CODE COMPARATIVE

ANALYSIS

By: Mehboob Shaikh 'I

M. Tech. | B. Eng | AMIE | CFPS | CFI I
Mechsoft Engineering Design and Consultancy
I 11 1
Purpose of Analysis
Identify the differences between the SBC and NFPA
Codes/standards especially between SBC 201(Saudi
Building Code), SBC 801 (Saudi Fire Code) & NFPA
101(Life Safety Code) in terms of their philosophy,
purpose, content and scope & development Process.

Evaluate the application of these codes for the

development of a code policy documents.

Understand starting point of fire and life safety design

using either NFPA or SBC whichever is applicable based
on analysis.
Purpose of Analysis
Understand the key features of both code bodies
and identify non-addressed issues and incorporate
those features.

Understand the need of Integrated fire and safety

approach to achieve overall fire and safety
objective.

Identify & blend the best features of both codes.

SBC 201 - Scope
Intent of SBC 201
SBC 801 - Scope

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 Intent of SBC 801

NFPA REFERENCED
STANDARDS

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NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
Scope
NFPA 101 Life Safety Code -
Intent
Why Did we Select NFPA 101 for
comparison ?
• It is the only document that covers life safety
for new and existing structures.
• NFPA 101 lays out (mostly with references to
other applicable codes), protective features
and systems, building services, operating
characteristics, maintenance activities and
other provisions for additional safeguards to
effectively and competently meet requirements
for the protection of building occupants from
death by fire.
 Why Did we Select NFPA 101 for
comparison ?
• While the SBC is a far-reaching code
encompassing structural, sanitation, lighting,
ventilation, and several other areas, life safety
considerations for MISSION CRITICAL
facilities/System & environments is not an
important area of focus for SBC
• On the other hand, NFPA 101 has a more
detailed perspective for mission critical facilities
than SBC and is limited to life safety and
What Defines Mission Critical
Facilities ?
Mission critical facilities are broadly defined as
containing any operation that, if interrupted, will
cause a negative impact on business activities,
ranging from losing revenue to jeopardizing legal
conformity to, in extreme cases, loss of life.
 SBC- 801/201 Code or
Standard: What’s the
Difference?
For model codes to be enforceable as law,
they must be adopted through the legislative
process by the state, county, city, or other
jurisdiction.

The jurisdiction can adopt the documents, all

or in part, and can vary in which years, or
editions, they choose to adopt.

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 SBC- 801/201 Code or
Standard: What’s the
Difference?
A code is a legal document that governs
certain activities—it tells the user what must be
done.

A standard tells the user how to do something,

but it can also be enforceable if it is adopted
individually or by reference; if a standard is
referenced in the adopted code, then it is
enforceable.

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 SBC- 801/201 Code or
Standard: What’s the
Difference?
 For Example :

Saudi Fire Code (SBC 801)—tell the user that an

automatic fire sprinkler system is required. But this
document don’t offer specifics on how the system
should be designed or installed. Instead, they
reference a standard using language similar to this
as shown below;

“Where required, the automatic fire sprinkler system

shall be installed in accordance with NFPA
13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler
Systems.”

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 SBC- 801/201 Code or
Standard: What’s the
Difference?
So, at this point of time can we understand that
standard referenced in SBC 801 is also
enforceable ???

Absolutely Yes…….

A standard that is referenced in an adopted and

enforceable code becomes law

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SBC- 801/201 Code or
Standard: What’s the
Difference?

17
SBC- 801/201 Code or Standard:
What’s the Difference?
WHEN TO DO IT

HOW TO DO IT

WHAT TO DO

REFERENCE
PRODUCT
STANDARDS AND
TEST PROTOCOL

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SBC- 801/201 Code or Standard:
What’s the Difference?
General

Fire and Building Codes are adopted by administrative laws

Fire and Building Codes reference the Installation and ITM Standards

Installation, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance standards like ( NFPA

13, NFPA 72 & NFPA 25 ) lists ITM tasks and frequencies

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Detailed
 SBC 801/201 VS NFPA
STANDARDS
What If There is
CONFLICT Between SBC
801 & Referenced
Standards(NFPA Design
Standards) ..?

