Abu Dhabi Building Fire Code

7/27/2019 Abu Dhabi Building Fire Code

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For the Protection, Guidance and Welfare

of

the Inhabitants and the City

of

Abu Dhabi

BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION CODEBUILDING FIRE PROTECTION CODE

United Arab Emirates

Ministry of Interior

General Directorate of Civil Defence

Revision 10/ 2004


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FORWARD

Abu Dhabi is a fast rising city containing some of the most beautiful and

modern buildings in the world.

The density of the plots, the increasing height of the structures of the

buildings and the modern materials and construction methods are requiring

new / upgraded safety regulations.

It is mandatory for the authority to renew the existing codes for fire protection

for the sake of the people, their properties and the city as a whole.

Civil Defence Department

City of Abu Dhabi

Fire Protection Code

Proposal to be discussed with theSpecial Commission

The new amendments to the code will give both the inhabitants and fire-

fighters a safer environment.

No code will prevent accidents, but the often disastrous outcome and

consequences of rather minor incidents can very well be minimized or

avoided.

The proposed amendments will follow the principal of having the latest

knowledge of fire protection combined with the existing code and the needs

for the City of Abu Dhabi, but giving strong recommendations on existing

problems with the intent of prevention and safety.

The closeness of the writer to the Quick Intervention Unit of Abu Dhabi

and their daily business in fire fighting will make this code very essential,

especially in its recommendations for the ever returning dangerous

situations.

May the City of Abu Dhabi keep on rising in a bright and safe future!


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United Arab Emirates

Ministry of InteriorGeneral Directorate of Civil Defence

Fire Protection CodeRevised 2004

Part 1

Buildings

General Note:

All revised and/or modified text sections or parts are written in green

colour. All parts or section that will be removed will be written in

red colour. Only the titles of revised or new sketches are written

in green/red colour and are having the character of a proposal onlyand are representing one solution only.

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Index of Chapters

Fire Protection Procedures

Chapter Subject Page

1 General Definitions 4

2 General Codes 12

3 Conditions of Location Planning 17

Classification of Buildings and Structures as per the

Hazard of Contents and Occupancy Description4 21

5 Means of Egress 28

6 Safety Conditions of Building Engineering 59

7 Utility Services in Buildings 80

8 Conditions of Location Planning 90

9 Special Terms according to Occupancy Description 102

10 Private Buildings 222

11 Fire Protection in the Construction Fields 227

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12 Firemans Elevator 237


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Index of Chapter One

General Definitions

Subjects Page

1.1 General 4

1.2 Definitions 4

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Chapter 1

General Definitions1.1 General

The following is a list of definitionAccepted:

Wherever this word is seen means acceptance by the administrationof Civil Defence.

One of the accepted standards:

Wherever this sentence is seen means one of the local, gulf orinternational standards accepted by the administration of CivilDefence.

Accepted inspection authority:

Wherever this sentence is seen means one of the inspection authoritylocal, gulf or international that is accepted by the administration of Civil

Defence.

Special terms:

Wherever this sentence is seen means the terms mentioned in

section 9,10 and 11.

1.2 Definitions

Buildin s

Any type of structure use for housing any type of occupancy.

High rise building (sketch 1)

Any building which rises over 28 meters from the level of the sidewalk upto the floor of the last resident floor

Mezzanine (sketch 2)

It is a partial floor that is centralized in the space between the floor andthe ceiling of any room or floor and its area is not half of that room orfloor and if it goes beyond that then the mezzanine is considered as anindependent floor as far as this codes are concerned.

Low Level Buildings (sketch 3)

Low level buildings are buildings having room floors not exceeding 7m above

ground level.

Normal Buildings (sketch 4)

Normal buildings are buildings having room floors not exceeding 28m above

ground level.

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Sketch 2

Ground Level 0,00

Mezzanine

Roof /Ceiling

Sketch 1

Ground Level 0,00

+ 28,00m F.F.L. Top Room

Roof

Sketch 3

Ground Level 0,00


Roof

Sketch 4

Ground Level 0,00


Roof

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Underground structure / basement (sketch 5)

Any floor or building or part of the building that has a floor under the level ofthe sidewalk, with the exception of where the floor is enforced over thelength of two outer walls with at least one entry point every 15 metersvertically with the need of minimum area of the entry point to be 9 square

meters and that all the entry points be over the level of the sidewalk.

Open air structure

It is any floor that contains outer walls which has openings of 20% or more ofthe total area of the outer walls of the floor and it is required that the opening

be arranged in a way that guarantees good ventilation for all the parts of thefloor or the part considered.

Means of Egress

It is the means of evacuation that is available and useable for escapingsafely in the cases of emergency in a way where people that are situated in

any point inside the building has the ability of moving safely outside of thebuilding to the fresh air of the main road.

Exit access

It is that part of the escape means that leads to the entry point of the exit.

Exit

t s t at part o t e escape means t at s separate o ot er parts o t e

building by elements that are fire resistant to provide a safe way for reachingthe final exit, like escape stairs and the doors which open to the outside ofthe building directly.

Exit Discharge

It is that part of the exit means which start from the end of exit to main road.

Stairs (sketch 5)

It is the means of evacuation between floors, and the stairs considered inthis codes are all the internal and external stairs used as means of escape.

Smoke proof stairIt is a stair that is protected from the passage of smoke produced by the fire,and it consist of a contentious stair that is disconnected of the other parts ofthe building by barriers that can resist fire for at least two hours.

Ramps

It is the sloped way that is used instead of the stairs to move from one levelto another, and the ones considered here are the ones used for means of

escape.

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Openingof 9 m2

Sketch 5

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Horizontal exit

It is a horizontal means of moving from the building to a temporary shelteringpoint in another building on the same level or means of moving through oraround a barrier that is fire resistant for passing to a temporary shelteringpoint that is safe from fire and the smoke produced by it.

Locked door

It is the door that needs a key to open and escaping through, the key can bea normal key or a mechanical or electrical mechanism that may be remotecontrolled.

Closed door

It is the door that can be opened immediately for exit without the use of a key.

Smoke Compartment

It is any space inside the building when it is surrounded by smoke barriersincluding the upper and lower sides with the exception of the outer sides andthe final roof.

Fire Compartment

It is any space inside the building when it is surrounded by fire barriersincluding the upper and lower sides. Some times the outer sides are notconsidered in this code according to the position of the building relative toother buildings.

Smoke Barrier

It is any architectural element used, horizontal or vertical like the walls andthe floor and the ceiling, floorand the final floor with the need for that part tobe designed to prevent the passage of smoke. It is not necessary for thebarrier to be fire resistant.

Dead end

It is that part of the passage or the space that does not lead to an exit, when

it is entered there will be a need to backtrack to reach the exit.

Common path of travel

It is that part of the way to the exits that need to be used before reaching twoseparate ways for escape.

Travel distance

It is the length of the way connecting between any point in the floor and theexit door, the distance of movement is measured on the axis of the real wayfor escape.

Occupant Load

It is the total number of the people that are expected to be in the building or

any part of it at any given time.

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Occupant Load Factor

It is the area required per person to occupy within the building at any giventime (m2/ person)

Fire Door

It is a door and its parts designed to prevent the passage of smoke and firefrom the opening that it covers for a specified timeframe.

Interior Finish

It is the material of the finished surface of the internal building that is

exposed.

Fire resistance rating

It is the time span that the material, barrier or element is able to resist thefire according to the inspections recorded in the accepted standards.

Flame Spread

It is the fast spreading of flame over some area.

