CO2

H2S, NOX, SO2

Pollution CO

Carbonaceous soot

The National Building Code (NBC) contains set of minimumprovisions, designed to protect the safety of the public withregard to structural sufficiency, fire hazards and healthaspects of buildings.

1st Published 1970

1st Revision 1983

2nd Revision 2005

OBJECTIVE

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE

• PART - 4

Fire and Life Safety. (This Part covers the requirements for fire prevention, life

safety in relation to Fire and Fire protection of buildings. The Code specifies

construction, occupancy and protection features that are necessary to minimize

danger to life and property from fire.

MAIN SECTIONSPart - 0 Integrated Approach - Prerequisite for applying provisions of

this code (This part covers guidelines to be followed for judicious implementation of

the provisions of various Parts/ Sections of the Code).

Part – 1 Definitions (This Part lists the terms appearing in all the Parts/ Sections of

the National Building Code of India).

Part – 2 Administration (This Part covers the administrative aspects of the Code, such as

applicability of the Code, organization of building department for enforcement of the

Code, procedure for obtaining development and building permits, and responsibility of

the owner).

Part – 3 Development Control Rules & General Building Requirements

(This Part deals with the development control rules and general building

requirements to ensure health and safety of the public).

Part – 4 Fire and Life Safety. (This Part covers the requirements for fire prevention, life

safety in relation to f ire and fire protection of buildings. The Code specifies

construction, occupancy and protection features that are necessary to minimize

danger to life and property from fire.

NBC - SECTIONS

MAIN SECTIONS

Part – 5 Building Material (This Part of the Code covers the requirements of building

materials and components, and criteria for accepting new or alternative building

materials and components).

Part – 6 Structural Design (This Section covers basic design loads to be assumed in the

design of buildings).

Part – 7 Constructional Practice and Safety (This Part of the Code covers the

constructional planning, management and practices in buildings; storage, stacking

and handling of materials. It also covers guidelines relating to maintenance

management, repairs, and strengthening of Buildings).

Part – 8 Building Services (This Section covers requirements and methods for lighting and

ventilation of buildings).

Part – 9 Plumbing Services (This Section covers the basic requirements of water supply).

Part – 10 Landscaping, Science & Outdoor display structures (This Section covers

requirements of landscape planning and design).

NBC - SECTIONS

Main Indian Standards on Fire Systems Design:

IS: 2190: 1992 Code of practice for selection, installation and maintenance ofportable first - aid fire extinguisher (third revision)

IS: 2189: 1988 Code of practice for selection, installation and maintenance ofautomatic fire detection and alarm system (second revision)

IS: 15908: 2011 Selection, Installation & Maintenance of Control & IndicatingEquipment's for Fire Detection & Alarm System-Code of Practice

IS: 3844: 1989 Code of practice for installation of internal fire hydrants in Multi-story buildings.

IS: 13039: 1991 External Hydrant Systems– Provision & Maintenance - Code ofpractice

IS: 15105: 2002 Design & Installation of Fixed Automatic Sprinkler FireExtinguishing Systems - System-Code of Practice

BEURO OF INDIAN STANDARDS

Group Type Purpose

A Residential Building in which sleeping accommodation is provided for normal residentialpurposes with or without cooking.

B Educational School, college and training institutions for day-care purposes.

C Institutional Building which is used for purposes, such as medical or other treatment.

D Assembly Building, where number of persons not less than 50 congregate or gather foramusement, recreation, social, religious, patriotic, purposes.

E Business Building which is used for transaction of business.

F Mercantile Building, which is used as shops, stores, market, for display and sale ofmerchandise, either wholesale or retail.

G Industrial Building in which products or materials of all kinds and properties are fabricated,assembled, manufactured or processed,

H Storage Building used primarily for the storage or sheltering (i/c servicing, processing /repairs incidental to storage) of goods, ware or merchandise

J Hazardous Building which is used for the storage, handling, manufacture or processing ofhighly combustible or explosive materials.

NBC - SECTIONS

Clause 3.1.11

Any building not covered by Annex B or 3.1.8 shall be classified in the groupwhich most nearly resembles its existing or proposed use.

