REPORT

ON
COMBUSTIBILITY OF MATERIALS
&
FIRE RESISTANCE PROVISION IN BUILDING FROM FIRE SAFETY ANGLE

Submitted By:-
HARLEEN DUGGAL (13/03)
NAJMUS CHOWDHRY (20/03)
PRAGATI KAPUR (23/03)
SHILPI JAIN (30/03)
PRIYANKA KHANNA (24/03)
 INTRODUCTION –
• Fire protection techniques have to be based on the fire behavior characteristics of different
materials and structural elements of buildings.
• The activities pursued by the occupants of the building must also be taken into consideration for
assessing the extents of hazards, and method should be devised by which the hazards should be
minimized. Absolute safety from fire is not attainable in practice.
• The objective of this part is to specify measures which will provide that degree of safety from fire
which can be reasonably achieved.
• Experience has shown that concealed spaces within a building such as space between ceiling
and false ceiling, and horizontal and vertical ducts, etc tend to act as flues/tunnels during a fire,
provision should be made to provide fire stopping within such spaces.

Combustible materials-

Type of Extinguisher
Fuel Source Class of Fire
(Extinguishing Agent)

Ordinary combustibles
A Water; chemical foam; dry chemical*
(e.g. trash, wood, paper, cloth)
Flammable liquids Carbon dioxide (CO2); halon**; dry
(e.g. oils, grease, tar, gasoline, B chemical; aqueous film forming foam
paints, thinners) (AFFF)
Electricity
C CO2; halon; dry chemical
(e.g. live electrical equipment)
Combustible metals Dry powder (suitable for the specific
D
(e.g. magnesium, titanium) combustible metal involved)
paper, wood, cardboard, and most plastics.
flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil.
electrical equipment, such as appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets.
combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium.

BUILDING MATERIALS:-
STEEL,GLASS,TIMBER,CONCRETE,STONE and BRICKS. Various fire tests are carried out before
using these materials in building for the fire safety of that building. To calculate the temperature rise in
these engineering materials FOURIER EQUATION is used.

The temperature up to which there is not much loss in the strength of following materials –
BRICKS : 1200 – 1300 deg. C.
STEEL melts completely : 1400 deg. C.
CONCRETE strength becomes 20 %of its strength at its normal temp. : 800-900 deg. C.

Typical Fire Resistance Ratings For Various Concrete Slab Thicknesses –

Slab thickness , in. Fire resistance,

(mm) hr(s)
2.5-3.5(65-90) 1
3.7-5.0(95-125) 2
4.3-6.1(110-155) 3
DESIGN CONCERNS:
Elements within the discipline of fire safety can be readily identified which relate both to life safety and
property safety. The key areas can be identified as follows :
1.CONTROL OF IGNITION
This can be done by controlling the flammability of materials within the structure, by maintenance of
structures fabric and finishes or by fire safety management.

2.CONTROL OF MEANS OF ESCAPE

This can be forced either by imposing statutory requirements on provision of suitable escape
facilities or by education of occupants.

3.DETECTION
This covers the installation of methods whereby the fire may be detected, preferably at the earliest
possible stage
.
4.CONTROL OF SPREAD OF FIRE
Here, concern is the spread of fire, either within the building or to adjacent properties. This control
may either be effected by in-built features (such as compartmentation) or control of distance
between buildings or by mechanical means (such as smoke screens, sprinklers, venting).

5.PREVENTION OF STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE

This covers the imposition of stability and integrity on structure as a whole or in part during a fire.
 FLOW CHART SHOWING MANAGEMENT OF FIRE CRISIS IN A BUILDING

Fire Resistance Provision In A Building From Fire Safety Angle

Life safety is the paramount objective of fire safety. Non-domestic buildings should be

designed and constructed in such a way that the risk of fire is reduced and if a fire does
occur, there are measures in place to restrict the growth of fire and smoke to enable the
occupants to escape safely and fire fighters to deal with fire safely and effectively .
In the event of an outbreak of fire, it is important that the occupants are warned as soon as
possible
Fire tower :-
An enclosed staircase which can only be approached from the various floors through landings or
lobbies separated from both the floors and the staircase by fire resisting doors, and open to the outer
air.

Fire wall:-
A fire resistance rated wall having protected openings, which restricts the spread of fire and extends
continuously from the foundation to at least 1m above the roof.

Fire stop or enclosure of all openings:-

Where openings are permitted, they shall not exceed three- fourth the area of the wall in case of an
external wall and they shall be protected with fire resisting assemblies or enclosures having a fire
resistance equal to that of the wall and floor in which these are situated.