Guard

It is a vertical barrier that is built over the length of the places that dont havestairs or balconies etc

Handrail

.

OccupancyIt is the way that the building is used like housing, industrial or residentialetc.

Hazards of contents

The hazards of the contents are classified into low hazard, ordinary hazardsand high hazards.

Low Hazards

The contents have a low tendency for fire so there is a small chance of self

starting fire.

Ordinary Hazards

The contents gets fire on an average speed or it produces notable amountsof smoke and it exists in most of the occupancies.

High Hazard

The contents are highly flammable catches on fire very fast, or it creates anexplosion.

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Automatic fire extinguishing system

It is a system that is designed and installed to detect /extinguishing fireswithout human intervention.

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Emergency

It is the situation that threatens the safety of peoples or damage property.

Hazardous areas

It is the areas of the building, due to its content, has a high danger ratio than

the danger of the building that is made to occupy, for example the stores orthe usage of flammable or fast flammable or decomposing elements, boilerrooms and fuel heaters, laundries etc..

Hose reel

It is a permanent hose mounted on a reel to be used primarily by buildingoccupants in the early stages of a discovery of a fire.

Dry risers

It is a permanent piping system that dont have water but two connectorsdiameter of 2.5 inch(BS) outside the building,the riser pipe must be

according to the system used by the civil defence ,distributed in the neededplaces and is used for helping the people of the civil defence for pushingwater into the high floors.

Wet Risers

It is a permanent piping system that has a constant water supply that feedsfire risers with the connectors diameter of 2.5 inch according to the system

used by the civil defence or by trained people and the diameters of the pipes.

Fire hydrantsIt is an underground network of permanent pipes that has a constant watersupply that feeds fire risers with normal sizes according to the system usedby the civil defence for firefighting outside of buildings.

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Index of Chapter Two

General Codes

Subjects Page

2.1 General 13

2.1.1 Target 13

2.1.2 Implementation 13

2.1.3 Change of Building Occupancy 13

2.2 Concerned Department 13

2.3 Adjustment 13

2.4 Examination and Maintenance 13

2.5 Minimum Requirements for Buildings and Structures 14

2-6 Other Precautions 14

2-7 Other Substitutes 15

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Chapter 2

General Codes

2.1 General

2.1.1 Target

The target of these codes is to provide the minimum level of safety of soulsand properties from the dangers of fire and explosions and other dangers.

2.1.2 Implementation

These codes need to be implemented in the new buildings and the buildingsthat are revised as for the building already existing will submit to later

specifications that will be announced by the general administration of civildefence while maintaining the codes mentioned in 2.1.3

2.1.3 Change of Building Occupancy

It is not allowed for changing the type of occupation in any building or anypart of it without approval of the civil defence and after providing theadditional needs that have surfaced by the new situation to supply the needsof the codes.

2.2 Concerned Departments

It is the authorized department for applying these codes and is representedby the general administration of civil defence or from some representative ofits sub departments or any other department it finds suitable.

2.3 Adjustment

The general administration of civil defence has the right to change this codesaccording to the needs.

2.4 Examination and Maintenance

Constant maintenance should be available to all the devices of protection,alarms and fire fighting or any other devices used in this codes. In particularall fire extinguisher should have a label of regular maintenance. Themaintenance should be made by the some accepted department that takesinto its responsibility doing examinations and maintenance over specified

time spans according to one of the accepted specifications with the additionof the instructions provided by the general administration of civil defence.

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2.5 Minimum Requirements of Buildings and Structures

Every building should be built and prepared and be maintained and operatedin a way that avoids major dangers over souls, and to guarantee the safety

of it occupants from fire and smoke or the panic that happens through thetime of escape or the time needed for firefighting.

Every building should be provided with the necessary means of escape andother means of safety that a suitable type and quantity, taking into

considerations the type of occupation and the physical status of theoccupants of the building and the number of endangered occupant and themeans of protection allowed and the type and the height of the building andother necessary factors for providing all the building occupants with theneeded level of protection.

The means of escape should be arranged and maintained in each buildingto provide the ability of escape from any part of the building without anyproblem at any time that the building is being occupied according to theoccupant load factor that the building is designed for.

All the exits should be marked clearly and easy to see, also there should besome helping marks on the ways that leads to the exit so anyone who isphysically and mentally sound can know the way to escape from any

point.All signs to be in Arabic(top) and English(bottom), Pictograms are.

When artificial lighting is needed in the building escape lighting should beavailable and trustable too.

An alarm system should be installed to alarm the occupants of the presenceof fire in each building that has the size and type of occupancy.

There should be at least two independent ways of escape in each buildingor fire compartment or sector, if the area or the type of occupancy or the

nature of the building can produce danger during the escape from oneescape or a blocking can happen to one of the escape routes, so there is aneed to have two escape routes at least to lower that chance.

Every building that does not have the minimum level of safety codes and isconsidered not safe because of the absence of the means of escape, orbeing a threat of a huge fire, or the type of occupancy is not suitable for thebuilding should be removed or adjusted so it becomes safe according to thecodes and instructions of the civil defence.

2.6 Other Precautions

Applying these codes is not a reason for removing or reducing otherprecautions that are necessary for the safety of the building occupants.

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2.7 Other Substitutes

Applying these codes does not prevent the usage of other ways of calculationand examination methods and other systems of protection as replacements tothese codes if the alternatives is of better or equal quality and fire protection,

under the conditions of providing the technical and design data that proves itand then the civil defence will accept those alternatives.

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Index of Chapter Three

Codes of LocationPlanning

Subjects Page

3.1 General Requirements 17

3.2 Streets and Roads Planning 19

3.3 Distance of Approach 19

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Chapter 3

Codes of location planning

3.1 General Requirements

When providing the plans for approval the plans for the site should be in asuitable drawing scale pointing to the place of the project, the mainentrances, and the building or buildings that need to be approved, in addition

to the nearby buildings and their use, and the positions of the external firehydrants and the dry risers and the dimensions of the street and the parkingfor the vehicles and the vehicles of the civil defence, mentioning also thenames of the street surrounding the site.

There should be a street that is accessible for the vehicles and the devices

of the civil defence for reaching easily to the closest suitable point to thebuilding, from one or two sides according to this codes, this applies to singlebuildings or buildings that are part of a complex.(sketch 6)

It is allowed to specify specified parking in the road for serving the vehiclesof the civil defence for parking and maneuvering, it is also allowed for thecivil defence to use a whole ally in case of emergency.

Suitable signs should be placed to prevent parking in the parking allocatedfor civil defence and this is done with the coordination with the concernedauthorities in Abu Dhabi. There also need to be a guidance sign to specify

all the means and devices of fire fighting that is available in the yard of thesite according to the instructions of the civil defence.

There should be a guidance plan inside a frame that is mounted at themain entrance of the establishment and the main door of the building , that

specify all the needs of firefighting and fire protection in the project, mostimportantly the main entrances of the establishment and the surroundingbuildings and streets including the internal ones, and the nature of use ofthose buildings, as well as the dangerous places, external fire hydrants, dryrisers, water valves and water sprinklers, the position of the pump room,ventilation openings and the necessary information about the fuel systems

used and other necessary information.

The space percentage in the industrial zones and complexes specified bythe civil defence should be used for fire protection, like providing dividers

spaces between the buildings or the boundaries of the establishments, or forproviding space for the civil defence people and vehicles to operate, thespace between the building or establishments should be suitable to preventfire spreading to the nearby buildings according to chapter 6.

