Contents

Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Executive Summary...................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Definitions.....................................................................................................................................................................................13

Chapter One: General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures..................................17
1.1 Principles of Fire Protection in Buildings and Structures...................................................................................................... 19
1.2 Buildings and Structures Hazard Content Classification......................................................................................................20
1.3 Site Arrangement and Fire Protection Requirments..............................................................................................................21
1.4 Requirements for Fire Department Vehicles Access Roads................................................................................................... 22
1.5 Requirements for Civil Defense Buildings Access Roads .....................................................................................................24
1.6 Design Requirements............................................................................................................................................................. 25
1.7 Fire Safety Plans......................................................................................................................................................................26
1.8 First Aid Signage Method.......................................................................................................................................................28
1.9 Requirements for Fire Resistance of the Building Structure ...............................................................................................29
1.10 Fire Compartment................................................................................................................................................................. 35
1.11 Control of External Fire Spread Between Buildings.............................................................................................................. 37
1.12 Requirements for Buildings Fire Resistance Depending on the Construction Type...........................................................39

Chapter Two: The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems .............................43
2.1 Scope........................................................................................................................................................................................45
2.2 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment........................................................................................................ 46
2.3 Fire Alarm System................................................................................................................................................................... 57

Chapter Three: Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits.......................................... 61

3.1 Emergency Exits......................................................................................................................................................................63
3.2 Means of Egress Requirments (Emergency Exits)................................................................................................................ 64
3.3 Stairs....................................................................................................................................................................................... 68
3.4 Exit Access Corridors...............................................................................................................................................................70
3.5 Openings in Fire Barriers....................................................................................................................................................... 80

1
Contents

Chapter Four: Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications.....87
4.1 Buildings Classifications........................................................................................................................................................ 89
4.2 Fire Protection Requirements for Assembly Occupancy Buildings......................................................................................93
4.3 Fire Protection Requirements for Residential Occupancy Buildings.................................................................................. 99
4.4 Fire Protection Requirements for Commercial Buildings.................................................................................................. 107
4.5 Fire Protection Requirements for Industrial Buildings........................................................................................................ 114
4.6 Fire Protection Requirements for Storage and Car Parking Buildings...............................................................................122

Annexes.......................................................................................................................................... 131
5.1 Annex I: Accessible Means of Egress......................................................................................................................................133
5.2 Annex II: Example of Fire and Emergency Evacuation Plan................................................................................................ 136
5.3 Annex III: High Rise Buildings................................................................................................................................................138

References...................................................................................................................................... 141

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 Figures

Figures
Figure 1: Examples of civil defense Vehicles Maneuvring and turning areas (AASHTO- 6th Edition 2011)...................22
Figure 2: Alternatives to civil defense vehicles maneuvering and turning areas (for a length of 12m).......................23
Figure 3: Sample of the fire safety plans for “Pain d’Or” manufacture in Riyad.......................................................... 26
Figure 4: Sample of fire safety plan “King Abdallah Financial Center”..........................................................................27
Figure 5: Sample of evacuation plans including definitions of some annotations ......................................................28
Figure 7: Fire compartment and fire and smoke barriers...............................................................................................35
Figure 6: Subdivision of the building to separate fire compartment............................................................................35
Figure 8: Alternative installation method for portable fire extinguishers within wall cavity..................................... 49
Figure 9: Installation of portable fire extinguisher in wall cavity at 1 m high from final floor level........................... 49
Figure 10: High pressure system for the CO2 extinguishing system..............................................................................55
Figure 11: Dry chemical extinguishing system (modular system for the protection of kichen hoods and exhaust systems).........55
Figure 12: width of the exit access corridors................................................................................................................... 64
Figure 13: Minimum separation distance between side handrails and adjacent wall................................................. 66
Figure 14: Exhibit showing the guardrails...................................................................................................................... 67
Figure 15: Open guard requirements.............................................................................................................................. 67
Figure 16: Stair’s guard.................................................................................................................................................... 67
Figure 17: Inside stairs as part of the means of egress................................................................................................... 68
Figure 18: method of measuring the clear width of the door........................................................................................ 70
Figure 19: Required width for the stair landing at doors openings............................................................................... 70
Figure 20: Emergency exit doors in theaters................................................................................................................... 71
Figure 21: Exits required to provide necessary egress capacity with non horizontal exit.............................................72
Figure 22: Number of stairs reduced through use of horizontal exit.............................................................................72
Figure 23: Measuring Travel distance to an exit..............................................................................................................74
Figure 24: Measuring the overall maximum diagonal of the building......................................................................... 75
Figure 25: Common path of travel (C-D) and dead end corridor (B-C)............................................................................ 75
Figure 26: horizontal section for exit stair at the level of exit discharge...................................................................... 76
Figure 27: Some locations of the exit signs..................................................................................................................... 76
Figure 28: Exit sign........................................................................................................................................................... 76

3
Figures

Figure 29: Fire barrier vertical continuity........................................................................................................................ 81

Figure 30: Protection of exit access corridor.................................................................................................................... 81
Figure 31: Example of protection of exit passageway .................................................................................................... 81
Figure 32: Typical penetrations of a fire barrier..............................................................................................................82
Figure 33: Typical penetrations of a smoke barrier.........................................................................................................82
Figure 34: Vertical openings.............................................................................................................................................83
Figure 35: separation of communicating space from the remainder of the building...................................................83
Figure 36: Sample of shafts vertical openings................................................................................................................ 84
Figure 37: Plan view of a typical atrium.......................................................................................................................... 84
Figure 38: Convenience opening between two floors.................................................................................................... 84
Figure 39: Two types of Bar Panic.................................................................................................................................... 96
Figure 40: Ancillary facilities...........................................................................................................................................118
Figure 41: Industrial equipment access dimensional criteria........................................................................................119
Figure 42: Example of common path of travel...............................................................................................................125
Figure 43: Distance between means of egress...............................................................................................................133
Figure 44: Example of exit stair incorporating an area of refuge................................................................................ 134

4
 Tables

Tables

Table 1: Classification of buildings and structures depending on the related hazard of contents............................................................................................... 20
Table 2: Fire Resistance Ratings for Type 1 through Type V construction (hours).......................................................................................................................... 30
Table 3: Allowable Building Height and Area...................................................................................................................................................................................33
Table 4: Allowable Building Height and Area.................................................................................................................................................................................. 34
Table 5: Subdivision of the building to separate fire compartment............................................................................................................................................... 36
Table 6: Fire resistance required for the building structure............................................................................................................................................................37
Table 7: The separation distance required between the building and the plot limits depending on the building height and area of the facades openings...........................................37
Table 8: Minimum critical radiant flux...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................38
Table 9: Fire extenguisher size and placement for Class A hazrads.........................................................................................................................................................................................48
Table 10: Fire extinguisher size and placement for Class B hazards.........................................................................................................................................................................................49
Table 11: Distribution of portable fire extinguishers type A..........................................................................................................................................................................................................50
Table 12: Distribution of portable fire extinguishers type B..........................................................................................................................................................................................................50
Table 13: Distribution of portable fire extinguishers type C and D.............................................................................................................................................................................................51
Table 14: Minimum width of means of egress (emergency exits) depending on the occupant load......................................................................................................................65
Table 15: Minimum width of means of egress (emergency exits) depending on the hazard content classification.......................................................................................65
Table 16: Building Evacuation time in case of fire..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................65
Table 17: Dimensional criteria of inside stairs......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................68
Table 18: Minimum width of stairs............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................69
Table 19: Dimensional criteria for ramps ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 71
Table 20: Longest common path limits and dead-end limits........................................................................................................................................................................................................73
Table 21: Occupant load...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................78
Table 22: Minimum fire barriers openings for opening protectives in fire resistance-rated assemblies..............................................................................................................80
Table 23: Required separation of occupancies (hours).....................................................................................................................................................................................................................91
Table 24: Required separation of occupancies (hours)....................................................................................................................................................................................................................92
Table 25: Construction type limitations..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................94
Table 26: Firefighting system in assembly occupancy buildings depending on the classification, height and structural construction type...................................97
Table 27: Requirements for automatic water sprinkler system in assembly occupancy depending on the classification, height and structural construction type......................97
Table 28: Travel distance and direct distance in residential buildings.................................................................................................................................................................................100
Table 29: Firefighting and fire alarm systems / equipment for residential building class A..................................................................................................................................... 103
Table 30: Firefighting and fire alarm systems and equipment for residential buildings class B & class C........................................................................................................104

5
Figures

Table 31: Building services specific for fire protection in residential buildings.................................................................................................................................................................106
Table 32: Travel distance and direct distance for commercial buildings.............................................................................................................................................................................109
Table 33: Firefighting and fire alrm system in commercial buildings.....................................................................................................................................................................................112
Table 34: Fire compartment area in industrial buildings depending on the hazard of their manufacturing processes ............................................................................116
Table 35: Measuring travel distance and direct distance in industrial buildings.............................................................................................................................................................116
Table 36: Industrial equipment access dimensional.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................119
Table 37: Firefighting system in industrial buildings depending on the related class, height and construction type.................................................................................120
Table 38: Engineering services related to the fire protection in industrial buildings......................................................................................................................................................121
Table 39: Structural Construction type of buildings depending on the type and hazard class of the storage contents .............................................................................122
Table 40: Fire compartment area in storage occupancy buildings depending on the related hazard content................................................................................................123
Table 41: Measuring travel distance and direct distance in storage occupancy building............................................................................................................................................124
Table 42: Firefighting and fire alarm systems in storage occupancy buildings.................................................................................................................................................................125
Table 43: Engineering services specific for fire protection in storage buildings............................................................................................................................................................... 126
Table 44: Maximum travel distance to exits ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................128
Table 45: Engineered utilities related to the fire protection in storage occupancy buildings and car parking............................................................................................... 129

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 Introduction

Introduction

The Saudi Industrial Proprety Authoirty, in ▪▪ The fire resistance of the building’s structural
collaboration with the General Directorate elements
of Civil Defense, purposes to clarify the ▪▪The occupant types and occupant load
preventive fire safety requirements that ▪▪The occupancy classification
shall be followed within the industrial cities,
to raise the safety level of factories and the The following shall be noted:
related supporting services located within the
industrial cities. ▪▪ The guide is applicable on new buildings
From this point of view, this guide’s purpose rather than existing buildings.
is to clarify the industrial safety and security ▪▪ The fire safety requirements for high rise
requirements, the precautions that must be buildings are not included in this guide.
taken, and to ease the understanding of these These requirements are included in An-
requirements by the responsible authorities nex 1 of this guide.
and employees of the industrial cities.
This guide includes important preventive
▪▪ The publications, local regulations, local
standards referenced in this guide are in-
requirements related to fire safety in
buildings of different types and uses of such cluded in Annex 2 of this guide
as offices, residential, mercantile, industrial,
storages, and car parking areas located
within the indurtial cities. The requirements
tackle mainly fire protection, fire alarm, and
fire fighting issues related to each type of
occupancies.
This guide includes also the minimum
requirements related to life and fire safety
necessary to reduce danger to life from
the effects of fire without interfering with
the daily operation of buildings and taking
into account the panic caused by fire, by
eliminating the causes of panic in emergency
situations and facilitating the access of
firefighters to the building, and considering
the following important issues:

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 Executive Summary

Executive Summary

This guide is issued to specify the technical Chapter four includes the fire safety
requirements related to the industrial safety requirements for buildings according to their
and security in industrial buildings and the occupancy uses which are classified in five
related supporting services located within the occupancies: assembly, residential, business
industrial cities. It includes four chapters and and mercantile, industrial in addtion to
three annexes. storage and car parking. Each occupancy
class is defined and the related requirments
Chapter one is related to the fire safety
for fire compartmentation, means of egress,
requirements for all building construction
firefighting and fire alarm systems are set.
types, the fire department access roads, and
site arrangements. It explains the methodolgy The annexes are related to the requirements of
for the hazard classification of buildings, the accessible means of egress related to disabled
requirements related to the fire resistance access persons, sample of fire and emergency
of the buildings’ structure, and the fire evacuation plan, and fire safety requirments
compartmentation. It includes samples of fire for high rise buildings.
safety plans that shall be submitted as part of
the permit file.
Chapter two is related to the requirements
for firefighting and fire alarm systems, the
classification of these systems and the related
equipment, and the related method of
installation depending on the fire classification
of the building’s materials. It includes also the
types and methods of installation of portable
fire extinguishers and the types of firefighting
systems appropriate for each fire class.
Chapter three is related to the requirements
for means of egress and it is subdivided into
five main sections: the means of egress, the
stairs, the exit access corridors, the fire barriers
and the smoke barriers.

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 Definitions

Definitions

The definitions contained in this section shall protection rating, where such membrane is
apply to the terms used in this guide. Where designed and constructed with a specified fire
terms are not defined in this section, they resistance rating to limit the spread of fire,
shall be defined using their ordinary accepted that also restricts the movement of smoke.
meanings within their context
High Hazard Areas: Area containing high
Area of Refuge: An area that is either (1) a story
hazard materials
in a building where the building is protected
High Hazard Materials: High hazard materials
throughout by an approved, supervised
shall be classified as those that are likely to
automatic sprinkler system and has not less
burn with extreme rapidity or from which
than two accessible rooms or spaces separated
explosions are likely to occur.
from each other by smoke-resisting partitions;
or (2) a space located in a path of travel leading
Highrise buildings: A building where the
to a public way that is protected from the
floor of an occupiable story is greater than
effects of fire, either by means of separation
23m above the lowest level of fire department
from other spaces in the same building or by
vehicle access.
virtue of location, thereby permitting a delay in
egress travel from any level.
Horizontal Evacuation Areas: An area within
the building that is enclosed by fire barriers.
Automatic sprinkler system with partial
Hotel transient: Transients are those who
coverage: Automatic sprinkler system which is
occupy accomodations for less than 30 days
not covering part or parts of the building
Main corridor: Main exit access corridors
Basement: Underground story
Building no hazard content: Building with low Means of Egress: A continuous and unobstructed
hazard content such the the storage of non way of travel from any point in a building or
combustible materials. structure to a public way consisting of exit
doors, exit access corridors, horizontal exits, exit
Building with low hazard content: Building stairs, and ramps.
with low hazard content shall be classified as
those of such low combustibility that no self-
propagating fire therein can occur such as the
the storage of non combustible materials.
Common path of travel: The portion of exit
access that must be traversed before two
separate and distinct paths of travel to two
exits are available.

Fire Barrier: A continuous membrane or

a membrane with discontinuities created
by protected openings with a specified fire

13
 Definitions

Mezzanine area limitations: The aggregate

area of mezzanines located within a room
shall not exceed one-third the open area of the
room in which the mezzanines are located.
Enclosed space shall not be included in a
determination of the size of the room in which
the mezzanine is located.

Mixed Occupancy: A multiple occupancy

where the occupancies are intermingled. The
building shall comply with the most restrictive
requirements of the occupancies involved.
Multiple Occupancy: A building or structure in
which two or more classes of occupancy exist.
Residential investment building: Apartments
Hotel
Secondary corridors: the first part of the
means of egress leading the main corridor in
order to reach the exit.
Separated Occupancy: A multiple occupancy
where the occupancies are separated by fire
resistance–rated assemblies.
Smoke Barrier: A continuous membrane, or
a membrane with discontinuities created by
protected openings, where such membrane
is designed and constructed to restrict the
movement of smoke.

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 Definitions

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 1 1

General Requirments for Fire Protection

for Buildings Structures
Chapter 1: General Requirments for Fire Protection
for Buildings Structures
1.1 Principles of Fire Protection in Buildings and Structures ................................................................. 19
1.2 Buildings and Structures Hazard Content Classification..................................................................20
1.3 Site Arrangement and Fire Protection Requirments..........................................................................21
1.4 Requirements for Fire Department Vehicles Access Roads.................................................................22
1.5 Requirements for Civil Defense Buildings Access Roads ...................................................................24
1.6 Design Requirements ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 25
1.7 Fire Safety Plans �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������26
1.8 First Aid Signage Method ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������28
1.9 Requirements for Fire Resistance of the Building Structure 29
Scope.................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Classification of buildings’ structure in terms of fire resistance.............................................................................. 29
The heights permitted according to the type of building and protection level ��������������������������������������������������������� 31
1.10 Fire Compartment �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 35
1.11 Control of External Fire Spread Between Buildings...........................................................................37
1.12 Requirements for Buildings Fire Resistance Depending on the Construction Type..........................39
Metallic steel structure.......................................................................................................................................... 39
Plastic Materials.................................................................................................................................................... 39
 Principles of Fire Protection in Buildings and Structures
1.1
General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

1.1 Principles of Fire Protection in Buildings and Structures

The minimum fire protection requiremnts

shall be provided in buildings and structures
as per the below:
▪▪The building’s structure shall be designed to
control fire, smoke, gas leak and panic risks
on the buildings’ occupants. The sturcture
should facilitate emergency evacuation of
occupants.
▪▪The fire resistance of the building structure
is reliant on the time of occupant’s evacua-
tion from the building in case of emergency.
▪▪The minimum number and capacity of
means of egress (emergency exits) are pro-
vided for each building and structure with-
out considering the passages located within
the buillding that are used for fire fighting.
▪▪Horizontal fire evacutaion areas are protect-
ed from smoke or gas leaks coming from
other parts of the building. These areas are
intended to provide protection and relatively
safe places until the end of the emergency.
▪▪The means of egress shall be impeded, and
the doors opening direction shall be ade-
quate to the egress direction.
▪▪Marking of exits and means of egress is en-
sured.
▪▪The proper firefighting systems are ensured.
▪▪The appropiate lighting, emergency light-
ing systems supplied from an emergency
power supply system (generator), and the
appriate fire alarm system shall be ensured.

19
 Buildings and Structures Hazard Content Classification
1.2 General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

1.2 Buildings and Structures Hazard Content Classification

The hazard of contents of any building or

structures shall be classified as low, medium,
or high in accordance with Table 1.

Table 1:
Classification of buildings and structures depending on the related hazard of contents
Hazard Classification Description
Low Hazard Low hazard contents shall be classified as those of such low combustibility that no selfpropagating fire therein can occur
for example storage of non combustible materials

Medium Hazard Medium hazard contents shall be classified as those that are likely to burn with moderate rapidity or to give off a
considerable volume of smoke. These are ordinary contents that can be found in most of the buildings

High Hazard High hazard contents shall be classified as those that are likely to burn with extreme rapidity or from which explosions
are likely to occur.
High hazard contents are mainly found in occupancies where flammable liquids are handled or used or are stored under
conditions involving possible release of flammable vapors; where grain dust, wood flour or plastic dust, aluminum or
magnesium dust, or other explosive dusts are produced; where hazardous chemicals or explosives are manufactured,
stored, or handled; where materials are processed or handled under conditions producing flammable flyings; and other
situations of similar hazard

The fire-resistive properties of building ▪▪Enclosing the area with a fire barrier with-
materials are determined by fire test methods out windows that has a 1-hour fire resis-
as per the following: tance rating
▪▪NFPA 251 Standard Methods of Tests of Fire ▪▪Protecting the area with automatic extin-
Resistance of Building Construction and guishing systems
Materials ▪▪Applying both (1) and (2) where the hazard
▪▪NFPA 255 Standard Method of Test of Sur- is severe
face Burning Characteristics of Building
Materials
Protection from any area having a degree of
hazard greater than that normal to the general
occupancy of the building or structure shall be
provided by one of the following means:

20
 Site Arrangement and Fire Protection Requirments
1.3
General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

1.3 Site Arrangement and Fire Protection Requirments

When submitting the site and other plans to ▪▪Fire hydrant shall be provided around the
obtain the authorities’ approval, the building buildings.
construction code shall be respected and ▪▪The design and installation of the fire
the following points shall be specified: the pumps shall be in accordance with a specific
location of the project, the location and uses standard for example NFPA20 standard for
of the neighboring buildings, and the site’s
the installation of stationary pumps for fire
surrounding streets. The easy access of the
protection
civil defense vehicles and equipment to the
nearest point of the construction shall be
▪▪20% of the plot area of the industrial zones
considered. The below shall be considered for shall be provided for the use of fire protec-
multiple buildings project– such as residential tion operation, and this shall be coordinat-
complex: ed and approved by the civil defense by
construction of natural separation between
▪▪The provision of adequate internal roads buildings of the same plot (square one) or
▪▪The provision of easy access for civil defense between the buildings of the same plot and
vehicles and equipment
the buildings of the neighboring plots.
▪▪The provision of adequate vehicles entrances ▪▪Fire department access roads shall be pro-
and exits
vided to facilitate the access for the civil de-
Water tanks used exclusively for firefighting fense vehicles and equipment to reach the
shall be provided. required distance from the building

▪▪The capacity of these water tanks shall be

designed as per the firefighting system
standards for each building. For example,
NFPA13 for the automatic sprinkler system;
NFPA14 for the standpipe and hose sys-
tems; NFPA 22 for water tanks for private
fire protection.

21
 Requirements for Fire Department Vehicles Access Roads
1.4 General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

1.4 Requirements for Fire Department Vehicles Access Roads

The fire department access roads shall meet

the following:
▪▪Adequate access roads shall be provided for
the civil defense vehicles and equipment to
the required distance from the building.
▪▪The minimum width of the fire department
access roads is 6m without obstructions.
▪▪Adequate vehicles maneuvering areas shall
be provided having a diameter of no less
than 18m (refer to figures 1 and 2).
▪▪The height of the roads entrance and doors
shall be a minimum of 4.5m.
▪▪The roads and manholes covers shall be de-
signed to resist the load of the civil defense
vehicles and equipement.
▪▪The roads and the infrastructure works shall
be designed to resist the load of the fire de-
partment vehicles and equipment. Unless
otherwise required by the civil defense de-
partment, the following load mentioned
here below could be used for the roads and
infrastructure works design.
▪▪The vehicle load is considered to be 130 kN
on 4.5m between front and rear axels (40
kN on the front axel and 90 kN on the rear
axel).
▪▪The punching shear resistance for the fire de- SU: Single unit
partment access roads used by the fire trucks P: Path of Vehicle
with ladders shall be considered for 100 kN
on a circular area having 20m diameter. Figure 1: Examples of civil defense Vehicles Maneuvring and turning areas

(AASHTO- 6th Edition 2011)

22
 Requirements for Fire Department Vehicles Access Roads
1.4
General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

Radius = 13.8m Radius = 13m Radius = 15m

Circular Maneuvering
And Turning Area

Radius = 12m

Radius = 3m

Radius = 8m Radius = 8m

Type "L" Type "Y"

Radius = 12m

Radius = 3m Radius = 3m

Radius = 12m

Type "T" "Branch" Type

Figure 2: Alternatives to civil defense vehicles maneuvering and

turning areas (for a length of 12m)

23
 Requirements for Civil Defense Buildings Access Roads
1.5 General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

1.5 Requirements for Civil Defense Buildings Access Roads

The distance between the building’s limit and

the nearest point that must be reached by the
civil defense vehicles depending on the type
and size of the building is as follows:
▪▪In buildings protected by dry standpipe sys-
tem, the distance from the entrance of the
exit stair containing the dry standpipe sys-
tem is not more than 17m.
▪▪In buildings protected by wet standpipe sys-
tem, the distance from the entrance of the
exit stair containing the wet standpipe sys-
tem is not more than 17m.
▪▪In buildings of more than two stories, and
having low hazard contents, fire depart-
ment access roads shall be provided such
that any portion of the facility or any portion
of an exterior wall of the ground floor of the
building is located not more than 46m from
fire department access roads. When build-
ings are protected throughout with auto-
matic sprinkler system the distance shall be
permitted to be increased to 137m
▪▪In non industrial buildings having 3 to 4 sto-
ries and having an area of more than 139m2,
the distance shall not exceed 28m from any
point of the ground floor.
▪▪For industrial buildings, the civil defense ve-
hicles must reach 5-6m along the building’s
facade length. However, if the height of the
building is more than the height mentioned
in this section, the civil defense vehicles
must reach 5-6m along the length of two or
more facades according to the type of fire
hazard and the civil defense assessment.
▪▪The length of the civil defense vehicles ac-
cess roads shall not be more than 46m if the
the road has a dead end; the civil defense
approval shall be considered in case this
length is exceeded.

24
 Design Requirements
1.6
General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

1.6 Design Requirements

▪▪The building shall be designed to provide ▪▪If the site area is more than 5000m2, a sec-
the appropriate means and capabilities ond emergency entrance shall be ensured
to facilitate the civil defense access to the from the site’s outer fence in order to ease
building for the firefighting and rescue op- the access of the civil defense vehicles.
eration. ▪▪A guide framed plan shall be installed at
▪▪No barriers and obstacles shall be installed the main entrance of the building, the plan
on the exterior windows above the ground shall include the information related to the
floor of the building unless they can be fire safety of the building to ease the fire
easely opened and approved by the Civil De- fighters operation.
fense. ▪▪The siamese connections shall be installed
▪▪The following requirements shall be con- at a height between 457mm and 1219mm
sidered for the design and installation of from the last floor level or side walk.
the fire fighting equipment used by the civil ▪▪Siamese connections shall be marked by
defense such as the landing valves, the sia- signs having characters of not less than
mese connections at the ground floor: 2.5cm height, and another sign showing the
▫▫They shall be provided at clear locations necessary pressure at the pumping points
easily accessible to the civil defense with necessary for the fire fighting system.
impediments. ▪▪The design and installation of the stand
▫▫They shall be remote from the fire hazard, pipes and hose system shall be in accor-
glass, scattered materials in construction dance with international standards espe-
and other harzards types. cially <<NFPA14 Standard for the Installation
▫▫Readily visible and clear Marking signs of Standpipe and Hose Systems>>
shall be provided.
▫▫The technical and particular specifications
and standards shall be followed for the in-
stallation of the firefighting systems and
equipment.
▪▪Siamese connections for civil defense use
shall be clearly located and visible from the
nearest point of the fire department access
road or from the building’s road side.
▪▪Connections of the Civil Defense depart-
ments shall be placed and arranged so that
the hose systems can be connected to the
network’s pumping lower points without
interference of nearby objects, including
buildings, fences, columns, landscaping,
car, or other connections of the civil defense
departments.
25
 Fire Safety Plans
1.7 General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

1.7 Fire Safety Plans

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

▪▪The ground floor plans shall include the

location of the building connection to the
main public network.
▪▪Floor explanatory plans shall be provided
and include the following:
▫▫
Fire compartments
▫▫
Exits
▫▫
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

Locations of the special hazrad content

rooms

Figure 3: Sample of the fire safety plans for “Pain d’Or” manufacture in Riyad.