Fire detecting and extinguishing system:-

In building of such size, arrangement or occupancy that a fire may not itself provide
adequate warning to occupants, automatic fire detecting and alarm facilities shall be provided, where
necessary, to warn occupants of the existence of fire.
 PROVISIONS FOR FIRE SAFETY

ALTHOUGH THE INCLUSION OF FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT IN BUILDINGS IS

ALWAYS DESIRABLE AND INCREASINGLY MANDATORY, GOOD PRACTICE BEGINS
WITH THE DESIGN OF THE STRUCTURE.SOME OF THE MATERIALS AND
EQUIPMENT THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED ARE:
 FIRE RESISTANCE OF THE SELECTED STRUCTURAL TYPES AND MATERIAL AND
THE CONTENTS OF BUILDING.
LIMITATIONS OF VOLUMES WITHIN FIRE-RESISTANT BARRIERS IN OTHERWISE
VULNERABLE BUILDINGS.
 PRECAUTIONS AGAINST PERFORATIONS OF APPROVED AND REQUIRED
BARRIERS.
 EXITS AND FIRE TOWER STAIRS.
 PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.
PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE CAUSED BY LIGHTNING.
 DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS.
 STANDPIPE AND HOSE SYSTEMS WITHIN AND NEAR BUILDINGS.
 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.
 AUTOMATIC SMOKE AND HEAT VENTING.
 SMOKE AND HEAT SHAFTS.
 CONTROL OF AIR-CONDITIONING DUCTS.
 COMMUNICATION IN HIGH RISE BUILDINGS.
ELEVATOR CONTROL.
FIRE COMMAND STATION IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS.
 FIRE ESCAPES OR EXTERNAL STAIRS
 FIRE ESCAPES SHALL NOT BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN CALCULATING THE
EVACUATION TIME OF A BUILDING.
 ALL FIRE ESCAPE SHALL BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE GROUND.
 ENTRANCE TO THE FIRE ESCAPE SHALL BE SEPARATE AND REMOTE FROM THE
INTERNAL STAIRCASE.
 CARE SHALL BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE WALL OPENING OR WINDOW OPENS
ON TO OR CLOSE TO A FIRE ESCAPE.
 THE ROUTE TO THE FIRE ESCAPE SHALL BE FREE OF OBSTRUCTIONS AT ALL TIMES.
 THE FIRE ESCAPE SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED OF NON-COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS, AND
ANY DOORWAY LEADING TO THE FIRE ESCAPE SHALL HAVE THE REQUIRED FIRE
RESISTANCE.
 NO STAIRCASE, USED AS A FIRE ESCAPE, SHALL BE INCLINED AT AN ANGLE GREATER
THAN 45° FROM THE HORIZONTAL.
 FIRE ESCAPE STAIRS SHALL HAVE STRAIGHT FLIGHT NOT LESS THAN 75 cm WIDE
WITH 20 cm TREADS AND RISERS NOT MORE THAN 19 cm. THE No. OF RISERS SHALL BE
LIMITED TO 15 PER FLIGHT.
 HAND RAIL SHALL BE OF HEIGHT NOT LESS THAN 100 cm..
ELEVATORS
ELEVATORS SERVING THE FLOOR TO BE RECALLED AND RETAINED AT TERMINAL
FLOOR BY ACTIVATION OF LANDING DETECTORS OR COMMAND STATION CONTROL.

THREE ELEVATORS SERVING EACH FLOOR SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH FIREMEN’S

SERVICE.

INTERLOCK WIRING FOR ELEVATOR HOISTWAY DOORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE

RESISTANT TO HIGH TEMPERATURES.
 EXIT REQUIREMENTS

 EVERY BUILDING MEANT FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH

EXITS SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT SAFE ESCAPE OF OCCUPANTS, IN CASE OF FIRE OR
OTHER EMERGENCY.

 EXITS SHALL BE CLEARLY VISIBLE AND THE ROUTES TO REACH THE EXIT SHALL BE
CLEARLY MARKED AND SIGN POSTED TO GUIDE THE POPULATION OF THE FLOOR
CONCERNED. SIGNS SHALL BE ILLUMINATED AND WIRED TO AN
INDEPENDENTELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ON AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF SUPPLY.

 FIRE-RESISTING DOORS SHALL BE PROVIDED AT APPROPRIATE PLACES ALONG

THE ESCAPE ROUTES TO PREVENT SPREAD OF FIRE AND SMOKE, AND
PARTICULARLY AT THE ENTRANCE TO LIFTS AND STAIRS WHERE A ‘FUNNEL OR FLUE
EFFECT’ MAY BE CREATED, INDUCING AN UPWARD SPREAD OF FIRE.

 EXITS SHALL BE SO ARRANGED THAT THEY MAY BE REACHED WITHOUT PASSING

THROUGH ANOTHER OCCUPIED UNIT.
 CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDINGS BASED ON OCCUPANCY

1.Group A Residential
2.Group B Educational
3.Group C Institutional
4.Group D Assembly
5.Group E Business
6.Group F Mercantile
7.Group G Industrial
8.Group H Storage
9.Group J Hazardous.