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Sketch 6

Sample for areas for fire fighting

4

Strip of land withoutobstacles

2=3to=9

Set-up area

Set-up area

Driveway opening h=4,50m

w=4,0m

=

1,2

5

1,2

5

=111

=9

4

4

4,5

Road

Driveway for fire brigade

6

4

6

11

11

In places where no set-up ofvehicles can be expected, theroads may be narrowed

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3.2 Street and Road Planning

Enough roads should be available for the vehicles of the civil defenceto reach the building, and those roads should be according to the

following specifications:

1. The basic width of the road should be at least 6 meters, and this

applies to the road blocking gates too.

2. The height of the gates and bridges should not be less than 4.5meters

3. The slope of the street should be no more than 10%

4. The radius of the horizontal curves of the internal roads should be atleast 16 meters

5. The roads need to be paved with asphalt and should be designed tosupport the movement of the civil defence vehicles, and the load

factor of those roads is specified in accepter standards.

6. When the road leads to a dead end that has a length of more than 45meters in any road allocated to the usage of the vehicles of civildefence. A traffic circle should be made with a radius of at least 16meters.

7. Any passage through a gate or underpass or tunnel of a buildingrequired for the civil defence vehicles, must have a free space of 4.5meters in width and 4.5 in height. Their should not be any curve10meters before and after the passage or else the width of the

passage must be increased accordingly.

3.3 Distance of Approach

Depending on the type of vehicle of the civil defence, the distanceand faces of the building and distance to the parking, allmeasurements in table 3.1 will have to be applied to.

When there is exit balconies and special windows for rescue thedistance of arrival to them should be around 10-15 meters, and thisapplies for the emergency openings and special exit in theunderground floors too.

In the case of the existence of dry risers the ability for the fire pumpcar to arrive to them should be no more than 45 meter.

There should exist a good paths with a minimum width of 2 meters forthe civil defence personals to walk through on the whole length of thespace separating between the vehicles of civil defence and thespecified points in this codes, whether this point are dry risers or mainexits or others.

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Index of Chapter Four

Classification of Buildings and establishments according to the Hazardof Contents and Occupancy Description

Subjects Page

4.1 Classification According to Hazard of Contents 22

4.1.1 General 22

4.1.2 Hazard of Contents 22

4.1.2.1 Low Hazard 22

4.1.2.2 Ordinary Hazard 22

4.1.2.3 High Hazard 22

4.2 Classifications according to the type of occupation 22

4.2.1 Grou A-A5, Assembl Occu anc 22/23

4.2.2 Group B, Educational Occupancy 23

4.2.3 Group C-C2, Juridical and Care Occupancy 23

4.2.4 Group D-D3, Habitation Occupancy 23/24

4.2.5 Group E, Administrative and Profession Occupancy 24

4.2.6 Group F, Trade Occupancy 24

4.2.7 Group G-G2, Industrial Occupancy 24

4.2.8 Group H-H2, Store Occupancy 25

4.2.9 Group I, High Hazard Occupancy 25

4.3 Other Buildings 25

4.4 , 4.4.1, 4.4.2 Separating Mixed Occupancies 26

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Chapter 4

Classification of Buildings and Establishments according to theHazard of Contents and Occupancy Description

4.1 Classifications according to Hazard of Contents

4.1.1 General

What is meant by the danger of the contents in this codes is the relativedangers for starting and spreading fire in addition to the dangers of smokeand gases that are produced by the fire as well as the dangers of explosions

and other accidents that can endanger souls.

The authority that is responsible for specifying the level of contents dangeris the civil defence and this is done according to the nature of contents and

the type of work and the production operations done inside the building orthe establishment, some times with the help of the accepted standards.

When there are multiple levels of danger in the contents of the building in

different parts the classification is done according to the highest level ofdanger, unless those parts are separated from each others according to thecodes mentioned in 4.5.

4.1.2 Hazard of contents

The dangers of contents in the building are classified into low, ordinary and

high dangers.4.1.2.1 Low Hazards

The contents have a low tendency for fire so there is a small chance of selfstarting fire.

4.1.2.2 Ordinary Hazards

The contents gets fire on an average speed or it produces notable amountsof smoke and it exists in most of the occupancies.

4.1.2.3 High Hazard

The contents get on fire very fast, or it can produce explosions.

4.2 Classifications according to the type of occupation

The buildings and establishments are classified according to the type ofoccupation into the following groups:

4.2.1 Group (A), assembly occupations, and they are classified into:

A1. Theaters, they are assemblies of people for the purpose of watching the

acting artists and so, usually it contains permanent chairs, like theaters,opera's, cinemas, television and radio stations which has chairs for viewers.

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A2. Assemblies of individuals in closed halls, with or without viewers forthe purpose of entertainment or fun in addition to some theatricals orcinematic shows or lectures without the presence of a theater platform withthe exception of the normal platform, and usually it dont have permanentchairs, like lecture halls, show halls, wedding halls, dance halls, artistic showhalls, stations(bus, train, airports, harbors), halls of justice, libraries,

museums, restaurants, multi usage halls in schools and others, gaminghalls, bowling halls, gym halls and others.

A3. Assemblies of individuals in closed sports halls, with or withoutseats (with the exception of the halls mention in group A2), like the closed

stadiums, closed swimming pools, skiing rinks.

A4. Assemblies of individuals in closed religious halls, like mosques

A5. Assemblies of individuals in open spaces, like entertainment cities,open stadiums, Eid pray ground, open exhibitions.

4.2.2 Group (B), Educational Occupancy

It is a group of building used for the purpose of education until the end of the

high school which contains no less than 6 students on a time span of no lessthan 4 hours a day and more than 12 weekly hours, like schools, gardenschools, babies gardens (more than 5 babies with an age of more than twoyears and a half) mentioned in 9.2.1.1. and others.

. . ,

They are classified into the following groups:C1. Juridical and rehabilitation occupancy: it is the buildings thatcontains different level of security control and it is occupied by individualsthat can't protect their well being, like jails, police stations jails, reformatories

with detention cells, mental disruption hospitals with detention cells,quarantine places and others.

C2. Care occupancy, it is the buildings that contains people that needs helpbecause of there health or mental status (without limiting there freedom), likecare houses, children gardens (more than 5 babies with an age of more thantwo years and a half), old age hospital , hospitals, health care unit(withsleeping places), reformatories with detention cells, sanitarium ,mentaldisruption hospitals without detention places and others.

4.2.4 Group (D), Residential Occupancy

It is the buildings used for living and sleeping with the exception of the Cgroup, and is classified into the following groups:

D1. Hotels and Motels, and it contains all the buildings used for temporaryresidence for more than 16 individuals with a maximum living period of 30days, as well as the buildings used for group livings for more than 16

individuals that are not from the same family, like hotels, motels, furnishedapartments, internal houses in the schools and universities, singles houses,barracks, workers houses and others.

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D2. Habitation Apartments and it consists of the buildings that contain atleast 3 residential independent units made for permanent residence, andeach unit should contain a kitchen and a toilet, this group contains thefurnished apartments used for permanent living too.

D3. Single or double family buildings, this buildings contain the ones that

has one or two permanent residence unit, and each unit is occupied byindividuals of the same family, like villas and public houses.

4.2.5 Group (E), Administrative and Profession Occupancy

It is the buildings used for administration and professions that are non-

industrial , like banks, barber and beauty centers, medical and dental clinics,post office, administration offices, departments of civil defence,municipalities, police offices, the buildings of telecommunications, thestations of television and radio, watching posts in airports, cars show rooms,cars washers, nurseries without sleeping places, printing shops, translationoffices, consultancy offices, veterinary hospital , educational buildings in

universities(including the rooms that has a capacity of less than 50individuals), educational laboratories and others.