26 PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

 Fire Safety Plans
1.7
General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

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Figure 4: Sample of fire safety plan “King Abdallah Financial Center”

27
 First Aid Signage Method
1.8 General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

1.8 First Aid Signage Method

▪▪Illustrated signage shall be provided to ▫▫Appropriateness of the use of elevators

specify the first aid case for the industrial ▫▫Design and conduct of fire drills
accidents ▫▫Type and coverage of building fire protection
▪▪Emergency plan shall be submitted to the systems
authority having jurisdiction inclusive of ▫▫Other items required by the civil defense
the below: A sample of fire and emergency evacuation
▫▫
Procedures for reporting of emergencies plan is enclosed in Annex 2 of this guide.
▫▫
Occupant and staff response to emergencies
▫▫
Evacuation procedures appropriate to the
building, its occupancy, emergencies, and
Evacuation area
hazards Public Open
Space Area
Staircase (4) North Direction

First Floor Exit

FA

Staircase (3)
Elevator KEY
You Are Here
Evacuation Route
FA First Floor Exit Exit
Restroom
Fire Extinguisher
FA Fire Alarm
FAC Fire Alarm Control Panel
Symbol of Accessibility

IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY:

1- Sound fire alarm

2- Assist persons with disabilities
3- Exit the building using the
Nearest exit.
DO NOT USE ELEVATORS
Staircase (2) 4- Report to the nearest designated
Outside assembly areas
First Floor Exit
FA
5- Do not re-enter until authorized
To do so

FAC
Fire Alarm Control Panel
Is located near northwest
FA
Entrance on floor

Staircase (1)

Evacuation Area First Floor Exit

Public Open
Space Area

Figure 5: Sample of evacuation plans including definitions of some annotations

28
 Requirements for Fire Resistance of the Building Structure
1.9
General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

1.9 Requirements for Fire Resistance of the Building Structure

Scope Type IV construction is of noncombustible,

The fire resistance requirements of the limited-combustible, or other combustible
building structure is aimed to ensure the materials.
safety of the building structure from fire Type IV
hazard in a way to be resistant to collapse Type IV (2HH) construction with fire walls,
during fire for an adequate time necessary exterior walls, interior bearing walls and
for the building occupants evacuation and structural elements that are parts of such
for the firefighting and fire control operations be made of noncombustible or limited
within the lesser compartmented area of the combustible materials. Other interior
building, and to prevent the fire transmission structural elements, arches, floors, and roofs
to the neighboring construction. shall be of solid or laminated wood without
Classification of buildings’ structure in concealed spaces.
terms of fire resistance Type V
The buildings are classified in terms of fire Type V (111 or 000) construction with structural
resistance of the structure as per Table 2 here elements, walls, arches, floors, and roofs
below: made of entirely or partially of wood or other
Type I and Type II approved material.
Buildings of Type I (442) or (332) and Type
II (222) or (1111) or (000) have fire barriers,
structural elements, walls, arches, slabs, roofs
constructed of non combustible or limited
combustible materials.
Type III
Buildings of Type III (211 or 200) shall have exterior
walls and structural elements that are parts of
exterior walls made from noncombustible or
limited-combustible materials; while fire walls,
interior structural elements, walls, arches,
floors, and roofs are entirely or partially of
wood of smaller dimensions than required for

29
 Requirements for Fire Resistance of the Building Structure
1.9 General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

Table 2:
Fire Resistance Ratings for Type 1 through Type V construction (hours)

Type I Type II Type III Type IV Type V

442 332 222 111 000 211 200 2HH 111 000
Exterior Bearing Walls
__Supporting more than one floor, columns, or other bearing walls 4 3 2 1 0 2 2 2 1 0
__Supporting one floor only 4 3 2 1 0 2 2 2 1 0
__Supporting a roof only 4 3 1 1 0 2 2 2 1 0
Internal Bearing Walls
__Supporting more than one floor, columns, or other bearing walls 4 3 2 1 0 1 0 2 1 0
__Supporting one floor only 3 2 2 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
__Supporting a roof only 3 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
Columns
__Supporting more than one floor, columns, or other bearing walls 4 3 2 1 0 1 0 H 1 0
__Supporting one floor only 3 2 2 1 0 1 0 H 1 0
__Supporting a roof only 3 2 1 1 0 1 0 H 1 0
Beams, Griders, Trusses, and Arches
__Supporting more than one floor, columns, or other bearing walls 4 3 2 1 0 1 0 H 1 0
__Supporting one floor only 2 2 2 1 0 1 0 H 1 0
__Supporting a roof only 2 2 1 1 0 1 0 H 1 0
Floor-Ceiling Assemblies 2 2 2 1 0 1 0 H 1 0
Roof-Ceiling Assemblies 2 1 1/2 1 1 0 1 0 H 1 0
Interior Nonbearing Walls 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exterior Nonbreaing Walls 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

H: heavy timber members

30
 Requirements for Fire Resistance of the Building Structure
1.9
General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

The heights permitted according to the ▪▪Combustible dusts stored, used, or generat-
type of building and protection level ed in a manner creating a severe fire or ex-
The allowable buildings height depends on the plosion hazard
buildings construction type and occupancy ▪▪Flammable gases and flammable cryogenic
use. Table 3 specifies the allowable heights liquids
and areas depending on the building type ▪▪Class I organic peroxides
and required level of protection for buildings ▪▪Class 3 solid or liquid oxidizers that are used
protected by an approved, supervised or stored in normally open containers or
automatic sprinkler system as per the NFPA 13 systems, or in closed containers or systems
standard. It is to be noted that the protection at gauge pressures of more than 15 psi (103
level indicated in Table 3 is related to the kPa)
hazard content classification.
▪▪Nondetonable pyrophoric materials
High Hazard Level 1 Contents
▪▪Class 3 nondetonable unstable (reactive)
materials
High hazard Level 1 contents shall include ▪▪Class 3 water-reactive materials
materials that present a detonation hazard
including, but not limited to, the following: High Hazard Level 3 Contents

▪▪Explosives High hazard Level 3 contents shall include

materials that readily support combustion or
▪▪Unclassified detonable organic peroxides present a physical hazard including, but not
▪▪Class 4 oxidizers limited to, the following:
▪▪Detonable pyrophoric materials
▪▪Class 3 detonable and Class 4 unstable (reac- ▪▪Level 2 and Level 3 aerosols
tive) materials ▪▪Class I, Class II, or Class III-A flammable or
combustible liquids that are used or stored
High Hazard Level 2 Contents
in normally closed containers or systems at
High hazard Level 2 contents shall include gauge pressures of less than 15 psi (103 kPa)
materials that present a deflagration hazard or ▪▪Consumer Fireworks, 1.4 G
a hazard from accelerated burning including, ▪▪Flammable solids, other than dusts classi-
but not limited to, the following:
fied as high hazard Level 2, stored, used, or
▪▪Class I, Class II, or Class III-A flammable or generated in a manner creating a high fire
combustible liquids that are used or stored hazard
in normally open containers or systems, or ▪▪Class II and Class III organic peroxides
in closed containers or systems at gauge ▪▪Class 2 solid or liquid oxidizers
pressures of more than 15 psi (103 kPa) ▪▪Class 3 solid or liquid oxidizers that are used
or stored in normally closed containers or
systems at gauge pressures of less than 15
psi (103 kPa)

31
 Requirements for Fire Resistance of the Building Structure
1.9 General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

▪▪ Oxidizing gases and oxidizing cryogenic liquids

▪▪Class 2 unstable (reactive) materials
▪▪Class 2 water-reactive materials
High Hazard Level 4 Contents
High hazard Level 4 contents shall include
materials that are acute health hazards
including, but not limited to, the following:
▪▪Corrosives
▪▪Highly toxic materials
▪▪Toxic materials
High Hazard Level 5 Contents
High hazard Level 5 contents shall include
hazardous production materials (HPM) used
in the fabrication of semiconductors or
semiconductor research and development.

32
 Requirements for Fire Resistance of the Building Structure
1.9
General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

Table 3:
Allowable Building Height and Area
Type I Type II Type II Type IV Type V
442 332 222 111 000 211 200 2HH 111 000
Constrution Type
S N S N S N S N S N S N S N S N S N S N
Maximum building UL UL 126 120 54 48 25 19 22 16 25 19 22 16 25 19 21 15 18 12
height (ft)
Occupancy
UL 4 UL 4 12 4 3 2 1 NP 3 2 NP NP 3 2 3 2 NP NP
Assembly > 1000
UL UL UL 1441 790 1302 NP 1395 1069 NP
UL 4 UL 4 12 4 4 3 2 1 4 2 1 1 4 2 4 2 1 1
Assembly > 300
UL UL UL 1441 790 1302 790 1395 1069 511
UL 7 UL 7 12 7 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 4 3 2 1
Assembly ≤ 300
UL UL UL 1441 790 1302 790 1395 1069 511
UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL 4 3 3 2 4 3 3 2 2 1
Assembly, outdoor
UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL UL
UL UL UL UL 12 11 6 5 5 4 6 5 5 4 6 5 4 3 3 2
Business
UL UL UL 3487 2139 2650 1767 3348 1674 837

Industrial, ordinary UL UL UL UL 12 11 5 4 3 2 4 3 3 2 5 4 3 2 2 1
hazard UL UL UL 2325 1441 1767 1116 3115 1302 790

Industrial, low UL UL UL UL 12 11 6 5 4 3 5 4 4 3 6 5 4 3 3 2
hazard UL UL UL 3487 2139 2650 1674 4696 1953 1209
UL UL UL UL 12 11 5 4 4 5 5 4 5 4 5 4 4 3 2 1
Mercantile
UL UL UL 1999 1162 1720 1162 1906 1302 837
UL UL UL UL 12 11 5 4 4 5 5 4 5 4 5 4 4 3 3 2
Residential
UL UL UL 2232 1488 2232 1488 1906 1116 651

Storage, ordinary UL UL UL UL 12 11 5 4 4 3 4 3 4 3 5 4 4 3 2 1
hazard UL UL 4464 2418 1627 2418 1627 2371 1302 837
UL UL UL UL 12 11 6 5 5 4 5 4 5 4 6 5 5 4 3 2
Storage, low hazard
UL UL 7347 3627 2418 3627 2418 3580 1953 1255

S: Allowable building height in meter and allowable number of stories in buidlings protected Continued on the next page
with an automatic sprinkler system
N: Allowable building height in meter and allowable number of stories in buidlings not
protected with an automatic sprinkler system
UL: unlimited
NP: not permitted
Note: within each occupancy category and protection level, the top row refers to the
allowable number of stories, and the bottom row refers to the allowable area per story.

33
 Requirements for Fire Resistance of the Building Structure
1.9 General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

Allowable Building Height and Area

Type I Type II Type II Type IV Type V
442 332 222 111 000 211 200 2HH 111 000
Constrution Type
S N S N S N S N S N S N S N S N S N S N
Maximum building UL UL 126 120 54 48 25 19 22 16 25 19 22 16 25 19 21 15 18 12
height (ft)
High Hazard Contents
High hazard
contents not
requiring
Use values for appropriate occupancy class. For industrial orstorage occupancies, use values for ordinary hazard
protection Level 1
through protection
Level 5
1 NP 1 NP 1 NP 1 NP 1 NP 1 NP 1 NP 1 NP 1 NP NP NP
Protection Level 1
1953 1953 1534 1023 651 883 651 976 697 NP
UL NP UL NP 3 NP 2 NP 1 NP 2 NP 1 NP 2 NP 1 NP 1 NP
Protection Level 2
1953 1953 1534 1023 651 883 651 976 697 279
UL NP UL NP 6 NP 4 NP 2 NP 4 NP 2 NP 4 NP 2 NP 1 NP
Protection Level 3
UL UL 7440 2464 1302 1627 1209 2371 930 465
UL NP UL NP 8 NP 6 NP 4 NP 6 NP 4 NP 6 NP 4 NP 3 NP
Protection Level 4
UL UL UL 3487 1627 2650 1627 3348 1674 607
4 NP 4 NP 4 NP 3 NP 3 NP 3 NP 3 NP 3 NP 3 NP 2 NP
Protection Level 5
UL UL UL 3487 2139 2650 1767 3348 1674 837

S: Allowable building height in meter and allowable number of stories in buidlings protected
with an automatic sprinkler system
N: Allowable building height in meter and allowable number of stories in buidlings not
protected with an automatic sprinkler system
UL: unlimited
NP: not permitted
Note: within each occupancy category and protection level, the top row refers to the
allowable number of stories, and the bottom row refers to the allowable area per story.

34
 Fire Compartment
1.10
Principles for Planning Warehouse Buildings and Storage Facilities

1.10 Fire Compartment

In order to control the fire in the smaller Vertical Opening

compartmented space as possible and to Fire Rated Door

prevent its spread within the same building Fire Barrier

or to neighboring buildings, the following

preventive requirements to reduce the spread
of fire shall be met:

▪▪The building or the floor shall be subdivid-

ed onto separated compartments i.e. com-
partments that prevent the spread of fire.
Each fire compartment shall be separated
by fire rated doors that prevent the transfer
of smoke and close automatically in case of
fire. Void Above the Roof Slab

▪▪The separation between te building’s fire Roof Slab

compartements shall be by fire barriers

(walls, partitions, doors) having the same
fire resistance rating of the building con-
Slab
struction type indicated in Table 3. Fire Barrier
Figure 6: Subdivision of the building to separate fire compartment
▪▪The area or volume of a fire compartment
shall not exceed the permitted limit indicat-
ed in Table 4 “Subdivision of the building to
separate fire compartment

Void Above the Roof Slab

Roof Slab

Fire Barrier

Fire Barrier Slab

Figure 7: Fire compartment and fire and smoke barriers.

Fire Barrier

35
 Fire Compartment
1.10 General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

Table 4:
Subdivision of the building to separate fire compartment
Permitted Maximum
Use Floor are in m2 Basement or upper floor area in m2 Remarks
Industrial Constructions with 1000 500 Facotries for manufacturing, assembling or
high hazard content production of combustible, expolsive materials,
or materials with toxic gas release
Professions workshops with 5000 1500 Factories for manufacturing, assembling or
medium hazard content production of noncombustible materials or
repair workshops
Storage A – Low hazard content 5000 1500 Storage areas for noncombustible materials
Storage B – medium hazard 3000 1000 Storage areas for noncombustible or
content combustible materials packed using
combustible packaging materials
Storage C – High hazard content 1000 500 Storage areas for high hazard materials
Car parking 5000 ‫ــــ‬

Apart from the buildings fire compartment ▪▪Special Hazard content areas such as the
areas indicated in Table 4, the following combustible liquid storage areas.
occupancies shall be considered as independent ▪▪The construction adjacent to the neighbor-
fire compartments: ing plot is considered a fire barrier.
▪▪Occupancy having a distinct occupancy ▪▪If the building is used for different uses, the
from the building main use. sections dedicated for each use is consid-
▪▪The vertical opening in buildings such as the ered as fire compartment whatever its area.
stair, shafts.
▪▪ Means of egress from the building, such as
lobby, protected exit stair, exit access corridor.

36
 Control of External Fire Spread Between Buildings
1.11
Principles for Planning Warehouse Buildings and Storage Facilities

1.11 Control of External Fire Spread Between Buildings

To prevent the external fire spread between Table 5:

buildings, a minimum separation distance
The separation distance required between the building and
shall be ensured between buildings depending the plot limits depending on the building height and area of
on the external wall conditions, the area of the facades openings
the related openings, and the type of external
Percentage Building Height in meter
wall cladding. Table 5 specifies the minimum of the façade
separation distance required between openings area
8 More than 8
buildings and the plot limits while Table 6 to the total
specifies the fire resistance of the building’s façade area Distance in Meters
structural elements. The critical radiant flux
of the construction materials is classified in zero No requirements
Table 7. 1 – 50% 3 5
50 - 100% 3 7.5

Table 6: Note:
The fire resistance of the
Fire resistance required for the building structure columns and beams could be
Structural elements Residential and commercial buildings with multiple floors Industrial buildings and raised according to the civil
warehouses defense requirements in case
the building has several uses,
Columns, beams and slabs 2 hours 4 hours the fire resistance of the most
Internal walls and 2 hours 4 hours hazardous occupancy shall be
internal separations implemented Note:
The walls separating 2 hours 4 hours
the means of egress
including the exit stair,
the elevator hoist, shaft,
horizontal and vertical
utilities shafts and others

37
 Control of External Fire Spread Between Buildings
1.11 General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

Table 7:
Minimum critical radiant flux
Type Minimum Critical Radiant Flux
1 0.45w/cm2
2 0.22w/cm2

Reference: Safety and Security requirements

in Gulf Cooperation Council
According to the NFPA 101, the Critical Radiant
Flux is the level of incident radiant heat energy
on a floor-covering system at the most distant
flameout point. Knowing that the Interior
floor finishes shall be classified based on test
results from NFPA 253, Standard Method of
Test for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering
Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source,
or ASTM E 6481, Standard Test Method for
Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems
Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source.
The external non-load bearing wall assemblies
containing combustible components are to be
evaluated as per the NFPA 285, “Standard Fire
Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation
Characteristics of Exterior Non-Load-Bearing
Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible
Components”.

1. ASTME: American society for testing and materials (ATME),

standard test for critical radiant flux of floor-covering systems
using a radiant heat energy source.

38
 Requirements for Buildings Fire Resistance Depending on the Construction Type
1.12
Principles for Planning Warehouse Buildings and Storage Facilities

1.12 Requirements for Buildings Fire Resistance Depending on the Construction Type

Metallic steel structure Plastic Materials Remark:

The technical specification
When the building structural elements are The plastic materials shall be controlled in a for Standard for Fire
made of metallic structure, this structure shall way to reduce the severity of their fire hazard Retardant−Treated
be treated depending on the required fire as per the following requirements depending Wood and Fire-Retardant
resistance rating of the structure necessary on the type of plastic materials: Coatings for Building
to protect the building from collapse due to Materials conform to a
fire, and the treatement shall be in accordance specific standard such as
Type I: Plastic materials with porosity
NFPA703.
with the following requirements;
These materials are classified in terms of their
Jacketing formation into two main types:
The jacketing of the columns by reinforced a. Hard panel board: such as polystyrene,
concrete section shall be be based on the polyurethane used for insulation and other
thickness and jacketing information given works.
by the civil defense depending on the fire b. Flexible panel boards: such as spongy
resistance rating of the structure. materials like polyethylene, which is used in
Enclosing the decoration and other works

The metallic structural element is enclosed Fire retardant materials shall be added to the
by listed fire resistant panel. The method of manufacturing mix of these plastic materials
enclosure shall be in accordance with the civil used in building in order to improve the fire
defense requirements. rating of these materials.

Coating The plastic materials shall be chosen as per

specific standards such as the following NFPA
Coating of the metallic structural elements standards:
shall be by fire-resistant materials, these
materials are in form of film that is applied ▫▫NFPA 275 Standard Method of Fire Tests
either by spraying or coating. for the Evaluation of Thermal Barriers
The three methods of metallic steel structure
▫▫NFPA 257 Standard on Fire Test for Win-
dow and Glass Block Assemblies
fire protection mentioned here above shall be
according to the known engineering rules, and
▫▫NFPA 251 Standard Methods of Tests of Fire
Resistance of Building Construction and
to the requirement of the bodies accredited by
Materials
the civil defense.
▫▫NFPA 255 Standard Method of Test of Sur-
face Burning Characteristics of Building
Materials

39
 Requirements for Buildings Fire Resistance Depending on the Construction Type
1.12 General Requirments for Fire Protection for Buildings Structures

Type II: Hard plastic materials

The hard plastic materials are used as colored
or transparent panel boards for covering
the lighting openings, domes, skylights or
other covers. This type of plastic materials
is permitted to be used as per the following
conditions:
▪▪It is permitted to be used as insert materi-
als having thickness not more than 10 cm
between double wall of concrete masonry
blocks having a minimum thickness of 5 cm
provided that the void is filled by concrete
of not less than 5 cm thickness as part of the
construction system of the internal parti-
tions and of roof cover.
▪▪It is permitted to be used as insert materi-
als within the non-fire rated doors provided
that its thickness is not more than 5 cm.
The plastic matrials are permitted to be used
in interior of the building, either for thermal
insulation or as inserts within the internal
partitions as per the following conditions.
▪▪The separation between the building’s
compartment by fire barriers (walls, panels
boards, doors) having the same fire resis-
tance rating of the structure indicated in
Table 2.
▪▪The floor area shall not exceed 200 m2 or the
fire barrier area shall not exceed 100 m2.
▪▪The floor area shall be sudivided into com-
partments having an area of not more than
200 m2. If the floor area is more than 200
m2, the compartment shall be separated by
fire rated doors.
▪▪The thickness of the plastic materials used
for thermal insulation is not more than 5 cm.

40
As part of Modon ongoing commitment to
environmental stewardship, this page has been
left blank to accommodate two-sided printing

41
 As part of Modon ongoing commitment to
environmental stewardship, this page has been
left blank to accommodate two-sided printing

42
 2 2

The General Requirements For

Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems
 ‫المباني السكنية‬
‫إشتراطات البناء العامة‬

Chapter 2: The General Requirements For

Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems
2.1 Scope �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������45
2.2 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment.................................................................46
Manual firefighting equipment.............................................................................................................................46
Fixed fire fighting equipment................................................................................................................................. 51
The automatic firefighting systems and equipment .............................................................................................. 54
2.3 Fire Alarm System ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 57
Manual fire alarm systems.....................................................................................................................................57
Automatic fire alarm systems.................................................................................................................................57
Fire Safety Functions............................................................................................................................................. 58
 Scope
2.1
The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

2.1 Scope

The buildings and facilities shall be provided

by firefighting, fire protection and fire alarm
systems in order to protect the buildings and
their occupants from fire hazards, by initiating
an early alarm system in order to evacute the
building’s occupant and to control the spread
of fire primarly by the trained personel or by
automatic extinguishing systems, subsequently
notify the civil defense for the effective fire
fighting and rescue opertaions if needed.