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SBC 801/201 VS NFPA
STANDARDS

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 DEVELOPMENT OF NFPA
DOCUMENTS
 Almost 300 Codes, Standards, Recommended
Practices & Guides.
 All Are Voluntary Documents ( They do not have
the power of law unless AHJ adopts them)
 They are developed through consensus process
 More than 200 Technical committees.
 Governed by 13 member standard council also
composed of volunteers.
 Its Technical Committee who are responsible for
document content not NFPA Staff.
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TECHNICAL COMMITTEES
 More than 6000 volunteers serve on NFPA technical Committees,
with selection of these volunteers based on their back ground and
expertise.
 NFPA uses the following membership categories to fill and
balance committee.
 Manufacturer
 User
 Installer/Maintainer
 Labor representative
 Enforcing authority
 Insurance representative
 Special Expert
 Consumer
 Applied Research/Testing Lab.
TECHNICAL COMMITTEES
 Consensus occurs when a majority of
committee accepts a proposed change to the
document it overseas.
 Acceptance by committee and its subsequent
recommendations for change requires at least
two third majority vote by written ballot.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS FOR
ISSUANCE OF NFPA
DOCUMENT

STEP -1
CALL FOR PROPOSAL

STEP -2
REPORT ON PROPOSAL
(ROP)
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS FOR
ISSUANCE OF NFPA
DOCUMENT
STEP -3
REPORT ON COMMENTS
(ROC)

STEP -4
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
SESSION

STEP -5
STANDARD COUNCIL ISSUANCE
 CORRECTION TO
DOCUMENTS
 Between revisions of the documents, errata
and temporary interim amendment (TIA) may
be issued.
 FORMAL INTERPRETATION
(FI)
 It’s a mechanism for providing an explanation of
the meaning or intent of any specific provision that
is included in an issued NFPA code or standard.
 FIs are processed through the technical committee
that is responsible for the document and must be
clearly worded to solicit a “yes” or “No” answer
from committee.
 Confirmation from the technical committee for an
FI is achieved through a letter ballot. If a 3/4th
Majority is not achieved, the FI fails and the item is
placed on the committee next meeting agenda.
When to Use Which Code?
It Depends on ;
Assembling the design criteria for a structures

Flexibility to meet future Fire and Safety Needs

Holistic Implementation of Fire and Life Safety Requirements

Ease of System Integrated approach

Comparison Parameters
 Parameters
 Definitions
 Occupancy Classifications
 Special Occupancy Requirements
 Building Heights and Areas
 Types and fire ratings of construction
 Interior finishes
 Fire Protection Systems
 Means of Egress
 Integrated Fire & Safety Approach
1. Definition
• Each Code document has set aside a separate
chapter for definitions of words or terms used
through out each respective code.
• Both documents utilize its Definitions Chapter
to define words or terms that may fall outside
their generally recognized meaning to the lay
community.
• The definitions of such words or terms are to
provide their meanings as used within the
context of each Code.
1. Definition
• When a word is not found in either Code’s
Definitions Chapter, that word’s meaning is
generally recognized as the same as that
found in a dictionary of the English language
and has its ordinarily accepted meaning as
used in the context of the sentence.
 1. Definition
NFPA Definition

SBC Definition
2. Occupancy Classifications
Occupancy SBC (Saudi Building Code) NFPA
Classification Life Safety Code and NFPA 5000
ASSEMBLY A-1 Assembly, Theaters (Fixed Seats) A - Assembly (variations noted by occupant
A-2 Assembly, Food and/or Drink Consumption load)
A-3 Assembly, Worship, Recreation, Amusement
A-4 Assembly, Indoor Sporting Events
A-5 Assembly, Outdoor Activities
BUSINESS B- Business B –Business
AHC- Ambulatory Health Care
EDUCATIONAL E- Educational (includes some day care) E- Educational

