Page 46 - Insurance Times January 2024

10. Pressurization is a method adopted for protected While summing up:
escape route against ingress of smoke especially in High To avoid the fire accidents in buildings, the passive way of
rise building. In pressurization air is injected into the safety design, life safety provisions and the active way of
stair, lobbies or corridor to raise the pressure slightly
fixing fire-fighting appurtenances in the building cannot even
above the adjacent parts of the building. As a result, assure full safety. Number of variables is responsible in the
ingress of smoke or toxic gases into escape route will fire phenomenon of the buildings, which are to be identified,
be prevented. The Pressurization of stairs may be assessed as fire hazard.
adopted for high-rise buildings having mixed occupancy/
multiplexes with covered area of more than 500 sq. Type of building, the activities going inside of the building,
meters. culture of the society, behaviour of the people, maintenance
11. Main objective of 'exit provision' - It is for Life Safety. of the building, application of good housekeeping, fire risk
The construction should be such that there is no undue management, security management, preparedness during
danger to life & safety of occupants by fire smoke fumes the contingency situation, awareness of fire, keeping away
or panic during the period of escape. the fire sources from the combustible materials, reduction
'Exit provision' contains the following Sections or elimination of combustible materials, using fire retardant
dealing with - materials, fire proof coated materials or using of
1. 4.1 gives modalities impregnated manufactured materials inside the premises
are few fire safety parameters, if we adopt these
2. 4.2 states general requirements
parameters in the buildings, we can avoid the fire accidents
3. 4.3 regarding occupant load, and assure the absolute safety of the buildings in future. It
4. 4.4 capacities of exit, will also definitely give ease & peace to the fire underwriters
5. 4.5 arrangements of exit & number to accept & underwrite such good fire proposals having
these positive features as discussed till now - under the
6. 4.6 number of exits.
coverage of their Standard Fire & Special Perils (SFSP) Policy.
12. Venting: Venting shall be accomplished by any of the
types such as 'monitors continuous gravity vent, until Reference:
type vent or saw tooth roof sky lights type. Where Different contemporary Global & Indian Regulations,
monitor type vent is used, wired glass or metal panels discussions & information as collected & collated from
shall only be used. The panels should be hinged at the various text materials available on-line & in hard copies /
bottom & designed to open automatically. Where media reports.
movable shutters are provided for continuous gravity Note for the kind perusal of the Respected Editor -
vents, these shall be open automatically in the event Researches mainly made from the following resource
of fire. Until type vents range from 1 sq. meter to 9 sq. materials -
meter having light weight metal frames & housing with [1] National building code of India 2016
hinged dampers. Baffles should not be installed inside
[2] National Fire Protection Association code book,
the vent. The vents should be automatically in
operation. This is achieved by actuation of fusible links. [3] Chennai Development Control Authority Regulation.
[4] Tamil Nadu Fire & Rescue Services department Rules
Automatic fire alarms should be connected to the
system. and regulations
[5] V.K Jain, Fire safety in buildings.
13. Fire-retardant materials to be used in buildings basically
are:- [6] National fire safety council guide.
1. Iron [7] Relevant Indian government Acts and rules
[8] Fire technology text book, fire safety engineering
2. Mineral wool
curriculum.
3. Gypsum boards
[9] Press reports,
4. Asbestos cement
[10] Fire safety research institute-journals
5. Partite boards
[11] Indian Standard FIRE SAFETY OF BUILDINGS (GENERAL):
6. Calcium silicate DETAILS OF CONSTRUCTION - CODE OF PRACTICE
7. Sodium silicate (Second Revision) ICS 13.220.01; 03.180

42 January 2024 The Insurance Times