45
 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment
2.1 The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

2.2 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment

Manual firefighting equipment Performance Standards: Remark:

The fire blankets should
The manual firefighting equipments are a. Carbon Dioxide Types. ANSI/UL 154, Standard be in accordance with
portable equipments used for fire fighting for Carbon-Dioxide Fire Extinguishers; CAN/ the standard ENBS 1869
at the first fire stages by normal building ULC-S503, Standard for Carbon-Dioxide Fire
occupants and by the trained personnel. Extinguishers,
Among these equipments are: b. Dry Chemical Types. ANSI/UL 299, Standard
for Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers; CAN/
a. Several types of portable fire extinguishers ULC-S504, Standard for Dry Chemical Fire
with their manual pumps Extinguishers,
b. Standpipes and hose systems. c. Water Types. ANSI/UL 626, Standard for
21⁄2-Gallon Stored-Pressure, Water-Type
NFPA14 or the requirments of design and Fire Extinguishers; CAN/ULCS507, Standard
installation of the standpipes and hose for Water Fire Extinguishers,
systems and NFPA1963 for Standard for Fire d. Halon Types. ANSI/UL 1093, Standard for
Hose Connections shall be implemented. Halogenated Agent Fire Extinguishers; CAN/
c. Water and Sand containers ULC-S512, Standard for Halogenated Agent
d. Fire blankets Hand and Wheeled Fire Extinguishers,
e. Film-Forming Foam Types. ANSI/UL 8,
Manual firefighting systems Standard for Foam Fire Extinguishers; CAN/
ULC-S554, Standard for Water Based Agent
Portable fire extinguishers used to comply Fire Extinguishers,
with this standard shall be listed and labeled f. Halocarbon Types. ANSI/UL 2129,
and shall meet or exceed all the requirements Standard for Halocarbon Clean Agent Fire
of any single fire test standard and one of Extinguishers; CAN/ULC-S566, Standard for
the relevant performance standards shown Halocarbon Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers
below:
The identification of the listing and labeling
Fire Test Standards: organization, the fire test standard, and
▪▪ANSI/UL 711, Standard for Rating and Testing the performance standard that the fire
of Fire Extinguishers, extinguisher meets or exceeds shall be clearly
marked on each fire extinguisher.
▪▪CAN/ULC-S508, Standard for Rating and
Testing of Fire Extinguishers Classifications of fires and the corresponding
portable fire extinguishers
The fires are classified into the following five
main types:
Class A Fires
Class A fires are fires in ordinary combustible
materials, such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber,
and many plastics. The water based portable
fire extinguisher is adequate for such type
of fire class because of the cooling and water
penetration through the materilas pores
characteristics.
46
 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment
2.2
The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

Class B Fires Class K Fires

Class B fires are fires in flammable liquids, Class K fires are fires in cooking appliances that
combustible liquids, petroleum greases, involve combustible cooking media (vegetable
tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, lacquers, or animal oils and fats).
alcohols, and flammable gases. The following
The method of choosing and distribution of
types of portable fire extinguishers are
the portable fire extinguishers are specified in
adequate for this fire class:
Tables 8,9, and 10.
a. Portable fire extinguisher foam type:
Distribution of portable fire extinguisher
its advantage is that the foam lasts for
a significant time on the liquid surface Classification of Hazards: Rooms or areas shall
preventing the re-ignition of fire to note be classified generally as being light (low)
that foam is a good electrical conductor. hazard, ordinary (moderate) hazard, or extra
b. Portable fire extinguisher dry powder type: (high) hazard.:
it is effective for quick flame extinguishing Light (Low) Hazards
characteristic, it is used when the liquid
is spread and flowed on the floor or to Light (low) hazard occupancies shall be
promptly control fire flame spread, noting classified as locations where the quantity and
that dry powder is not an electrical combustibility of Class A combustibles and
conductor. Class B flammables are low and where fires
with relatively low rates of heat release are
c. Portable fire extinguisher CO2 type: it is
expected. These occupancies consist of fire
similar to the portable fire extinguishers
hazards having normally expected quantities
using chemical powder with exception that
of Class A combustible furnishings and/
the CO2 gas has no harmful effect on the
or the total anticipated quantity of Class B
assets unlike the portable fire extinguishers
flammables present is expected to be less than
foam and chemical powder types. The CO2 is
1 gal (3.8L) in any room or area.
not an electrical conductor.
d. Portable fire extinguishers liquid vaporized Ordinary (Moderate) Hazards
type: it is used for small fires or for engines Ordinary (moderate) hazard occupancies shall
liquid fuel. The vaporized liquid is not an be classified as locations where the quantity
electrical conductor. and combustibility of Class A combustible
Class C Fires materials and Class B flammables are
moderate and fires with moderate rates of
Class C fires are fires that involve energized heat release are expected. These occupancies
electrical equipment and the portable fire consist of fire hazards that only occasionally
extinguishers type CO2, dry powder or the contain Class A combustible materials beyond
vaporized liquid type. The use of water or foam normal anticipated furnishings and/or the
is not permitted because they are electrical total quantity of Class B flammables typically
conductors.
Class D Fires
Class D fires are fires in combustible metals,
such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium,
sodium, lithium, and potassium. The adequate
portable fire extinguisher dry powder type
shall be used for this class of fires.
47
 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment
2.1 The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

expected to be present is from 1 gal to 5 gal (3.8 packaging, handling, or manufacture of Class
L to 18.9 L) in any room or area. A combustibles and/or the total quantity of
Class B flammables expected to be present in
Extra (High) Hazards more than 5 gal (18.9 L) in any room or area.
Fire extinguisher size and placement
Extra (high) hazard occupancies shall be
classified as locations where the quantity Installation of Class A Hazards: the portable
and combustibility of Class A combustible fire extinguishers shall be installed in
material is high or where high amounts of appropriate locations of not more than 20m
Class B flammables are present and rapidly from each other with a minimum of one
developing fires with high rates of heat release portable fire extinguisher for each 200m2 or
are expected. These occupancies consist a minimum of 2 portable fire extinguishers
of fire hazards involved with the storage, per floor. The following tables should be taken
into consideration.

Table 8:
Fire extenguisher size and placement for Class A hazrads
Criteria Light Hazard Occupancy Ordinary Hazard Occupancy Extra Hazard Occupancy
(Low) (Moderate) (High)
Minimum rated single 2-A
extinguisher 2-A 2-A

Maximum floor area per unit of A 279 m2 193 m2 93 m2

Maximum floor area for 1045 m2 1045 m2 1045 m2

extinguisher
Maximum travel distance to
extinguisher 23 m 23 m 23 m

Installations for Class B Hazards: In addition ▪▪Appropriate signs shall be provided to indi-
to a minimum of 2 portable fire extinguishers cate the location of the portable fire extin-
per floor, the number of portable fire guishers, the necessary instructions for use,
extinguishers for class B fires is specified and the warnings that shall be considered.
as per the flaming liquid surface area. The
following requirements should be taken into
▪▪The portable fire extinguishers shall be in-
stalled at easily access location as per the
consideration:
following requirements:
▪▪The portable fire extinguishers shall be in- ▫▫The nearest possible location from the exit
stalled within a box or wall cavity with an
or the exit stair
access door to be protected from weather
and tampering.
▫▫The separation distance between two por-
table fire extinguishers shall not be more
▪▪The portable fire extinguishers suspended than 20 m.
on the wall shall be installed using a sup-
porting system installed to be 1 m above the
▫▫The maximum height of installation from
the final floor level is 1m
extinguisher base to the final floor level be-
low the extinguisher.
▫▫The following requirements indicated in
the table shall be implemented.
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 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment
2.2
The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

Table 9:
Fire extinguisher size and placement for Class B hazards
Maximum travel distance to entinguishers
Type of Hazard Basic minimum extinguisher rating
Meters
5-B 9.15
Light (low)
10-B 15.25
Ordinary (moderate) 10-B 9.15
20-B 15.25
Extra (high) 40-B 9.15
80-B 15.25

Installations for Class C Hazards: Fire extinguishers

with Class C ratings shall be required where Width Depth Width Depth Width Depth

energized electrical equipment can be

encountered.
Installations for Class D Hazards: Fire extinguishers
Height

Height

Height
or extinguishing agents with Class D ratings
shall be provided for fires involving combustible
metals. Fire extinguishers or extinguishing agents
(media) shall be located not more than 23m of
travel distance from the Class D hazard. Portable
fire extinguishers or extinguishing agents (media)
for Class D hazards shall be provided in those work
areas where combustible metal powders, flakes, Figure 8: Alternative installation method for portable fire extinguishers within wall cavity
shavings, chips, or similarly sized products are
generated.
Installations for Class K Hazards: Class K fire
extinguishers shall be provided for hazards
where there is a potential for fires involving
combustible cooking media (vegetable
or animal oils and fats). Maximum travel
distance shall not exceed 9.15m from the
hazard to the extinguishers.
1m

Figure 9: Installation of portable fire extinguisher in wall cavity at 1 m high from final floor level

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 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment
2.1 The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

Table 10:
Distribution of portable fire extinguishers type A
Appropriate Portable fire Portable fire Portable fire Approximate
portable fire extinguisher extingusiher extinguisher total weight
Fires Class Remarks Portable fire extinguishers for
extinguisher Type capcity discharge
reach
Class A fires: Water is a Compressed 9 Liters 10 m 10 – 18 Kg 200m Per floor
hard materials good electrical water and gas 2 Gallons 30 ft 40 – 33 lb
1 2
such as wood, conductor
papers, textile Water and shall not
Compressed 1 2
be used to
water
extinguish
electrical fires

Table 11:
Distribution of portable fire extinguishers type B
Fire class Appropriate Portable fire Portable fire Approximate Portable fire Coverage area Remark
portable fire extinguisher extenguisher weight extinguisher for one portable
extinguisher Type capacity discharge reach extinguisher

Class B fires Foam with 9 liters 15 – 18 kg 8m 2 ½ m2

flammable such mechanical 2 gallons 40 – 33 lb 23 ft 5 ft2
as petroleum mechanism
and chemical
materials
Chemical foam 15 – 18 kg 8m 2 ½ m2
40 – 33 lb 23 ft 5 ft2

Flammable Dry powder 1 kg 4 kg 3m 1 m2

liquids such extinguishers 4 – 5 lb 10 lb 10 ft 10 ft2
as petroleum Foam of various types 3 kg 9 kg 5m 1 ½ m2
and chemical 7 lb 18 lb 15 ft 15 ft2
materials 1 kg 18 kg 7m 4 m2
20 lb 20 lb 20 ft 40 ft2

Flammable CO2 1 kg 6 kg 3m 1 m2
liquids such Extinguisher 2 ½ lb 13 lb 10 ft 10 ft2
petroleum 3 kg 16 kg 5m 1 ½ m2
and chemical 7 lb 23 lb 15 ft 15 ft2
materials 4 kg 19 - 21 kg 7m 4 m2
10 lb 28 - 42 lb 20 ft 40 ft2

Flammable Vaporizing ½ liter 2 kg 7m 1/3 m2

liquids such Vaporizing liquid 1/8 gallon 6 lb 20 ft
as petroleum liquid extinguishers
and chemical extinguishers C.B.M and B.C.F
materials

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 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment
2.2
The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

Table 12
Distribution of portable fire extinguishers type C and D
Fire Types Appropriate extenguisher type Remarks
CO2, dry powder, vaporizing liquids:
These three types of extinguishing materials are the
most favorable for extinguishing the electrical fires.
Water based extinguishers shall not be used for the
electrical fires to prevent electric shocks since the water
Class C : and foam are considered as electrical conductors except
CO2
fires electrical or electronic equipment in cases where the electrical power can be disconnected
because water is one of the best materials to be used for
fire fighting, however, for class B and class H fires special
materials shall be used such as CO2 extinguishers which
are the best for electrical fires due to their light weight

Dry chemical powder:

There is no type of dry powder that is suitable for all
metal fires, however, for each type of metal fire there is
a special type of dry powder. Therefore, the instructions
marked by the manufacturer on the extinguisher shall
Class D : be followed and the civil defense shall be consulted
fires for combustible metals and for some Dry powder when choosing the extinguishers types related to metal
petroleum materials fires

Important Note: There is a great danger to health if the

choice of the right type of metals fires extinguishers is
abused.

Maintenance of portable fire extingushers a. Hose systems

The hose system is considered as a primary
The plot’s owner, owner’s agent or plot’s
means for fire fighting used by the building’s
tenant is resonpsible for the inspection,
occupants without a need for prior training. It
maintenance and refilling of the portable fire
consists of hose pipe having 25 mm diameter
extinguishers within the plot.
coiled on hose reel and inserted within a
Fixed fire fighting equipment metallic box which is installed on the wall or
within a wall cavity. It is connected directly to
The fixed fire fighting equipment is a network
water supply network and ready for use hose
used for fire fighting in the fire’s early stages by
release.
ordinary building occupants and by qualified
staff such as trained personnel or private b. Standpipes
control or civil defense teams. It includes the The standpipes are classified into the following
following systems: three types:
▪▪Class I System: a system that provides 2 ½
in. (65 mm) hose connections to supply wa-
ter for use by fire departments and those
trained in handling heavy fire streams.

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 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment
2.1 The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

▪▪Class II System: a system that provides 1 ½ ▫▫The valves shall be installed within boxes
in. (40 mm) hose stations to supply water or closets to prevent public tampering.
for use primarily by trained personnel or by ▫▫The cabinet shall be used for fire equip-
the fire department during initial response. ment only. Each cabinet shall be conspic-
▪▪Class III System: a system that provides 1½ uously identified.
in. (40 mm) hose stations to supply water ▫▫Where a “break glass” type protective cov-
for use by trained personnel and 2½ in. (65 er for a latching device is provided, the
mm) hose connections to supply a larger device provided to break the glass panel
volume of water for use by fire departments shall be attached in the immediate area
of the break glass panel and shall be ar-
and those trained in handling heavy fire
ranged so that the device cannot be used
streams. The following shall be taken into
to break other glass panels in the cabinet
consideration:
door.
▫▫
Hose connections and hose stations shall
be unobstructed and located not less than b-1: Dry Standpipes
3 ft (0.9 m) or more than 5 ft (1.5 m) above The dry standpipes system is a fixed network
the floor. not connected to a water supply network,
▫▫
The hose connections shall not be ob- they are provided by Siamese connections
structed by the closed or open doors or for pumping water from outside the building
other objects on the landing. and landing valves distributed in the proper
▫▫
Hose connections for Class I systems locations to facilitate the civil defense
should be located in a stairway enclo- firefighters operation by pumping and use of
sure. Hose connections for Class II systems water in the upper floors. The dry standpipes
should be located in the corridor or space are used in buildings for the following cases:
adjacent to the stairway enclosure and
connected through the wall to the stand- ▪▪In buildings having more than two stories
pipe. For Class III systems, the connections and the story area is more than 1000 m2.
for 2½ in. (65 mm) hose should be located ▪▪In buildings where the contents are present-
in a stairway enclosure, and Class II con- ing risk to life and content as per the civil de-
nections should be located in the corridor fense discretion
or space adjacent to the stairway enclo- b-2: Wet standpipes
sure.
▫▫
Separate standpipes shall be provided in The wet standpipes system is a fixed network
each required exit stairway. connected to a permanent water supply
▫▫
Closets and cabinets used to contain fire network serving the landing valves distributed
in the proper locations of the building and
hose shall be of a size to allow the instal-
lation of the necessary equipment at hose used by the civil defense firefighters or by
trained building’s occupant. The use of the
stations and designed so they do not in-
wet standpipes shall be limited exculisevley
terfere with the prompt use of the hose
for the firefighting works.
connection, the hose, and other equip-
ment at the time of fire.

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 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment
2.2
The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

c. Foam spray network ▪▪The design and installation shall be in ac-

cordance with NFPA1141 Standard for Fire
▪▪The foam-water spray network is a fixed
Protection Infrastructure for Land Develop-
network used to spray the foam-water mix-
ment in Suburban and Rural Areas, NFPA291
ture and to deliver it to the unoccupiable
Recommended Practice for Fire Flow Testing
areas that are used ususally for storage or
and Marking of Hydrants and NFPA24 Stan-
for handling combustible liquids. The mix-
dard for the Installation of Private Fire Ser-
ture is sprayed as bubbles forming a curtain
vice Mains and Their Appurtenances
insulating the burning surface from the
outside air and the cooling process is gener-
▪▪Fire department connections for standpipe
systems shall be located not more than 100
ated by the water
ft (30.5 m) from a fire hydrant along an ap-
▪▪The design and installation of the foam-wa- proved path from a fire hydrant and shall
ter spray system shall be in accordance with
be arranged so that hose lines can be read-
a specific standard such as NFPA16 Standard
ily and conveniently attached to the inlets
for the Installation of Foam-Water Sprinkler
without interference from any nearby ob-
and Foam-Water Spray Systems and NFPA11
jects, including buildings, fences, posts, or
Standard for Low-, Medium-, and High-Ex-
other fire department connections
pansion Foam

d. Fire Hydrant
The fire hydrants network is an infrastructure
network having a permanent water source
serving the hydrant outlets and used as a
water supply mean for the use in the fire
fighting operations by the civil defense
firefighters from outside the building. The
fire fydrant shall be provided in the following
locations:
▪▪On all the public streets of the industrial city
▪▪Outside buildings provided by wet stand-
pipe systems and it is considered as a com-
plementary system.
▪▪At the streets and yards of large facilities
having a special hazard content such as
large manufactures, buildings complex and
others.

Jeddah Industrial city:

Fire Hydrant

53
 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment
2.1 The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

e. Firefighting Water ground outlets (water c. Water sprinkler pre-action system (wet pipes)
tanks)
The water sprinkler pre-action system (wet
The system consists of a pipe equipped with a pipes) is similar to the water sprinkler system
valve and ending with an outlet having a cap (wet pipes), the flow of water is blocked at the
attached by a steel wire. The firfighting water valve, completed by electrical or pneumatic
supply outlet is installed within a manhole as detection system, that accuates the automatic
per the civil defense requirements. valve upon heat detection allowing water to
flow from the system nozzles that open upon
The automatic firefighting systems and
heat detection.
equipment
d. Deluge system
The automatic firefighting systems consist The deluge system is similar to water sprinkler
of fixed networks having nozzles distributed pre-action system (wet pipes) provided
in locations to be protected. The network by sprinkler nozzles that are always open,
is supplied by permanent source of the flooding the entire area when the system is in
corresponding extinguishing material. The operation.
operation of the system is automatically
initiated by detecting the fire heat, smoke e. Composite system
heat or both as per the following systems: The composite system consists of wet pipes
a. Automatic water sprinkler extinguishing sprinkler pre-action system and the dry pipes
system (wet pipes) sprinkler system
It consists of piping network installed at the f. Halon Extinghuishing system or Its alternatives
floor’s cover slab of areas to be protected. It The halon extinguishing sytem is a piping
is served by relevant water sources having network distributed on the areas that shall
proper capacity and pumping pressure for be protected, it is supplied via cylinders
effective operation of the sprinkler nozzles containing the Halon gas or its alternatives
(wet sprinklers) that operates automatically (as extinguishing material) kept under the
upon heat sensing; or the water is flowed from Nitrogen pressure to flow from the nozzles
open nozzles to flood totally the protected in the required protected area further to the
area and open automatically upon the fire system’s operation. The civil defense technical
alarm initiation. specifications shall be respected, noting that
b. Water sprinkler system dry pipes type the use of halon extinguishing system is on
the way to an international ban due to its
This water sprinkler system dry pipes types environmental impact. It will be replaced by
is similar to the wet pipes sprinkler system, alternative materials.
however, it consists of compressed air blocking
the flow of water at the control valve. The
control valve opens automatically when there
is an air leak at the sprinkler nozzles that open
by heat detection allowing water to flow from
the sprinkler nozzles

54
 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment
2.2
The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

g. CO2 extinguishing system High Pressure System

Smoke Detector or
The CO2 extinguishing system is a piping Pressure Switch Check Valve
Heat Detector

network distributed on the areas that shall

be protected. It is supplied via cylinders
containing the CO2 gas (as extinguishing
material) kept under pressure to flow through
the pipes nozzles that are distributed in Control Panel
the protected area further to the system’s (Optional)

operation.
h. Dry chemical extinguishing system
The dry chemical extinguishing system is a Cylinder's
piping network distributed on the areas that Supporting
System
shall be protected, it is supplied via cylinders
containing the dry chemical material (as
extinguishing material) kept under pressure
by the Nitrogen gas or the CO2 gas to flow from
Figure 10: High pressure system for the CO2 extinguishing system
the pipes nozzles in the protected area. The
extinguishing materials used are usually the
sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate,
Side Reel
monoamonium phosphate. Distribution Pipes

The dry chemicals extinguishing system Cable to the Main Manual Pull Switch

consists of the following types depending on Fusible Link

the related protection method:

▪▪Total flooding system: a system that covers Cylinder Actuator

a specific area in the building or place. Manual Pull

▪▪Foam-water spray system: is a piping net- Switch

work distributed on the areas that shall be

protected, it is supplied by the foam and
Extinguishing
Materials Cylinder

water source, that could be mixed, or mixed

before the flowing to the burning surface.
The mixture is sprayed as bubbles forming Cable to Lock
The Gas Valve
a curtain insulating the burning surface Discharge
Nozzle

from the outside air and the cooling process

is generated by the water A modular system for the protection
Of the kitchen stoves and hoods

Figure 11: dry chemical extinguishing system (modular system for the protection

of kichen hoods and exhaust systems)

55
 Classification of Firefighting Systems and Equipment
2.1 The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

The design and installation of the automatic

extinguishing system shall be in accordance
with a specific standard such as:
▪▪NFPA 17, Standard for Dry Chemical Extin-
guishing Systems.
▪▪NFPA 17A, Standard for Wet Chemical Extin-
guishing Systems
▪▪NFPA 12, Standard on Carbon Dioxide Extin-
guishing Systems - Effective Date 8152007
▪▪NFPA 12A, Standard on Halon 1301 Fire Ex-
tinguishing Systems, Effective Date 7182008
▪▪NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of
Sprinkler Systems
▪▪NFPA 16, Standard for the Installation of
Foam-Water Sprinkler and Foam-Water
Spray Systems
▪▪NFPA 15, Standard for Water Spray Fixed Sys-
tems for Fire Protection
▪▪NFPA 750, Standard on Water Mist Fire Pro-
tection Systems
▪▪NFPA 2001, Standard on Clean Agent Fire Ex-
tinguishing Systems

56
 Fire Alarm System
2.3
The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

2.3 Fire Alarm System

The fire alarm systems consist of two types: ▫▫Automatic devices connected to fire
equipment or central air conditioning sys-
▪▪The manual alarm system tem.
▪▪The automatic alarm system ▫▫Detectors such as smoke, heat or infrared
Manual fire alarm systems flame detectors
The manual fire alarm systems consist of a
▫▫Mechanical alarm system (sounder, etc.)
actuated by the high pressure of the auto-
system that operates electrically by manual
matic sprinkler system’s operation.
fire alarm boxes distributed in specific
locations and having two types: The design and installation of the fire alarm
system shall be in accordance with specific
▪▪Break glass fire alarm box standards especially:
▪▪Manual pull station fire alarm box
The manual fire alarm system consists of: ▪▪NFPA 72, National fire alarm code.
▪▪Fire alarm box (break glass or pull station) ▪▪NFPA 70, National electrical code.
▪▪Alram sounders A complete fire alarm system shall provide
▪▪Fire alarm panel board and building’s functions for initiation, notification, and
sounders wiring network control which shall perform as follows:
▪▪The initiation function provides the input
Automatic fire alarm systems signal to the system.
The automatic fire alarm system is an electric ▪▪The notification function is the means by
system that is capable of detecting the fire and which the system advises that human ac-
transmitting the alarm within the premises. tion is required in response to a particular
The automatic fire alarm system consists of: condition.
▪▪Fire detectors (smoke detectors, flame de- ▪▪The control function provides outputs to
tectors, heat dectors, etc..) control building equipment to enhance pro-
▪▪Alarm sounders tection of life.
▪▪Fire alarm panel board and wiring network Signal Initiation
The fire alarm system is automaticaly initiated
Actuation of the complete fire alarm system
by one of the following means:
shall be initiated by, but shall not be limited to
any or all of the following means:
▪▪Manual fire alarm initiation
▪▪Automatic detection
▪▪Extinguishing system operation

57
 Fire Alarm System
2.3 The General Requirements For Firefighting and Fire Alarm Systems

Occupant Notification Fire Safety Functions

Occupant notification shall be provided to Fire safety functions shall be installed in
alert occupants of a fire or other emergency. accordance with the requirements of NFPA
Notification signals for occupants to evacuate 72, National Fire Alarm Code. The following
shall be audible and visible signals or other functions shall be actuated:
means of notification acceptable to the
authority having jurisdiction. ▪▪Release of hold-open devices for doors or
other opening protectives
Audible alarm notification appliances ▪▪Stairwell or elevator shaft pressurization
shall be of character and distribution to be ▪▪ Smoke management or smoke control systems
effectively heard regardless of the average
ambient sound level that exists under normal
▪▪Unlocking of doors
conditions of occupancy. Audible alarm
▪▪Elevator recall and shutdown
notification appliances shall produce signals
that are distinctive from audible signals used
for other purposes in a given building.
Emergency forces notification shall be provided
to alert the municipal fire department and
fire brigade (if provided) of fire or other
emergency. The fire alarm system shall be
arranged to transmit the alarm automatically
via any of the following means acceptable to
the authority having jurisdiction and shall be
in accordance with the National Fire Alarm
Code NFPA 72:
▪▪Auxiliary fire alarm system
▪▪Central station fire alarm system
▪▪ Remote supervising station fire alarm system

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 3
3

Means of Egress General

Requirements - Emergency Exits
Chapter 3: Means of Egress General
Requirements - Emergency Exits
3.1 Emergency Exits �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������63
3.2 Means of Egress Requirments (Emergency Exits)..............................................................................64
Walking Surfaces in the Means of Egress................................................................................................................66
Changes in Elevation:............................................................................................................................................66
Guards and Handrails:..........................................................................................................................................66
3.3 Stairs ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 68
Inside Stairs Requirements:...................................................................................................................................68
Special Provisions for Outside Stairs ......................................................................................................................69
3.4 Exit Access Corridors ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������70
Door openings....................................................................................................................................................... 70
Ramps.................................................................................................................................................................... 71
Horizontal exits...................................................................................................................................................... 71
Underground and limited access structures............................................................................................................77
Occupant Load:......................................................................................................................................................77
3.5 Openings in Fire Barriers ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 80
Vertical openings.................................................................................................................................................. 82
Interior Finishes.................................................................................................................................................... 85
Elevators:.............................................................................................................................................................. 85
 Emergency Exits
3.1
Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

3.1 Emergency Exits

An emergency exit is a free and safe access

that enables the occupants to egress from any
area of the building directly to the exterior, to
a courtyard or to a safe place protected from
the fire hazard that lead directly to the exterior
of the building according to the following
criterias:
▪▪The building, facilities and shops shall be
provided with appropriate means of egress
(emergency exits) leading to an exit or exit
way facilitating the occupants evacuation
away from the fire area. The emergency exit
door leading shall open from inside of the
building.
▪▪The means of egress consist of different
components such as exit access corridors,
stairs, balconies, bridges, ramps, doors and
exits forming a combined means of egress
components.
▪▪Modifications or additions to the building
shall not be permitted in case they are jeop-
ardizing the means of egress requirements,
and the change of use of the building shall
not be permitted unless the means of egress
are modified as per the new building use.
The Civil defense has the right to require
conditions deemed to be appropriate for the
special cases not included in this guide or for
the unusual fire hazard cases.