4.2.6 Group (F) Trade occupancy

it is the buildings where goods are shown and bought, like shops, malls,trade exhibitions, supermarkets, markets, car service stations.

. .

It is the buildings where individuals work with industrial assembly, productionof materials and other goods, and they are classified into the followinggroups:

G1 Industrial occupancy with ordinary hazard level, like laboratories thatcontains materials and liquids that are flammable, like power stations,

laundries, dry-cleans, bakeries, bicycles industry, ships and boats building,industry of equipments and office equipments, cameras production, canningincluding food goods, clothes, milk production both concentrated and dry,disinfectants production, electronics production, the industry of machineryand engines, plants of cotton and carpets and tents and sackcloth andfabric, calyx industry, industry of vegetarian oils, carton industry, furniturespraying and upholstery , tobacco industry, vehicles industry, photographic

films industry, food making, clothes laundries, industry of woodworks,cartoon movie making, musical instruments industry, paper mills, plasticindustry, printing press, garbage burning ovens, shoes industry, soapindustry, sugar recycling plants, airplanes industry, sport equipmentsindustry. and others

G2 Industrial occupancy with low hazard level, like the industry of

mineral water, ice industry, gypsum and cement and bricks and porcelainand glass materials, blacksmithing, production and assembly of metals,small workshops(electronic workshops, plumper, lathes), water pumpingstations and others.

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4.2.8 Group (H), Store occupancy

It is the buildings used for storing of goods or products or cars or animals,and is categorized into:

H1 Store occupancy with ordinary hazard level

It is the buildings used to store products which have ordinary hazard level,like plastic bags, fabric, paper, jute, reed, chains, leather and fabric belts,books, shoes, cartoon, clothes, ropes, furniture, fur, glue, leather, sheepskin, used furniture stores, cars repair workshops, lubes stores with glowingpoint of 93O or more, closed parking, silk, soap, sugar, tobaccos and

smoking cigarettes, beds, candles and others.

H2 Store occupancy with Low hazard level

It is the buildings used to store low hazardous products( it is possible thatthese products are stored in cartoon boxes or carried on wood supporters,but plastic covers should be kept minimal and should not surpass the level of

thin plastic covers and plastic handles), like juice and mineral waters,bagged cement, chalk, cheese and yogurt products, dry batteries, electriccoils, electric engines, food products and food products in non-flammablecontainers, vegetables and fruits in non-plastic containers, frozen foods,glass, glass bottles that empty or full with non-flammable liquids, gypsumboards, meats, metal safes, metal tables, metals, mirrors, empty metalcans, electric converters including the ones that are full of oil in spite of

electric converters that contains oil that has a glowing point of more than 93o

delta and corona inside the electric converters especially after a long

operation time in the climate of the our country where the temperature of theelectric converters could reach more than 50m and with the presence of theoil disassembly gases this conditions calls for its classification as an H1group, open parking from the sides, porcelain, electronic washers and

others.

4.2.9 Group (I) High hazardous occupancy

it is the buildings used for the occupancy of production or usage or storing ofhazardous materials in high quantities, like explosives, oxides, plant andstores of gases and flammable or fast flaming liquids in high quantities,

stores for dangerous materials in high quantities, flammable dust, flammablefibers, fast flaming solid materials, radiating materials, poisonous materials,production and treatment of chemicals, alcohol materials filtering , mills,harvest cells, plants of paint and varnish, treatment of rubber and plastic,spraying paint, paper recycling establishments, rubber tiers in high quantitiesand others.

4.3 Other buildings

Any building that is not considered in 2.4 is classified according to thesuggestions of the civil defence, according to the expected level of danger

and the nature of building usage.

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4.4 Separating Mixed Occupancies

4.4.1 Mixed occupancies should by separated by barriers that has aresistance of no less than is mentioned in table 4.1

4.4.2 in case of mixed occupancies in the same building in away that it ispractically impossible to provide the necessary separation, the buildingshould be classified according to the highest danger occupancy, but in thecase of small occupancies that has a secondary role when taking intoconsideration the primary occupancy of the building then the primary

occupancy could be used to classify the building.

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Table 1.4 barrier resistance between mixed occupancies (hour)

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Chapter 5

Means of Egress

5.1 General

5.1.1 Definition (also note page 2 general definitions)

Means of egress contains horizontal and vertical and sloped ways and it iscontains many components, like pass ways, stairs, balconies, ramps,bridges, doors and many others.

5.1.2 Applications

All the buildings and establishments should contain suitable means of egress

according to this chapter in addition to special codes.

5.1.3 Main components of means of egress

Means of egress consists from three primary components which are:

Exit passage: it is the part which leads to the exit door.

Exit: it is the part that is detached from the rest of the buildings with fireresistant elements, to provide safe passage to the final exit, like escapestairs, and door that open to the outside in the ground floor.

Exit discharge (final exit): it is the part that starts from the end of the exit tothe main street.

5.1.4 Separation of the means of egress

5.1.4.1 Exits

All openings that connect between the floors and the exits should have min.120 minutes fire resistant doors that submit to the codes mentioned in6.3.6.2.

It is forbidden to make any other openings that go through the exit with theexception of the openings used for electric cables which provide lighting tothe exit, escape doors, pressure calibration openings in stairs and the pipesused for conditioning the exit or to provide feed for water sprinklers and firerisers. Also there should be no openings to connect between nearby exits.

The exit should provide a continuous unit that is protected from fire to

provide continuous escape route until reaching the final exit.

Exits should never be used for other causes like storing.

5.1.4.2 Passages

Any escape route shall not be longer than 35m (sketch 10)

If passages were used as pass ways for reaching exits and it were servingan area which has more than 30 occupants it should be separated from the

buildings with at least 1 hour fire barriers.

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5.1.5 Interior finishing of exits

The materials used for the interior finish of exits should be non.flammable,and the finishing for the walls and ceilings of the exits are from type A

according to the codes mentioned in 6.6 unless the special codes allowssomething else.

5.1.6 Net height of means of egress

The net height of the means of egress should be at least 220 cm, and whenthere exist some protrusion in the ceiling the net length of the ceilings shouldbe no less than 200 cm with respect to those protrusions.

The net height of stairs is calculated from any point of the slope of the stepto another point above it in the bottom of the sloped ceiling above them, and

the net height should be no less than 200 cm as in figure 5.1.

5.2 Main components of means of egress

5.2.1 Doors

5.2.1.1 General

Any door mentioned in this part is the doors used in the means of egressand it contains all door with all their components, from frame and bolts etc...

Door width: to measure the width of the door the net width of the door ismeasured when the door is opened to its fullest, like in figure 5.2 in case ofsplitting the door into two or more pieces with a column, the net width of

each part is calculated alone in the same way and the net width of a singledoor used as a component of the means of egress should be at least 85cmand no more than 120 cm.

The difference in the floor level on the sides of the door should be no more

than 13 mm.

With the exception of the cases allowed in the special codes the movement

of the normal doors should be done by side hinges and for the other typesof doors like sliding doors should not be used but for limited cases allowedby the special codes and after the civil defence acceptance, with therequirement of it to

be easy to open manually, and signs to specify how should it be used arehanged on it.

All the doors that split between the floors and the exits and between theexits and the main street and the doors that are used in high danger areas orthe ones that serves a room or an area that has more than 50 occupantsshould open to the way of exit to be used as means of egress.

