DESIGNING FOR FIRE SAFETY
PART 1 : MEANS OF EGRESS
A re-visit to the interpretations and applications
of the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984
Ar Chong Lee Siong
APAM MIFireE MMIArbs
PAM CPD SEMINAR
Uniform Building By-Laws 1984
is a
PRESCRIPTIVE BUILDING CODE
Compliance with this code is a requirement by law
Sets rules and regulations on the application of the code
Provides pre-determined prescriptions
The prescriptions are absolute :
no smaller than..
no bigger than..
no shorter than
no longer than
or
no less than and no more than.
CONCEPTS OF FIRE SAFETY
1 EVACUATION
2 PASSIVE CONTAINMENT
3 ACTIVE INTERVENTION
4 ACCESS FOR FIRE FIGHTING AND RESCUE
Contributing factors to designing for evacuation
occupants
Numbers and distribution
State of mind
Familiarity of place
Physical mobility
Contributing factors to designing for evacuation
buildings
Detection and alarm
Complexity of plan
Passive and active systems
These factors lead to the
designation of purpose groups in the
Fifth Schedule, UBBL
Designation of purpose group
UBBL 5th schedule
UBBL 134
UBBL 135, 136, 137, 138, 139
Every building is to have one overall designation
Individual components of building with different usage
from overall must be designed to accommodate the
more stringent requirement, and where these
requirements spill into the other parts of the building,
the more stringent requirement applies.
Only horizontal separation is allowed between buildings
of different purpose groups
MIXED USE BUILDINGS
BASIC CONCEPT
part of building
use/purpose grp : hotel/iii
HT. 1 to be used for compliance
with Schedules 6,7,9,10 of By-law.
A- HOTEL
part B of building
use/purpose grp : SHOPS/V
HT. 1
HT. 2 to be used for compliance
with Schedules 6,7,9,10 of By-
law.
Vertical compartment wall B-SHOPS
separating Purpose Groups
III & V -By-Law 215 HT. 2
b- shops
Ground level Ground level
Compartment floor
C-CARPARKS
above basement
part C of building c - basement
Depth 3
By-Law 138(d)
use/purpose grp :
basement parking/viii
depth/ht. 3 to be used for compliance
with Schedules 7,9,10 of By-law.
EVACUATION
Detection
Alarm
Exits
Travel distance
Components
Capacity of exits
Accepted assumption in designing for safe evacuation:
Only one fire at one location at a time
NATURE OF FIRE
Flashover
Temperature / size
Untenable condition
Time
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
Ignition & growth development Full fire Decay
Available Safe Egress Time ASET
Temperature / size
Untenable condition
detection
alarm
movement
Total
evacuation
Time
ignition
Factor of safety:
RSET < 0.75 ASET
Required Safe Egress Time RSET
detection
Very early detection
Early detection
Manual detection
alarm
Automatic
Pre alarm
Local / manual
exit
Final exit
Alternative exits
Storey exit
Horizontal exit
Exit route
Final exit
UBBL 133 interpretations
Final exit refers to the threshold that
separates still within the building and
out of the building. The liability of the
design for evacuation from the building
ends at this point.
Alternative exits
UBBL 166
This is the primary concept for safe evacuation.
Every floor space shall be provided with at least
two exits on the basis that if one exit is
inoperable, the other exit can serve the function.
This designing for redundancy principle applies
to all aspects of evacuation.
Alternative exits
Final exit
Alternative exits
Final
Final
exit
exit
Horizontal exit
UBBL 171
Exits that lead to an adjacent (horizontal)
separated compartment within the same
floor
Horizontal exit
Protected staircase
to final
exits
Protected staircase
to final exits
Compartment wall
Horizontal exit
Storey exit
UBBL 167, 174
Exits from a floor which is of a different level
from the final exit, or, if on the same level, a
distance away from the final exit.
A storey exit is to lead to a final exit.
Exit route
UBBL 133 interpretations
UBBL 169
the protected passage from a storey exit
that leads to the final exit.
Can include spaces that are designated
as areas of refuge anywhere between the
storey exit and the final exit
Storey
exit
Storey
exit
Exit route
Exit route
Final
exit
Final
exit
Storey exit
storey exit
Travel distance
Final exit
Travel distance Travel distance Exit route
horizontal exit
Final exit
Travel distance
UBBL 165
7th Schedule
Dead end
initial travel distance before a point where an alternative path
becomes available
Direct distance
Stipulates that travel distance must be measured along the actual
path of travel
Open plan
Where an actual path of travel cannot be determined, the direct
distance can be measured as a straight line direct to the exit.