63
 Means of Egress Requirments (Emergency Exits)
3.2 Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

3.2 Means of Egress Requirments (Emergency Exits)

▪▪The exit access shall not pass, in any case, ▪▪The guards, used for fall protection means,
through closed rooms or next to a special fire shall be installed at the open parts of the
hazard content location unless it is separated means of egress (emergency exits) such as
from them by appropriate fire barrier. the stair, bridge, or roof edge. Glass guards
▪▪Appropriate exit signs and marking of shall not be considered as a fall protection
mean.
means of egress shall be provided along
the exit access leading to the exit. In case a
▪▪Adequate mechanical or normal lighting
and ventilation shall be provided for the
dead end or a special hazard area’s door is means of egress.
encountered along the exit access path, a ▪▪Adequate normal or industrial lighting
proper readily and visible warning sign shall shall be provided for the means of egress. In
be installed on that door. crowded, public, industrial or other building
▪▪The exit shall not be covered by combustible types, emergency power supply system shall
materials, or by materials presenting slip- be provided in case of electrical failure. The
ping or tripping hazard. emergency power supply system shall be
▪▪Mobile and fixed furniture, barriers, and provided for the emergency lighting, exit
and marking signs.
equipment shall be placed in a way not to
reduce the exit access width or to impede
▪▪The building’s owner shall be responsible for
the provision and maintainance of the fire
its use. alarm and fire fighting systems.The tenant
▪▪The emergency exit shall be kept in a good is responsible for removing the obstructions
and usable condition to meet its maximum from the means of egress, and to protect the
egress capcity and shall not be used for any fire alarm and fire fighting system provided
purposes other than its design intent. for his rented part of the building.
▪▪If the occupant load of the building is more
than 300 persons, the egress width shall be
increased by 0.05 m for each 10 additional
persons for the horizontal means of egress
components and for each 8 additional per-
Minimum Width
183 cm
Corridor Exit
sons for the vertical means of egress compo-
nents (stairs).
▪▪The total capacity of the means of egress for
x any story, balcony, tier, or other occupied
space shall be sufficient for the occupant
load thereof. Where more than one means
Figure 12: width of the exit access corridors of egress is required, the means of egress
shall be of such width and capacity that the
loss of any one means of egress leaves avail-
able not less than 50 percent of the required
capacity.

64
 )Means of Egress Requirments (Emergency Exits
3.2
Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

▪▪Where means of egress from different sto- Table 13:

ries converge at an intermediate story, the
Minimum width of means of egress (emergency exits) depending on the occupant load
capacity of the means of egress from the
point of convergence shall be not less than Means of egress
Minimum clear width of means of egress in meters
the sum of the capacity of the two means of components
egress. Occupant Load 100 150 200 250 300
▪▪The number of means of egress from any Doors and 0.80 0.85 1.00 1.25 1.5
balcony, mezzanine, story, or portion there- Corridors
of shall be not less than two
▪▪The number of means of egress from any Stairs 0.75 1.00 1.30 1.65 3.00

story or portion thereof, shall be as follows:

▫▫If occupant load2 is between 500 - 1000,
Table 14:
means of egress should not be less than 3
▫▫If occupant load is more than 1000, means Minimum width of means of egress (emergency exits) depending on the hazard
of egress should not be less than 4. content classification
▫▫In typical floors, the maximum occupant Area
Stairways Level components and ramps
load of the floor is considered for the cal- (width per person) (width per person)
culation of the egress capacity which shall Mm In. mm. in
not be less than the egress capacity of the High hazard contents 18 0.7 10 0.4
main exits (emergency exits) that lead to
All others 7.6 0.3 5 0.5
the exterior of the building by using doors
equipped by panic hardware or fire exit
device; or by locks, in this case, to open the
Table 15:
door in case of emergency, the lock’s key
shall be provided within breakable wood- Building Evacuation time in case of fire
en box in the door, and equipped by alarm Type of buildings Estimated Evacuation Time in minutes
sounder to prevent its misuse. Buildings meeting the fire safety
▫▫The means of egress shall be designed for requirements and not having fire Three minutes
minimum headroom of 2.2 m. hazards
▫▫The egress capacity is related to the build- Buildings meeting the fire safety
Two and a half minutes
ing’s evacuation time and occupant load. requirements and having fire hazards
The building evacuation time differs from Buildings not meeting the fire safety
building to another depending on the requirements and having fire hazards, or
Two minutes
buildings’ fire protection means. Buildings meeting the fire safety
requirments and having high fire hazard .

2: For occupant load evaluation, please refer

to chapter 4related to the requirements and
conditions of fire protection in buildings depending
on its occupancy classifications

65
 Means of Egress Requirments (Emergency Exits)
3.2 Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

Walking Surfaces in the Means of Egress measured vertically to the top of the rail from
the leading edge of the tread. New handrails
▪▪Walking surfaces shall be slip resistant un- shall be installed to provide a clearance of
der foreseeable conditions.
not less than 57 mm between the handrail
▪▪The walking surface of each element in
and the wall to which it is fastened.
the means of egress shall be uniformly slip
resistant along the natural path of travel
Changes in Elevation 4 cm min

▪▪Abrupt changes in elevation of walking

surfaces shall not exceed 6.3 mm. Changes
in elevation exceeding 6.3 mm, but not ex-
ceeding 13 mm, shall be beveled with a slope
of 1 in 2.
▪▪Walking surfaces shall be horizontally lev-
eled. The slope of a walking surface in the Example no.1 Example no.2 is Example no.3
direction of travel shall not exceed 5%, un- Is Permitted Not Permitted Is Permitted
less it is considered as ramp. The slope per-
pendicular to the direction of travel shall Figure 13: Minimum separation distance between side
handrails and adjacent wall
not exceed 2%.
▪▪Changes in level of means of egress not in
excess of 535 mm shall be achieved either by ▪▪Handrails shall include one of the following
a ramp or by a stair. features:
▫▫Circular cross section with an exterior di-
Guards and Handrails ameter of not less than 11⁄4 in. (32 mm)
▪▪Stairs and ramps shall have handrails on and not more than 51 mm.
both sides ▫▫ Shape that is other than circular with a
▪▪Guards shall be provided at the open sides perimeter dimension of not less than 100
mm, but not more than 160 mm, and with
of means of egress that exceed 760 mm
the largest cross-sectional dimension not
above the floor or the finished ground level
more than 57 mm, provided that grasp-
below.
able edges are rounded so as to provide a
▪▪Required guards and handrails shall contin- radius of not less than 3.2 mm.
ue for the full length of each flight of stairs.
At turns of new stairs, inside handrails shall
▫▫ Handrails shall be continuously graspable
along their entire length.
be continuous between flights at landings. ▫▫ Handrails that are not continuous be-
▪▪New handrails on stairs shall be not less than tween flights shall extend horizontally,
865 mm, and not more than 965 mm, above at the required height, not less than 305
the surface of the tread, measured vertically mm beyond the top riser and continue to
to the top of the rail from the leading edge slope for a depth of one tread beyond the
of the tread. bottom riser. The height of guards shall
▪▪The height of required handrails that form be measured vertically to the top of the
part of a guard shall be permitted to exceed guard from the surface adjacent thereto
965 mm, but shall not exceed 1065 mm, and shall be not less than 1065 mm.

66
 )Means of Egress Requirments (Emergency Exits
3.2
Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

Building or
Required Exit

Stair's Guard Stair's Guard

Figure 14: Exhibit showing the guardrails

▪▪Open guards, other than approved exist- Figure 16: Stair’s guard
ing open guards, shall have intermediate
rails or an ornamental pattern such that a
sphere 100 mm in diameter is not able to
pass through any opening up to a height of
865 mm. The triangular openings formed
by the riser, tread, and bottom element of a
guardrail at the open side of a stair shall be
of such size that a sphere 150 mm in diame-
ter is not able to pass through the triangular
opening.

A sphere of 10cm
Diameter cannot pass
Through the open guards

10

10
10
The triangular openings formed
By the riser, tread, and bottom
Element of a guardrail at the open
Side of a stair shall be of such size
That a sphere 150mm diameter

Figure 15: Open guard requirements

67
 Stairs
3.3 Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

3.3 Stairs

Inside Stairs Requirements:

The inside stair is considered as an important shall be not less than 28 cm, the riser height
component of the means of egress (emergency shall be not less than 15 cm and not more than
exits) since it is a vertical opening within the 18 cm, so that the arithmetic formulas 2 x riser
building. The following requirements shall be height + tread depth = (60 to 65 cm).
respected for the exit stairs, the tread depth

Table 16:
Dimensional criteria of inside stairs
Dimensional
Feature
Ft/in. mm
Maximum height of risers 7 in. 180
Minimum height of risers 4 in. 100
Minimum tread depth 11 in. 280
Minimum headroom 6 ft 8 in. 2030
Maximum height between landings 12 ft 3660

Minimum Stair Width:

B A
▪▪Where the total occupant load of all stories
Story
no. 11
served by the stair is fewer than 50 persons,
A B the minimum width clear of all obstruc-
tions, except projections less than 4½ in. (114
Story mm) at or below handrail height on each
side, shall be 36 in. (915 mm).
no. 10

▪▪Where stairs serve occupant loads exceed-

B A

Story ing 50 persons, the minimum width clear

no. 09 of all obstructions, except projections not
A
B more than 4½ in. (114 mm) at or below hand-
rail height on each side, shall be in accor-
Figure 17: Inside stairs as part of the means of egress
dance with Table 17 here below:

68
 Stairs
3.3
Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

Table 17:
Minimum width of stairs
Total Cumulative Occupant Load assigned to the stairs Width
<2000 persons 44 in. (1120 mm)
≥2000 persons 56 in. (1420 mm)

Enclosure and protection of stairs Special Provisions for Outside Stairs

All inside stairs serving as an exit or exit ▪▪Outside stairs shall be separated from the
component shall be enclosed and separated interior of the building by construction of
from the other parts of the buildings by fire fire resistance rating required for enclosed
barriers as follows: stairs with fixed or self-closing opening pro-
▪▪The separation shall have a minimum tectives. The required separation shall ex-
1-hour fire resistance rating where the exit tend as follows:
connects three or fewer stories. Openings ▫▫ Vertically from the finished ground level
in the separation shall be protected by fire to a point 3050 mm above the topmost
door assemblies having 1-hour fire rating landing of the stairs or to the roofline,
and equipped with door closers. whichever is lower
▪▪The separation shall have a minimum ▫▫ Horizontally for not less than 3050 mm.
2-hour fire resistance rating where the exit
▫▫ All openings below an outside stair shall
be protected with an assembly having a
connects four or more stories. Openings
minimum 3⁄4-hour fire protection rating.
in the separation shall be protected by fire
door assemblies having 1½ hour fire rating
and equipped with door closers.
▪▪Openings in exit enclosures shall be limited
to door assemblies from normally occupied
spaces and corridors and door assemblies
for egress from the enclosure.
▪▪New enclosed stairs serving three or more
stories shalll be provided with special sig-
nage within the enclosure at each floor
landing. The signage shall indicate the floor
level, the terminus of the top and bottom of
the stair enclosure, the identification of the
stair enclosure, the floor level of, and the di-
rection to exit discharge.

69
 Exit Access Corridors
3.4 Construction Conditions within the Industrial City

3.4 Exit Access Corridors

Corridors used as exit access and serving an of the required width of an aisle, a corridor,
area having an occupant load exceeding 30 a passageway, or a landing unobstructed
persons shall be separated from other parts and shall project not more than 180 mm
of the building by walls having not less than into the required width of an aisle, a corri-
a 1-hour fire resistance rating constructed as dor, a passageway, or a landing, when fully
fire barriers. open.
Door openings
Clear Width
▪▪Every door opening and every principal en-
trance that is required to serve as an exit
shall be designed and constructed so that the
path of egress travel is obvious and direct.
▪▪Door openings in means of egress shall be
not less than 810 mm in clear width. Where
a pair of door leaves is provided, one door
leaf shall provide not less than 810 mm clear
width opening.
▪▪The elevation of the floor surfaces on both Figure 18: method of measuring the clear width of the door
sides of a door opening shall not vary by
more than 13 mm.
▪▪Door leaves required to be of the side-hinged
or pivoted-swinging type shall swing in the
direction of egress travel under any of the
following conditions: A

▫▫
Where serving a room or area with an oc- B
cupant load of 50 persons or more
▫▫
Where the door assembly is used in an exit
A

enclosure
▫▫
A
Where the door opening serves a high A

hazard contents area.

▫▫
During its swing, any door leaf in a means
of egress shall leave not less than one-half B= A/2 Minimum A= Required Width

Figure 19: Required width for the stair landing at doors openings

70
 Exit Access Corridors
3.4
Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

▪▪The forces required to fully open any door

leaf manually in a means of egress shall not
exceed 67 N to release the latch, 133 N to set
Street
the leaf in motion, and 67 N to open the leaf Theater
to the minimum required width.
▪▪Door leaves shall be arranged to be opened
readily from the egress side whenever the
building is occupied. Locks, if provided, shall
not require the use of a key, a tool, or special
knowledge or effort for operation from the Is Not Considered is
The Width is Less
egress side. Than 305 cm

Exit Access Ways Exit Discharge

Ramps
New ramps shall be in accordance with Table Figure 20: Emergency exit doors in theaters
18 here below:

Table 18:
Dimensional criteria for ramps
Feature Dimensional criteria
In. mm
Minimum width clear of all obstructions, except projections not more than 4½ in. (114 mm) 44 1120
at or below handrail height on each side
Maximum slope 1 in 12
Maximum cross slope 1 in 48
Maximum rise for a single ramp run 30 760

▪▪All ramps serving as means of egress shall Horizontal exits

be of permanent fixed construction.
▪▪Ramps shall have landings located at the ▪▪Horizontal exits shall be substituted with
other exits where the total egress capacity
top, at the bottom, and at door leaves open-
and the total number of other exits (stairs,
ing onto the ramp and at any changes in
ramps, door openings leading to the exteri-
travel direction.
or of the building) is not less than half that
▪▪Guards shall be provided for ramps. Hand- required for the entire area of the building
rails shall be provided along both sides of a
or connected buildings, and provided that
ramp run with a rise greater than 150 mm.
none of the other exits is a horizontal exit.
▪▪Ramps in a required means of egress shall
be enclosed or protected as a stair.

71
 Exit Access Corridors
3.4 Construction Conditions within the Industrial City

▪▪Every fire compartment in connection with

a horizontal exit(s) shall also have at least
one additional exit with at least 50% of the
required capacity of exits that are not hori-
zontal. Any fire compartment not having an
exit putside shall be considered as part of an
adjoining compartment with an exit lead-
ing to the outside. Every horizontal exit shall
be provided continuously available paths of
travel leading from each side of the exit to
Figure 21: Exits required to provide necessary egress capacity
stairways or other means of egress leading
with non horizontal exit
to the exterior of the building. Wherever
either side of a horizontal exit is occupied,
the door leaves used in connection with the
horizontal exit shall be unlocked from the
egress side.
▪▪The floor area on either side of a horizontal
exit shall be sufficient to hold the occupants
of both floor areas and shall provide at least
0.28 m2 clear floor area per person.
▪▪Fire barriers separating buildings or areas
between which there are horizontal exits
Figure 22: Number of stairs reduced through use of
shall have a minimum 2-hour fire resistance horizontal exit
rating, and shall provide a separation that
is continuous to the finished ground level. ▪▪Where exits are not immediately accessible
▪▪Fire barriers forming horizontal exits shall from an open floor area, continuous pas-
not be penetrated by ducts, unless one of sageways, aisles, or corridors leading direct-
the building is protected throughout by an ly to every exit shall be maintained.
approved, supervised automatic sprinkler ▪ ▪Common paths of travel and dead end
system. corridors shall not exceed the limit specified
▪▪Swinging fire door assemblies shall be per- in the table here below. It is to be noted that
mitted in horizontal exits, provided that the travel distance to an exit shall be mea-
door leaves shall swing in the direction of sured on the floor or other walking surface
egress travel. Door leaves in horizontal exits as follows:
shall be designed and installed to minimize ▫▫ Along the centerline of the natural path
air leakage. New door assemblies in hori- of travel, starting from the most remote
zontal exits shall be installed in accordance point subject to occupancy,
with NFPA 105, Standard for the Installation ▫▫ Curving around any corners or obstruc-
of Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Open- tions, with a 12 in. (305 mm) clearance
ing Protectives. All fire door assemblies in therefrom
horizontal exits shall be self-closing or auto- ▫▫ Terminating at one of the following: (a)
matic-closing. Center of the doorway, (b) Other point at
which the exit begins.

72
 Exit Access Corridors
3.4
Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

NR: No Requirement
Table 19:
NA: Not applicable
Longest common path limits and dead-end limits
Common Path Limit Dead-end limit
Type of occupancy Unsprinklered sprinklered Unsprinklered sprinklered
Ft m Ft m Ft m Ft m
Assembly
New 20/75 6.1/23 20/75 6.1/23 20 6.1 20 6.1
Exisiting 20/75 6.1/23 20/75 6.1/23 20 6.1 20 6.1
Hotels & Dormitories
New 35 10.7 50 15 35 10.7 50 15
Exisiting 35 10.7 50 15 50 15 50 15
Apartments
New 35 10.7 50 15 35 10.7 50 15
Exisiting 35 10.7 50 15 50 15 50 15
Board & Care
Small, new and exisiting NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR
Large, new NA NA 125 38 NA NA 30 9.1
Large, exisiting 110 33 160 49 50 15 50 15
Mercantile
Class A, B, C 75 23 100 30 20 6.1 50 15
New
Business
New 75 23 100 30 20 6.1 50 15
Exisiting 75 23 100 30 50 15 50 15
Industrial
General 50 15 100 30 50 15 50 15
Special purpose 50 15 100 30 50 15 50 15
High hazard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Aircraft servicing hangars, finished ground level floor 50 15 100 30 50 15 50 15

Continued on the next page

73
 Exit Access Corridors
3.4 Construction Conditions within the Industrial City

Aircraft servicing hangars, mezzanine floor 50 15 75 23 50 15 50 15

Common Path Limit Dead-end limit NR: No Requirement
NA: Not applicable
Type of occupancy Unsprinklered sprinklered Unsprinklered sprinklered
Ft m Ft m Ft m Ft m
Storage
Low hazard NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR
Ordinary hazard 50 15 100 30 50 15 100 30
High hazard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Parking structures, open 50 15 50 15 50 15 50 15
Parking sturctures, enclosed 50 15 50 15 50 15 50 15
Aircraft servicing hangars, finished ground level floor 50 15 100 30 50 15 50 15
Aircraft servicing hangars, mezzanine floor 50 15 75 23 50 15 50 15
Underground spaces in grain elevators 50 15 100 30 50 15 100 30

Room

Exit passage way used to keep travel distance from becoming excessive. E D
C-E> required travel distance
C-D≤ required travel distance Room Room

1. On the floor or other walking surface

2. Along the centerline of the natural path pf 3 5
travel 2

3. Starting at 305 mm from the most remote

1 4

point
4. Around corners and obstructions with
clearance of 305 mm
5. Ending where the exit begins
6. Over open exit access ramps and open exit 3
access stairs in the plane of tread nosings 2
1 4
6

Figure 23: Measuring Travel distance to an exit

74
 Exit Access Corridors
3.4
Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

▪▪Where more than one exit, exit access, or

exit discharge is required from a building
or portion, such exits, exit accesses, or exit
discharges shall be remotely located from
each other and be arranged to minimize the
possibility that more than one has the po-
tential to be blocked by any one fire or other
emergency condition.
▪▪Where two exits, exit accesses, or exit dis-
charges are required, they shall be located
Figure 25: Common path of travel (C-D) and dead end corridor (B-C)
at a distance from one another not less than
one-half the length of the maximum overall ▪▪In buildings protected by an approved and
diagonal dimension of the building or area supervised automatic sprinkler system, the
to be served, measured in a straight line minimum separation distance between two
between the nearest edges of the exits, exit exits, exit accesses, or exit discharges shall
accesses, or exit discharges. be not less than one-third the length of the
Diagonal rule for exit remoteness
maximum overall diagonal dimension of
the building or area to be served
▪▪Access to an exit shall not be through kitch-
ens, storerooms, restrooms, workrooms,
closets, bedrooms or similar spaces, or other
rooms or spaces subject to locking.
A
▪ ▪Hangings or draperies shall not be placed
over exit doors or located so that they
conceal or obscure any exit.
A/
2 ▪▪Exits shall terminate directly, at a public way
B
or at an exterior exit discharge, or through
areas on level of exit discharge. However,
not more than 50 percent of the required
number of exits and egress capacity shall
Figure 24: Measuring the overall maximum diagonal of the discharge through areas on the level of exit
building
discharge, provided that the following crite-
ria are met:

75
 Exit Access Corridors
3.4 Construction Conditions within the Industrial City

▪▪The discharge specified shall lead to a free ▪▪The entire area on the level of discharge shall
and unobstructed way to the exterior of the be separated from areas below by construc-
building, and such way shall be readily vis- tion having a fire resistance rating not less
ible and identifiable from the point of dis- than that required for the exit enclosure.
charge from the exit. ▪▪The exit discharge shall be arranged and
marked to clarify the direction of egress to
Level of Exit Discharge
a public way. Stairs shall be arranged so as
to make clear the direction of egress to a
Exit public way. Stairs that continue more than
one-half story beyond the level of exit dis-
charge shall be interrupted at the level of
exit discharge by partitions, doors, or other
Second To basement Level
Story effective means.
▪▪Illumination of means of egress shall be
continuous during the time that the condi-
tions of occupancy require that the means
Figure 26: horizontal section for exit stair at the level of exit
of egress be available for use.
discharge ▪▪Emergency lighting facilities for means of
egress shall be provided.
▪▪The level of discharge shall be protected ▪▪Means of egress shall be marked. Exits, oth-
throughout by an approved automatic er than main exterior exit doors that are
sprinkler system, or the portion of the level clearly identifiable as exits shall be marked
of discharge used for discharge shall be pro- by an approved sign that is readily visible
tected by an approved automatic sprinkler from any direction of exit access. Horizontal
and shall be separated from the nonsprin- components of the egress path within an
klered portion of the floor by a fire resis- exit enclosure shall be marked by approved
tance rating meeting the requirements for exit or directional exit signs where the con-
the enclosure of exits. tinuation of the egress path is not obvious.
▪▪The signs, other than approved self-lumi-
Means of Egress Direction to Exit nous signs and listed photo-luminescent
signs in, shall be illuminated by the emer-
gency lighting facilities.

4 9 14 19
1 1 6 6 9 12 11 14 16 17 18 21
2
2 3 7 7 10 12 15 17 19 22
4
Figure 27: Some locations of the exit signs 3 5 8 8 11 13 13 16 18 20 23
5 10 15 20

Measurement of Exit Sign Luminance

Figure 28: Exit sign

76
 Exit Access Corridors
3.4
Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

Underground and limited access structures ▫▫Combustible contents, combustible interi-

or finish, or combustible construction
▪▪Underground and limited access structures ▪▪Exit stair enclosures in underground struc-
and all areas and floor levels traversed in
tures having a floor level used for human oc-
traveling to the exit discharge shall be pro-
cupancy located more than 30 ft (9140 mm)
tected by an approved, supervised automat-
below the lowest level of exit discharge, or
ic sprinkler system, unless such structures
having more than one level located below
have an occupant load of 50 persons or
the lowest level of exit discharge, shall be
fewer in new underground portions of the
provided with signage at each floor level
structure.
landing traversed in traveling to the exit
▪▪Underground portions of structures and all discharge. The signs shall include a chev-
areas traversed in traveling to the exit dis-
ron-shaped indicator to show direction to
charge shall be provided with emergency
the exit discharge.
lighting.
▪▪Exits from underground structures with an Occupant Load
occupant load of more than 100 persons in ▪▪The occupant load, in number of persons for
the underground portions of the structure whom means of egress and other provisions
and having a floor used for human occupan- are required, shall be determined on the
cy located more than 30 ft (9140 mm) below basis of the occupant load factors of Table
the lowest level of exit discharge, or having 20 that are characteristic of the use of the
more than one level located below the low- space or shall be determined as the maxi-
est level of exit discharge, shall be provided mum probable population of the space un-
with exterior smoke-venting facilities or der consideration, whichever is greater.
other means to prevent the exits from be- ▪▪The occupant load in any building or por-
coming charged with smoke from any fire in tion thereof shall be not less than the num-
the areas served by the exits. ber of persons determined by dividing the
▪▪The underground portions of an under- floor area assigned to that use by the occu-
ground structure shall be provided with ap- pant load factor for that use as specified in
proved automatic smoke venting where the Table 20 here below.
underground structure has the following ▪▪Areas accessible to people with severe mo-
features: bility impairment, shall have not less than
▫▫ Occupant load of more than 100 persons
two accessible means of egress. Access with-
in the underground portions of the struc-
in the allowable travel distance shall be pro-
ture
vided to not less than one accessible area of
▫▫ Floor level used for human occupancy lo-
refuge or one accessible exit providing an
cated more than 30 ft (9140 mm) below
the lowest level of exit discharge, or more accessible route to an exit discharge
than one level located below the lowest
level of exit discharge

77
 Exit Access Corridors
3.4 Construction Conditions within the Industrial City

Table 20:
Occupant load
Use Ft2 M2 Ft2 M2
Use
per person per person per person per person
Assembly Use Residential Use
Concentrated use, 7 net 0.65 net Hotels & dormitories 200 18.6
without fixed seating
Less concentrated use, 15 net 1.4 net Workers’ accommodation 81 6.25
without fixed seating
Bench-type seating 1 person/18 linear in. 1 person/455 linear Apartment buildings 200 18.6
in.
Fixed seating Number of fixed Number of fixed Board and care, large 200 18.6
seating seating
Industrial Use
Kitchens 100 9.3 General and high hazard 100 9.3
industrial
Library stack areas 100 9.3 Special purpose industrial NA NA
Library reading 50 net 4.6 net Business Use (other than 100 9.3
rooms below)
Swimming pools 50 (water surface) 4.6 (water surface) Air traffic control tower 40 3.7
observation levels
Swimming pools 30 2.8
decks Storage Use

Exercise rooms with 50 4.6 In storage occupancies NA NA

equipments
Exercise rooms 15 1.4 In mercantile occupancies 300 27.9
without equipments
Educational Use In other than storage and 500 46.5
mercantile occupancies
Classrooms 20 net 1.9 net Mercantile Use
Shops, laboratories, 50 net 4.6 net Sales area on street floor 30 2.8
vocational rooms

Continued on the next page

78
 Exit Access Corridors
3.4
Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

Use Ft2 M2 Ft2 M2

Use
per person per person per person per person
Day-care Use 35 net 3.3 net Sales area on two or 40 3.7
more street floors
Health Care Use Sales area on floor 30 2.8
below street floor
Inpatient treatment 240 22.3
departments
Sleeping 120 11.1 Sales area on floors
60 5.6
deparmtents above street floor
Ambulatory health 100 9.3
care

79
 Openings in Fire Barriers
3.5 Construction Conditions within the Industrial City

3.5 Openings in Fire Barriers

Every opening in a fire barrier shall be rating for opening protectives in fire barriers,
protected to limit the spread of fire and restrict fire-rated smoke barriers, and fire-rated
the movement of smoke from one side of the smoke partitions shall be in accordance with
fire barrier to the other. The fire protection Table here below.