FACTORY/INDS F-1 Factory Industrial, Moderate Hazard I- Industrial, General

F-2 Factory Industrial, Low Hazard Industrial, Special Purpose Industrial,
High Hazard
HAZARDOUS H-1 Hazardous, Detonation Hazard (Included in Group I)
H-2 Hazardous, Deflagration Hazard or Accelerated Burning
H-3 Hazardous, Physical or Combustible Hazard
H-4 Hazardous, Health Hazard
H-5 Hazardous, Hazardous Production Materials (HPM)
INSTITUTIONAL I-1 Institutional, Custodial Care OL* >16 D-I Detentional/Correctional (includes
I-2 Institutional, Medical Care various sub-conditions I-V)
I-3 Institutional, Restrained (includes various Sub-conditions I-5) H- Health Care
I-4 Institutional, Day Care Facilities DC -Day Care
2. Occupancy Classifications
Occupancy SBC 801 NFPA
Classification Life Safety Code and NFPA 5000
MERCANTILE M Mercantile M-A Mercantile, > 3 levels or > 30,000 SF
(2800 SM)
M-B Mercantile, ≤ 3 stories or > 3000 SF (280
SM) and ≤ 30,000 SF (2800 SM)
M-C Mercantile, 1 story ≤ 3000 SF (280 SM)
RESIDENTIAL R-1 Residential, Transient R- Residential, Hotels and Dormitories
R-2 Residential, Multi-Dwelling Unit Residential, Apartment Buildings
R-3 Residential, One and Two Dwelling Units Residential, Lodging or Rooming Houses
R-4 Residential, Care and Assisted Living Residential, One- and Two-Family Dwellings
Facilities OL > 5 ≤16 Residential, Board and Care
STORAGE S-1 Storage, Moderate Hazard S Storage
S-2 Storage, Low Hazard
UTILITY/ U Utility and Miscellaneous Special Structures and High-Rise
MISCELLANEOUS Buildings
2. Occupancy Classifications
• The SBC-201 allows facilities with low and
moderate levels of hazard to remain classified
in their original group (see Storage and Factory
Industrial above), but as levels of certain
materials that pose a physical or health hazard
exceed certain quantities in the facility, the
facility is then classified as High-hazard Group
H occupancy. The SBC-201 goes into great
detail classifying these High-hazard contents
(Section 307) and provides extensive detailed
construction requirements in Section 414 for
this Occupancy.
2. Occupancy Classifications
• The NFPA 101 allows each facility to retain its
occupancy classification, but then assigns a
hazard rating to each of the occupancies
based on the relative danger of fire, smoke,
gases and explosion. These ratings are also
referred to as Low, Moderate and High. The
code provides for fire separation between the
various occupancies and their hazard ratings
2. Occupancy Classifications
• The important distinction here is that the NFPA
101 does not directly address what constitutes
high hazard materials nor does it provide
construction requirements for structures
housing high hazard materials whereas the
SBC-201 does both.
3. Special Requirements
• Chapter 4 of the SBC- 201 provides requirements for
several specific occupancies such as high rise
buildings, atriums, underground buildings, parking
garages, heliports, and facilities with hazardous
materials. Generally, the SBC addresses these specific
occupancies with greater detail then the NFPA 101. In
most cases, the NFPA 101 provides no specific
guidelines or requirements. Therefore, the SBC is the
only applicable reference to these occupancies.
3. Special Requirements
• As an example, the NFPA 101 provides no guidance or
requirements related to heliports or hazardous
materials. The NFPA 101 refers to other NFPA codes
and standards including NFPA 45 for laboratories, for
greater detail with regards to life safety and fire
protection requirements for the specified occupancies.
4. Building Heights and Areas
• Chapter 5 of the SBC-201 identifies height and
area requirements for various use group
occupancies as a function of construction
classification. This portion of the SBC-201
serves to identify how tall and with what floor
area a building can be constructed based on
the occupancy classification, or classifications
contained within the building. This portion of
the SBC-201 intends to identify and limit fire
area of a building based on a relative
classification of its hazard as construed by its
occupancy or occupancies within.
4. Building Heights and Areas
• The NFPA 101 does not address construction
classification with any similarities to detail of
the SBC-201.The NFPA 101 does identify
construction classifications for some
occupancies, but based solely on height of the
buildings. Area is not a factor in the NFPA 101
with regard to identifying construction
classifications. Additionally, the NFPA 101 does
not identify construction however it advises us
to refer to NFPA 5000 for information on
Building height and areas.
5. Types and fire ratings of
construction
Chapter 6 of the SBC-201 defines the
requirements of each construction classifications
based on the hourly ratings of various structural
elements. The NFPA 101 refers to NFPA 220 for
definitions.
6. Interior Finishes
• Chapter 8 of the SBC-201 focuses on interior
finish requirements. This section of the code
identifies flame spread and smoke
development characteristics and provides a
definition of interior finish based on these
perimeters. The interior finish incorporates wall
coverings, floor coverings, and decorative
materials.
• The NFPA 101 also addresses interior finish,
but generally provides less detail than the
SBC-201
7. Fire Protection Systems
• Chapter 9 of the SBC-801 focuses on fire
protection systems. These systems include
automatic sprinkler systems, standpipe
systems, fire extinguishers, and fire alarm and
detection systems.
• The NFPA 101 provides little in the way of
specific guidance or requirements with regard
to these systems, and when required generally
refers to other NFPA Codes and Standards.
This concept is particularly true for automatic
sprinkler system, standpipe systems, and fire
detection and alarm systems.
7. Fire Protection Systems
• The NFPA 101 provides no direct guidance or
citation related to smoke venting or smoke
control, while these systems and features are
more explicitly identified and detailed in the
SBC.
8. Means of Egress