The fire resistance of a building or its structural elements is expressed in hours against a specified test
load, which is expressed in Kcal/sq. m, and against a certain intensity of fire. 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,
Type 4 Construction.
Type of construction Duration (hr) Fire (intensity deg. C.)
1 4 540 to 1095
2 3 540 to 1057
3 2 540 to 1010
4 1 540 to 925
 PLANNING ESCAPE ROUTES

Occupants of flats will be familiar with the layout of the premises whereas customers in
a shop may be completely unfamiliar with their surrounding. In hospital the main concern is with the
adequacy of the means of escape from all the parts of building. The provision of safe escape
routes should however allow at the same time en easy access for the fire brigade using the same
routes, and since these routes are protected the risk of fire spread is minimized. Each building has
to be considered as an individual exercise but certain common factors prevails in all cases:

 An outbreak of fire does not necessarily imply the evacuation of the entire building.

 Rescue facilities of the local fire brigade should not be considered as part of the planning of means
of escape.

 Persons should be able to reach safety without assistance when using the protected escape
routes.

 All possible sources of an outbreak and the course the fire is likely to take should be examined
and the escape routes planned accordingly.
 FIRE RESISTANCE RATING OF STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

STRUCTURAL ELEMENT TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION

(HOURS)

Type1 Type2 Type3 Type4

Exterior wall 4 2 2 1
Fire walls and party wall 4 2 2
2 Fire separation assemblies 4 2
2 2 Fire enclosure of exit ways &stairs 2
2 2 2 Vertical separation of spaces 1
1 1 1 Structural member supporting wall 3
1.5 1 1 Floor construction & beam
3 1.5 1 1 Roof construction + beam + truss
2 1.5 1 1
 TYPICAL FIRE FIGHTING REQUIREMENTS

Type of Type of installation Underground Terrace Pump at UG Pump at T.lvl

building tank tank lvl
Residential One wet riser cum 1,00,000 liters 20,000liter 2400 liters / 900 liters / min.
down comer / s min. at at
1000 sq.m pressure pressure
0.3 N/ 0.3
sq.mm n/sq.mm
Educational One wet riser cum Nil 20,000litre Nil 450 liters / min.
And down comer / s at
institutio 1000 sq.m pressure
nal 0.3
n/sq.mm
Assembly One wet riser cum 2,00,000 liters 20,000 2400 liters / 700 liters / min.
down comer / liters min. at at
1000 sq.m pressure pressure
0.3 N/ 0.3
sq.mm n/sq.mm
Business One wet riser cum 1,50,000 liters 15,000 2000 liters / 800 liters / min.
and down comer / liters min. at at
industrial 1000 sq.m pressure pressure
0.3 N/ 0.3
sq.mm n/sq.mm
 EXAMPLE OF FIRE FIGHTING
ANSAL PLAZA,LUDHIANA

This building is provided with the following measures to protect the building from fire-
1.Fire pump and accessories
2.Fire Hydrant and wet riser system
3.Automatic sprinkler system
4.Portable chemical fire extinguisher
5.Fire tower

FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM :

•The fire suppression will be designed conforming to National Building code 1983 & its subsequent amendment in
1997.
•It is proposed to provide sprinklers for all non electrical/ data points areas.

•Fire Static Storage Tank:

Fire Storage tank of capacity 250 KL with fire pumps like Hydrant pumps, sprinkler pump, Jockey Pumps, Pressure
Vessel & Diesel Engine is Proposed in Basement plant room. Each pump will have 88 m, head.
 FIRE TOWER

Fire tower approached

by each floor
• Fir Hydrant Systems.
• The hydrant ring main from fire pumps header will
run all around proposed buildings with yard
hydrants at suitable intervals. Wet risers shall be
tapped from ring main & run along the shaft. Fire
hose cabinet are provided on all floors with
accessories.
• Fie hydrant system will consist of following.
• Fire ring main with yard hydrants.
• Wet risers serving all levels with single headed
landing values, first aid fire hose reel & other
accessories.
• Each hydrant shall be provided with.
– One Single out let landing valve
– Two sets of canvas hose pipe with branch
pipe.
– One first aid fire hose reel. MAIN LINE
– One fire men's Axe.
BRANCH LINE
SUB BRANCH
• Sprinkler System :-
• Sprinkler system will required in all the floor except
electrical room as per National Building Code.
Sprinkler system will consist of following :-
• Installation control valves. PLAN
• Sprinkler wet Rises, Drain Pipes, Inspection Testing
Assembly
• Flow Indicating Switches, Branch Piping, Wiring up to
Annunciation Panel etc.
• Automatic Sprinkler Heads with quartzite bulb.
 Sprinklers are positioned at the grid of 3m.
 They are hidden under false ceiling
• Fire extinguishers.
• Portable type class A,B & C fire extinguishers shall be provided at all fire sensitive place whose
locations shall be decided on floor area basis.
• It is assumed that fire Alarm system from part of electrical installation.
• Androgen system.
• Inert gas flooding system shall be used in control rooms/ switch rooms/ electrical room if
required.