ASSIGNMENT

ON

Fire Codes Used In Different Countries

(Fire Services)

Master of Architecture
(Building Services 3rd Sem)

Submitted by
Azhar Ayyub

Submitted to
Ar. Maaz Akbar Khan

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE & EKISTICS
JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA
NEW DELHI-110025
2018-2019
Introduction:

Fire code is a model code adopted by the state or local jurisdiction and enforced by
fire prevention officers within municipal fire departments. It is a set of rules
prescribing minimum requirements to prevent fire and explosion hazards arising from
storage, handling, or use of dangerous materials, or from other specific hazardous
conditions. It complements the building code. The fire code is aimed primarily at
preventing fires, ensuring that necessary training and equipment will be on hand, and
that the original design basis of the building, including the basic plan set out by
the architect, is not compromised. The fire code also addresses inspection and
maintenance requirements of various fire protection equipment in order to maintain
optimal active fire protection and passive fire protection measures.
Building, whether used for living, working, entertainment or for other purposes,
forms an integral and major constituent of human habitat. With the technological
advances on all fronts, not only the factor of susceptibility, but the complexity of fires,
explosions and the hazards which these buildings are exposed to have also increased
manifold. These hazards have been instrumental in causing heavy losses in lives and
property throwing up fresh challenges to planners, architects and fire protection
services in evolving better and improved methods of design and fire protection in
order to mitigate such losses.

A typical fire safety code includes administrative sections about the rule-making and
enforcement process, and substantive sections dealing with fire suppression
equipment, particular hazards such as containers and transportation for combustible
materials, and specific rules for hazardous occupancies, industrial processes, and
exhibitions.
This document covers the various fire codes used in the different countries. Following
are the countries which it covers:

1. Pakistan
2. Hong Kong
3. Japan
4. Australia
5. Sweden
6. Canada
 Fire Codes used in Pakistan

1. Building Code of Pakistan - Fire Safety Provisions

The implementation and enforcement of this bye-law shall vest with the Authority
Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) within their respective jurisdictions and circles as follow:

1. Building Control, Housing and Development Authorities

2. District Administration
3. Tehsil or Town Administration
4. Municipal Administration
5. Station Headquarters (Army, Air Force and Navy)
6. Cantonment Administration
7. Union Council Administration
8. Autonomous Bodies
9. Industrial Estates
10. Directorates of Civil Defence
11. Export Processing Zones
12. Other Federal/Provincial Authorities as and when notified

These Provisions cover the requirements for fire prevention, life safety in relation to
fire and fire protection of buildings and building like structures. The Provisions specify
construction, occupancy and protection features that are necessary to minimize
danger to life and property from fire.

Application

These Provisions shall apply to both new and existing buildings and building like
structures.

a. Buildings and Building like Structures

b. Vehicles and Vessels
 Fire Codes used in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's current system of fire related building ordinance and regulations
are based on a series of four prescriptive Codes of Practice. These are:

 Code of Practice for the Provision of Means of Escape in Case of

Fire, Buildings Department, June 1996.

 Code of Practice for Means of Access for Firefighting and

Rescue, Buildings Department, May 1995.

 Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction, Buildings Department,

January 1996.

 Code of Practice for Minimum Fire Service Installations and Equipment,

and Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Installations and
Equipment, Fire Services Department, June 1998.

Fire engineering solutions are subject to approval by the Fire Safety Committee.
This committee is made up of representatives from Buildings Department, Fire
Services Department, Academics, and Engineering Specialists and
Practitioners. Practice Note PNAP 204 was issued in 1998 by the Buildings
Department to provide guidance on the objectives, design methodology, design
procedures, and proposed content of a fire safety strategy report when
developing equivalencies to prescriptive code requirements. Practitioners
typically make reference to overseas standards and engineering methods when
carrying out evaluations. A Buildings Department official provides approval of
the design after receiving comments from the Fire Services Department. The
Buildings Department administers passive fire safety requirements, while the
Fire Services Department typically administers active fire safety provisions,
including smoke management.
 Fire Codes used in Japan

1. Building Standard Law – Fire Service Law

The BSL and Fire Service Law provide various technical requirements to secure fire
safety in buildings.