Permitted travel distance is then reduced to 2/3.
Evacuation : small area
Evacuation : larger area
UBBL
165 (B)
Max
15m if
room
< 6 pax
Final exits To comply with dead end
and travel distance
Max distance is 15m within room
plus max allowable travel distance
From door of room to final exit
Evacuation : multiple areas
Horizontal
exits
storey exits
Evacuation : multiple areas
23
1
Horizontal exits
2 2
1
Horizontal exits
b Travel distance
over steps
Over steps
a a
a + b = Travel distance
a b
A b c
B a
45 o Dead end
limit
c
C
Travel distance to exit
EXAMPLES OF DEAD END TRAVEL DISTANCE
b
b
a
300mm c
a
300mm
300mm
a+b+c P
Diagramme 4.4.4.8.
Exit and travel distance
Exit
Open Areas
(<9 Open Plan offices,
Warehouse, Hallways or
without Fixtures or
a <= 2/3 P Furnitures at time of
a
design)
Diagramme 4.4.4.9.
Travel distance within rooms X
< 6 occupants
X <= 15m
< 6 occupants
Exit
X
X < 6 occupants
Exit
Diagramme 4.4.4.10. X
Measurement of
travel distance within rooms < 6 occupants
< 6 occupants
X X 15m
X < 6 occupants
a <= 15m if room < 6 occupants
b <= dead end limits
c <= maximum permissible distance (P)
d + e <= max. permissible distance (P)
c + (d + e) <= 2P max. permissible distance (P)
Occupied area
a a Exit
b c d e
Corridor
Exit
Occupied area
a
a Room < 6 occupants
b1 b1
OPEN PLAN a <= 15m if room < 6 occupants
b2
Exit b1 <= dead end limit
b2 c
b2 <= dead end limit
c + d <= 2P (maximum permissible distance)
Corridor
Diagramme 4.4.4.13.
2 storey exits to be provided
d
45 degree
Diagramme 4.4.4.14. > 4.5m
Compliance with
permitted travel distance
At least either c or d
This area does not comply with
Max. permissible distance
the provision of permitted travel
(or 2/3 P if space is open plan)
distance.
d
c
Diagramme 4.4.4.15.
Overlapping of c d
travel distances
Recommended method to check
positions of alternative exits
and compliance with travel distance
Diagramme 4.4.5.9.
Egress through
unenclosed openings
Storey exit
(mezzanines)
Permitted
Alternative
Route
For floors up to 9m from
ground floor, mezzanine floors may be
permitted to be up Storey exit
to 50% of the area of floor below.
For mezzanines above 9m from ground level,
a floor area of upto 1/3 of floor area below
may be permitted.
components
Exit door
Exit discharge
Protected corridor
Protected staircase
Balcony approach
Single staircase
Exit door, exit discharge
UBBL 173
UBBL 186
UBBL 193
UBBL 133 - interpretations
Door refers to the physical door installed at an
exit, and all its functional components e.g.
locksets, latches, hinges and closers
discharge refers to the doorway or threshold of
an exit
Exit door, exit discharge
Not all fire rated doors are exit doors
Not all exit doors need to be fire doors
Not all doors need to be exit doors
Not all doors can be exit doors
Exit doors must always be able to be opened (without
undue effort) at all times
Exit discharge must always allow the passage of people
at all times
Exit in this context means storey exit, horizontal exit or
final exit
Final exit Final exit
Evacuation : separation of routes
Diagram 4.4.5.3.
Minimum distance between exits
min 5000mm
min 5000mm Diagram 4.4.5.4.
Minimum distance between storey exits
Diagram 4.4.5.5.
min 5000mm Minimum distance between exits onto corridor
As far as practical
Protected staircase
Diagramme 4.4.5.6.
Storey exits (staircases)
Final exit
Diagramme 4.4.5.7.
Storey exits Basement
Ground level
Balcony (balcony approach)
approach
Diagramme 4.4.5.8.
Exit route to discharge
direct to final exit
Separate access/escape route
to and from basement level.
This helps in preventing escaping
occupants from upper floors
inadvertently entering the
basement instead of final exit.
Protected corridor,
protected staircase
UBBL 133-interpretations
UBBL 157, 189, 190, 191
While not expressed, it is inferred from the UBBL
that all components that form the Exit Route
shall be of protected construction.