The movement of the door should not affect the capacity of the componentsof the means of egress that leads to the door, like in figure 5.3 in the

following manner:

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1. The door movement should not prevent the usage of the means of

egress in general.

2. The door should not limit the size of the stairs or the pass or thepassage or any parts of the means of egress with more than half the

needed width. When the door is open to its fullest it should not takespace of more than 18cm from the side of the wall, like in figure 5.3

3. When the door is opened to a stair it should provide a path(landing)

with a width of no less than the width of the door.(sketch 9)

The doors should be easy to open, and in general the strength needto open it should be no more than 133 Newton(14 KG) applied on the

handle of the door.

There should be provided easy means for opening the doors whenpeople are inside the building and the closing mechanism should not

need special key or knowledge to open it.

The door hinges or any other mechanism used for holding the doorshould have a handle or any other means of opening , that can be

operated in all lighting conditions, and the door should be opened withone move only.

No ropes or chains that could prevent movement be put in the means

of egress

. . .

If the nature of the building needed arrangements or specialprocedures for security reasons or other reasons, that can prevent theusage of the means of egress, then this is done after taking approval

of the civil defence and each case should be treated as a single case,and when accepted there should be arrangements to ease the use ofthe means of egress at emergencies, in all special cases whereelectronic locks are used as means of door locking the ability for lockopening in the following manner should be provided:

1. Automatically when the alarm or water sprinklers are triggered

2. Automatically when the electricity is cut

3. Manually after adding pressure to some manual opening mechanism.

Doors should not be locked with keys unless mentioned in the specialcodes.

5.2.1.3 Mechanical doors

All the automatic doors that opens with light cell when it isapproached, or any other automatic mechanism should have amanual way to open if the automatic mechanism stops working.

5.2.1.4 Revolving Doors

Revolving doors are not accepted as components of the means of

egress.

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Sketch 9

WidthDo

orX

Depth Landing X(min.)

Sketch 10

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5.2.1.5 Automatic closing doors

When the escape door should stay closed, like the stairs door, it should havesprings of the accepted type, to completely close the door after opening it

and if the nature of the door needs it to stay open it should have somemeans of automatic closing.

5.2.2 Stairs

All the doors mentioned here are the internal and external doors used ascomponents of the means of egress and the net width of the stair is the netwidth between the face of the wall and the hand rail. All doors towardsstaircases must be fire resistant for 60 min. and made smoke/heat proof.

5.2.2.1 Dimensions

The dimensions of the stairs are specified according to the following table:

The least width of the stairs 110 cm

The most height of the riser 18 cm

The least height of the riser 11 cm

The least depth of the step 28 cm

The least net height of the stairs 200 cm

Some exceptions are noted:

(with exceptions)

If the area of the repeated floor (multiple, identical floors) is no more than

600 m2 and when there exist 2 stairs for egress it is allowed for one of thestairs to have a width of 100 cm

It is allowed that the net width of the stairs to be 90 cm if the occupancy

load factor for the whole building is no more than 50.

Other specifications

In addition to the numbers mentioned in the preceding section the stairsshould have the following specifications:

1. The width of the stairs should be enough for serving the building

occupants at the time of egress.2. The steps have to be arranged in groups and each group should end witha landing, but the height difference between two landings should be no morethan 370cm.

3. The continuous steps in one group should have the same depth andheight and there should be no more than 5 mm difference in dimensions oftwo nearby stairs, a 10 mm difference in depth and height is allowedbetween the highest and lowest step.

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5.2.2.2 The stairs landing

The landing of the stairs should be leveled and it is not allowed for stairs tobe within the landing.

The minimum width of the landing should be no less than the width of thestairs, with exception of the landing that split the straightness of the stairs

into two landing or more, where the width of the landing can be reduced into120 cm.

5.2.2.3 Curved stairs

It is allowed to use curved stairs as a component of the means of egress butthe minimum depth of the step should be no less than 28cm on the length of30cm from the tight end of the step, and the minimum internal half radiusshould be the double of the stairs width, like in figure 5.4.

5.2.2.4 Spiral stairs

The spiral stairs should not be used in the means of egress but in special

conditions and according to the following codes:

1. The load occupancy of the area that the spiral stairs serves should be nomore than 5 persons.

2. The net stair width should be no less than 70cm.

3. The height of the step should be no more than 24 cm

4. The net height should be no less than 200 cm

5. The depth of the step should be no less than 20 cm in a point that is 30cm away from the tight end of the step.

5.2.2.5 Stair discontinuity

When the stair continue to a level beyond the ground floor level thecontinuity of the stairs should be cut with some barrier or door or anyeffective way with the exception of the cases that the stairs continue for aheight of no more than half of height of a floor under the ground floor.

5.2.2.6 Building conditions

All the stairs should be built including all its components with fire resistantmaterial and it should be built in a sturdy and permanent way, and the

ground of the floor should be solid and doesnt allow sliding and should haveno pores. The usage of stairs for other reasons like storing is forbidden.

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5.2.2.7 Guiding signs

When the stairs are made to serve more than four floors guiding

signs should be hanged near the stairs doors from inside to point tothe number of the floor that the doors lead to, and these signs shouldbe on the height of 150 cm over the path and easy to see in the caseof the door is open or closed in Arabic and English or pictograms.

5.2.2.8 Fire and smoke protection

5.2.2.8.1 Internal stairs

All the internal stairs used as exits should be separated from the

building with fire and smoke resistant, inflammable or heightflammable resistance barriers according to the codes mentioned in

5.1.4.

The walls and the external openings surrounding the stairs should beprotected when there is a possibility for the stairs to get in firebecause of the danger of external spreading due to other parts of thebuilding with an angle of less than 180 degrees. The protection is on ahorizontal length of no less than 3 meters and with at least 1 hour'sfire resistance for the walls and 120 minutes for the doors andwindows like in figure 5.5.

5.2.2.8.2 External stairs

All the external stairs should be separated from the building with fireresistant barriers in the same manner of the internal stairs, like infigure 5.6.A and 5.6.B.

5.2.3 Smoke protected stairs

5.2.3.1 Definition

The stair that is protected from the passage of the smoke produced

by the fire and it consists of a continuous stair that is separated fromthe rest of the building by fire resistant barriers that has a resistanceof no less than 2 hours, this special stairs is requested in placesspecified by the special codes.

5.2.3.2 Protected stairs access

Accessing the protected stairs is through an external balcony or anaired room, as in figure 5.7, with the exception of the stairs protectedby a pressure system.

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5.2.3.3 Ventilation

Ventilation is achieved by one of the following ways:

1. natural ventilation

2. mechanical ventilation

3. pressure system

5.2.3.3.1 Natural ventilation

In the case of using natural ventilation the following has to be noted:

1. The ventilated area and the balcony should be separated from therest of the building as in figure 5.7.

2. The ventilation opening in the ventilated area has an area of no lessthan 1.5 m2 in a way that it is open to the outer wall or to an openyard of 6 meters width at least, and the ventilation opening should becompletely exposed without windows on it.

3. The width of the ventilated area should have a width of no less thanthe passage that leads to it and should have a length of no less than185 cm in the way of egress.

4. The roof opening in a staircase should be 5% of the area of theground floor or min. 1m2.

5. The natural ventilation should be guide by technical equipment asindicated in sketch 11.

5.2.3.3.2 Mechanical ventilation

In the case of Mechanical ventilation usage the following has to benoted:

1. The ventilated hall and the balcony should be separated from the restof the building as in figure 5.7.

2. The width of the hall should be no less than 110 cm and the lengthshould be no less than 185 cm in the way of egress.

3. The hall should be ventilated in a ventilation average of no less thanone time a minute with air suction percentage of no less than 150%from the air supply average, and there should be special pipes andindependent from each other for the air supply and air suction.

