NBC Requirement

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE 2016 - Part 4 Fire and Life Safety

The fire detection, warning, and escape solution must be consistently available to ensure the safety of occupants in terms of fire and life safety , as specified in NBC 2016 - Part 4 - Annex D,
D-3.1 Fire drills shall be conducted, in accordance with the Fire Safety Plan, at least once every three months for buildings during the first two years. Thereafter, fire drills shall be conducted at least once every six months. The occupants shall be made thoroughly conversant with their action in the event of emergency.

2.4 Automatic Fire Detection and Alarm System:

A system comprising components and sub-systems required for automatically detecting smoke, heat or fire initiating an alarm and other actions as appropriate. This system also includes manually operated electronic fire an alarm (MOEFA) system.

Note: MOEFA system (with or without automatic fire detection and alarm system) includes all or some of the components such as manual call stations (initiating an alarm for fire and other action as required), talk-back system and public address system.

4.9 (a) Voice evacuation system shall employ Hindi, English and vernacular language using prerecorded messages and integrate with fire alarm panels for alerting the zone of fire and surrounding zones/floors as required for annunciation.

(b) Appropriate visual warning arrangement through visual strobes/beacons may be considered in appropriate situations particularly in public building, at required locations to ensure visual as well as alarm for persons with hearing impairment.

Escape Lighting and Exit Signage

3.4.7 Escape Lighting and Exit Signage:

Exit access, exit and exit discharge shall be properly identified, with adequate lighting maintained in the elements of the egress systems so that all occupants shall be able to leave the facility safety.

3.4.7.1 Lighting:

A)The exit, exit access and exit discharge systems shall be illuminated continuously. The floors of the means of egress shall be illuminated at all points, including angles and intersections, in corridors and passageways, stairwells, landings of stairwell and exit.

B) Emergency lighting shall be powered from a source independent of that supplying the normal lighting.

C) Escape lighting shall be capable of.

Indicating clearly and unambiguously the escape routes
Providing adequate illumination along such routes to allow safe movement of persons towards and through the exits and
Ensuring that fire alarm call points and firefighting equipment provided along the escape routes can be readily located.

Part 4 Fire and Life Safety:

D) The horizontal luminance at floor level on the centreline of an escape route shall not be less than 10 lumen/m². In addition, for escape routes up to 2 m wide, 50 percent of the route width shall be lit to a minimum of 5 lumen/m². In auditoriums, theatres, concert halls and such other places of assembly, the illumination of floor exit/access may be reduced during period of performances to values not less than 2 lux.

E) Required illumination shall be arranged such that the failure of any single lighting unit, such as the burning out of one luminaire, will not leave any area in darkness and does not impede the functioning of the system further.

F) The emergency lighting shall be provided to be put on within 5s of the failure of the normal lighting supply. Also, emergency lighting shall be able to maintain the required illumination level for a period of not less than 90 min in the event of failure of the normal lighting even for smaller premises.

G) Battery pack emergency lighting, because of its limited duration and reliability, shall not be allowed to be used in lieu of a diesel engine driven emergency power supply.

H) Escape lighting luminaires should be sited to cover the following locations:

Near each intersection of corridors.
At exits and at each exit door,
Near each change of direction in the escape route,
Near each staircase so that each flight of stair receives direct light,
Near any other change of floor level,
Outside each final exit and close to it,
Near each fire alarm call point
Near fire fighting equipment, and
To illuminate exit and safety signs as required by the enforcing authority.

NOTE- For the purpose of this clause near is normally considered to be within 2m measured horizontally.

I) The luminaires shall be mounted as low as possible, but at least 2m above the floor level

J) Signs are required at all exits , emergency exits and escape routes, which should comply with the graphic requirements of the relevant Indian standards.

3.4.7.2 Exit passageway (at ground) and staircase lighting shall also be connected to alternative supply. The alternative source of supply may be provided by battery continuously trickle charged from the electric mains.

3.4.7.3 Suitable arrangements shall be made by installing double throw switches to ensure that the lighting installed in the staircase and the corridor does not get connected to two source of supply simultaneously. Double throw switch shall be installed in the service room for terminating the stand by supply.

The emergency Lighting system shall be well maintained by periodical inspections and tests so as to ensure their perfect serviceability at all times.