Using the same inference, protected shall mean
enclosed, separated or isolated
A 2m
Protection for External B B
2m
Escape Staircase
A
By-Law 191 ensures that an PLAN
external staircase used for escape
purposes will remain protected 2m Zone where
from fire exposure originating from opening
not permitted
the building. Therefore, a zone of
protection is extended from the
staircase both upwards and
downwards to ensure safe passage
during a fire. section a-a
The following illustrations show 2m
the zone where no opening shall be
formed or only toilets or other 2m
Fixed openings
protected area openings or openings with wired glass
Openings for toilets
can be formed
with wired glass and kept allowed
permanently closed can be allowed
Opening more than 9m
to be formed. 9m below can be
2m section B-B
formed
staircases
The following information on steps and stairs must be shown on drawings submitted to JBPM:
1) number of treads (or risers) which shall not exceed 16 in a single flight.
2) dimension of treads and risers; tread shall not be less than 255mm, riser shall not be
more than 180mm. (By-Law 106)
3) width of steps or stairs which shall be calculated in accordance with by-law 168.
4) length of landing which shall not be less than the width.
tread 255mm min
Riser
Diagramme 4.4.6.1. 180mm
Measurement of riser and tread max
tread
Tread and riser dimensions must be constant within a staircase
to prevent users from tripping and falling especially in the event tread
of fire. Dimensions are stipulated for the same reasons.
The width of staircase shall not reduce along its path of travel to
the final exit (by-law 169)
Diagramme 4.4.6.2.
Landing in residential building
(more than 16 risers per flight
is not encouraged)
Min
Residential
1800mm
Building
Max
4.25m
Diagramme 7.4.6.3.
Single riser in staircase
not permitted
(minimum number of riser can
be two but it should be regular)
Single riser not allowed
Long flight
Diagramme 4.4.6.7.
Example of bad
staircase design
Unenclosed void poses
a danger to evacuees falling
over in an emergency
Short flight
Staircases with long and short flights as shown above are not encouraged by
JBPM for an escape staircase because a persons rhythm of walking down steps
is broken especially during an evacuation when the staircase is packed with
evacuees and one cannot see the steps ahead.
Diagramme 4.4.6.8.
Example of acceptable staircase design
The above layout is acceptable provided brickwall surround the void
brick and the flights are regular. This is to prevent people from falling over
wall
the staircase into the void in the event of a rush during evacuation.
Diagramme 4.4.6.4.
No obstruction in staircases
200mm
Full width of stair
Meter box, post box or other fittings are not to
intrude into this
enclosure.
Width
No obstruction or intrusion within this
enclosure (except permitted handrails).
Diagramme 4.4.6.5.
Width of staircase
Depth
Width of required
staircase to comply
with provisions of
VII Schedule and
By-law 168
Diagramme 4.4.6.9.
Door swing to be in
direction of escape.
a=b
Door swing to be
Stair a outside path of
width b travel in stair
Recommended standard of escape
stair
1m
Occupancy
Occupancy
min. 2x
1m
Balcony approach
Handrails
All flight of stairs with 4 or more risers shall be provided with at least one handrail.
No stairs to exceed 2225mm in
width without the installation
of a handrail.
A childrens handrail is
Adult recommended for steps/stair of
handrail this nature.
2225mm
max
Children 2225mm
handrail max
Diagram 4.4.10.1. 2225mm
max
Staircase exceeding 2225mm width
requires intermediate handrails
Max 100mm
Diagram 4.4.10.2.
Wall mounted handrail Handrail
Width of staircase
min Handrail
Diagram 4.4.10.3. Landing
900mm
Handrail detail 900mm
min
Single stair
UBBL 194
Special provision for the common shop-house design
Usage limited to shop (ground floor only), residential or
office.
Uppermost floor level limited to 12m
SINGLE STAIRCASE
Domestic or office use PROVISION
Height of UBBL 194
topmost floor < 12m
Shop or car park
Assumed Room of occupancy < 6
Diagram 4.4.8.1.
12m
Height of topmost floor
max.
of building with single not more 12m
12m
staircase max.
Diagram 4.4.8.2.
Maximum travel distance
By-Law 194 stipulates when a single staircase may be permitted. Essentially, this is only
allowed where the occupancy above ground level is confined to either domestic or office
purposes. The ground floor may be used for shops or car parks. (shop offices, shop
houses)
All elements of structure shall have a FRP of not less than one hour except the enclosure
for the staircase at the ground floor where the wall shall have an FRP of not less than two
hours, assuming the ground floor will not be used for residential purposes.