4. The ceiling of the hall should be higher than the entry door in no lessthan 50 cm.

5. The supply opening should be no higher than 15 cm of the ground ofthe hall and the suction openings should be no lower than 15 cm fromthe hall ceiling.

6. The stairs should have from above a valve for ridding of the extrapressure while supplying the stairs mechanically with air to rid of atleast 2500 square foot (71cube meter) per minute through the extrapressure valve while keeping a positive pressure that is at least 25

Pascal (25 Newton/ square meter) inside the stairs and relative to thehall when all the doors are closed.

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Sketch 11

SmokeExhaust

SmokeExhaust

SmokeExhaust

2

1

2

3

44

4

4

Central Switch box

Smoke exhaust flap(automatic)

Air intake flap(automatic)

Emergency switch(manual)

5

6

Typical Section

n.t.s.

SmokeExhaust

SmokeExhaust

1.40

SmokeExhaust

CentralSwitch

Box

1

3

4

6

7

4

4

5

ower supp y or r ves

Automatic alarm smoke/heat warning deviceand automatic release

7

Electrical power connection (Fireprotected cables)

Note:Smoke exhaust flap(2) and air intake(3)

must open simultaneously.

Emergency switch(4) to be located on every

floor or every mezzanine floor.

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5.2.3.3.3 Stairs pressure system

A. When depending on a pressure system for protecting stairs fromsmoke the use of accepted engineering system that produces a

positive difference in pressure inside the stairs compartment relativeto other places that is no less than 25 Pascal (25 Newton/ squaremeter), and the system should maintain this pressure difference

under all circumstances like wind and fireplace effect and thepresence of two open doors and so on. Also the pressure differenceat doors should be no more than a limit where 133 Newton (14KG)

power is needed to open the door.

B. The equipments and the special tunnels for the pressure system inone of the following places:

1. Outside the building and connected directly with the stairs throughspecial tunnels inside a fire proof establishment.

2. Inside the stairs compartment, in way that the air entrance and exit

directly out or through special tunnels that is situated inside a fireresistant establishment that resist fire for no less than 2 hours.

3. Inside the building if it is separated by the rest of the building by fireresistant barriers that have a resistance of no less than 2 hours.

5.2.3.3.4 Operation

The mechanical and pressure ventilation systems should be operatedthrough one of the following means:

1. With the use of a smoke detector placed at a distance of no more

than 3 meters from the protected stairs entrance.

2. With a manual operated switch, but it should be placed in easy to

reach position by the civil defence like in the lobby of the ground flooror the control room.

3. By a signal of the water sprinklers in case of such a system exists.

4. By a signal of the alarm system in the building.

5.2.3.3.5 Reserve Power

The mechanical ventilation and the pressure system should be

connected to reserve power source (generator) in addition to the mainpower source, and the reserve power system should be able toprovide power for at least 2 hours without the need for refueling.

5.2.3.4 Exit discharge (final exit)

With the exception of the cases that the special codes allow the

protected stairs should lead to the main street or into a passage thatleads out directly, and in the last case the passage should have noopenings but the door or the stair which leads to the main street, andthat the passage be surrounded by elements that has a fire resistance

of no less than the stairs resistance.

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5.2.4 Horizontal exits and the areas of temporary refuge

A. Horizontal exits is a horizontal mean of egress from the building to atemporary refuge area in another building or from on fire compartmentinto a temporary refuge area in another fire compartment on the samelevel where a temporary and safe refuge area is provided for theendangered individuals, like in figure 5.8.

B. The temporary refuge area that is reached by the horizontal exitshould be an independent fire compartment that has a fire resistanceof at least two hours, if the horizontals exit inside a fire resistant wallthen it should be covered with a door that has a fire resistance of atleast 90 minutes and it should be automatically locked and opens tothe exit way.

C. It is allowed for the horizontal exits to substitute half of the originalnumber of the exits at most, but the length and capacity codes haveto be noted and that for each temporary refuge area and that isreached by the horizontal exit has at least one stair that leads to thefinal exit.

D. When the codes of chapter 9 request the presence of outer windowsfor rescue and ventilation then those windows should submit to thecodes of 5.2.9.5.

E. If both sides are considered temporary refuge area then anotherhorizontal exit should be provided in the reverse way of the samebarrier, in a way that both sides of the temporary refuge area inrelative to the other while providing the needed guiding signs in Arabicand English or pictograms.

. e temporary re uge area t at s reac e y t e or zonta ex tshould be used by one renter or user, and no locks or any otherbarring means should be installed at any time with the exception ofthe cases that is allowed by the special codes.

G. The area of the temporary refugee area should be enough to containall the people that are expected to be in both sides and an area of atleast 0.3m2 for each individual unless other setting is mentioned in thespecial codes.

H. It is possible for the temporary refuge area to be outside of thebuilding, in another building or a bridge or a passage, in a way that itleads to the main street.

5.2.5 Bridges and balconies and outer windows When the bridges and windows are used as means of egress , it

should apply to the special codes about external stairs as well as thefollowing codes:

The openings that faces bridges and balconies should be protectedunless it is protected from sides with brick walls or the concreteshould have a height of at least 2 meters.

The net width of the bridges and the balconies is calculated accordingto the expected load factor but it should be no less than 110 cm.

Protection from falling barriers should be installed on the empty sidesof the bridges and balconies according to the codes of 5.10.

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5.2.6 Ramps

Ramps are sloped ways that are used instead of the stairs to move from onelevel to another and it can be considered as one of the means of egress, but

it should commit to the general codes of the stair with the addition of thefollowing codes:

1. The ground has to be sturdy and slide free, and that the slope is thesame over the whole length of the ramp that connects between two paths,when changing the way of the ramp it should be done through a path.

2. Protection barriers should be installed in the empty sides of the ramps

according to the codes in 5.10 and when the slope percentage is more than1:20 then hand rails should be installed.

3. The dimensions of the ramp are measured according to the followingtable:

5.2.7 Exit passages

When passages and halls and others are used as components of the

The minimum net width 110 cm

The maximum linear slope percentage 1:10

The maximum width slope percentage 1:5

The maximum height 76 cm

.with the addition to the following codes:

1. The passages should be separated from the rest of the buildingaccording to the codes mentioned in 5.1.4.

2. In the case of using the passages as an exit discharge in a way thatthe final exit connect between the stairs and the main street then itshould be separated from the rest of the building by barriers that hasa fire resistance of no less than the stairs surrounding it.

3. The ground of the passage should be sturdy and should have nopores or holes and its net width should be enough.

5.2.8 Mechanical stairs and passages

Mechanical stairs and passages are not considered as part of the

means of egress.

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5.2.9 Special means of egress

5.2.9.1 General

A. The special means of egress can be considered as means of egressin special cases only and after getting the approval of civil defence,and each case should be considered separately, the special cases

are:

1. Vertical buildings, where it is hard to implement suitable means ofegress according to this codes.

2. In some limited cases, to provide additional means of egress for someplaces, like machinery rooms and roofs or watch or communicationtowers and so on, but the load factor should be no more than 3

individuals.

B. All the means of escape should be made from fire proof materials,and it should be treated to be resistant to rust and climate status, as

well as being sturdy and connected to the building in a strong way.