Table 21:
Flame spead index
Minimum fire barriers openings for opening protectives in fire resistance-rated assemblies
Component Walls & Partitions First Door Assemblies Fire Window Assemblies
Smoke developed index
(hr) (hr) (hr)
Elevator hoistways 2 1½ NP
1 1 NP
Vertical shafts 2 1½ NP
(including
1 1 NP
stairways, exits,
and refuse chutes) ½ ⅓ NP
3 3 NP
2 ½1 NP
Fire barriers
1 ¾ ¾
½ ⅓ ⅓
Horizontal exits 2 1½ NP
Horizontal exits
served by bridges 2 ¾ ¾
between buildings
1 ⅓ ¾
Exit access corridors
½ ⅓ ⅓
Smoke barriers 1 ⅓ ¾
Smoke partitions ½ ⅓ ⅓

NP: Not permitted

80
 Openings in Fire Barriers
3.5
Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

Penetrations for cables, cable trays, Exit stair connecting the first and third story

conduits, pipes, tubes, combustion vents

and exhaust vents, wires, and similar items
to accommodate electrical, mechanical,
plumbing, and communications systems that
pass through a wall, floor, or floor/ceiling Fire barrier wall (1 hour fire rating ) with fire
assembly constructed as a fire barrier shall Rated door (1.5 hour fire protection rating )

be protected by a firestop system or device.

The firestop system or device shall be tested
in accordance with ASTM E 814, Standard Test
Method for Fire Tests of Through Penetration
Fire barrier wall (1 hour fire rating ) with fire
Fire Stops, or ANSI/UL 1479, Standard for Fire Rated door (1.5 hour fire protection rating )
Tests of Through- Penetration Firestops, at Fire barrier wall (1 hour fire rating and fire
a minimum positive pressure differential of Rated door (1 hour fire protection rating )

0.01 in. water column (2.5 N/m2) between the Fire barrier wall (1 hour fire rating and fire
exposed and the unexposed surface of the test Rated door (3/4 hour fire protection rating )

assembly.
Figure 30: Protection of exit access corridor

No additional requirements
For these walls except those
Of theCorridor walls

Slab having 2 hours fire

Automatic Resistance Rating
Sprinkler System

Fire barrier having 2 hours fire

Resistance rating door having 1 41
4th Floor Hour fire protection rating

Lobby with metallic

Reinforced glazed
Door.No need for
Sprinkler system
Exit Access
Exit
Corridor
Maximum ‫أ‬
3050mm Exit Access Way

Figure 31: Example of protection of exit passageway

Figure 29: Fire barrier vertical continuity

81
 Openings in Fire Barriers
3.5 Construction Conditions within the Industrial City

Shafts

Fire Damper
Shafts shall be enclosed by fire barriers having
Roof
fire resistance rating as follows:
25%
Of Wall's Area A. Enclosures connecting four or more stories
▪▪2-hour fire barriers
Sealed ▪▪Other enclosures: 1-hour fire barriers
▪▪Shafts shall be permitted to terminate in a
room or space having a use related to the
Door having 1 1
2
Hour fire protection rating purpose of the shaft, provided that the room
Wall constructed as fire barrier or space is separated from the remainder of
Having 1 hour fire resistance rating the building by construction having a fire
Wall constructed as fire barrier resistance rating and opening protectives.
Having 2 hours fire resistance rating
B. Communicating space
Figure 32: Typical penetrations of a fire barrier
Unenclosed floor openings forming a
Sealed
communicating space between floor levels
Air -Handling Duct shall be permitted, provided that the following
conditions are met:

Automatic Release Closer

Detector
Damper
▪▪The communicating space does not connect
Smoker Barrier more than three contiguous stories.
▪▪The lowest or next-to-lowest story within
the communicating space is a street floor.
▪▪The entire floor area of the communicating
space is open and unobstructed, such that
Figure 33: Typical penetrations of a smoke barrier a fire in any part of the space will be readily
obvious to the occupants of the space prior
Vertical openings to the time it becomes an occupant hazard.
Every floor that separates stories in a building ▪▪The communicating space is separated from
shall be constructed as a smoke barrier and the remainder of the building by fire barri-
shall be permitted to have communicating ers with not less than a 1-hour fire resistance
space, atrium and convenience opening. rating, unless the buildings are protect-
Openings through floors shall be enclosed ed throughout by an approved automatic
with fire barrier walls, shall be continuous sprinkler system, a smoke barrier shall be
from floor to floor, or floor to roof, and shall be permitted to serve as the separation.
protected as appropriate for the fire resistance ▪▪The communicating space has ordinary haz-
rating of the barrier.
ard contents protected throughout by an

82
 Openings in Fire Barriers
3.5
Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

approved automatic sprinkler system or has Atrium:

only low hazard contents.
1. An atrium shall be permitted provided that
▪▪Egress capacity is sufficient to allow all the the following conditions are met:
occupants of all levels within the commu-
nicating space to simultaneously egress ▪▪The atrium is separated from the adjacent
the communicating space by considering it spaces by fire barriers with not less than a
as a single floor area in determining the re- 1-hour fire resistance rating with opening
quired egress capacity. protectives for corridor walls, unless one of
▪▪Each occupant within the communicating the following is met:
space has access to not less than one exit a. Any number of levels of the building shall
without having to traverse another story be permitted to open directly to the atrium
within the communicating space. without enclosure based on the results of
▪▪Each occupant not in the communicating the engineering analysis of the smopke
space has access to not less than one exit extraction within the atrium.
without having to enter the communicating b. Glass walls and inoperable windows shall be
space. permitted in lieu of the fire barriers where
all the following are met:
b-1. Automatic sprinklers are spaced along
both sides of the glass wall and the inoperable
windows at intervals not to exceed 6 ft (1830 mm)
b-2. Automatic sprinklers are located at a
distance from the glass wall not to exceed 12
in. (305 mm) and arranged so that the entire
surface of the glass is wet upon operation of
the sprinklers, the glass wall is of tempered,
wired, or laminated glass held in place by a
Figure 34: Vertical openings gasket system that allows the glass framing
system to deflect without breaking (loading)
the glass before the sprinklers operate
b-3. Automatic sprinklers are not required
on the atrium side of the glass wall and
the inoperable window where there is no
Elevator walkway or other floor area on the atrium
side above the main floor level
b-4. Doors in the glass walls are of glass
or other material that resists the passage
of smoke, doors in the glass walls are self-
Figure 35: separation of communicating space from the closing or automatic-closing upon detection
remainder of the building of smoke, the glass is continuous vertically,

83
 Openings in Fire Barriers
3.5 Construction Conditions within the Industrial City

without horizontal mullions, window floor level of exit access open to the atrium,
treatments, or other obstructions that for a period equal to 1.5 times the calculated
would interfere with the wetting of the egress time or 20 minutes, whichever
entire glass surface. is greater. The smoke control system is
independently activated by each of the
Roof following: required automatic sprinkler
5 system, and manual controls that are
readily accessible to the fire department.
A B 4 C D
Convenience Openings
3
Convenience opening is a vertical opening
2 serving as other than an exit enclosure,
connecting only two adjacent stories and
Story NO.1 E piercing only one floor, shall be permitted
to be open to one of the two stories. Such
Figure 36: Sample of shafts vertical openings
openings shall connect not more than two
adjacent stories (one floor pierced only), such
openings shall be separated from unprotected
vertical openings serving other floors by a fire
barrier having the same fire resistance rating
of the shafts. Such openings shall be separated
Elevator
from corridors. In new construction, the
convenience opening shall be separated from
the corridor by a smoke partition, unless the
corridor is required to have a fire resistance
rating. Such openings shall not serve as a
required means of egress.
Figure 37: Plan view of a typical atrium

3. Access to exits is permitted to be within the Exit Required

atrium, and exit discharge is permitted to To Be Enclosed
be within the atrium.
Story NO.3

4. The occupancy within the atrium meets the

Room
specifications for classification as low or
ordinary hazard contents.
5. The entire building is protected throughout Opening Stair
Story NO.2

Enclosed within Room

by an approved, supervised automatic Stairs Room
sprinkler
6. An engineering analysis is performed that
Story NO.1

demonstrates that the building is designed

Room
to keep the smoke layer interface above the
highest unprotected opening to adjoining
spaces, or 6 ft (1830 mm) above the highest
Figure 38: Convenience opening between two floors

84
 Openings in Fire Barriers
3.5
Means of Egress General Requirements - Emergency Exits

Interior Finishes Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy

Source, or ASTM E 648, Standard Test Method
Classification of interior finish materials
for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering
shall be in accordance with tests made under
Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source.
conditions simulating actual installations as
Interior floor finishes shall be classified as
per the following:
follows in accordance with the critical radiant
Interior Wall or Ceiling Finish Testing and flux ratings:
Classification
1. Class I interior floor finish shall be
Interior wall or ceiling finish shall be classified characterized by a critical radiant flux not
based on test results from ASTM E 84, less than 0.45 W/cm2.
Standard Test Method for Surface Burning 2. Class II interior floor finish shall be
Characteristics of Building Materials, or ANSI/ characterized by a critical radiant flux not
UL 723, Standard for Test for Surface Burning less than 0.22 W/cm2 but less than 0.45 W/
Characteristics of Building Materials. cm2.
Products shall be classified as follows in 3. Carpet and carpetlike interior floor finishes
accordance with their flame spread and smoke shall comply with ASTM D 2859, Standard
development: Test Method for Ignition Characteristics of
Finished Textile Floor Covering Materials.
▪▪Class A interior wall and ceiling finish shall
be characterized by the following: Elevators:
▫▫Flame spread index, 0–25 ▪▪Elevators shall not be considered a compo-
▫▫Smoke developed index, 0–450 nent in a required means of egress but shall
▪▪Class B interior wall and ceiling finish shall be permitted as a component in an accessi-
be characterized by the following: ble means of egress.
▫▫Flame spread index, 26–75 ▪▪New elevators shall be in accordance with
▫▫Smoke developed index, 0–450 the requirements of ASME A17.1/CSA B44,
▪▪Class C interior wall and ceiling finish shall Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators.
be characterized by the following: ▪▪Elevator machine rooms that contain sol-
▫▫Flame spread index, 76–200 id-state equipment for elevators, having a
▫▫Smoke developed index, 0–450 travel distance exceeding 50 ft (15 m) above
Interior Floor Finish Testing and Classification: the level of exit discharge, or exceeding 30 ft
Interior floor finishes shall be classified based (9150 mm) below the level of exit discharge,
on test results from NFPA 253, Standard shall be provided with independent venti-
Method of Test for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor lation or air-conditioning systems to main-
tain temperature during fire fighters’emer-
gency operations for elevator operation. The
operating temperature shall be established
by the elevator equipment manufacturer’s
specifications. When standby power is con-
nected to the elevator, the machine room
ventilation or air-conditioning shall be con-
nected to standby power.

85
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86
 4
4

Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in

Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications
Chapter 4: Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in
Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications
4.1 Buildings Classifications.............................................89 Fire Hazard................................................................... 114
Assembly Occupancy:..................................................... 89 Fire Spread Control.........................................................115
Educational Occupancy: ................................................. 89 Means of egress (emergency exits)................................. 116
Day-Care Occupancy:...................................................... 89
Health Care Occupancy:.................................................. 89 Interior Wall and Ceiling Finish:..................................... 119
Ambulatory Health Care Occupancy:............................... 89 Interior Floor Finish ...................................................... 119
Residential Occupancy:.................................................. 89 Firefighting and fire alarm systems............................... 119
One- and Two-Family Dwelling Unit:...............................90 4.6 Fire Protection Requirements for Storage and Car
Lodging or Rooming House:............................................90 Parking Buildings.....................................................122
Hotel: ............................................................................90 Storage buildings definition.......................................... 122
Dormitory: ....................................................................90
Apartment Building: .....................................................90 Fire spread control......................................................... 123
Mercantile Occupancy: ..................................................90 Special Provisions for Occupancies with High Hazard
Business Occupancy:......................................................90 Contents ......................................................................124
Industrial Occupancy: ....................................................90 Stairs............................................................................124
Storage Occupancy: .......................................................90 Final exit....................................................................... 125
4.2 Fire Protection Requirements for Assembly Interior Finishes:........................................................... 125
Occupancy Buildings............................................... 93 Firefighting and fire alarm systems............................... 125
Control of Fire Spread .................................................... 95 Special protection requirements for car parking............. 127
Emergency Exits............................................................. 95
Fire fighting and fire alarm systems ...............................96
4.3 Fire Protection Requirements for Residential Occupancy
Buildings...................................................................99
Protection requirements for collective residential
buildings.......................................................................99
Firefigthing and fire alarm systems............................... 103
4.4 Fire Protection Requirements for Commercial
Buildings..................................................................107
Category A: Mercantile Shops ........................................ 107
Category B: Buildings dedicated for offices use............... 107
Category C: All the small shops area............................... 107
Fire hazard.................................................................... 107
Fire Spread control .......................................................108
Means of egress (emergency exits).................................108
Special protection requirements.....................................112
4.5 Fire Protection Requirements for Industrial
Buildings.................................................................. 114
Industrial buildings definition........................................114
 Buildings Classifications
4.1
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

4.1 Buildings Classifications

The occupancy of a building or structure, or Ambulatory Health Care Occupancy:

portion of a building or structure, shall be
classified as per the following occupancies: An occupancy used to provide services or
treatment simultaneously to four or more
Assembly Occupancy: patients that provides, on an outpatient basis,
An occupancy used for a gathering of 50 one or more of the following:
or more persons for deliberation, worship, ▪▪ Treatment for patients that renders the pa-
entertainment, eating, drinking, amusement, tients incapable of taking action for self-pres-
awaiting transportation, or similar uses;
ervation under emergency conditions with-
or used as a special amusement building,
out the assistance of others
regardless of occupant load.
Educational Occupancy:
▪▪Anesthesia that renders the patients inca-
pable of taking action for self-preservation
An occupancy used for educational purposes under emergency conditions without the
through the twelfth grade by six or more assistance of others
persons for 4 or more hours per day or more
than 12 hours per week.
▪▪Emergency or urgent care for patients who,
due to the nature of their injury or illness,
Day-Care Occupancy: are incapable of taking action for self-pres-
An occupancy in which four or more clients ervation under emergency conditions with-
receive care, maintenance, and supervision, by out the assistance of others.
other than their relatives or legal guardians, Residential Occupancy:
for less than 24 hours per day.
An occupancy that provides sleeping
Health Care Occupancy: accommodations for purposes other than
An occupancy used to provide medical or other health care or detention and correctional.
treatment or care simultaneously to four or
more patients on an inpatient basis, where
such patients are mostly incapable of self-
preservation due to age, physical or mental
disability, or because of security measures not
under the occupants’ control.

89
 Buildings Classifications
4.1 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

One- and Two-Family Dwelling Unit: Business Occupancy:

A building that contains not more than two An occupancy used for the transaction of
dwelling units with independent cooking and business other than mercantile.
bathroom facilities. Industrial Occupancy:
Lodging or Rooming House: An occupancy in which products are manufactured
A building or portion thereof that does not or in which processing, assembling, mixing,
qualify as a one- or two family dwelling, packaging, finishing, decorating, or repair operations
that provides sleeping accommodations for are conducted.
a total of 16 or fewer people on a transient Storage Occupancy:
or permanent basis, without personal care
services, with or without meals, but without An occupancy used primarily for the storage or
separate cooking facilities for individual sheltering of goods, merchandise, products, or
occupants. vehicles.

Hotel: When the different occupancies within the

A building or groups of buildings under building as per the definitions here above are
the same management in which there are separated, the separation of each occupancy
sleeping accommodations for more than 16 shall be by fire barriers and fire rated doors
persons and primarily used by transients for as per the below table showing the required
lodging with or without meals. separation in hours of fire resisatnce rating.
Dormitory:
A building or a space in a building in which
group sleeping accommodations are provided
for more than 16 persons who are not
members of the same family in one room, or
a series of closely associated rooms, under
joint occupancy and single management,
with or without meals, but without individual
cooking facilities.
Apartment Building:
A building or portion thereof containing three
or more dwelling units with independent
cooking and bathroom facilities.
Mercantile Occupancy:
An occupancy used for the display and sale of
merchandise.

90
 Buildings Classifications
4.1
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 22:
Required separation of occupancies (hours)
Apartment Day- Day- Mercantile Mercantile, Mercantile, Business Industrial, Industrial, Industrial, Storage, Storage,
Buildings care care Malls Bulk Retail General Special High Low & High
Occupancy Homes Homes Purpose Purpose Hazard Ordinary Hazard
Hazard
Small Large
Assembly ≤ 300 2 2 2 2 2 3 1 2 2 3 2 3
Assembly >300 to ≤1000 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 3
Assembly >1000 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 3 3 3
Educational 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 3
Health Care 2* 2* 2* 2* 2* 2* 2* 2* 2* 2* 2* 2*
Ambulatory Health Care 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2
One- & Two- Family Dwellings 1 1 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 3
Lodging or rooming houses 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 3
Hotels & dormitories 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 3
Apartment buildings --- 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 3
Mercantile --- 0 3 3 2 2 3 2 3
Mercantile, Mall --- 3 2 3 3 3 2 3
Mercantile, Bulk Retail --- 2 2 2 3 2 2
Business --- 2 2 2 2 2
Industrial, General Purpose --- 1 1 1 1
Industrial, Special Purpose --- 1 1 1
Industrial, High Hazard --- 1 1
Storage, Low & Ordinary Hazard --- 1
Storage, High Hazard ---

91
 Buildings Classifications
4.1 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 23:
Required separation of occupancies (hours)
Assembly Assembly Assembly Educational Health Care Ambulatory One- & Lodging or Hotels &
Occupancy ≤300 >300 to ≤ >1000 Health Care Two- Family rooming dormitories
1000 Dwellings
Assembly ≤300 ------ 0 0 2 2** 2 2 2 2
Assembly >300 to ≤ 1000 --- 0 2 2** 2 2 2 2
Assembly >1000 --- 2 2** 2 2 2 2
Educational --- 2** 2 2 2 2
Health Care 2** 2 2 2 2
Ambulatory Health Care --- 2 2 2 2
One- & Two- Family Dwellings --- 1 1
Lodging or rooming --- 1
Hotels & dormitories ---

* It is permitted to reduce the fire resistance rating by one hour only if the building is protected throughout by automatic sprinkler system
** the 1-hour reduction due to the presence of sprinklers is not permitted.

92
 Fire Protection Requirements for Assembly Occupancy Buildings
4.2
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

4.2 Fire Protection Requirements for Assembly Occupancy Buildings

The assembly occupancy are the buildings or the buildings parts used
for gathering 50 or more persons such as mosques, meeting rooms,
lecture halls, exhibition halls, banks halls, libraries.
The assembly occupancy buildings are classified depending on the
occupanct load on the following three types:
▫▫Class A: buildings accommodating more than 1000 persons
▫▫Class B: buildings accommodating 300 to 1000 persons
▫▫Class C: buildings accommodating 50 to 300 persons
▪▪The assembly occupancy buidlings are classified as buildings having
low hazard contents.
▪▪In case the assembly occupancy building is used for other purposes,
or in case the assembly occupancy is part of a building having other
occupancy classification, the different occupancies within the build-
ing shall be separated from each other and each occupancy shall be
considered as independent fire compartment having its own inde-
pendent means of egress.
▪▪The assembly occupancy Class A buildings or parts of shall not be
mixed with other occupancies except for the ancillary occupancy that
are related to the assembly occupancy such as the restaurant, cafe-
teria. Beyond that, each case is considered and decided by the civil
defense as deemed appropriate.
▪▪The assembly occupancy shall be limited to the building construction
types specified in the table here below based on the number of stories
in height.
▪▪The separation between the assembly occupancy from the remainder
of the building shall be as per the tables 22 and 23 indicated in the
occupancy classification section here above.

93
 Fire Protection Requirements for Assembly Occupancy Buildings
4.2 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 24:
X: Permitted for assembly of any occupant load

Construction type limitations X1: Permitted for assembly of any occupant load, but
Stories in Height limitted to one story below the level of exit discharge
Stories
Construction Type Sprinklered
Below 1 2 3 4 ≥5 X2: Permitted for assembly limitted to an occupant load
Yes X X X X X X of 1000 or less, and limitted to one story below the
I (442)c,d,r level of exit discharge
No NP X4 X4 X4 X4 X4
Yes X X X X X X X3: Permitted for assembly limitted to an occupant load
I (332)c,d,r of 1000 or less
No NP X4 X4 X4 X4 X4
Yes X X X X X X X4: Permitted for assembly limitted to an occupant load
II (222)c,d,r of 300 or less
No NP X4 X4 X4 X4 X4
Yes X1 X X X X3 NP NP: Not permitted
II (111)c,d,r
No NP X4 X4 X4 NP NP
Yes X2 X X4 NP NP NP
II (000)
No NP X4 NP NP NP NP
Yes X1 X X X X3 NP
III (211)d
No NP X X X4 NP NP
Yes X2 X3 X4 NP NP NP
III (200)
No NP X4 NP NP NP NP
Yes X1 X X X X3 NP
VI (2HH)
No NP X4 X4 X4 NP NP
Yes X1 X X X X3 NP
V (111)
No NP X4 X4 X4 NP NP
Yes X2 X3 X4 NP NP NP
V (000)
No NP NP NP NP NP NP

94
 Fire Protection Requirements for Assembly Occupancy Buildings
4.2
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Control of Fire Spread the building by fire barriers having 1-hour

fire resistance rating and sel-closing doors
In addition to the general requirements
having 1-hour fire protection rating.
mentioned above, the following requirements
shall be considered: ▪▪In all class A and class B buildings, the ac-
cess to the exit or to the exit stairs shall be
Horizontal Fire Spread through a space protected from fire as per
The fire compartment volume shall not be
the following requirments:
more than 7000 m3 separated from different
sections of the assembly occupancy building, Egress capcity:
and each fire compartment is considered as The egress capcity shall depend on the
an independent compartement, such as the
occupant load such as the number of the fixed
meeting rooms and waiting hall. This fire
seats
compartment shall be also separated from the
different occupacnies within the building. Travel distance
Verical Fire Spread
▪▪The travel distance from any point of the
Each floor is considered as independent fire floor to the final exit or to the protected exit
compartment. In case an atrium is provided, stair shall not exceed the following:
the specific requirements of the atrium here ▫▫20 m in a hall with armchairs seats.
above shall be implemented. ▫▫15 m in a hall with ordinary seats.
▫▫30 m in an open space multipurpose room.
Fire Department Equipment Access
The fire department trucks and equipment
▫▫15 m in a small hall providing that the oc-
cupant load within the room is not more
access shall be ensured for the assembly
occupancy buildings as per the following than 30 persons.
requirments: ▪▪In large multipurpose halls without internal
partitions and in conference centers, it is
▪▪Road or street around the assembly occu- permitted to have a travel distance exceed-
pancy building shall be ensured by pro-
ing 30 m providing that the exit and exit
viding a road or street for fire department
stairs are distributed at the building perim-
equipment / trucks access to a minimum of
two buildings’ facades and the building en- eter and the separation distance between
trance shall be on one of these facades. exits is not more than 60 m.
▪▪The building entrance shall be on one of ▪▪The number of exits shall be in accordance
these facades. with the general requirements of the means
▪▪Parking areas for the fire department trucks of egress of this guide.
and equipment shall be ensured. ▪▪The common path of travel and dead end
corridor shall be in accordance with the gen-
Emergency Exits
eral requirements of the means of egress of
▪▪The emergency exits from the assembly oc- this guide.
cupancy areas shall be independent from ▪▪Any door in a required means of egress
the other occupancy areas in class A or class within an area having an occupant load of
B buildings such as the workshops, storage
100 or more persons shall be permitted to
rooms which shall be provided by indepen-
dent emergency exits leading directly to the be provided with a latch or lock only if the
exterior of the building. latch or lock is panic hardware or fire exit
▪▪ The means of egress shall be protected from hardware.
the fire spread and shall be considered as fire
compartment constructed by noncombustible
materials separated from the remainder of 95
 Fire Protection Requirements for Assembly Occupancy Buildings
4.2 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