FIRE ALARM SPRINKLER PUMPS GENERAL

FIRE CONTROL ROOM SPRINKLER IN ATRIUM WATER STORAGE & PUMPS

BASIC TERMS

DETECTION IN BASEMENT

DESIGN PARAMETERS PUMP ROOM LOCATION

REFUGE AREA & FIRE CHECK FLOOR

BEAM STRUCTURE OPTIONAL EXCEPTION PUMP ARRANGEMENT

BASEMENTCOMPARTMENTATION

DETECTOR SITTING OBSTRUCTIONS WATER CURTAIN

DETECTORS IN BATHROOM

ONE & TWO WAY COMMUNICATION

KEY POINTS

KEY CHALLENGES

NBC-2005

For all buildings 15 m in height or above and apartment buildings with a

height of 30 m and above, there shall be a control room on the entrance

floor of the building with communication system (suitable public address

system) to all floors and facilities for receiving the message from different

floors.

BIS: 15908 - Control & Indicating Equipment's for Fire Detection & Alarm

System-Code of Practice

1.Control Centre of area 15 to 20 M Sq Mtr.

2.The Control room shall have attached WC & drinking water facility.

3.24 Hrs Manning.

4.Mimic Panel of premises protected.

5.Segregated from AC system of rest of building. If ducts are common,

provide damper.

6.In complex building with multiple entries, discuss with local fire authority

for control room.

FIRE CONTROL ROOM

Early information is basement is must for fastevacuation as these areas are critical andunattended most of the time and thus allow fireto spread with in building, if reaches tohazardous condition. Sprinklers activate at laterstage (68 degree C).

Fire alarm system is required to activate thesmoke extraction system in basement forextraction of smoke to help occupants to escapeat the earliest.

1. Is it mandatory in the first place ? if so then which part in NBC & relevant clauses call for it ?

2. If not, how important Is it from Life safety point of view ?3. Are the other builders getting away with it in NOIDA ?4. Can we do away with it and save some Rs. 1.5 cr /on an average

DETECTION IN BASEMENT

Heat Detector (Beam Structure)

• D < 4 Inches = Smooth Ceiling spacing.

• D > 4 Inches, spacing not more than 2/3rd of listed, perpendicular to

beam.

• D > 18 Inches, separate area.

Smoke Detector (Beam Structure)

• D < 10% of ceiling height = Smooth Ceiling spacing.

• D > 10% & < 40%, spacing not more than 1/2 of listed,

perpendicular to beam.

• D > 40%, Separate area.

D

BEAM STRUCTURE

BIS:2189 NFPA-72

Ceiling Height Spacing Ceiling Height (M) Multiply Listed Spacing (15M) by

0 - 4 7 M 0 - 3 1.00 (15 x 1 =15M)

4 - 5 6 M 3 - 3.7 0.91

5 - 7 5 M 3.7 - 4.3 0.84

7 - 8 4 M 4.3 - 4.9 0.77

8 -9 3 M 4.9 - 5.5 0.71

5.5 - 6.1 0.64

6.1 - 6.7 0.58

6.7 - 7.3 0.52

7.3 - 7.9 0.46

7.9 - 8.5 0.40

8.5 - 9.1 0.34 (15x 0.34=5.1 M)

HEAT DETECTOR

DETECTOR SITTING

SMOKE DETECTOR

BIS: 2189 NFPA - 72

Without Forced Ventilation

Up to 6 M height – 9.0 M

6 M to 7 M height – 7.5 M

7 M to 8 M height - 6.5 M

8 M to 9 M height - 6.0 M

9 M to 10 M height – 5.0 M

ACPH Area Sq Meter

60 12

30 23

20 35

ACPH Multification Factor 15 46

60 0.38 12 58

30 0.50 10 70

20 0.64 8.6 81

15 0.74 7.5 84

12 0.83 6.7 84

10 0.91 6 84 (9.1 M)

8.5 0.95

> 7.5 1.00 (9 X 1 = 9M)

DETECTOR SITTING

BIS: 2189 NFPA - 72

All points on the ceiling shall have a

detector within 7.5 m in case of smoke

detector and 5.3 m in case of heatdetector.

All points on the ceiling shall have a

detector within a distance equal to

or less than 0.7 times the listed

spacing Smoke- 9.1 x 0.7 = 6.37 M

Detectors shall be located on the

ceiling not less than 500mm from

sidewall

Detectors shall be located on the

ceiling not less than100 mm from

sidewall

Detectors shall not be mounted within

I m of any air inlet (HVAC system).