5.2.9.2 Straight Fixed Ladder

In some exceptions , the usage of a straight Fixed Ladder to serve nomore than 3 individuals can be accepted under the condition that abarrier should be installed from both sides at a length of 1 meter overthe surface that it ends to, if the ladder length is more than 9 meters

then it should be completely covered with a net barrier for protection.

5.2.9.3 Sloped fixed LadderIt is allowed to use the sloped fixed ladder like in the precedingsection but the slope angle should be no more than 60 degrees andthe steps should have a width of no less than 13 cm and that the

distance between them is no more than 20 cm.

5.2.9.4 Automatic emergency stairs

In special cases it is allowed by civil defence to used automaticworking stairs which go down automatically when used and go upagain by the usage of a weight , when left, but it should be of the

accepted type.

5.2.9.5 Rescue and ventilation windows

The rescue and ventilation windows should be able to open to theinside without the need for any special tool or equipments and a netopening that has a width of at least 60 cm and an area of no lessthan 0.55 m2 , in a way that any solid material that has the same

dimensions should be able to pass through them. Also the window sillshould be no more than 110 cm relative to the ground. The means forcivil defence people to reach them should be provided too and it

should face areas that are connected to the main road.

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5.3 Means of egress capacity

5.3.1 General

The capacity of the means of egress to any building or floor or any part ofthe building should be enough for the occupancy load factor of the buildingor the floor or any part of it like in table 5.2.

table 5.1 occupancy load factor

Occupancy group Occupancy load factor (m2/ person)

A.assembly

Medium concentration without fixed chairsHigh concentration without fixed chairs

Waiting hallsLibraries- books stores

Libraries- reading rooms

1.40.650.39

4.5

B-educationalLecture rooms

labs2

4.5

-Sleeping wings

Treatment wingsDetention places

11

2211

D-Residential 18.5

E- Administrative 9.5

F-TradeGround floor and underground floors

Other floors

Storing places

2.85.6

28G-Industrial

Production and maintenance 9.5

H-StoreCar parking

Stores and other storing places18.528

I-High HazardProduction places

Stores

9.5

28

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5.3.2 Occupancy load

A. The occupancy load can be calculated for the floor or for a part of it bydividing the area of the floor or the needed part by the occupancy load

factor.

B. In multiple floor buildings the load factor is taken for each floor

independently when estimating the exits capacity in this floor, with thecondition of keeping this capacity starting from the need ed floor in the wayof egress until reaching the final exits.

C. When the exits of the higher and lower floors meet in a middle floor , its

capacity should be no less than the sum of the two from the point of meetinguntil the final exit.

5.3.3 Estimating the exit capacity

The capacity of the exit is estimated using the table 5.2 and in all cases thenet width of any part of the means of egress than the minimum accepted

limit:

Occupancy group Stairs

(cm/person)

Other

components of

the means of

egress(passages,

ramps, balconies

table 5.2

etc..) cm/person

C2-careWith water

sprinklers

Without water

sprinklers

0.8

1.5

0.5

1.3

I-high hazard 1.8 1

Other groups 0.8 0.5

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5.4 The number of the means of egress

With the exception of the cases allowed by the special codes, every floor orzone in the building should have at least two means of egress, and the

minimum number of the means of egress should be no less than thenumbers specified in the following table:

Minimum number of the independent

means of egress

Occupancy load

2 500 or less

3 501-1000

4 More than 1000

5.5 Arranging means of egress

The exits and the passage to the exits should be arranged and havethe following conditions:

1. To be ready for use at all times

table 5.3

2. The exits should be as far apart as possible from each other to make

sure that it cant get barred together during fires or any otheremergency, and the ability of egress through opposing directions, withthe exception of the cases where there is only one exit.

3. When there are two exits or two doors, the separating distancebetween them should be no less than half the length of the floor or theconcerned area like in figure 5.9, When there exist a protectedpassage between the two exits, the distance is measured on thelength of the distance on a straight line that connects between them,

like in figure 5.10, in any other condition the distance is calculated onthe length of a straight line that connects between the exit doors.

4. It is allowed to decrease the distance between the exits to the third of

the length in the following situations:

The water sprinklers protected buildings.

When there is a protected passage that connects between the exits.

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5. The values of the dead ends should not be over the values mentionedin table 5.4.

6. The exit door and the door leading to the exit passages should be

arranged in a way that it can be easily recognized and it is not allowedfor the passages to the exits to be through kitchens or stores or the

workshops or the toilets or others or through any room that can getlocked by keys, also it is not allowed to hang curtains or mirrors overthe exit doors.

7. It is possible for the exit passages to be through an external balconyor a roof or so with the condition of providing continuous and obviousway for reaching the exits.

5.6 Dead end

It is the part of the passage or the space that does not lead to an exit,eventually when passing through it there is a need for backtracking to

reach the exit, like in figure 5.11,and the length of the dead endshould be no more than the values mention in table 5.4.

5.7 Compulsory movement passage

It is that part of the passage or the space that is compulsory to movethrough to reach two separate means of egress, like in figure 5.11.

The length of the compulsory passage should be no more than the. .

5.8 Movement distance

Movement distance is the length of one passage from any point in thefloor until the exit door, and that distance should be no more than thelimit specified in table 5.4, unless other instructions are mentioned inthe special codes.

The distance of movement is measured on the line of the real egressaxis, which means from the farthest point until reaching the exit door,and it should be noted that the measurement line should pass througha curve around the corners and other obstacles in way that it is atleast 30 cm far from them like in figure 5.11

See also section 5.1.4.2 Passages and sketch 10

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Table 5.4 The maximum limits for the compulsory movement passage andthe dead end and the movement distance for different types of occupancies

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5.9 Exit discharge (the final exit)

A. All the exits should lead directly to the main street, in case it is notpossible then it should lead into a fire resistant passage that has the same

resistance of the exit, in a way that the passage is the connection betweenthe exit and the main street, and it is not allowed to for any additional doors

to be opened to the passage but the exit door.B. In the following cases where the special codes allows that half of exitsto end in the ground floor but the following should be considered:

1. Reaching the main street from the exit should be easy and obvious

without any obstacles. and that the distance between the exit and the mainstreet is no more than 10 meters and the distance can be increased to 20meters if the ground floor has full coverage of water sprinkler including thelobby of the ground floor.

2. All the rooms that face the lobby should be of low hazard level and should

be separated from the lobby by barriers that has the same fire resistancerating as the surroundings of the exit.

3. The ground floor should be separated from the floor beneath it by barriersthat has at least the same fire resistance of the exit surroundings.

5.10 Handrails and falling guards

A. Fall guards should be installed for protection along the means ofegress, in addition to the buildings roofs and the balconies and the

mezzanine and the glass fronts and others according to the following codes:B. Barriers should be made of fire proof material with the exception of thehandrail handle, also there should be sturdy barriers to support pressure andexpected loads.

C. The spaces between the barriers should be no more than 10 cm whilenoting that the bars should be installed in a suitable way so children cannot

climb it.

D. The minimum height for the barrier should be 110 cm for the outer partsof the buildings like balconies and roofs and the side opening doors for the

stairs and the ramps and others.

E. In the case of the existence of a fixed handrail near the wall then thenet distance between the wall and the handle of the handrail should be no

less than 4 cm and that the height of the handrail should be no less than 90cm and no more than 100 cm in a vertical scale over the slope line.

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The barriers should have a minimum height of 120 cm for the outerstairs that are open to the air outside the buildings that have a heightof more than 3 floors.