▪▪Interior floor finish in exit enclosures and

exit access corridors and in spaces not sepa-
rated from them by fire barrier walls having
not less than one 1-hour fire resistance rating
Panic hardware with actuating bar (left ) and panic
Hardware with pushpad actuating member (right) shall be not less than Class II.
Fire fighting and fire alarm systems

Figure 39: Two types of Bar Panic

▪▪The firefighting and fire alarm systems shall
be designed and installed as per the civil de-
▪▪Doors in the means of egress shall be per- fense guide
mitted to be equipped with an approved ▪▪The civil defense may require additional
access control system, and such doors shall firefighting and fire alarm systems as alter-
not be locked from the egress side when the natives of some protection means as per the
assembly occupancy is occupied. civil defense requirments.
▪▪No turnstiles or other devices that restrict ▪▪The firefighting and fire alarm systems re-
the movement of persons shall be installed quired for the assembly occupancy build-
in any assembly occupancy in such a man- ings are indicated in Table 25
ner as to interfere with required means of ▪▪The requirements for automatic water
egress facilities. sprinkler system are indicated in Table 26

Main Entrance/Exit:
▪▪Every assembly occupancy shall be provided
with a main entrance/exit. The main en-
trance/exit width shall accommodate one-
half of the total occupant load. The main
entrance/exit shall be at the level of exit
discharge or shall connect to a stairway or
ramp leading to a street.
Corridors
▪▪The width of any exit access corridor serving
50 or more persons shall be not less than 44
in. (1120 mm).
▪▪Interior wall and ceiling finish materials
shall be Class A or Class B in all corridors
and lobbies and shall be Class A in enclosed
stairways.
▪▪Interior wall and ceiling finish materials
shall be Class A or Class B in general assem-
bly areas having occupant loads of more
than 300 and shall be Class A, Class B, or
Class C in assembly areas having occupant
loads of 300 or fewer

96
 Fire Protection Requirements for Assembly Occupancy Buildings
4.2
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 25:
Firefighting system in assembly occupancy buildings depending on the classification, height and structural construction type
Type Location
1 Manual firefighting equipment
1 Portable fire extinguishers All floors
2 Fixed installations
1 Hose system All floors
2 Dry Standpipe network More than 4 stories (ground floor + three upper floors) + building height is less than 28 m or two
floors having a gross floor area of more than 1000 m2
3 Wet Standpipe network Building height is 28 m or more or two floors having a gross floor area of more than 1000 m2
4 External fire hydrant network Depending on building size
3 Automatic fixed systems
1 Automatic water sprinkler system As per Table 26 for the requirements of automatic sprinkler system in assembly occupancy buildings
2 Automatic extinguishing Special hazard presmises where water cannot be used as firefighting material
system with non-water
firefighting materilas
4 Fire alarm equipment and systems
1 Manual fire alarm system In multipurpose rooms, and corridors
2 Automatic fire alarm system All floors

Remark:
Table 26:
Refer to Table
Requirements for automatic water sprinkler system in assembly occupancy depending on the classification, height and structural construction type 2 for buildings
Structural construction fire resistance
Type Occupant load Floor Requirements for water sprinkler classification
type
A More than 1000 persons Ground floor to third floor Type I Not required
Fourth floor and above All types Required
B 300 to 1000 persons Ground and 1st floors Type I and II Required
C 50 to 300 persons Ground and 1st floors Types: I and II and IV Not required
Ground floor only Type V temporary and Required
special conditions

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Assembly Occupancy Buildings
4.2 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

▪▪Any building containing one or more assem- Notification:

bly occupancies where the aggregate occu- ▪▪The required fire alarm system shall activate
pant load of the assembly occupancies ex- an audible and visible alarm in a constantly
ceeds 300 shall be protected by an approved, attended receiving station within the build-
supervised automatic sprinkler system as: ing when occupied for purposes of initiat-
▫▫Throughout the story containing the as- ing emergency action.
sembly occupancy ▪▪Occupant notification shall be by means of
▫▫Throughout all stories below the story voice and by means of visible signals initiat-
containing the assembly occupancy ed by the person in the constantly attended
▫▫In the case of an assembly occupancy lo- receiving station.
cated below the level of exit discharge,
throughout all stories intervening between
that story and the level of exit discharge,
including the level of exit discharge.
▫▫In assembly occupancy with occupant
loads of more than 300 persons, the ini-
tiation of the required fire alarm system
shall be manual means throughout the
building where initiation is not provided
by approved automatic fire detection sys-
tem or by an approved automatic sprin-
kler system.
▫▫In assembly occupancies with occupant
loads of more than 300, automatic detec-
tion shall be provided in all hazardous ar-
eas that are not normally occupied, unless
such areas are protected throughout by an
approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
system
▫▫Where automatic sprinklers are provided,
sprinkler system waterflow shall initiate
the fire alarm system, even where manual
fire alarm boxes are provided.
▫▫The initiating device shall be capable of
transmitting an alarm to a receiving sta-
tion, located within the building that is
constantly attended when the assembly
occupancy is occupied.

98
 Fire Protection Requirements for Residential Occupancy Buildings
4.3
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

4.3 Fire Protection Requirements for Residential Occupancy Buildings

The residential buildings are classified in two ▪▪In buildings protected throughout by an
group catergories as follows: approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
▪▪Collective Residential buildings system, common path of travel shall not ex-
▪▪Individual Residential buildings such as the ceed 50 ft (15 m); travel within a guest room
small villas or guest suite shall not be included when
Protection requirements for collective determining common path of travel.
residential buildings
Hotels and Dormitories
Collective residential buildings are the
buildings or buildings’ parts allocated for No hotel or dormitory shall have its sole means
contiguous housing, they are of 3 classes of egress pass through any nonresidential
depending on the type of use: occupancy in the same building, unless one of
the following criteria are met:
▪▪Class A are the buildings consisting of per-
manent dwelling units (residential apart- ▪▪In buildings that are protected by an auto-
matic sprinkler system, hotels and dormi-
ment buildings)
tories shall be permitted to have their sole
▪▪Class B are the buildings consisting of rooms means of egress pass through a nonresiden-
or dormitories for permanent individual or tial occupancy in the same building, provid-
collective accommodation such as the em- ed that the sole means of egress from the
ployees and workers accomodations and hotel or dormitory shall not pass through a
the like. high hazard contents area.
▪▪Class C are the buildings consisting of rooms ▪▪In buildings that are not protected by an
used for paid or unpaid temporary accom- automatic sprinkler, hotels and dormitories
modation such as guesthouses, furnished shall be permitted to have their sole means
apartments and the like. of egress pass through a nonresidential oc-
cupancy in the same building, provided that
Fire Hazard the sole means of egress from the hotel or
The fire hazard in residential buildings is dormitory to the exterior shall be separated
classified as low hazard. Table 27 specifies from the remainder of the building by fire
the travel distance and the direct distance in barriers having a minimum 1-hour fire re-
residential building. sistance rating and the sole means of egress
from the hotel or dormitory shall not pass
Means of egress
through a high hazard contents area.
▪▪In buildings not protected throughout by an Residential Buildings
approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
No dwelling unit of an apartment building
system, common paths of travel shall not shall have its sole means of egress pass
exceed 35 ft (10.7 m); travel within a guest through any nonresidential occupancy in the
room or guest suite shall not be included same building unless one of the following
when calculating common path of travel. criteria are met:

99
 Fire Protection Requirements for Residential Occupancy Buildings
4.3 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

▪▪In buildings that are protected by an auto- ted to have their sole means of egress pass
matic sprinkler system, dwelling units of an through a nonresidential occupancy in
apartment building shall be permitted to the same building, provided that the sole
have their sole means of egress pass through means of egress from the dwelling unit
a nonresidential occupancy in the same of the apartment building to the exterior
building, provided that the sole means of shall be separated from the remainder of
egress from the dwelling unit of the apart- the building by fire barriers having a min-
ment building shall not pass through a high imum 1-hour fire resistance rating and the
hazard contents area. sole means of egress from the dwelling unit
▪▪In buildings that are not protected by an of the apartment building shall not pass
automatic sprinkler system, dwelling units through a high hazard contents area.
of an apartment building shall be permit-

Table 27:
Travel distance and direct distance in residential buildings
Location Distance by meter Floor Type and Remarks
15 Upper floors Buildings class A
Direct distance within the dwelling unit
10 Upper floors Buildings class B
Travel distance from the dwelling unit 30 Other floors ‫ـــــ‬
entrance doors to the exit or protected stair
Dead end 7.5 Any floor Dead end case

Corridors of buildings with temporary paid or unpaid

▪▪The width of the main corridors shall not accommodation such as hotels, motels,
be less than 1.5 m and that of the secondary guest houses, and furnished aparments.
corridors shall not be less than 1.2 m in resi- Exits
dential buildings class A consisting of build- ▪▪All exits shall lead directly to the exterior
ings with permanent accommodation for of the building or to stairs or passageways
one family dwelling units(apartments) such protected from fire and separated from the
as residential apartment building. remainder of the building by fire barriers.
▪▪The width of the main corridors shall not be ▪▪If the main internal stair of the dwelling
less than 2.0 m and that of the secondary unit, Villa duplex type, is not leading direct-
corridors shall not be less than 1.2 m in resi- ly to the main entrance door, the emergency
dential building class B consisting of rooms exit of the second floor of the dwelling unit
or dormitories with permanent individual shall lead to the main stairs or passageway
or grouped accommodation such as the of the building.
accommodation of employees or workers. ▪▪An additional exit for each dwelling unit or
▪▪The width of the main corridors shall not residential room leading to outside or to a
be less than 2.0 m and that of the second- protected passageway shall be provided if
ary exit corridors shall not be less than 1.2 the travel distance exceeds that indicated in
m in residential buildings class C consisting the table here above.

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Residential Occupancy Buildings
4.3
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

▪ ▪The exit access doors shall have not less Final Exit
than 81 cm width and shall be remotely ▪▪In all cases, the means of egress shall lead
located from the main entrance door. to a final exit leading directly to the outside.
▪▪The protection of the exit stairs and corri- ▪▪The occupancies other than residential lo-
dors shall be in accordance with general re- cated in the residential building shall be in
quirements here above. accordance with the most stringent require-
Horizontal Exits ments specific to these occupancies.
▪▪ Temporary fire compartment shall be provid- Interior Finishes
ed in residential building class B consisting of ▪▪Interior wall and ceiling finish materials
rooms or dormitories for individual or grouped shall be Class A for exit enclosures; Class A or
permanent accommodation such as the resi- Class B in all corridors and lobbies; and Class
dential buildings for employees and workers A, Class B or Class C in other spaces.
having floor area greater than 3000 m2. ▪▪Interior floor finish in exit enclosures and
▪▪The horizontal exits shall be in accordance exit access corridors and spaces not sepa-
with the means of egress general require- rated from them by fire barrier walls shall
ments here above. be not less than Class II.
Stairs ▪▪Carpet and carpetlike interior floor finishes
▪▪The stairs shall be protected, enclosed and shall comply with ASTM D 2859, Standard
protected from the remainder of the build- Test Method for Ignition Characteristics of
ing by fire barriers and the stairs shall lead Finished Textile Floor Covering Materials.
directly to the exterior of the building. ▪▪ Floor coverings, other than carpet shall have
▪▪The number of stairs shall be not less than a minimum critical radiant flux of 0.1 W/cm2.
two, remotely located at the building pe- Contents and Furnishings
rimeter and on the external façade leading ▪▪New draperies, curtains, and other similar
directly to the outside. loosely hanging furnishings and decora-
▪▪The details and dimensions of the exit stairs tions shall be flame resistant as demon-
shall be in accordance with the means of strated by testing in accordance with NFPA
egress general requirements here above. 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for
Ramps Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films.
▪▪Ramps shall be provided for residential ▪▪Newly introduced upholstered furniture,
buildings for persons with access disabili- shall be resistant to cigarette ignition (i.e.,
ties at the ground floor and shall be in ac- smoldering) in accordance with one of the
cordance with the means of egress general following:
requirements here above.
▪▪The details and dimensions shall be in ac-
cordance with the means of egress general
requirements here above.
▪▪Each floor area shall not exceed 600 m2 and
the total floors area shall not exceed 1800
m2 and the total area is calculated as per
the building code.

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Residential Occupancy Buildings
4.3 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

▫▫The components of the upholstered furni- ASTM E 1590, Standard Test Method for Fire
ture shall meet the requirements for Class I Testing of Mattresses. The peak rate of heat
when tested in accordance with NFPA 260, release for the mattress shall not exceed
Standard Methods of Tests and Classifica- 100 kW and the total energy released by the
tion System for Cigarette Ignition Resis- mattress during the first 10 minutes of the
tance of Components of Upholstered Fur- test shall not exceed 25 MJ.
niture, or with ASTM E 1353, Standard Test
Methods for Cigarette Ignition Resistance Subdivision of buildings spaces for hotels,
of Components of Upholstered Furniture. dormitories, and apartment buildings
▫▫Mocked-up composites of the upholstered ▪▪In buildings not protected throughout by an
furniture shall have a char length not ex- approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
ceeding 11⁄2 in. (38 mm) when tested in ac- system, each hotel guest room, including
cordance with NFPA 261, Standard Method guest suites, and dormitory room shall be
of Test for Determining Resistance of Mock- separated from other guest rooms or dormi-
Up Upholstered Furniture Material Assem-
tory rooms by walls and floors constructed
blies to Ignition by Smoldering Cigarettes,
as fire barriers having a minimum 1-hour
or with ASTM E 1352 Standard Test Method
fire resistance rating.
for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Mock-
Up Upholstered Furniture Assemblies.
▪▪In buildings protected throughout by an
▫▫Uholstered furniture, unless the furniture approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
system, each hotel guest room, including
is located in a building protected through-
out by an approved automatic sprinkler guest suites, and dormitory room shall be
system, shall have limited rates of heat separated from other guest rooms or dormi-
release when tested in accordance with tory rooms by walls and floors constructed
ASTM E 1537, Standard Test Method for as fire barriers having a minimum 1⁄2-hour
Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture, as fire resistance rating.
follows: ▪▪Doors in the barriers shall have a fire protec-
–– The peak rate of heat release for the tion rating of not less than 20 minutes and
single upholstered furniture item shall shall not be required to be self-closing.
not exceed 80 kW. Corridor protection for hotels, dormitories,
–– The total energy released by the single and apartment buildings
upholstered furniture item during the
first 10 minutes of the test shall not ex- ▪▪In buildings not protected throughout by an
ceed 25 MJ. approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
system, dwelling units shall be separated
▪▪Newly introduced mattresses, shall have a from each other by walls and floors con-
char length not exceeding 2 in. (51 mm) when structed as fire barriers having a minimum
tested in accordance with 16 CFR 1632, “Stan- 1-hour fire resistance rating.
dard for the Flammability of Mattresses and ▪▪In buildings protected throughout by an ap-
Mattress Pads” (FF 4-72). proved, supervised, automatic sprinkler sys-
▪▪ Mattresses, unless the mattress is located in a build- tem, dwelling units shall be separated from
ing protected throughout by an approved auto- each other by walls and floors constructed
matic sprinkler system, shall have limited rates as fire barriers having a minimum 1⁄2-hour
of heat release when tested in accordance with fire resistance rating.

102
 Fire Protection Requirements for Residential Occupancy Buildings
4.3
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

▪▪Doors that open onto exit access corridors Firefigthing and fire alarm systems
shall have not less than a 20-minute fire
The firefighting and the fire alarm system
protection rating. Doors that open onto exit shall be designed, installed and maintained as
access corridors shall be self-closing and per their specific standards or as per the civil
self-latching. defense guidelines.
▪▪Unprotected openings, other than the fol-
The civil defense may require additional or
lowing spaces, shall be prohibited in exit
alternative systems / equipment to those
access corridor walls and doors:
required in this section. The firefighting and
▫▫The space is not used for guest rooms or
fire alarm system required for the residential
guest suites or hazardous areas.
buildings class A, B, C are specified in the
▫▫The building is protected throughout by following table:
an approved, supervised automatic sprin-
kler system
▫▫The space does not obstruct access to re-
quired exits.

Table 28:
Firefighting and fire alarm systems / equipment for residential building class A
Type Required Cases
1 Manual Extinguishing Equipment
Protable fire extinguishers All floors
2 Fixed installations
Standpipe system with dry riser In building having two or more floors and having an area of more than 1000 m2.
Fire hydrant network For residential complexes
3 Automatic fixed systems
Automatic water sprinkler system Partial coverage for all floors of high rise buildings and residential complexes
Automatic suppression system using
Special Hazard premises where the water shall not be used
materials other than water
4 Fire alarm system
Manual fire alarm system In all floors and residential copmplexes
Automatic fie alarm system In all floors, and residential complexes buildings, corridors, special hazard premises, HVAC
ducts, underground areas if any

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Residential Occupancy Buildings
4.3 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 29:
Firefighting and fire alarm systems and equipment for residential buildings class B & class C
Type Required Cases
1 Manual Extinguishing Equipment
Protable fire extinguishers All floors
2 Fixed installations
Hose System All floors
Fire Hydrant network For residential complexes only
3 Automatic fixed systems
Partial coverage for all floors of high rise buildings and residential complexes especially
Automatic water sprinkler system
for means of egress
Automatic suppression system using
Special Hazard premises where the water shall not be used
materials other than water
4 Fire alarm system
Manual fire alarm system In all floors and residential copmplexes
Automatic fie alarm system In all floors, and residential complexes buildings, corridors, special hazard premises, HVAC
ducts, underground areas if any

Fire alarm system requirements ▪▪Occupiable areas, other than guest rooms
and guest suites, visible notification appli-
For hotels and dormitories
The required fire alarm system shall be ances shall be provided. Annunciation and
initiated by each of the following: annunciation zoning shall be provided in
buildings three or more stories in height or
▪▪Manual means. having more than 50 guest rooms or guest
▪▪Manual fire alarm box located at the hotel suites. Annunciation shall be provided at a
desk or other convenient central control location readily accessible from the primary
point under continuous supervision by re- point of entry for emergency response per-
sponsible employees. sonnel.
▪▪Required automatic sprinkler system. ▪▪Emergency forces notification shall be pro-
▪▪Required automatic detection system other vided.
than sleeping room smoke detectors ▪▪A corridor smoke detection system shall be
▪▪Occupant notification shall be provided provided in buildings other than those pro-
automatically. tected throughout by an approved, super-
▪▪Guest rooms and guest suites specifically re- vised automatic sprinkler.
quired and equipped to accommodate hear- ▪▪An approved single-station smoke alarm
ing-impaired individuals shall be provided shall be installed in every guest room and
with a visible notification appliance. every living area and sleeping room within
a guest suite.

104
 Fire Protection Requirements for Residential Occupancy Buildings
4.3
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

For apartment buildings: ▪▪Exterior exit access in buildings three or

fewer stories in height
▪▪The initiation of the fire alarm system shall ▪▪Listed quick-response or listed residential
be also by the operation of the automat-
sprinklers shall be used throughout guest
ic sprinkler system, in buildings protected
rooms and guest room suites.
throughout by an approved, supervised au-
tomatic sprinkler.
▪▪Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided
in hazardous areas.
▪▪Occupant notification shall be provided au-
tomatically and by visible signals installed For apartment buildings:
in units designed for the hearing impaired. ▪▪All buildings shall be protected through-
▪▪Annunciation, and annunciation zoning, out by an approved, supervised automatic
shall be provided. Annunciation shall be sprinkler system.
provided at a location readily accessible ▪▪In buildings sprinklered in accordance with
from the primary point of entry for emer- NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of
gency response personnel. Sprinkler Systems, closets less than 12 ft2
▪▪Fire department notification shall be pro- (1.1 m2) in area in individual dwelling units
vided. shall not be required to be sprinklered. Clos-
▪▪Smoke alarms shall be installed in every ets that contain equipment such as wash-
sleeping area, outside every sleeping area in ers, dryers, furnaces, or water heaters shall
the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and be sprinklered, regardless of size.
on all levels of the dwelling unit, including ▪▪Listed quick-response or listed residen-
basements. tial sprinklers shall be used throughout all
Firefighting requirements dwelling units.
For hotels and dormitories ▪▪Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided
in hazardous areas.
All buildings, other than those complying with
the below requirements, shall be protected
throughout by an approved, supervised
automatic sprinkler system.
Automatic sprinkler protection shall not be
required in buildings where all guest sleeping
rooms or guest suites have a door opening
directly to either of the following:
▪▪Outside at the street or the finished ground
level

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Residential Occupancy Buildings
4.3 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 30:
Building services specific for fire protection in residential buildings
Type Required
1 Ventilation system As per the international standards adopted by the civil defense
2 Illuminated exit signs Corridors, means of egress and emergency exits
3 Emergency Lighting system Corridor, means of egress and emergency exits
4 Emergency power supply system High rise buildings, residential complexes, and the buildings requiring a fire fighter lift.

Emergency lighting requirements

For hotels and dormitories
Emergency lighting in accordance shall be
provided. The emergency lighting shall not
apply where each guest room or guest suite
has an exit direct to the outside of the building
at street or the finished ground level.
For apartment buildings:
Emergency lighting shall be provided in all
buildings four or more stories in height, or
with more than 12 dwelling units, unless every
dwelling unit has a direct exit to the outside of
the building at the finished ground level.

106
 Fire Protection Requirements for Commercial Buildings
4.4
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

4.4 Fire Protection Requirements for Commercial Buildings

Mercantile occupancies shall be sub-classified ▪▪All shops having a total gross area of not
as follows: more than 280 square meters and occupies
▪▪Class A: all mercantile occupancies hav- two or three floors for the purposes of sales.
ing an aggregate gross area of more than
30,000 ft2 (2800m2) or occupying more Category C: All the small shops area
than three stories for sales purposes These shops are the shops having a gross area
▪▪Class B: All mercantile occupancies of more of not more than 280 m2 and used for sales
than 3000 ft2 (280 m2), but not more than purposes and occupying one floor only.
30,000 ft2 (2800 m2), and aggregate gross Fire hazard
area occupying not more than three stories
for sales purposes
▪▪The fire hazard in commercial buildings is
classified depending on the related category
▪▪Class C: all small mercantile occupancies as follows:
Category A: Mercantile Shops ▫▫ Commercial buildings category A - Mer-
Are the buildings or their parts used for cantile shops: Medium Hazard.
displaying and selling goods such as: ▫▫ Commercial buildings category B - Offices:
Low Hazard
▪▪ Wholesale and retail shops – commercial centers ▫▫ Commercial buildings category C - Mixed
▪▪Light professions services such as mercantile shops: Medium Hazard
▫▫Sewing and hairdressing shops ▪▪The commercial buildings that are part of
▫▫Photography shops and the like buildings having another occupancy clas-
▫▫Supermarkets sification or used for categories A or B pur-
Category B: Buildings dedicated for offices use poses shall be separated from other occu-
These buildings consist of the following: pancies in a way to be treated as separate
fire compartments having its independent
▪▪Business Administration offices means of egress.
▪▪Banks branches ▪▪The sepration between occupancies shall
▪▪Establishments offices be done in accordance with requirements
▪▪Corporate offices of the occupancy classification chapter here
▪▪Consulting and engineering offices above.
▪▪Real estate offices and the like ▪▪The mixd use with high hazard or industrial
occupancy shall not be permitted.