Table 7 Minimum Requirements for Fire Alarm Installations

Lodging and Rooming House

Less than 15mtr in height, More than 30 rooms
Manual Fire Alarm-(MOEFA)- Required
Automatic Fire Detection- Not Required

Note 1: MOEFA System shall also include talk-back system and public address system for the occupancies given in the table for (d) (1) (3) under A-5, (a)(1) (4) and (a) (2) under C-1, and (a) (2) i under D-1 to D-5, in all building 15m and above in height, except for A-3 occupancies where these shall be provided for building of height 24m and above. These shall also be provided in car parking areas more than 300m and in multi-level car parking irrespective of their areas.

Note 2: Automatic detection and alarm system is not required to be provided in car parking area. Such detection system shall however be required in other areas of car parking such as electrical rooms, cabins and other areas.

Residential Apartments

Residential Apartments

Above 15mtr-Manual Fire Alarm(MOEFA)- Required
Above 60mtr-Automatic Fire Detection- Required

Hotels

Hotels

Manual Fire Alarm (MOEFA)- Required
Automatic Fire Detection – Required (Except less than 15mtr height, Floor area not exceeding 300mtr on any of the floor)

6.1.1.4 Subdivision

All guest rooms and suites shall be protected by extended throw, quick response type sprinklers only. Also these areas shall be provided with audio-based detection, having a sound level of at least 75dB.

Educational Building

Educational Building

Manual Fire Alarm(MOEFA) – Required
Automatic Fire Detection – Required (Not required if height of the building is less than 15mtr)

Institutional Buildings

Institutional Buildings

Manual Fire Alarm(MOEFA) – Required
Automatic Fire Detection – Required (Not required If height of the building is less than 15mtr)

Assembly Buildings

Assembly Buildings

Manual Fire Alarm(MOEFA) – Required
Automatic Fire Detection – Required (Not required if the height of the building less than 10mtr height)

Business Buildings

Business Buildings

Manual Fire Alarm(MOEFA) – Required
Automatic Fire Detection – Required (Not required if the height of the building less than 10mtr height)

Mercantile Buildings

Mercantile Buildings

Manual Fire Alarm(MOEFA) – Required
Automatic Fire Detection – Required (Not required if the height of the building less than 15mtr height)

Industrial Buildings

Industrial Buildings

Manual Fire Alarm(MOEFA) – Required
Automatic Fire Detection – Required (Not required for low hazard, if the covered area more than 500mtr for building height up to 15mtr)

Storage Buildings

Storage Buildings

Manual Fire Alarm(MOEFA) – Required
Automatic Fire Detection – Required (Not required for multi-level car parking)

IS 2189 Selection, Installation and Maintenance of Automatic Fire Detection and Alarm System - Code of Practice

7 INSPECTION, TESTING AND MAINTENANCE:

7.1 General Even a well designed and properly installed automatic fire alarm system will not be able to render reliable and trouble-free service unless high standard of maintenance and supervision are ensured during the entire service period of the system.

7.2.7 In order to ensure that each smoke detector is within its sensitivity range, it should be tested using either:

A manufacturer’s/supplier’s approved calibrated IS 2189 : 2008 sensitivity test instrument.

7.2.7.1 Detectors found to have sensitivity outside the approved range should be replaced.

NOTE – Detector sensitivity cannot be tested or measured using any spray/smoke producing device that administers an unmeasured concentration of aerosol/smoke into the detector.

7.3 Servicing Periodical Maintenance 7.3.1 To ensure that regular and reliable servicing/ maintenance of the systems and its components is carried out; any of the following methods should be adopted:

Through an agreement/contract with the competent contractor who should attend to the maintenance/repair, when necessary, promptly, and

7.4 Maintenance Schedule 7.4.1 It is the responsibility of the user of the equipment to ensure that proper instructions are obtained from the manufacturer/supplier or installer regarding the routine attention and test procedures.

7.4.6 Annual Inspection Tests The following checks and test sequence should be carried out:

Operation of at least 20 percent of the detectors in an installation should be checked each year and the selection should be done in such a way that all the detectors in an installation shall have been checked once in every 5 years – replacement by a new one.

7.5 General Points About Detectors It is essential (particularly for installations involving life hazard) to ensure specified range of sensitivity of the detectors being installed and that the correct degree of sensitivity is maintained. Users should satisfy themselves on this point. The sensitivity range should be checked on equipment as already specified. It is essential to apply frequent sensitivity checks and routine tests as prescribed in the Code so that the correct sensitivity levels/degree is maintained during the entire service span of the installation (see 7.2.7).