Definition

Means of
General Occupant
Egress
Requirement Load
Component

Accessible
means of
Egress
8. Means of Egress
The SBC 801 discusses the Means of Egress in
one chapter (chapter 10) for all occupancies.
The NFPA 101 addresses Means of Egress in
general terms in one chapter (chapter 7) and
then provides additional Means of Egress
requirements in each chapter of the individual
occupancies.
8. Means of Egress
Both allow projections into the minimum ceiling height to 6’-8” above
finished floor, but the IBC allows 50% of the ceiling to be less than 7’-6”.
The NFPA 101 requires a stricter 2/3 of the ceiling area to be at least 7’-6”.

NFPA 101

SBC 801
8. Means of Egress
Occupant Load : The SBC- 801 load table is Table 1004.1.2 The NFPA 101
load table is Table 7.3.1.2.

NFPA 101
8. Means of Egress
Occupant Load : The SBC- 801 load table is Table 1004.1.2 The NFPA 101
load table is Table 7.3.1.2.

SBC 801
8. Means of Egress
The outstanding difference between the two occupant loads is in how each
code directs the application of the loading factors.

The SBC code states the loading be applied to each portion of the building
based on occupancy of each portion. The most restrictive requirements are
to be applied to only the portion of the egress system that is used by more
than one occupancy.
8. Means of Egress
The outstanding difference between the two occupant loads is in how each
code directs the application of the loading factors.

The NFPA 101 also requires the loading be based on each type of
occupancy, but requires the restrictive condition of applying the Means of
Egress, type of construction and other safeguards of the most restrictive
occupancy to the entire building.
8. Means of Egress
The outstanding difference between the two occupant loads is in how each
code directs the application of the loading factors.

The NFPA 101 also requires the loading be based on each type of
occupancy, but requires the restrictive condition of applying the Means of
Egress, type of construction and other safeguards of the most restrictive
occupancy to the entire building.
8. Means of Egress
Egress Width :

The differences between these two tables will profoundly

affect the design of the exiting elements of buildings. As
a sample of the differences, the SBC requires 0.20
inches per occupant in sprinklered buildings for
stairways and 0.15 inches for other components.
The NFPA 101 requires 0.30 inches per occupant in
sprinklered buildings for stairways (a 50% increase over
the SBC) and 0.20 inches for other components (a 33%
increase over the SBC).
8. Means of Egress Components