Detectors shall not be mounted

within 950mm of air inlet (HVAC).

On the sidewalls between 150 mm

and 300 mm from the ceiling.

On the sidewalls between 100 mm

and 300 mm from the ceiling.

Voids as in false ceiling/flooring more

than 800 mm shall be protected with

detectors.

Voids as in false ceiling/flooring

shall be protected.

DETECTOR SITTING

DETECTORS IN BATHROOMS

Audio

Riser

SegmentA.S

SP

P.A. Amp

SP

SP

P.A. Amp

Zone S.

Panel

ONE & TWO WAY COMMUNICATIONS

All stairwells, lift shafts, other utility shafts etc, shall have a

detector at the top.

Lift machine rooms shall be provided with a detector.

Detectors shall not be required below open grid ceilings if

openings constitute at least 70 percent of the area of the ceiling

material.

Detectors shall not be required in concealed, accessible spaces

above suspended ceilings that are used as a return air plenum.

Bathroom, lavatories need not be protected.

A lobby smoke detector shall be located on the ceiling within 21 ft

(6.4 m) of the centerline of each elevator door.

KEY POINTS

Sustainability ConcernIndoor environment quality, air quality, ventilation , restricted air movement

Sustainable SolutionsOpen Spaces like atria

SPRINKLER IN ATRIUM

Description Light Hazard Moderate Hazard High Hazard

Definition Non industrial bldgs.

individual room area

is not more than 125

Sq. mtr. and all walls

are going up to roof.

Non industrial bldgs.

individual room area is

more than 125 Sq. mtr.

and/or all walls are not

going up to roof.

Manufacturing Occupancy

Occupancy Hazard Table

Minimum Pressure

(Hydraulically)

0.70 Bar 0.35 Bar 0.50 Bar

Design Density 2.25 L/m/m2 5 L/m/m2 10 L/m/m2

Assumed Area of Operation 84 m2 360 m2 260 m2

Coverage area of Sprinkler Side wall- 17m2 , Max

Spacing - 4.5 M

Other - 21m2 , Max

Spacing-4.5 M

Side wall- 09m2 , Max

Spacing – 3.4 M

Other - 09m2 , Max

Spacing - 4.0 M

In general – 09 m2

Spacing – 3.4 M

Storage – 10 m2

Spacing - 2.0 M

Water Velocity Water velocity shall not exceed 6 m/sec at any valve or flow monitoring

device, or 10 m/sec at any other point in the system

BIS: 15105

DESIGN PARAMETERS

OPTIONAL EXCEPTION

SPACE BELOW STAIRS

OPTIONAL EXCEPTION

BIS: 15105

Sprinkler protection required in case ceiling void is 800mm or more.

Sprinkler protection required at top of elevator shaft, chute etc. Its required in boot

and motor of escalator. Its required in lift pit where is there is possibility of

accumulation of debris.

Sprinkler protection is required under ducts or other obstructions, if width of

obstruction is more than 1m. However its also required if width is more than 800mm

and distance of obstruction from side wall is less than 150mm.

Sprinklers shall be provided under work tables if there is power source below the

table.

OPTIONAL EXCEPTION

SPRINKLER IN BEAM COFFER

As per National (BIS: 15105) and International (NFPA-13) codes, the beamdepth is not the deciding factor for putting sprinklers in coffer. In actual, it’sthe distance of sprinkler from edge of beam.

If sprinkler is coming with in distance if 1 feet from beam, then we canprovide it below the beams and no requirement of taking sprinkler in coffer.However if distance of sprinkler is increasing from one feet, than theposition of deflector shits towards roof.

WATER STORAGE & PUMPS

PUMP ROOM LOCATION

Preferably the pump house shall be located outside the building at minimum distance of 6M

from adjoining building as per BIS: 12469. As per NFPA-20, it shall be 50 m away from

building.

In case pump room is located inside the building (Gnd or basement),it should be separated

from the rest portion with a wall having 2 h (4h)fire rating and fire check door at

its entrance having 1 h tire rating. As per NFPA, the rating required shall be of 2 Hrs.