Capacity of exits
UBBL 7th Schedule
UBBL 175, 176, 178
Occupant load
Exit width
Application of horizontal exit
Sample calculation
Scenario 1: upper floor assembly area in an institutional building
Stair A Stair B
50m
Occupancy load
Assume
(UBBL 180(b))lobby C is inaccessible,
=1.35m2/pax
VII persons per unit for stair = 75
Therefore 20m
C =Ahorizontal
and B must accommodate
exit, persons pertotal
unit occupancy
= 100
371 / 75= = 741
1000m2 / 1.35m2 4.95,persons
say 5
741 / 2 371
stairs
pax =/ 100371 persons per stair
= 3.71,
5 x 0.55m = 2.75m width each stair
3.71 x 0.55m = 2.04 m min width for lobby C
Lobby C
Sample calculation
Scenario 2: upper floor assembly area in an institutional building
Stair A Stair B
15m 35m
Assume C inaccessible, either B or D
B = stair = 75 pax per unit
Must accommodate
260/ 75 = 3.47
222 persons 519= persons
3.47 x 0.55m 1.9m width
519 / 2 exits = 260 persons
20m
222 persons
D = horizontal exit = 100 pax per unit
260/ 100 = 2.6
door D 2.6 x 0.55m = 1.43m width
Lobby C
storey exit
250 pax 250 pax
Final exit
400 pax
400 pax
200 pax 150 pax Exit route
400 pax
horizontal exit
300 pax 400 pax
200 pax
Final exit
400 pax
Horizontal exit
Exit routes
?
?
Final exit
Compartmentation
Size limitations of compartments
Fire Resistance Ratings of elements of
structure
Compartmentation
To contain the spread of fire from point of origin
To limit the potential size of the fire
To separate areas of different levels of hazard
To separate areas for safe exit, evacuation or
refuge
To limit threat to the structural integrity of the
building
To allow sufficient time for safe evacuation,
active extinguishment of fire and rescue.
compartmentation
Fire Load
Surface area / volume of combustible
content (A)
Combustion heat per area / volume (B)
Fire Load = (A) x (B)
NATURE OF FIRE
Flashover
Temperature / size
Untenable condition
Time
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
Ignition & growth development Full fire Decay
EQUAL VOLUME
Temperature / size
high Btu
moderate Btu
low Btu
Time
EQUAL Btu
Temperature / size
high volume
moderate volume
low volume
Time
EQUAL VOLUME EQUAL Btu
Temperature / size
Temperature / size
high Btu
moderate
Btu high volume
low Btu
moderate volume
low volume
Time Time
Purpose Group classification
Prescription of
Limitation of Fire Resistance Rating
Floor Areas and Volume
Accepted assumption in designing for safe evacuation:
Only one fire at one location at a time
Primary objective of compartmentation:
To contain the one fire within
the one location at all times
Contributing factors to potential fire load :
Contents of the building
Fittings and furnishings..
..including the building itself
Furniture and equipment
Consumables
Storage items
Presence of hazardous materials
Presence (or absence) of human
occupants
These factors lead to the
designation of purpose groups in the
5th Schedule, UBBL, .
and to the prescriptions of UBBL
6 Schedule
th
8th Schedule
9th Schedule
UBBL 5 Schedule th
UBBL 5th schedule
UBBL 134
UBBL 135, 136, 137, 138, 139
Every building is to have one overall designation
Individual components of building with different usage
from overall must be designed to accommodate the
more stringent requirement, and where these
requirements spill into the other parts of the building,
the more stringent requirement applies.
Only horizontal separation is allowed between buildings
of different purpose groups
UBBL 5th Schedule
Dimensions of buildings and
compartments
Single storey buildings : limitations apply
only to II and III
Others : dimensional limitations does not
apply to I, IV and VII
other limitations that may affect areas
and volumes
UBBL
136, 220 : if automatic sprinklers installed,
limits can be doubled ( x 2 )
137 : floor to floor compartmentation
138 : floor and wall compartmentation for
flats, basement and areas of different
usage
139 : compartmentation of hazardous
areas
other limitations that may affect areas
and volumes
158, 178 to 188 : specific coverage for VII
places of assembly
Travel distances and occupant loads
UBBL 6 th
Schedule
UBBL 142, 145 Construction and
protection of external walls
UBBL 8 th
Schedule
UBBL 204 to 207
Flame spread over surfaces of walls and
ceilings
UBBL 9 th
Schedule
Minimum periods of Fire
Resistance for
Elements of Structure.