Ramps

Vertical Exit Exit Door Handrail

Enclosure Hardware and guards

Dead End
Corridor
 9. Integrated Fire & Safety
Approach

Excerpt from NFPA 4,2018

9. Integrated Fire & Safety
Approach
Example :

An example of an integrated system might

include a fire alarm, fire sprinkler, elevator recall,
and smoke control. When a fire is detected,
each of these items has a specific code-required
function to perform. Integrated testing ensures
that these systems all work together flawlessly.
9. Integrated Fire & Safety
Approach –
Excerpt from NFPA 101,2018 for the requirement of integrated
testing for various occupancies
9. Integrated Fire & Safety
Approach
Why Integrated Fire and Safety approach in
necessary in Factory/Industrial Group of
Occupancies…?

Effective fire protection of a facility, especially

specialized structures such as industrial
occupancies, relies on a combination of systems
working in unison. Just the presence of a fire
sprinkler or a fire alarm will not protect the
facility.
 KEY POINTS COMPARISION
A SUMMARY

Use and
Fire Rated Means of
Occupancy
Construction Egress
classification
 KEY POINTS COMPARISION
A SUMMARY
Title SBC NFPA 101 Preferred Code
(SBC/NFPA)
Classification of Specify high-hazard materials, NFPA 101 does not specifically define "high-hazard
Hazard of and classifies Group H materials" or provide construction requirements for high-
Contents occupancies based on the level hazard occupancies. NFPA 101 classifies High-Hazard
of detonation, combustion, or Storage and Industrial occupancies based on: speed at SBC
deflagration hazard. In IBC, which contents are likely to burn hazardous contents
hazard level of contents does exceeding Maximum Allowable Quantities established in
impact construction NFPA 30.
requirements.

Code The provisions relevant to an The most stringent requirements of all occupancies in
Requirement occupancy only pertain to that the building apply throughout the building.
Provision occupancy area and not to the NFPA
rest of the building.

Non-separated Table 508.4 Table 6.1.14.4.1(a) & (b)

Occupancies
Separated SBC or NFPA
Occupancies

Shaft Requires that duct and air Do not include any similar provision
Enclosures transfer penetrations at shaft
enclosures be protected with SBC
listed fire and smoke dampers.
 Title SBC NFPA 101 Preferred Code
(SBC/NFPA)
Level of Discharge That portion of a means The story that is either (1) the lowest story
of egress system from which not less than 50% of the
between the termination required number of exits and not less than
of an exit and a public 50% of the required egress capacity from
way." i.e. exterior such a story discharge directly outside at
sidewalk to public way) the finished ground level; or (2) where no
story meets the conditions of item (1), the
story that is provided with one or more
exits that discharge directly to the outside
to the finished ground level via the
smallest elevation change NFPA

NFPA 101 uses this definition to limit a

building to one level of discharge. The
level of discharge is used to determine
number of stories above grade, which
impacts minimum construction type

Ceiling Min. ceiling height: 7' - Min. ceiling height: 7' - 6"
Height/Head 6" Min. headroom at protruding objects: 6' -
Clearance Min. headroom at 8" SBC or NFPA
protruding objects: 6' -
8"
 Title SBC NFPA 101 Preferred Code
(SBC/NFPA)
Ceiling Height/Head No more than 50% of the Not More than 1/3 (33%) of the ceiling
Clearance ceiling area of a means of area of a means of egress shall be
egress shall be reduced in reduced in height by protruding SBC
height by protruding objects objects.
more
Occupant Load Table 1004.5 Table 7.3.1.2

Where a building contains The building shall comply with the

two or more occupancies, most restrictive requirements of the
the means of egress occupancies involved, unless separate SBC or NFPA
requirements shall apply to safeguards are approved.
each portion of the building
based on the occupancy of
that space

Capacity Factor Stairways: 0.3 inch per Table 7.3.3.1

occupant, unsprinklered; 0.2
inch per occupant,
sprinklered Other egress NFPA
components: 0.2 inch per
occupant

