Page 42 - Insurance Times January 2024

5. The fire extinguishers should be regularly maintained, IS1642-2013 Describes the Follings:
and easily accessible in case of requirements.
1. The technical interpretation of fire safety of buildings
6. In case the building has hazardous materials, those is to convey the fire resistance of buildings in terms of
should be stored properly as per the norms and hours when subjected to a fire of known intensity. The
regulations laid for storage of the substance. fire grading of the building itself enables the correct
amount of storage and class of materials, or appropriate
Critical Issues of Building Design Consi- 'fire load' to be apportioned for that particular
derations: application.
The technical interpretation of fire safety of buildings is to 2. Loss of life in fires is mainly due to smoke and hot gases
convey the fire resistance of buildings in terms of hours when being inhaled by occupants before actual flames have
subjected to a fire of known intensity. The fire grading of developed to a serious degree within the room
the building itself enables the correct amount of storage and concerned. Smoke and hot gases spread through
class of materials, or appropriate 'fire load' to be doorways and ventilators which are normally impossible
apportioned for that particular application. to keep closed. The essential requirements for fire
safety in so far as materials and details of construction
Loss of life in fires is mainly due to smoke and hot gases being are concerned, are that the flame smoke and hot gases
inhaled by occupants before actual flames have developed
shall not spread so rapidly as to give the occupants
to a serious degree within the room concerned. Smoke and insufficient time to escape.
hot gases spread through doorways and ventilators which
are normally impossible to keep closed. The essential 3. In order to reduce spread of fire, it is necessary that:
requirements for fire safety in so far as materials and details a) The fire shall not spread rapidly from one room to
of construction are concerned, are that the flame smoke another through the floors, partitions between
and hot gases shall not spread so rapidly as to give the rooms, and particularly between rooms and
occupants insufficient time to escape. passages and staircases, that is, the structural
elements shall have adequate fire resistance
In order to reduce spread of fire, it is necessary properties; and
that: b) The materials which are exposed to possible
a) The fire shall not spread rapidly from one room to ignition, that is, wall and ceiling linings shall not
another through the floors, partitions between rooms, easily ignite, nor shall the fire spread rapidly over
and particularly between rooms and passages and the surface of the materialsof the building all the
staircases, that is, the structural elements shall have way to the roof. They are designed to remain
adequate fire resistance; and standing even if the adjacent structure collapses.
b) The materials which are exposed to possible ignition, To do so, firewalls are built thicker than normal
that is, wall and ceiling linings shall not easily ignite, nor walls with significant structural stability under fire
shall the fire spread rapidly over the surface of the conditions. Sometimes buttresses or pilasters may
materials. also be required in order to provide adequate
lateral stability. Firewalls will typically have a 2 to
Fire safety in Buildings: 4-hour fire-resistance rating.
To have fire proof Building the following structural B. FIRE BARRIERS: They are interior walls that extend from
components should be highly fire resistant - the floor-to-floor or floor-to-roof, including concealed and
A. LOAD BEARING WALL: The load bearing walls are vital interstitial spaces. They are designed to sub?divide
component of any building along with the foundation. portions of the building, and can be supported by
These walls are liable for moving vertical loads from structures, such as roofs, columns or floors. All support
slabs to other suitable structural members &ultimately structures should have the fire-resistant rating no less
impact on the foundation. Therefore, the walls should than that of the fire barrier they support. Fire barriers
have a specific thickness to resist the effects of fire. They restrict the initial flow of heat within the area of origin,
should be wider in section to serve as fire barrier for a which provides building occupants with adequate time
notable time. The extract of section can be acquired to evacuate to safe areas. These walls will typically have
from IS 1642-2013 Code. a 2 to 3-hour fire-resistance rating.

38 January 2024 The Insurance Times