UBBL 213 : every element of structure to have
FRP no less than as specified in 9th Schedule
Elements of structure
for application of FRP
Structural frame, beams and columns (excluding
roof structures)
Floor (except the lowest floor)
Compartment floor
External wall
Separating wall ( including party wall )
Compartment wall
Protected shaft : structure and enclosure
Load bearing wall
gallery
SEPARATING WALL : TERRACE HOUSES
Constructional function : Party Wall UBBL 86
Fire safety function : Separating wall to be Compartment Wall UBBL
138(c)
Check compartment size
Check Fire Resistance Period of elements of structure
UBBL 214 : External Wall and Separating Wall minimum FRP
COMPARTMENTS, ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE AND FRP
Service
138(c) : floor and walls separating purpose group
apts
215(1) : reference to elements of structure,
by building, or by compartments
215(2) : reference to height, by building only
138(d) : floor separating basements
137 : floor to floor compartment for buildings
Offices
> 30m height
138(b) : floor and walls separating flats
Cineplex
Shops
Carpark
COMPARTMENTS, ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE AND FRP
Basement compartment volume limit 42,000m2
Separation of vertical shaft
Compartment D Compartment A
Compartment B
Compartment C
COMPARTMENTS, ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE AND FRP
Large Shopping Malls (Sarawak Building Ordinance)
Shop compartment limit 4,000m2 14,000m3 (sprinklered )
Compartment B
No limits if
Compartment A At least 60% area are shops Compartment C
Less than 280m2 each
UBBL 6th SCHEDULE
Reference plane
relevant boundary
Reference plane
UBBL 6th SCHEDULE
notional boundary
Reference plane
Reference plane
SEPARATING WALL
Sample calculation
2h x 3w
1) Establish enclosing
rectangle
3h x 9w
2) Establish height and width 9m
of enclosing rectangle
1) Enclosing rectangle on reference plane :
24m high x 9m wide = 216m2
2) Total unprotected area :
( 2m x 3m) x 10 = 60m2
3m x 9m = 27m2
total = 87m2
3) Percentage of unprotected area : 24m
87m2 / 216m2 = 40 %
4) Minimum distance from reference plane
to relevant boundary : 8m
Office building Protected staircase
FLAME TRAJECTORY OUTSIDE WALL OPENINGS
Shape of opening
Square
1: 2
height
1: 3
Distance from face of wall
EXTERNAL WALL BARRIERS
UBBL 149
900mm vertical or
750mm horizontal barrier
COMPARTMENTS, ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE AND FRP
Atrium Space (NFPA 101)
COMPARTMENTS, ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE AND FRP
Atrium Space (NFPA 101)
Minimum dimension of 6m and minimum area of 95m
Required exits to be separated from atrium volume
Atrium construction and usage to be of hazard level no
higher than ordinary
Entire building to have automatic sprinklers
Designed for smoke exhaust and smoke control
Atrium volume to be separated from adjacent
occupancy, or to be engineered such that the adjacent
occupancies are not at risk from a fire originating from
the atrium
COMPARTMENTS, ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE AND FRP
Atrium Space (NFPA 101)
UBBL 251
Smoke venting for
Safe exit
Compartmentation of large volumes
Compartmentation of large volumes
Protection of penetrations through compartments and elements
UBBL 141 : Separating walls
Diameter of combustible pipe < 25mm
Diameter of non-combustible pipe <150mm
No flue pipes allowed
Doors to have equal or greater FRP as with the element
UBBL 148 : Compartment floor and walls
Opening for protected shaft
Ventilation duct with fire damper
Encased ducts to have FRP no less than half of the element
Protection of penetrations through compartments and elements
UBBL 150 : Protected Shafts
for pipes, ducts, sanitary facilities, staircase, lift
UBBL 156 : Ventilating Duct in Protected Shaft
To have automatic Fire Dampers at appropriate
intervals
Required FRP
Max 25mm (/)
Max 150mm (/)
Half of required FRP
Required FRP
Half of required FRP
Required FRP
Full FRP for structures
Half of required FRP
PHOTOS
THANK YOU
Ar Chong Lee Siong
APAM MIFireE MMIArbs