Accessible means of One accessible means of Two accessible means of egress

Egress egress required per required per accessible space (at
accessible space. accessible spaces requiring two or
Provides an exception in fully more means of egress) SBC or NFPA
sprinklered buildings with Provides an exemption for health care
horizontal exiting and ramps occupancies protected throughout by
an automatic sprinkler protection
 Title SBC NFPA 101 Preferred Code
(SBC/NFPA)
Ramps Table 1020.2 Min. 44 Inch Wide SBC or NFPA
Handrails and guards Clearance to wall and other surface Clearance to wall and other SBC
1-1/2“ Min surface 2-1/4“ Min

Dead End Corridor Max. 20 feet except business Max. 30 feet NFPA
occupancies (50 feet)
Vertical Exit Requires a smoke proof enclosure for Requires a smoke proof NFPA
Enclosure stairways at both some high rise and enclosure at underground
underground structure structures only
Panic Hardware
Requirements

SBC or NFPA
 Preferable Selection of Code at
Various Stages of Project
Workflow
Project Development
Starting with SBC & developing Using NFPA
Process

Design Process NFPA

Fabrication Process NFPA

Installation Process NFPA

T & C Process NFPA

 Preferable Selection of Code at Various Stages of Project Workflow
Stage Preferred Reason for Selection
Code/Standard
Project Development Process
Determination of Occupancy SBC SBC Covers occupancy classification in
quite detail
Development of Design Criteria NFPA SBC Referenced Document
Establishment Water Supply and other NFPA SBC Referenced Document
Equipment's requirements
Preparing Preliminary Layouts(FLS NFPA SBC Referenced Document
layouts etc.) and Preliminary
calculations
Development of Approved/listed NFPA/UL/FM SBC Referenced Documents
Material list
Design Process
Review of Drawings and Material SBC & NFPA/ UL/ SBC Referenced Documents
Submittals FM As well as NFPA design standards are
very much elaborative
Preparing Final Layouts and Final SBC & NFPA SBC Referenced Documents
calculations As well as NFPA design standards are
very much elaborative
 Preferable Selection of Code at Various Stages of Project Workflow
Stage Preferred Reason for Selection
Code/Standard
Fabrication Process
Stock listing, Purchasing and Fabrication NFPA NFPA standards provides details
Process of various fabrication
methodology and preferred
type of joints & fittings
Installation Process
Start of Installation NFPA NFPA Standards provides very
detailed guidance on best
Performing testing's upon installations NFPA
installation practices and initial
Completion of Installation work along NFPA acceptance testing
with necessary testing
Integrated Testing and Commissioning Process
Testing of Systems and necessary NFPA and Manufacture's NFPA has dedicated standard
Trainings Guidelines addressing methodology of
Maintenance of System NFPA integrated testing, Inspection
and Maintenance which is very
important to achieve overall fire
and safety objective with proper
system integrations.
Recommendations
Conceptually, the codes are very different in scope. As far as life
safety code NFPA 101 is concerned it primarily addresses
construction, protection, and occupancy features necessary to
minimize the danger to life from the effects of fire as well as
conditions associated with non-fire emergencies
The SBC address a wide range of considerations, including
structural strength, stability, sanitation, means of egress, adequate
light and ventilation, and energy conservation.
Recommendations
Because compliance with SBC is required for CIVIL DEFENSE
APPROVAL, utilizing SBC as the starting point for fire and life
safety design within the Department of Veterans Affairs appears to
be a reasonable choice.
For design considerations not addressed by SBC, use of the
NFPA to provide supplemental criteria would also appear to be
reasonable, since the NFPA has been selected by the SBC as the
design basis for many systems.
For design considerations that are addressed by both NFPA and
the SBC, use of the criteria from SBC and the documents
referenced by SBC would ensure compliance with CIVIL
DEFENSE requirements.
Conclusion
Use of SBC as the starting point for fire and life safety
design along with use of the NFPA for issues not
addressed by SBC, will provide criteria for a safe
environment.

This strategy serves to blend the best features of both

codes and results in a holistic approach.
Thank You