7.6 Cleaning and Maintenance Detectors require periodic cleaning to remove dust or dirt that has accumulated. The frequency of cleaning depends upon the type of detector and local ambient conditions. In any case, the interval should not exceed a period of 3 months. For each detector, the cleaning, checking, operating, and sensitivity adjustment should be attempted only after consulting the manufacturer’s instructions.

When a fire happens in a high-rise building, getting everyone out safely can be tough. But with a well-prepared plan and proper training, it can work better. To meet these needs, these electronic and software-based integrated infrastructure and solutions will be helpful.

Mandatory requirements are as follows:

1. Manually operated electronic fire alarms (MOEFA): If someone sees a fire, they can press a button to start a voice alarm. This is a message that says where the fire is.

2. Automatic fire detection: Besides the alarms people can trigger, there are also Automatic fire detectors that can sense smoke and heat. These detectors are put in place as required. They automatically activate voice alarms when they sense a fire.

Example of a voice alarm “Attention please, fire alarm reported from automatic smoke detector of seventh floor electrical room.” This helps both the people inside and the security or support personnel to rush to take appropriate action.

3.Public Address Systems (PA): These are systems that make targeted zonal or entire building announcements as required. Support personnel can help people know what to do during a fire.

5. Talkback systems: Sometimes, PA systems might not work well to guide people. To fix this, the Talkback speakers system is made mandatory. It lets people talk directly to security staff. This Talkback system is really useful from when an event starts until it ends.

6. Automatic fire emergency lighting: An addressable fire emergency lighting system is a fundamental element of a building’s safety infrastructure, meticulously designed to safeguard occupants in the event of a fire or any circumstance where standard lighting may cease to function. This system comprises addressable lights strategically positioned throughout a structure, providing essential illumination in scenarios of power failure.

Fire escape lighting: The system’s primary objective is to ensure optimal lighting in critical zones such as escape routes, stairwells, corridors, and emergency exits. This enhanced visibility aids people in moving confidently towards exit points, even when the primary power source is disrupted due to a fire or other critical incidents.

Fire safety appliance lighting: In order to utilize Talkback unit, MCP, Fire extinguisher, hydrant, hose reel , fire pump house those places shall be provided with automatic lighting . These lighting devices shall not depend on primary 230 volts supply . It shall have secondary battery backup.

Addressable capability: Each individual light possesses a unique address and is loop-powered, facilitating precise control. These lights can be individually toggled on or off, managed based on zones, or collectively turned all on or all off. Configuration can be tailored to specific site requirements, accounting for fire zones and escape paths. Additionally, manual control is available through the control panel’s touchscreen display. These lights can also share the same fire alarm cable.

Cabling configuration and optimization: All lighting units are addressable and loop powered. It can be interconnected using standard 2×1.5 sq mm cables, with options for tee joints, branches, and tree connections. A return loop is unnecessary, encouraging the use of fewer and shorter cables. In addition it can be connected on same fire alarm cable. Hence there is no need of using separate cable for lighting.

Multi-functional devices: Airlight offers multifunction devices, which has built in light such as addressable speakers with lights, smoke/heat detectors with lights, contribute to reducing the need for separate lighting units.

Adherence to Compliance: Fire emergency lighting systems are frequently mandated by National building codes and safety regulations.

Reliable System Integrity: Each and every lighting devices are addressable. These devices are continuously scanned for its healthiness and connectivity.

7. Automated Fire Drill System: Users have the ability to manage regular fire drills, aiding occupants, security staff, and others in learning fire safety protocols. During these drills, rescue and support personnel guide everyone through the building’s evacuation plan, how to operate fire warning devices, and the steps for a safe evacuation, including assembling at designated points during a fire emergency.

The newest fire control panel is equipped with an integrated feature to facilitate the fire drill system. This feature involves customized messages for specific areas, which are spoken and broadcasted through speakers during both practice drills and real emergencies. If any adjustments are necessary, they can be easily updated within the system.

This process also enables users to ensure that the fire alarm and firefighting systems are functioning effectively, ready for any potential emergencies.

8. Automated Fire Evacuation System: Occupants of the building are typically well-prepared to handle fire situations due to regular fire drills. Users are empowered to manage fire incidents, assisting occupants, security personnel, and others in implementing learned fire safety procedures. During these drills, rescue and support teams guide everyone through the building’s evacuation strategy, explain how to operate fire warning devices, and outline the steps for a secure evacuation, including gathering at assigned points during a fire emergency. The latest fire control panel is furnished with an integrated feature to streamline the automatic fire evacuation process. This functionality includes tailored messages for specific areas, which are verbalized and transmitted through speakers during practice drills as well as real emergency situations.