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Commercial Buildings
4.4 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Fire Spread control ▫▫Automatic water sprinkler system shall be

provided forming a water curtain around
The general and the following specific
the medium opening in addition to a sys-
requirements shall be implemented:
tem than restrict the horizontal spread of
Horizontal Fire Spread the fire and smoke as per the civil defense
The different fire compartments shall be requirements.
separated as per the building construction ▫▫ The vertical opening shall be in accor-
type and means of egress for such fire dance with the specific section of the re-
compartment shall be in accordance with the lated general requirements here above.
means of egress requirements mentioned External fire spread
previously.
▪▪The buildings or sectors of the mercantile
The area of the fire compartment shall not units shall be separated from each other by
exceed the following:
fire barriers having not less than one hour
▪▪Category A: Mercantile shops, the fire com- fire resistance rating.
partment area shall not exceed 2000 m2 ▪▪The walls separating the commercial build-
and each rented mercantile unit is consid- ings from other occupancy buildings shall
ered as secondary independent fire com- be constructed as fire barrier having the
partment. most stringent fire resistance rating related
▪▪Category B: Offices, the fire compartment to these occupancies.
shall not exceed 3000 m2, each rented mer- Fire Department Access
cantile unit is considered as secondary inde- The fire department access roads for trucks and
pendent fire compartment. equipment shall be provided for commercial
Vertical fire spread: building.
▪▪The requirements of control and protection Means of egress (emergency exits)
measures related to the vertical fire spread Capacity
are those of the residential buildings.
▪▪The vertical openings shall be enclosed as ▪▪The width of means of egress shall be calcu-
per engineered protection requirements lated to accommodate the occupant load to
except for medium opening (Atrium) if the be served.
following requirements are met: ▪▪The capacity of means of egress shall be
▫▫
The height of the medium opening shall in accordance with the related general re-
not exceed 3 floors (ground floor, two mez- quirements.
zanines). ▪▪Street floor exits shall be sufficient for the
▫▫
All floors of the mercantile shops shall be occupant load of the street floor plus the
protected by automatic water sprinkler required capacity of open stairs and ramps
system and provided by natural or me- discharging through the street floor
chanical ventilation system at the upper Travel distance and direct distance
level of the opening.
▫▫
The medium opening is permitted to open The travel distance from any point to the final
through all the buildings levels if the fol- exit or to a protected stairs shall not exceed
lowing requirements are met: the values mentioned in the Table 31.
▫▫
The minimum dimensions of the medium
opening is not less than 6 meters.
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 Fire Protection Requirements for Commercial Buildings
4.4
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 31:
Travel distance and direct distance for commercial buildings
Location Distance (meters) Maximum number of Floor Cases and Remarks
persons
15 30 Ground floor Independent and not
connected to a basement
or mezzanine
Direct distance within a 15 30 mezzanine Independent and
mercantile shop or office connected to the building
10 15 mezzanine connected to the building
15 30 All floors Office case
Direct distance from the 12 ‫ـــ‬ all floors In case of middle stair
most far point of the floor in commercial buildings
to the stair landing door (offices)
Travel distance from the 20 ‫ـــ‬ Basement
shop door or office to the When more than one exit
protected stair’s landing exists in many direction
door or to the outside exit
30 ‫ـــ‬ All floors When more than one exit
exists in many direction
7.5 ‫ـــ‬ All floors In dead end corridor

▪▪The requirements for travel distance shall ▪▪A single means of egress shall be permitted
be in accordance with the general require- in a Class C mercantile occupancy, provided
ments of means of egress hereabove, in case that the travel distance to the exit does not
the number of persons exceeds that men- exceed 75 ft (23 m).
tioned in column 3 of Table 31 of Chapter 3 ▪▪A single means of egress shall be permitted
of this guide. in a Class C mercantile occupancy, provided
▪▪The common path of travel and the dead that the travel distance to the exit does not
end corridor shall be in accordance with the exceed 100 ft (30 m), and the story on which
general requirements of means of egress of the occupancy is located, and all commu-
Chapter 3. nicating levels that are traversed to reach
▪▪The number of means of egress shall be in the exit, are protected throughout by an
accordance with general requirements of approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
means of egress of Chapter 3 system.
▪▪A single means of egress to an exit shall be
For mercantile occupancy: permitted from a mezzanine within any
Not less than two separate exits shall be Class A, Class B, or Class C mercantile oc-
provided on every story, however: cupancy, provided that the common path
of travel does not exceed 75 ft (23 m), or
does not exceed 100 ft (30 m) if protected
throughout by an approved, supervised au-
tomatic sprinkler system.
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 Fire Protection Requirements for Commercial Buildings
4.4 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

▪▪50 perecent of the required number and does not exceed 75 ft (23 m), or 100 ft (30 m)
egress capcity of the exits shall be permitted if protected throughout by an approved, su-
to discharge through interior building areas pervised automatic sprinkler system.
on the level of exit discharge provided the ▪▪A single exit shall be permitted for a sin-
building is protected throughout by auto- gle-tenant space/building two or fewer
matic sprinkler system. stories in height, provided that both of the
following criteria are met:
For business occupancy:
1. The building is protected throughout by an
Not less than two separate exits shall be approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
provided on every story, however: system.
A single exit shall be permitted for a room 2. The total travel to the outside does not
or area with a total occupant load of fewer exceed 100 ft (30 m).
than 100 persons, provided that the following
criteria are met: Corridors
1. The exit shall discharge directly to the The corridors shall be organized and readily
outside at the level of exit discharge for the accessible to lead directly to outside.
building. Gridiron Corridors
2. The total distance of travel from any point,
including travel within the exit, shall not ▪▪Gridiron corridors shall be provided by
exceed 100 ft (30 m). guardrails and the following requirements
3. The total distance of travel specified in shall shall be respected.
be on the same floor level or, if traversing ▪▪ The width fo corridors shall be sufficient to
of stairs is necessary, such stairs shall not accommodate number of persons using this
exceed 15 ft (4570 mm) in height, and the
corridor provided that the width shall not be
stairs shall be provided with complete
enclosures to separate them from any other less than 2 m in commercial buildings catego-
part of the building, with no door openings ry A of commercial shops, and not less than 1.5
therein. m in commercial buildings category B, offices.
▪▪A single outside stair shall be permitted to Exits
serve all floors permitted within the 15 ft
(4570 mm) vertical travel limitation. ▪▪ The exits shall lead directly to outside or to
▪▪Any business occupancy three or fewer sto- stair or passageway protected from fire and
ries in height, and not exceeding an occu- separated from the remainder of the building
pant load of 30 people per floor, shall be per- by fire barrier.
mitted a single separate exit to each floor, ▪▪The enclosure of the exit stair shall be in ac-
provided that the following criteria are met: cordance with the general requirements of
1. The total travel distance to the outside of means of egress here above.
the building does not exceed 100 ft (30 m) . ▪▪The number of exits shall be in accordance
2. The exit is enclosed, serves as an exit from with the means of egress’s general require-
no other levels, and discharges directly to ments i.e. not less than two remote exits
the outside. shall be provided and located at the build-
▪▪A single means of egress shall be permitted ing perimeter on the exterior façade walls
from a mezzanine within business occupan- and leading to outside of the building.
cy, provided that the common path of travel

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4.4
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Horizontal exits ▪▪Floor coverings, other than carpets, shall

▪▪Temporary fire compartment shall be pro- have a minimum critical radiant flux of 0.1
vided in commercial buildings with big ar- W/cm2.
eas exceeding 3000 m2. For mercantile occupancy:
▪▪ 50% of the means of egress shall be discharged ▪▪Interior wall and ceiling finish materials
to protected areas within the building.
shall be Class A or Class B.
▪▪The horizontal exits shall be in accordance ▪▪Interior floor finish in exit enclosures shall
with general requirements of means of
be Class I or Class II.
egress here above. A single exit is permitted
in commercial buildings category B offices
▪▪Carpet and carpetlike interior floor finishes
shall comply with ASTM D 2859, Standard
further to the approval of the civil defense,
Test Method for Ignition Characteristics of
if the following criteria are met:
Finished Textile Floor Covering Materials.
▫▫The direct distance within the office is not ▪▪ Floor coverings, other than carpet shall have
more than 15 m. a minimum critical radiant flux of 0.1 W/cm2.
▫▫The travel distance between the office Mercantile and Business occupancies:
door to the final exits or to the protected
exits shall not exceed 30 m. ▪▪The required fire alarm system shall be initi-
▫▫The dead end corridor shall not exceed 7.5 m. ated also by the operation of the automatic
▫▫The remaining requirements of the means of sprinkler system.
egress shall be respected especially the stair. ▪▪The firefighting and the fire alarm systems
Interior finishes shall be designed, installed, and maintained
in accordance with the civil defense specific
For business occupancy:
requirements.
▪▪Interior wall and ceiling finish material shall ▪▪The civil defense may require additional or
be Class A or Class B in exits and in exit ac- alternative systems to some required pre-
cess corridors. Interior wall and ceiling fin- ventive protection requirements.
ishes shall be Class A, Class B, or Class C in
areas other spaces. Occupant Notification:
▪▪Interior floor finish in exit enclosures shall ▪▪During all times that the mercantile occu-
be Class I or Class II. pancy is occupied, the required fire alarm
▪▪Carpet and carpetlike interior floor finishes system, once initiated, shall activate an
shall comply with ASTM D 2859, Standard alarm throughout the mercantile occupancy.
Test Method for Ignition Characteristics of ▪▪ The civil defense notification shall be provided
Finished Textile Floor Covering Materials.

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4.4 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 32:
Firefighting and fire alrm system in commercial buildings.
Type Required cases
1 Manual Extinghuishing equipment
Portable fire extinghuishers All cases
2 Fixed installations
Hose system All floors
Standpipe dry riser type Two floors having an area of more than 1000 m2
Standpipe wet riser type A building with floor area of more than 1000 m2
Fire hydrant network For building complexes only
3 Fixed automatic systems
Automatic water sprinkler system Throughout all the floors
Automatic extinguishing system using materials other than water Special hazard content presmises where water cannot be used
4 Fire alarm system
Manual alarm system All floors
Automatic fire alarm system In all floors, complex buildings, corridors as well as in special hazard
content premises, HVAC ducts, basements if any.

Extinguishing requirements: Special protection requirements

Mercantile occupancies shall be protected by Mecantile Shops and Central markets
an approved automatic sprinkler system as
The following requirements shall be provided
follows:
for the mercantile shops and central markets:
▪▪Throughout all mercantile occupancies
▪▪At least 50% of the number of exits shall be
three or more stories in height.
discharged directly on the public way and
▪▪Throughout all mercantile occupancies ex- shall be separated from the sales area by fire
ceeding 1115 m2 in gross area.
barrier or fire rated door.
▪▪Throughout stories below the level of exit ▪▪The minimum width of the sales area sec-
discharge where such stories have an area
ondary aisles shall be 1.5 m and the mini-
exceeding 232 m2 and are used for the sale,
mum width of the main aisles shall be 2 m
storage, or handling of combustible goods
clearly and easely organized to lead directly
and merchandise
to the exits without any difficulties.
▪▪The public corridor leading to the exit shall
be not less than 1 m.

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4.4
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

▪▪The display stands shall be organized in way For Mercantile and Business Occupancies:
to not impede the means of egress or ob-
Where access to exits is provided by corridors,
struct the marking signs. such corridors shall be separated from use
▪▪The means of egress shall not pass through areas by fire barriers having a minimum
the storage areas related to the sales area 1-hour fire resistance rating, except under any
unless the following criteria are met: of the following conditions:
▪▪The storage area is separated from the sales ▪▪Where exits are available from an open floor
area by the fire rated door and fire barrier
area.
▪▪The number of exits passing through the ▪▪Within a space occupied by a single tenant.
storage area is not more than 50%.
▪▪A corridor protected from the fire hazard ▪▪Within buildings protected throughout by
an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
leading directly to the outside shall be pro-
system.
vided by automatic water sprinkler system.
▪▪The sales areas shall be separated from the Openings in corridor walls required have
storage areas by a fire barrier having not a fire resistance rating shall be protected
less than one hour fire resistance rating and in accordance doors having not less than a
fire rated doors having not less than ¾ hours 20-minute fire protection rating. Doors that
fire rating open onto exit access corridors shall be self-
closing and self-latching
▪▪Exit access in Class A and Class B mercantile
occupancies that are protected through-
out by an approved, supervised automatic
sprinkler system, and exit access in all Class
C mercantile occupancies, shall be permit-
ted to pass through storerooms, provided
that the following conditions are met:
▪▪Not more than 50 percent of exit access shall
be provided through the storeroom.
▪▪The storeroom shall not be subject to locking.
▪▪The main aisle through the storeroom shall
be not less than 44 in. (1120 mm) wide.
▪▪The path of travel through the storeroom
shall be defined, direct, and continuously
maintained in an unobstructed condition

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Industrial Buildings
4.5 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

4.5 Fire Protection Requirements for Industrial Buildings

Industrial buildings definition The life safety in industrial occupancy

classification is concerned with determining
The industrial buildings are those or their parts
the overall hazard to occupants in a
dedicated for manufacturing purposes or for
manufacturing building for purposes of
industrial professions. They consist of different
implementing an adequate means of egress
manufacturing establishments such as dairy
system. To assess the risk to life safety in an
and furniture factories, central laundries,
industrial occupancy, a number of factors
laboratories using chemicals materials,
should be considered.
printing presses, and industrial crafts buildings
including the industrial workshops of all kinds: ▪▪It should be determined if the manufactur-
ing process includes the handling of flam-
▪▪ Industrial Buildings are those or their parts
mable, reactive, or explosive materials in
used for manufacturing purposes including
quantities that could directly expose occu-
installation, mixing and packaging operations.
pants to a fire or explosion risks. If so, the oc-
▪▪Buildings for Industrial Crafts are those or
cupancy is particularly considered for high
their parts dedicated for repair operations.
hazard classification.
Fire Hazard ▪▪It should also be determined whether the
The fire hazard in industrial buildings is manufacturing process requires a large
related to the type of manufacturing process number of people or whether it is basically
used in these buildings and it is as follows: a large collection of machines or equipment
occasionally attended by operators. In some
Medium Hazard
instances, operators might be clustered in
Are the factories for manufacturing, assembling one location, such as a control room. If a
or production of non-combustible materials or building is predominately occupied by ma-
materials having medium burning and smoke chinery or equipment and is used by few
development characteristics but without employees, the building can be classified as
emission of toxic gas and don’t explode when
special-purpose industrial occupancy.
burned.
▪▪If an industrial building is used mostly for
High Hazard storage of materials, it might meet the re-
Are the factories for manufacturing, assembling quirements for classification as storage oc-
or production of combustible materials that cupancy.
have high burning characteristics and produce ▪▪Occupancy classification is based on the
toxic gases or can explode. burning and explosive characteristics of the
materials contained in the building, not on
the quantity of combustibles.
The sub-classification of the industrial occupancy
shall be according to its use as described here
after:

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Industrial Buildings
4.5
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

1. General Industrial Occupancy. General 2. Industrial occupancies in which incidental

industrial occupancies shall include the high hazard operations in low or ordinary
industrial occupancies that conduct ordinary hazard occupancies that are protected
and low hazard industrial operations in by one hour fire rating enclosure and
buildings of conventional design that by automatic sprinkler system are not
are usable for various types of industrial required to be the basis for overall
processes. occupancy classification.

2. Multistory Industrial Occupancy. Industrial A high hazard industrial occupancy includes

occupancies that include multistory occupancies where gasoline and other
buildings where floors are occupied by flammable liquids are handled, used, or stored
under such conditions that involve possible
different tenants, or buildings that are
release of flammable vapors; where grain
usable for such occupancy and, therefore,
dust, wood flour or plastic dust, aluminum
are subject to possible use for types of
or magnesium dust, or other explosive dusts
industrial processes with a high density of
are produced; where hazardous chemicals
employee population.
or explosives are manufactured, stored, or
3. Special-Purpose Industrial Occupancy. Special- handled; where materials are processed or
purpose industrial occupancies shall include handled under conditions that might produce
the following: flammable flyings; and where other situations
of similar hazard exist.
1. Industrial occupancies that conduct ordinary
and low hazard industrial operations in Fire Spread Control
buildings designed for, and that are usable
Horizontal fire spread
only for, particular types of operations
2. Industrial occupancies that are characterized by ▪▪The area of the fire compartment shall not
a relatively low density of employee population, exceed the area specified in Table 33. If the
with much of the area occupied by machinery subdivision is not possible due to the man-
or equipment ufacturing processes, the civil defense shall
Some examples of special-purpose industrial define the alternative protection require-
occupancy: Steel mills, paper plants, power ments as per the actual situation.
generating plants and other operations with
large machines.
4. High Hazard Industrial Occupancy. High
hazard industrial occupancies shall include
the following:
1. Industrial occupancies that conduct
industrial operations that use high
hazard materials or processes or house
high hazard contents.

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4.5 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 33:`
Fire compartment area in industrial buildings depending on the hazard of their manufacturing processes
Fire Hazard class in industrial buildings Fire compartment area in m2 by floor
Ground floor
Buildings having Medium Hazard 5000 m2
Buildings having high Hazard 1000 m2

Verical fire spread Means of egress (emergency exits)

The requirements of Chapter 1 and the Egress capacity
additional requirments of this chapter shall
The egress capacity of the means of egress shall be
be respected.
evaluated depending on the served occupant load
For multiple story buildings, each floor shall
provided that the minimum width for the main
be considered as a separate fire compartment.
corridors industrial buildings is 2 m and 1.5 m for
External fire spread the secondary corrdiors.
The requirements of Chapter 1 and the Travel distance and direct distance
additional requirments of this chapter shall
The travel distance from any point to reach the
be respected.
final exit or the protected stairs shall no exceed
The external wall located on the plot limit the values specified in Table 34.
facing the neighboring plot shall be concrete
or concrete masonry materials.
Fire department access
The fire department access for fire truck and
equipment shall be provided.

Table 34:
Measuring travel distance and direct distance in industrial buildings
Floor
Location Hazard class
Ground floor Basement
Direct distance within a sector Medium 15 10
High 7.5 7.5
Travel distance to the exit or to the protected Medium 40 20
stair
high 20 10
Dead End Medium 7.5 7.5
high Not permitted Not permitted

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Industrial Buildings
4.5
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Corridors ▪▪Doors serving high hazard contents areas

▪▪The minimum width of the main corridors with occupant loads in excess of five shall be
shall be 2 m and 1.5 m for the secondary cor- permitted to be provided with a latch or lock
ridors. only if the latch or lock is panic hardware or
▪▪If the industrial premises are not perma- fire exit hardware.
nent and fixed, and the aisles and corridors Exits
are not clear, the aisles shall be marked by
reflective color to clarify the aisles, corridors, ▪▪The number of exits shall be as per the gen-
workplaces and storage areas. eral requirments, so that not less than two
▪▪The common path of travel shall be not remotely separated exits located at the
more than 15 m in general and special pur- building perimeter on the external wall,
pose industrial occupancies not protected and leading each to outside of the building
throughout by an approved, supervised au-
tomatic sprinkler system and 30 m in gener-
▪▪All the exits shall lead directly to outside of
al and special purpose industrial occupan- the building or to a protected stair or protect-
cies protected throughout by an approved, ed corridor separated from the remainder of
supervised automatic sprinkler system. the building by fire barriers.

Special Provisions for occupancies with high Stair

hazard contents ▪▪The number of stairs shall be not less than
▪▪Where the contents are classified as high two for each floor, remotely separated and
hazard, exits shall be provided and arranged located on the building perimeter at the ex-
to allow all occupants to escape from the ternal wall leading directly to the exterior of
building or structure, or from the hazard- the building.
ous area thereof, to the outside or to a place ▪▪The exit stair shall be sperated from the
of safety with a travel distance of not more building by fire barrier leading directly to
than 75 ft (23 m). the exterior of the building.
▪▪Egress capacity for high hazard contents ar- ▪▪A single exit shall be permitted in industrial
eas shall be based on 0.7 in./person (18 mm/ buildings having medium hazard content
person) for stairs or 0.4 in./ person (10 mm/ classification, further to the approval of the
person) for level components and ramps. civil defense, and provided that the following
▪▪Not less than two means of egress shall be requirements are met:
provided from each building or hazardous ▫▫The maximum direct distance and depth
area thereof and means of egress, for rooms within a premises shall be 15 m.
or spaces, shall be arranged so that there are ▫▫The maximum travel distance from the
no dead ends in corridors, unless all of the premises door to the final exit or to the
protected stair shall be 30 m.
following criteria are met:
▫▫Rooms or spaces do not exceed 200 ft2
▫▫The maximum dead end corridor shall be
7.5 m.
(18.6 m2).
▫▫Rooms or spaces have an occupant load
▫▫The remaining requirements for means of
egress especially for the stair shall be re-
not exceeding three persons.
▫▫Rooms or spaces have a travel distance to the
spected.
room door not exceeding 25 ft (7620 mm).

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Industrial Buildings
4.5 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

The number of means of egress shall be as per

the general and specific requirments of means
of egress in Chapter 3.
▪▪A single means of egress shall be permitted
from any story or section in low hazard in-
dustrial occupancies, provided that the exit
can be reached within the distance permit-
ted as a common path of travel.
Final Exit
▪▪In all cases, the means of egress shall lead Figure 40: Ancillary facilities
to a final exit leading directly to the outside.
▪▪ The specific requirements related to the build-
ing sections of different occupancies uses in A single exit from medium hazard industrial
high hazard industrial occupancy shall be en- occupancy buildings shall be permitted if it
sured and the most stringent requirement re- is accepted by the civil defense provided that
lated to the high hazard industrial occupancy. the all protection requirements for industrial
buildings are respected.
General Requirements
▪▪New ancillary facilities, such as the control
room, shall be arranged to allow travel in in-
dependent directions after leaving the an-
cillary facility so that both means of egress
paths do not become compromised by the
same fire or similar emergency.
▪▪New ancillary facilities in special-purpose
industrial occupancies where delayed evac-
uation is anticipated shall have not less
than a 2-hour fire resistance–rated separa-
tion from the predominant industrial occu-
pancy, and shall have one means of egress
that is separated from the predominant
industrial occupancy by 2-hour fire resis-
tance–rated construction.
▪▪Industrial equipment access doors, walk-
ways, platforms, ramps, and stairs that
serve as a component of the means of egress
from the involved equipment shall be per-
mitted in accordance with the Table 35 pro-
vided that they shall serve not more than 20
people

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Industrial Buildings
4.5
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 35:
Industrial equipment access dimensional
Feature Dimensional criteria
Minimum horizontal dimension of any walkway, landing, or platform 560 mm clear
Minimum stair or ramp width 560 mm clear between rails
Minimum tread width 560 clear
Minimum tread depth 255 mm
Maximum riser height 230 mm
Handrails are permitted to terminate, at the required height, at a point directly above the top and bottom risers
Maximum height between landings 3660 mm
Minimum headroom 2030 mm
Minimum width of door opening 560 mm clear

Interior Floor Finish

Interior floor finish in exit enclosures and
in exit access corridors shall be not less than
Class II.
Firefighting and fire alarm systems
In addition to the general requirements, the
following requirements shall be considered:
▪▪The firefighting and fire alarm systems shall
Minimum (560mm) be designed, installed and maintained as
Maximum (230mm) per the related specific standards or as per
the civil defense guidelines.
Figure 41: Industrial equipment access dimensional criteria
▪▪The different firefighting requirements are
depending on the different types of indus-
Interior Wall and Ceiling Finish: trial processes and on materials used in the
▪▪Interior wall and ceiling finish materials manufacturing processes. Therefore, the
shall be Class A, Class B, or Class C in oper- required firefighting and the fire alarm sys-
ating areas and shall be Class A or Class B in tems are different between factories. The
exit enclosures. related minimum requirements are men-
tioned in Table 36. The civil defense may
request additional firefighting and fire alrm
systems.

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Industrial Buildings
4.5 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 36:
Firefighting system in industrial buildings depending on the related class, height and construction type
Type Required Systems
1 Manual fire fighting systems
Protable fire extinguishers All floors
2 Fixed fire fighting systems
Fire hose systems All floors
Standpipe dry systems Two floors height having an area of moe than 1000 m2
External Fire hydrant network High hazard industrial occupancy
3 Fixed Automatic systems
Automatic water sprinkler system In all industrial buildings, the civil defense could make an exception
for the industrial building having a medium hazard
Automatic extinguishing system using materials other than water Sepcial hazard premises where water shall not be used
4 Fire alarm system / equipment
Manual Alarm system In all floors
Automatic fire alarm system In high hazard industrial occupancies or in the high hazard areas in
medium hazard industrial occupancies

The required fire alarm system shall meet one ▪▪It shall sound an audible and visible signal
of the following criteria: in a constantly attended location for the
▪▪It shall provide occupant notification to purposes of initiating emergency action.
evacuate by audible and visible signals. Au- ▪▪In high hazard industrial occupancies, the
dible alarm notification appliances shall be required fire alarm system shall automati-
of such character and so distributed as to cally initiate an occupant evacuation alarm
be effectively heard above the average am- signal.
bient sound level that exists under normal
conditions of occupancy. Audible alarm no-
tification appliances shall produce signals
that are distinctive from the audible signals
used for other purposes in a given building.

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Industrial Buildings
4.5
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 37:
Engineering services related to the fire protection in industrial buildings
Type Required systems
1 Ventilation system As per the international standards adopted by the civil defense
2 Illuminated exit signs Corridors and means of egress (emergency exits)
3 Emergency lighting network Corridors and means of egress (emergency exits)
4 Emergency power supply system All high hazard industrial occupancy buildings
5 Firefighter elevator Not required
6 Automated fire rated doors According to preventive precautions in engineering fields

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Storage and Car Parking Buildings
4.6 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

4.6 Fire Protection Requirements for Storage and Car Parking Buildings

Storage buildings definition plastic or foam granules, wood saw dust.

The storage buildings are those or their
▪▪High Hazard storage occupancy (class C):
parts dedicated for the purposes to store are the storage buildings for materials
raw materials, manufactured materials, having a high burning characteristics, or
or semi-manufactured materials, this type producing toxic gases or explosions or gen-
of occupancy could be located in separate erally are the buildings for storage of high
buildings or in parts of building used for hazard materials, gas, combustible liquids,
manufacturing or commercial purposes. The extremely combustible materials such as
storage buildings are classified depending on wood, papers, bulk fiber, plastic foam.
the following hazard content classification: ▪▪The preventive protection requirements in
▪▪Low hazard content storage occupancy engineered fields shall be respected in gen-
(class A): are the storage buildings having eral to ensure the fire resistance required for
low combustile content materials, not self the building strutcture.
ignited materials, such as the non-combus- ▪▪The fire resistance requirements of the build-
tible materials, for example: construction ing structural construction type shall be as
materials, equipment, spare parts. per Table 38.
▪▪Medium hazard storage occupancy (class B): ▪▪If the storage buildings are parts of buildings
are the storage buildings having a medi- used for different uses, they shall be sepa-
um combustible materials content devel- rated to be independent fire compartments
oping remarkable amount of smoke, but having their independent means of egress
they do not produce combustible fumes ▪▪The construction types shall be in accordance
or noncombustible materials packaged by with specific construction type section here
combustible materials such as cardboard, above.

