ALARM SYSTEMS
Functions -
o Detect fire in the areas.
o Notify building occupants to take evasive action to escape the dangers of a fire.
o Summon organized assistance to initiate or assist in fire control activities.
o Initiate automatic fire control & suppression systems & start the alarm.
o Supervise fire control & suppression systems to assure operational status is maintained
BLOCK DIAGRAM OF FDA SYSTEM
FIRE DETECTION & ALARM SYSTEMS
o Depending on the occupancy, M.O.E.F.A. system or automatic operated system shall be
provided in the building.
o Every building more than 15m in height shall provide both I.e. M.O.E.F.A & A.F.A.
o Residential & office buildings between 15m & 24m in height may be exempted from
installation of automatic fire alarm system if local fire brigade is well equipped to face the
emergency up to 24m.
o One has to manually operate the glass in M.O.E.F.A.
FIRE DETECTION SYSTEMS
o Different types of detectors are provided as per the risk involved in the area.
o Zones are made as per the risk or as per the floor.
o Two-way communication system to be provided which will help to contact
from ground floor to specific floor or vice-versa.
o Mike on every floor has to be provided.
o Manual call points, automatic detector & public address system shall be interlinked.
o Detectors shall be installed as per IS 2189.
SPRINKLER SYSTEM
o Sprinkler system is a must for basement parking & other risk areas where large
quantities of combustible materials are stored.
o Each sprinkler should have coverage radius of 8’.
o Normally a separate sprinkler should be provided for a separate car.
o Sprinklers may connect to main water tank & pump, but capacity of the tank & pump
shall be increased in that proportionate.
o The capacity of water tank shall be calculated on the basis of sprinklers.
Another type is Portable Fire Extinguishers: First Aid Fire fighting appliances shall be
provided & installed in accordance with NBC and IS 2190.
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM
o It’s a network of pipes running through the ceiling of
a building holding water under pressure. In a
sprinkler a heat-sensitive plug is used which is
designed to open automatically when fire breaks out.
o In most sprinklers, the plug is a small glass bulb full
of a glycerin-based liquid designed to expand and
shatter when it gets hot.
o In some sprinklers, the plug is made of an
alloy called Wood's metal, a mixture of
bismuth, lead, tin, and cadmium that melts at a
relatively low temperature.
SNORKEL LADDER
⚫ A platform or bucket attached onto a mechanically bending arm (or "snorkel")
installed onto a fire truck.
⚫ Can be used for dousing fire and evacuation of people from buildings.
SHUKRIYA!!
Thank you for listening
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