The Ministry of Construction and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency
administer approval of prescriptive building and fire regulations. For
designs that use performance-based analysis, approval is based upon a
review by a designated Performance Evaluation Body.
 Fire Codes used in Australia

1. Australian Building Codes Board

2. Australian Standards and National Fire Protection Association

(NFPA) Codes & Handbooks.

3. Building Code of Australia (BCA)

The performance-based BCA provides prescriptive guidance while allowing

a performance-based approach to fire safety. A building will be "deemed to
satisfy" the performance requirements of the BCA if it meets the
prescriptive requirements of the BCA. Alternately, building designers may
choose to propose an alternative solution to the authority in order to gain
approval for a different method of design or construction.

Additionally, Australia has dedicated standards-writing bodies, such as

Standards Australia, that are private organizations similar in nature to
NFPA. They are responsible for the development of specific technical
standards that may be incorporated within, or adopted by, building codes
such as the BCA or relevant legislation.

Fire Codes used in Sweden

1. Fire Safety Engineering Guidelines

2. Guidelines on Fire Safety Design of HVAC Systems.

3. Swedish Board of Building Regulation (BBR94)

Sweden has since 1994 had performance-based building regulations. In some areas
in fire safety this process started as early as 1967 with permitting application of an
analytical design of structural elements.
A standard prescriptive approach is used for most types of buildings in
Sweden. A set of acceptable Deemed-To-Satisfy design solutions has been
provided that meet the performance requirements of BBR94. Compliance
with these solutions provides an acceptable design.

Performance-based fire engineering is used on a smaller number of building

design aspects but is still fairly common. This approach was basically
accepted even before the introduction of BBR94. This option is generally
exercised when seeking an alternate method for a particular system design
rather than for a full building fire safety design.

There is no formal inspection body that regularly enforces Swedish building

regulations. Generally, it is the responsibility of the building owner to verify
that their building is compliant. Individual systems, such as alarms,
sprinklers, and ventilation systems, are inspected regularly by certified
persons and may be checked by the Fire Safety Service.

Fire Codes used in Canada

1. National Fire Code of Canada 2015

2. National Building Code of Canada 2015

The National Fire Code of Canada 2015 (NFC), published by NRC and developed by
the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes, sets out the technical
provisions regulating activities related to the construction, use or demolition of
buildings and facilities, the condition of specific elements of buildings and facilities,
and the design or construction of specific elements of facilities related to certain
hazards as well as the protection measures for the current or intended use of
buildings.
The NFC 2015 complements the National Building Code of Canada 2015. Both must
be considered when constructing, renovating or maintaining buildings.
 The NFC addresses fire safety during the operation of facilities and buildings. The
requirements in the NFC, on the other hand, are intended to ensure the level of safety
initially provided by the NBC is maintained. With this objective, the NFC regulates:

 the conduct of activities causing fire hazards

 the maintenance of fire safety equipment and egress facilities
 limitations on building content, including the storage and handling of hazardous
products
 the establishment of fire safety plans

************
Sr. No. Type of Material Thickness Fire Resistant
Rating
1. AAC Block
Block Wall - Load Bearing 6’’ 4 hr
Block Wall - Non Load 4’’ 4 hr
Bearing
Block Wall - Non Load 3’’ 2 hr
Bearing
Floor and Roof Panels 6’’ 4 hr
2. Gypsum Board 12.5 mm 1.5 hr

3. Glass
For doors 5 mm 20 min – 90 min
For doors 8mm 20 min – 3 hr
For other application 8mm 20 min-90 min
4. Stucco 1’’ 1 hr
5. Reinforced cement concrete 120 mm 60 min
140 mm 90 min
160 mm 120 min
200 mm 180 min
240 mm 240 min
6. Brick of clay
Without finish