The pump room inside the building shall have direct access in form of ramp / stair.

The fuel tank capacity shall be sufficient to run the diesel engine pump for minimum 4Hrs

as per BIS: 12469. As per NFPA-20, Fuel supply tank(s) shall have a capacity at least

equal to 5.07 L per kW (1 gal per]hp), plus 5 percent volume for expansion and 5 percent

volume for sump.

A minimum clearance of 1 m at front and back and 0.75 m on sides and between

pumps should be provided for all major pumps exceeding 2280 LPM capacity.

For smaller pumps, including jockey pumps, the clearance required should be 0.75

m at front and back and 0.60 m at sides and between pumps. The head room

clearance for all pump houses should be minimum 2.75 m.

As per BIS: 12469, the foundation of pumps shall have minimum grade of reinforced

concrete as M 15. The thickness of the foundation shall be 50 mm for pumps up

to 900 LPM, 75 mm for up to 2280 LPM, 100 mm up to 4500 LPM and 150 mm for

higher pumps.

As per NFPA-20, the weight of foundation must be at least 5 times the weight of pump-motor

set. Foundation bolts of proper size should be embedded in the concrete to a depth of 8

inches to 12 inches and locked with either a hook around reinforced bar or by using J

shaped bolt.

The capacity of the jockey pump shall neither be less than 3 percent (with a

minimum of 180 LPM) nor more than 10 percent of the installed pumping

capacity.

PUMP ARRANGEMENT

Fire Load: The Maximum heat that will generate if all the contents of that space i/c

walls, partitions, furniture etc. will burn. It can be expressed in KJ/Kg (1KJ=1btu).

Fire Exit: A way out leading to escape route. It can be door way or even horizontal

exit. (Corridor).

Building Height: The vertical distance from the average level of ground floor to

the terrace of the last liveable floor of the building adjacent to the external wall;

Fire Tower: The enclosed staircase outside the building with approach from all floors and

separated by respective floor area by fire resistant door.

High Rise Building : All buildings 15 m or above in height shall be considered as

high rise buildings. As per NFPA, its 23 M.

BASIC TERMS

STAIRCASES:

STAIRCASE WALLS - 2 HOUR RATED;

STAIRCASE DOORS / EXIT DOORS - 2 HOUR RATED;

GLASS IF USED IN STAIRCASE - 2 HOUR FIRE RATED.

LIFTS AND LIFTS LOBBIES:

LIFT WALLS - 2 HOUR FIRE RATED;

LIFT LOBBY DOOR - 2 HOUR FIRE RATED;

LIFT LANDING DOOR - 1 HOUR FIRE RATED.

ELECTRICAL SUB STATIONS:

CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING WALLS / DOORS / CUTOUTS - 4 HOUR FIRE RATED.

BOILER ROOMS :

CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING WALLS / CUTOUTS - 4 HOUR FIRE RATED.

DOOR - 2 HOUR FIRE RATING.

SHAFTS:

ENCLOSURE / INSPECTION DOORS OF ELECTRICAL SHAFT – 2 HRS FIRE RATED

ENCLOSURE / INSPECTION DOOR OF OTHER SHAFTS - 1 HOURS FIRE RATING

FIRE RESISTANCE

REFUGE AREA

BASEMENT PARKING

NBC recommends that for basement car parking:

a. Split area in to different compartments , each of no more than 1125 Sq Mtrs (If

sprinklered).

b. Provide Smoke Ventilation to achieve 30 Air Changes Per Hour.

c. Limit Travel Distance to 45 Meters.

The intent of compartmentation is to contain fire with in a certain space, delaying the spread,

aiding occupant evacuation.

Water Curtain Nozzle distributes water in the formof a flat extending all the way to the ground for firecompartment segregation. The fire water curtainsystem is designed prevent the fire frompropagating into adjacent areas in case of a fireincident.

The Water Curtain system consists of Pipe network,Water Curtain nozzles and Deluge Valve with trims.

In case of fire, the Addressable detector at thebasement ceiling level shall detect the heat andsend the signal to the Fire alarm panel. The FireAlarm Panel shall send the signal to the solenoidvalve of the deluge valve of the respective zone.The Deluge Valve shall open to spray water throughwater curtain nozzles.

WATER CURTAIN