Table 38:
Structural Construction type of buildings depending on the type and hazard class of the storage contents
Construction type Hazard Class
Type I and II only High hazard content buildings
Type I, II and III with special conditions Medium hazard content buildings
All types and type V as temporary type with special conditions Low hazard content buildings

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Storage and Car Parking Buildings
4.6
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

▪▪The separation between the storage occu- Fire spread control

pancy and other occupancy as per the specif-
The general and the following requirements shall be considered:
ic occupancy section here above.
▪▪The parts of the buildings used for other that Horizontal fire spread
storage uses shall be in accordance with the ▪▪The fire compartment area shall not exceed the values specified in
related specific requirements here above. Table 39
Vertical Spread ▪▪The different occupancies shall be separated apart from the area.
▪▪ For multiple stories building, each story shall ▪▪The special hazard premises shall be separated apart from the area.
be considered as separated fire compartment
External fire spread
▪▪The external wall located on the plot limit at
the neighbors side shall be constructed by
concrete or concrete masonry blocks.

Table 39:
Fire compartment area in storage occupancy buildings depending on the related hazard content
Hazard class in storage occupancy Fire compartment area in m2 according to the floor
buildings
Ground floor Basements and Upper floors
Low Hazard 5000 m2 1500 m2
Medium Hazard 3000 m2 1000 m2
High Hazard 1000 m2 500 m2

▪▪The fire compartments shall be separated Egress capacity

from each other by fire barriers having not
The egress capcity shall be evaluated depending
less than 2 hours fire resistance rating on the occupant load to be served provided
Fire department access that the minimum width of the main corridors
The fire department access to fire trucks and
equipment shall be ensured for the storage
occupancy buildings.
Means of egress
The general requirements for means of egress
(emergency exits) shall be respected as well as
the following additional requirements.

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Storage and Car Parking Buildings
4.6 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

in storage occupancy buildings shall be 2 m and lock is panic hardware or fire exit hardware.
1.5 m for the secondary corridors. ▪▪The depth or direct distance from a building
Travel distance and direct distance section shall not be more than 15 m.
▪▪The travel distance from the building sec-
The travel distance from any point to reach the tion door to the final exit or to a protected
final exit or to the protected stair shall be as stair shall not be more than 30 m.
per Table 40.
▪▪ Dead end corridor shall be not more than 7.5 m.
Special Provisions for Occupancies with
▪▪The remaining conditions related to the
means of egress shall be considered.
High Hazard Contents
▪▪Where the contents are classified as high Table 40:

hazard, exits shall be provided and arranged Measuring travel distance and direct distance in storage
occupancy building
to allow all occupants to escape from the
building or structure, or from the hazard- Location Hazard class Ground floor

ous area thereof to the outside or to a place Direct distance Low or medium 15
within a building
of safety with a travel distance of not more High 7.5
section
than 23 m.
▪▪Egress capacity for high hazard content Travel distance
Low 40

areas shall be based on 18 mm/person for to the exit or to Medium 30

protected stair
stairs or 10 mm/person for level compo- High 20
nents and ramps.
▪▪At least two means of egress shall be provid- Stairs
ed for each building or its hazardous areas. ▪▪The number of stairs shall be not less than
Means of egress for rooms or spaces shall be two for each floor, remotely located on the
arranged so that there are no dead ends in building perimeter on the external walls
corridors unless all of the following criteria and leading directly to outside.
are met: ▪▪The stairs shall be protected and separated
▫▫
Rooms or spaces do not exceed 18.6 m2. from the remainder of the building by fire
▫▫
Rooms or spaces have an occupant load barrier and leading directly to outside.
not exceeding three persons. ▪▪The number of means of egress shall be in
▫▫
Rooms or spaces have a travel distance to accordance with the general requirements
the room door not exceeding 7620 mm. of means of egress.
▪▪Doors serving high hazard content areas with ▪▪ The common path of travel shall be not
occupant load in excess of five shall be pro- more than 15 m in ordinary hazard storage
vided with a latch or lock only if the latch or occupancy not protected throughout by an

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Storage and Car Parking Buildings
4.6
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

approved, supervised automatic sprinkler exit access corridors shall be not less than
system and 30 m in ordinary hazard stor- Class II.
age occupancy protected throughout by an
approved, supervised automatic sprinkler Firefighting and fire alarm systems
system The firefighting and fire alarm systems shall be
Final exit designed, installed and maintained according
to the related specific standards or as per the
▪▪In all cases, all the means of egress shall lead civil defense guidelines.
to final exit leading directly to the outside.
The civil defense may request additional
▪▪In storage occupancy builings having higher or alternative systems for some protection
hazard content, the building sections of oth- requirements required in this guide.
er occupancy classification shall be protected
as per the related specific requirements or
the most stringent that provided the better Table 41:
fire protection. Firefighting and fire alarm systems in storage occupancy buildings
2y Type Required cases
1 Manual firefighting systems
Portable fire extinguishers All floors and cases
2x
2 Fixed installations
(A)
Hose systems All floors and cases
c1 Dry standpipes network Not required
y1
Wet standpipes network Not required
External fire hydrant network In high hazard storage occupancy buildings
3 The fixed automatic systems
x1
(B) Automatic water sprinkler system Basements in medium or high hazard storage occupancy buildings
Figure 42: Example of common path of travel Automatic fire extinguishing Special hazard premises where water shall not be used
system using materials other
than water
Interior Finishes:
4 Fire alarm system
▪▪Interior wall and ceiling finish materials Manual fire alarm system In all floors and cases
shall be Class A, Class B, or Class C in oper- Automatic fire alarm system In medium or high hazard storage occupancy and in high hazard
ating areas and shall be Class A or Class B in content premises of the low hazard storage occupancy
exit enclosures.
▪▪Interior floor finish in exit enclosures and in

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Storage and Car Parking Buildings
4.6 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Warning System
The required fire alarm system shall meet one
of the following criteria:
▪▪The fire alarm system shall ensure the oc-
cupant notification by audible and visible
signals. Audible alarm notification devices
shall be of such characteristics and distrib-
uted to be effectively heard above the aver-
age ambient sound level that exists under
normal conditions of occupancy. Audible
alarm notification devices shall produce
signals that are distinctive from the audible
signals used for other purposes in a given
building.
▪▪It shall sound an audible and visible signal
in a constantly attended location for the
purposes of initiating emergency action.
▪▪In high hazard storage occupancies, the
required fire alarm system shall automatically
initiate an occupant evacuation alarm signal.

Table 42:
Engineering services specific for fire protection in storage buildings
Type Required cases
1 Ventilation system According to the international standard adopted by the civil defense
2 Illuminated exit signs Basement, means of egress (emergency exits)
3 Emergency lighting network Corridors and means of egress (emergency exits)
4 Emergency power supply system Not protection required
5 Firefighter lift Not required
6 Automatic fire rated doors According to the protection requirement in engineering fiels

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Storage and Car Parking Buildings
4.6
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Special protection requirements for car ▫▫In a ramp-type open parking structure
parking with open vehicle ramps not subject to
closure, the ramp shall be permitted to
The car parking buildings are used for car
serve in lieu of the second means of egress
storage for temporary or continuous parking
from floors above the level of exit dis-
time, and are considered, by this concept, as
charge, provided that the ramp discharges
storage occupancy buildings. Thus, the fire
directly outside at the street level.
protection requirements for storage occupancy
buildings shall be adopted for the car parking in ▫▫
For parking structures extending only one
addition to the following specific requirements: floor level below the level of exit discharge,
a vehicle ramp leading directly to the out-
The car parking buildings are classified depending side shall be permitted to serve in lieu of
on the architectural design to the following the second means of egress, provided that
classes: no door or shutter is installed therein.
▪▪Class A: open sided buildings where the cars ▫▫
Parking structures located within, imme-
are driven to the parking place and to the diately below, attached to, or less than
way out. 3 m from a building used for any other
purpose shall be separated by walls, par-
▪▪Class B: enclosed sided buildings where the titions, floors, or floor–ceiling assemblies
cars are driven to the parking place and to
having fire resistance ratings of not less
the way out.
than 2 hours.
▪▪Class C: building where cars could be driven ▫▫
Offices or other similar spaces that are
autmotically to the parking place and to the related to the operation of the parking
way out. structure and are less than 300m2 in area,
Fire Hazard other than cashier or attendant booths,
shall be separated from parking areas by
The fire hazard in the car parking is classified
walls or partitions that resist the passage
as medium hazard class.
of smoke.
Ramps ▫▫
Not less than two means of egress shall be
provided from every floor or section of ev-
The underground car parking shall meet the
following requirements: ery parking structure.
▫▫
A common path of travel shall be permit-
▪▪The ramps used as cars’ entrance and exit ted for the first 15 m from any point in the
shall not be considered as means of egress parking structure.
unless a part of the ramp is protected by fire ▫▫
Dead ends shall not exceed 15 m.
barrier and meets the general requirements ▫▫
Travel distance shall not exceed that pro-
of means of egress. vided by Table 43
▪▪The ramps are permitted to be used as means
of egress as per the following requirements:
▫▫The ramps specified in Chapter 3 of the
general requirements of means of egress
and shall not be subject to the cars circu-
lation when used as exit

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Storage and Car Parking Buildings
4.6 Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

Table 43:
Maximum travel distance to exits
Parking structure open not less
Level of protection Eclosed parking structure Open parking structure
than 50% on all sides
Protected throught by an
approved, supervised automatic 61 m 122 m 122 m
sprinkler system
Not protected throught by an
approved, supervised automatic 46 m 91 m 122 m
sprinkler system

Floor 1. An approved, automatic sprinkler system

fully protecting the enclosed parking
The basement floor of the car parking shall be
structure.
sloped towards gutters to collect the water or
2. An approved, automatic, supervised fire
leaked oil through the floor drains into the
oil collector and then to the public sewage detection system installed throughout
network as per the engineering rules. the enclosed parking structure, and a
mechanical ventilation system capable of
The Facade walls providing a minimum of 300 L/min per
▪▪The facades’ windows overlooking the pub- m2 of floor area during hours of normal
lic streets shall be closed by wired glass or operation.
3. Where a parking structure consists of
by thick steel wire mesh in order to prevent
sprinklered enclosed parking levels, and
littering of cigarettes and other waste into
sprinklered or non-sprinklered open parking
the car parking.
levels.
▪▪For open façade parking structure, the au- ▪▪Unprotected vertical openings through
tomatic water sprinkler system shall not be
floors in open parking structures shall be
required.
permitted.
Vertical Openings in Enclosed Parking ▪▪Interior wall and ceiling finish materials
Structures: shall be Class A, Class B, or Class C in park-
▪▪Vertical openings through floors in build- ing structures and shall be Class or Class B
ings four or more stories in height shall be in exit enclosures.
enclosed with walls or partitions having a ▪▪Interior floor finish in exit enclosures shall
minimum 2-hour fire resistance rating. be not less than Class II.
▪▪For buildings three or fewer stories in Ventilation and Smoke Venting System
height, the enclosure of shafts shall have a
minimum 1-hour fire resistance rating.
▪▪Adequate mechanical or natural ventilation
shall be provided as per the international
▪▪Ramps in enclosed parking structures shall standards adopted by the civil defense.
not be required to be enclosed when one of
the following safeguards is provided:

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 Fire Protection Requirements for Storage and Car Parking Buildings
4.6
Requirements and Conditions of Fire Protection in Buildings depending on its Occupancy Classifications

▪▪The mechanical ventilation system of the Means of egress illumination

basement levels shall be independent from
the other systems in the building and shall be
▪▪Adequate natural lighting shall be provided
for the means of egress in buildings that are
be designed to be operational on two sepa-
occupied during the daylight hours only.
rate units to overcome the worst conditions.
▪▪All enclosed parking structures shall be ven- ▪▪Adequate exit signs and marking shall be
provided to lead the means of egress
tilated by a mechanical system capable of
providing a minimum of 300 L/min per m2 Emergency lighting
of floor area during hours of normal oper- The car parking shall be provided by emergency
ation. lighting, except for those buildings that are
▪▪Mechanical ventilating systems shall be occupied only during the daylight hours and
installed in accordance with NFPA 90A. designed to provide the desired lighting level
Ductwork shall be constructed of noncom- in all parts of means of egress by natural
bustible material. means.
The civil defense may require additional or
alternative systems from some other fire
protection requirements.
The engineered utilities related to the fire
protection in storage occupancy buildings are
provided in Table 44.
▪▪The required fire alarm system shall sound
an audible alarm in a continuously attended
location for purposes of initiating emergency
action
▪▪Except for open car parking structure, all
buildings having height of 15 m or more,
or having a car parking level below grade,
shall be provided by standpipes as per the
requirements of “NFPA14”.

Table 44:
Engineered utilities related to the fire protection in storage occupancy buildings and car parking
Type Required Cases
1 Ventilation system According to the international standards adopted by the civil defense
2 Illuminated exit signs Basement, all floors
3 Emergency lighting network Basement, all floors
4 Emergency power supply system Required in enclosed car parking
5 Firefighter elevator Not required
6 Automatic fire rated doors According to the preventive protection in engineered fields

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130
 5
5

Annexes
Chapter 5: Annexes

5.1 Annex I: Accessible Means of Egress �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 133

Definitions........................................................................................................................................................... 133
Requirements for security and safety for the disabled access persons..................................................................... 133
Areas of Refuge:................................................................................................................................................... 134
Elevators ............................................................................................................................................................. 135
5.2 Annex II: Example of Fire and Emergency EvacuationPlan1........................................................................... 36
5.3 Annex 3: High Rise Buildings ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 138
Extinguishing Requirements:............................................................................................................................... 138
Detection, Alarm, and Communications Systems:.................................................................................................. 138
Emergency Lighting and Standby Power:............................................................................................................... 138
 Annex I: Accessible Means of Egress
5.1
Annexes

5.1 Annex I: Accessible Means of Egress

Definitions 3. Exit access travel along the accessible means

of egress shall be permitted to be common
Accessible Route: A continuous unobstructed
for the distances permitted as common
path that complies with this Code and ICC/
paths of travel.
ANSI A117.1, American National Standard for
4. Where two accessible means of egress are
Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.
required, the exits serving such means of
Area of Refuge: An area that is either (1) a story egress shall be located at a distance from
in a building where the building is protected one another not less than one-half the
throughout by an approved, supervised length of the maximum overall diagonal
automatic sprinkler system and has not less dimension of the building or area to be
than two accessible rooms or spaces separated served. This distance shall be measured in
from each other by smoke-resisting partitions; a straight line between the nearest edge of
or (2) a space located in a path of travel leading the exit doors or exit access doors. Where
to a public way that is protected from the exit enclosures are provided as the required
effects of fire, either by means of separation exits are interconnected by not less than
from other spaces in the same building or by a 1-hour fire resistance–rated corridor,
virtue of location, thereby permitting a delay
exit separation shall be permitted to be
in egress travel from any level.
measured along the line of travel within the
Accessible Means of Egress: A means of egress corridor.
that provides an accessible route to an area of
refuge, a horizontal exit, or a public way.

Requirements for security and safety for Dia

go
na

the disabled access persons

lo
fA
rea
Se
rve
d

The requirements of security and safety it

of persons with disabilities shall meet the

Ex ation
r
pa
Se

following:
1. Areas accessible to people with severe
mobility impairment shall have not less
than two accessible means of egress. Figure 43: Distance between means of egress
2. Access within the allowable travel distance
5. Requirement 4 shall not apply to buildings
shall be provided to not less than one
protected throughout by an approved,
accessible area of refuge or one accessible
supervised automatic sprinkler system.
exit providing an accessible route to an exit
6. Each required accessible means of egress
discharge.
shall be continuous from each accessible
occupied area to a public way or area of
refuge.

133
 Annex I: Accessible Means of Egress
5.1 Annexes

7. Where an exit stairs is used in an accessible 3. The two-way communication system shall
means of egress, it shall comply with the include both audible and visible signals.
requirement here below:
▫▫The clear width of landings and stair b. An area of refuge used as part of a required
flights, measured between handrails and accessible means of egress in other than a
at all points below handrail height shall be building that is protected throughout by an
not less than 48 in. (1220 mm), approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
▫▫The exit stair either shall incorporate an system shall meet the following criteria:
area of refuge within an enlarged sto- 1. The general requirements of enclosure of
ry-level landing or shall be accessed from exit stair.
an area of refuge. 2. Accessibility: Required portions of an
area of refuge shall be accessible from the
space they serve by an accessible means
of egress. Required portions of an area of
refuge shall have access to a public way via
an exit or an elevator without requiring
return to the building spaces through
which travel to the area of refuge occurred.
3. Each area of refuge shall be sized to
Figure 44: Example of exit stair incorporating an area of refuge accommodate one wheelchair space of 760
mm × 1220 mm for every 200 occupants, or
Areas of Refuge: portion thereof, based on the occupant
load served by the area of refuge. Such
a. An area of refuge used as part of a required wheelchair spaces shall maintain the
accessible means of egress; consisting width of a means of egress to not less than
of a story in a building that is protected that required for the occupant load served
throughout by an approved, supervised and to not less than 915 mm.
automatic sprinkler system; and having an 4. For any area of refuge that does not
accessible story that is one or more stories exceed 93m2, it shall be demonstrated by
above or below a story of exit discharge shall calculation or test that tenable conditions
meet the following criteria: are maintained within the area of refuge
1. Each elevator landing shall be provided for a period of 15 minutes when the
with a two-way communication system exposed space on the other side of the
for communication between the elevator separation creating the area of refuge is
landing and the fire command center or subjected to the maximum expected fire
a central control point approved by the conditions.
authority having jurisdiction. 5. Access to any designated wheelchair space
2. Directions for the use of the two-way in an area of refuge shall not pass through
communication system, instructions more than one adjoining wheelchair
for summoning assistance via the space.
two way communication system, and
written identification of the location
shall be posted adjacent to the two-way
communication system.

134
 Annex I: Accessible Means of Egress
5.1
Annexes

6. Each area of refuge shall be separated from 13. Tactile signage complying with ICC/
the remainder of the story by a barrier ANSI A117.1, American National Standard
having a minimum 1-hour fire resistance for Accessible and Usable Buildings and
rating. The barriers and any openings Facilities, shall be located at each door
in them shall minimize air leakage and opening to an area of refuge.
resist the passage of smoke. New fire door
Elevators
assemblies serving an area of refuge shall
be smoke leakage–rated. Where an elevator provides access from an
7. Door assemblies in the barriers specified area of refuge to a public way, the following
shall have not less than a 20-minute fire criteria shall be met:
protection rating, and shall be either self- 1. The elevator shall be approved for fire
closing or automatic-closing. fighters’ emergency operations as provided
8. Ducts shall be permitted to penetrate the in ASME A17.1/CSA B44, Safety Code for
barrier and shall be provided with smoke- Elevators and Escalators.
actuated dampers or other approved 2. The power supply shall be protected against
means to resist the transfer of smoke into interruption from fire occurring within the
the area of refuge. building but outside the area of refuge.
9. The area of refuge shall be provided with 3. The elevator shall be located in a shaft
a two-way communication system for system meeting the requirements for
communication between the area of smoke-proof enclosures.
refuge and a central control point.
10. Instructions for summoning assistance,
via the two-way communication system,
and written identification of the area of
refuge location shall be posted adjacent to
the two-way communication system.
11. Each area of refuge shall be identified by a
sign that reads as “AREA OF REFUGE” and
shall display the international symbol of
accessibility. Signs also shall be located as
follows:
▫▫ At each door opening providing access to
the area of refuge
▫▫ At all exits not providing an accessible
means of egress,
▫▫ Where necessary to indicate clearly the di-
rection to an area of refuge
12. Signs shall be illuminated as required for
exit signs where exit sign illumination is
required.

135
 Annex II: Example of Fire and Emergency Evacuation Plan
5.2 Annexes

5.2 Annex II: Example of Fire and Emergency Evacuation Plan

Evacuation plan is case of fire or emergency

If you wish to use this document, please adjust and complete

it with respect to workplace with your specific actions
(The location name)

136
 Annex II: Example of Fire and Emergency Evacuation Plan
5.2
Annexes

Instructions in case of emergency

1 The action employees should take if they discover a fire

• Immediately operate the nearest alarm call-point.
• Attack the fire if possible, with appliances available, without taking personal risks.
2 How will people be warned in there is a fire
• The electrical fire alarm system will sound on operation of the manually operated alarm call-point.
3. How the evacuation of the building will be carried out
• Everyone in the building should leave the building by the nearest exit and report to the assembly point at the front of the building.
4. Identification of escape routes
• All exit doors can be used as escape routes.
• The staircase and routes leading to the front door are protected routes.
5. Fire fighting equipment provided
Fire extinguishers are located in circulation areas and near fire exit doors.
6. Duties and identity of employees with specific responsibilities in the event of fire.
• On hearing the alarm:
• All staff will escort visitors out of the building and assemble at the assembly point.
▫▫ Fire wardens will ensure:
▫▫ Their areas are cleared of people
▫▫ Registers are collected on the way out
▫▫ The Fire Brigade is called.
▫▫ A roll call is made to ensure everyone is out.
7. Arrangements for the safe evacuation of people identified as being especially at risk, such as contractors, those with disabilities, members of the public and visitors.
Visitors: The host / employee must take responsibility for any visitor they may have and ensure they leave the building by the nearest exit.
Contractors: must be given information about fire procedures and leave the building at the nearest exit.
People with disabilities: Specific arrangements may need to be made for those with disabilities. These arrangements may be made with the assistance of
the Area Health and Safety Adviser.

8. How will the Fire Brigade and any necessary emergency services be called and who will be responsible for doing this.
• On hearing the alarm ………………………….will Dial 999 and ask for the Fire Brigade or other emergency service as appropriate.
• Fire Wardens will call the Fire Brigade in the absence of ……………………….. (this may be best achieved using a mobile phone)
9. Procedures for liasing with the Fire Brigade on arrival and notifying them of any specific risks, e.g. the location of highly flammable materials.
• ………………………………….or other member of the Fire Wardens will liase with the Fire Brigade on their arrival.

10. • The following arrangements and training is given to staff at the centre:
• All staff: Fire Drills three times a year
• All staff: Fire briefing once a year (may be in conjunction with fire drill.
• Fire Warden training: for designated fire wardens
• Record of training to be kept within Fire Manual.
• Training to reviewed on a yearly basis and planned into budget.

137
 Annex 3: High Rise Buildings
5.3 Annexes

5.3 Annex III: High Rise Buildings

In buildings where the floor of an occupiable rating sufficient to supply (1) Electric fire
story is greater than 23 m above the lowest pump, (2) Emergency command center
level of fire department vehicle access, the equipment and lighting, (3) Not less than
building is considered as high rise building. one elevator serving all floors, with standby,
The following requirements shall be respected: power transferable to any elevator, (4) Me-
Extinguishing Requirements: chanical equipment for smokeproof enclo-
sures, (5) Mechanical equipment required
▪▪High-rise buildings shall be protected
smoke control systems.
throughout by an approved, supervised au-
tomatic sprinkler system. A sprinkler control Emergency Command Center shall be provided
valve and a waterflow device shall be pro- in a location approved by the fire department.
vided for each floor.
▪▪High-rise buildings shall be protected
throughout by a Class I standpipe.
Detection, Alarm, and Communications
Systems:
▪▪A fire alarm system using an approved
emergency voice/alarm communication
system shall be installed.
▪▪Two-way telephone communication ser-
vice shall be provided for fire department
use. This system shall be in accordance with
NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code. The com-
munications system shall operate between
the emergency command center and every
elevator car, every elevator lobby, and each
floor level of exit stairs.
Emergency Lighting and Standby Power:
▪▪Emergency lighting shall be provided.
▪▪Type 60, Class 1, Level 1, standby power in
accordance with Article 701 of NFPA 70, Na-
tional Electrical Code, and NFPA 110, Stan-
dard for Emergency and Standby Power
Systems, shall be provided. The standby
power system shall have a capacity and

138
Annex 3: High Rise Buildings
5.3
Annexes

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 References

References
▪▪Fire protection requirements in buildings of the culf cooperation council
▪▪Saudi buiding fire protection code no.801
▫▫NFPA10 – Standard for portable fire extinguishers.
▫▫NFPA13 – Standard for the installation of sprinkler system.
▫▫NFPA14 – Standard for the installation of standpipe and hose systems.
▫▫NFPA30 – Flammable and combustible liquids code.
▫▫NFPA31 – Standard for the installation of oil-burning equipment.
▫▫NFPA58 – Liquefied petroleum gas code.
▫▫NFPA70 – National electrical code.
▫▫NFPA72 – National fire alarm code.
▫▫NFA80 – Standard for fire doors and other openings protective.
▫▫NFPA90A – Standard for the installation of air-conditioning and ventilating systems.
▫▫NFPA92A – Standard for smoke-control systems utilizing barriers and pressure differences.
▫▫NFPA 92B – Standard for smoke management systems in malls, atria, and large spaces.
▫▫NFPA 110 – Standard for emergency and standby power systems.
▫▫NFPA204 – Standard for Smoke and Heat Venting.
▫▫NFPA 430 – Code for the storage of liquid and solid oxidizers.
▫▫NFPA432 – Code for the storage of organic peroxide formulations.
▫▫NFPA 434 – Code for the storage of pesticides, 2002 edition.
▫▫NFPA5000 – Building construction and safety code.

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