G. The ramps and the stairs should be separated by handrails. that hasno more than 150 distance between them.

H. With the exception of special cases agreed by civil defence the glass

should not be considered as an alternative to the fall guards, if theheight of the windows sills and the outer glass faces that face outsidethe building is less than 90 cm relative to the floor then these windowsand glass faces should have fall guards that has a height of no lessthan 95 cm.

5.11 Means of egress guiding signs

A. The means of egress should have the suitable and accepted guidingsigns that are easy to see from any way in the passages to the exits,and when needed, an exit sign with an arrow could be used to clear

the way of the exit, like in figure 5.12, the guiding signs are placed onthe exit doors and near the way leading to the exits in away that no

point in the way to exit is away from the sign by more than 30 metersin Arabic and English or pictograms.

B. The signs should be of a size, color , shape that is suitable according

to civil defence instructions, in a way that it is clear and distinct anddifferent from what is beside them from decors colors and lighting,and it is not allowed to place any lightings that could bare seeing thesigns.All writing must be in Arabic (top) and English (bottom) orpictograms.

C. All the guiding signs should be lit constantly all the time that thebuilding is occupied by people , and the lighting intensity should be atleast 54 lux on the surface of the sign, and that it should be poweredby the same source used for normal lighting, and also through a

reserve power source that works for at least 2 hours.

D. When any door or passage or stair or others that could get confusingwhen used to egress and leads to unsafe place, a sign should be

placed that has the real usage of the object like to the underground,fuel room and so on.

5.12 Emergency lighting

A. All the means of egress and other places that are specified by thespecial codes should have enough lighting in the case of emergencywhen the main power source is disabled, and the needed cabling that

is independent from the rest of the cables should be available toprovide power in emergency to those lights.

B. The emergency lighting should have a reserve power source in

addition to the primary source that has an operation time of no lessthan two hours and works automatically in the case of emergency

with a time margin of no more than 10 seconds, the emergencylighting should give a light intensity of no less than 10 lux as anaverage.

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C. In big buildings, complexes, malls, hospitals, or other buildings thatare considered similar by civil defence, the emergency lighting shouldhave a central and approved system.

D. In the cases that the special codes allow, it is allowed to light theemergency lights with independent lighting units that are powered by

the normal power source and are automatically recharged, in a waythat it works for at least 2 hours when the power is down, but it shouldbe of the approved type.

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Figure 5.1 The net height of the means of escape (Vertical)

Figure 5.2 The net width of the door ( horizontal)

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Figure 5.3 The movement of doors and the relation to the exit (horizontal)

Figure 5.4 Curved stairs (horizontal)

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Figure 5.5 Internal stair that faces the right outer side of the building, the wallprotection and the external openings that surround the stairs from externalspreading from inside the building (Horizontal)

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Figure 5.6.A The External stair (horizontal )

Figure 5.6.B The facing of the external door (Vertical)

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90 B: a door with 90 minutes fire resistance



Figure 5.7 The smoke Protected stairs (horizontal)

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Figure 5.8 Horizontal exit and the temporary refuge area (Horizontal)

Figure 5.9 The separating space between the two exits should be no less than half of the string(Horizontal)

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Figure 5.10 When there is a protected path between the exit thedistance is measured on the length of the path between them(horizontal)

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Dead end

Compulsory movement passage

Travel distance

Figure 5.11, Dead end, Compulsory movement passage andtravel distance (horizontal view)


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Figure 12-5 , Guiding signs for the means of egress (horizontal view)


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6.1 General Requirements

The minimum construction requirements should be available in all buildings andestablishments according to this chapter in addition to the special rules.

The Precautions in the Construction Field are made to protect the super structure fromfire dangers which leads to longer building resistance for collapse which is caused by fire,

and for improving the ability of fire containment in the smallest spaces and preventing firefrom spreading to nearby areas or buildings.

Each building or part of the building should be constructed according to these rules andgenerally it should be made from fire resistant/proof materials with the exception of thecases that the special codes permits and also in special cases that are approved by civil

defence.

6.2 Construction classifications , Construction super structure

6.2.1 ClassificationThe buildings are classified in accordance to their resistance into four types which are:

6.2.1.1 First type, fire resistant and fire proofThe material of the construction are fire resistant and fire proof like buildings made fromconcrete, it is possible to include few flammable materials.

Chapter 6Protection Precautions in the Construction Field

6.2.1.2 Second Type, Fire Proof

The material of the construction are fire proof like buildings made from steel andcomposite buildings which have reinforcement and concrete, with the exception of a few

flammable materials. They are not fire proof originally but after treating them theybecome so.

6.2.1.3 Third Type, Flammable and protected from outsideIt is made of wood and untreated metals may be used too, but for the outer walls shouldbe of fire proof materials like concrete or bricks.

6.2.1.4 Fourth Type, Heavy Wood

It is made from heavy wood but the walls inside and outside should be made from fireproof material, like concrete or bricks.

6.2.1.5 Fifth Type ,Wood framesAll the construction materials including the outer walls are composed of wood.

6.2.2 Classification into secondary typesThe types mentioned in 6.2.1 are classified into secondary types according to their fireresistance. Table 6.1 specify the types of the buildings according to the resistance of theirsuper structure.

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6.2.6 Protecting the elements of the metallic super structure

A)When there exist a need for fire protection in the metallic elements of theconstruction then it should be treated according to this rules to have the requiredresistance.B)The metallic construction elements should be protected in a proper way. madeby dipping enclosing or dressing, or any other accepted way that produces the

6.2.5 Test Conditions

The samples of construction material should be tested under similarrealistic condition to the final purpose and specific standards should be

applied according to the function of the building.

6.2.3 Internal Wall Separators

It is allowed to use wood wall separators and other elements that havesimilar properties of wood to separate the internal spaces in the

construction of type 1 and 2, and this is for all the occupancies with theexception of the occupancies of groups C,D and I, under the followingconditions:

The area of the fire compartment that contain the separator should be nomore than 600m2

Those separator are not used in fire resistant barriers

needed fire resistance. In all conditions the protection should be done according

to the approved standards and according to the known engineering standards.This should be specified in the drawings and the description of the project thatshall be approved by civil defence before starting the work.C)The plans should explain in detail the sizes of the metallic elements, thethickness, the method and the type of the protection material including thecalculation and design tables to be approved by civil defence.

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Notes for Table 6.11. The shaded areas are the components made of the approved type of

flammable materials.2. When the final roof is loaded with additional load (with the exception of normal

loads like the objects used for servicing the buildings) then its super structuremust be fire resistant, like the roof which is less than 4.5 meters in height,

ignoring the actual height of the roof3. As for the buildings made from one floor and the establishments is of type 1and 2, then the components of the architectural structure can be made ofmaterials that are not fire resistant ignoring the roof height if the area is nomore than 2000 m2, but the roof should be covered with light material withventilation opening, that has an area of no less than 5% of the total roof areaand should be distributed evenly.

4. When it is allowed for the components of the final roof to be of type 1 and 2which is not fire resistant then it is allowed for the roof to be made from anyfireproof material or from wood(type 4) but the building height should be nomore than 20 meter relative to the sidewalk.

5. It is allowed to treat the final roof in the same way as the outer wall if its slopeis more than 60 degrees to the horizon.

6. 443 or similar: is a short term to the degree of resistance for fire for some

component in hours and they are explained in the table above.7. 12 W: is a short term for wood.

6.3 Classification into fire compartments

6.3.1 Com artment ustificationThe building or the floor has to be classified into fire compartments to contain

fire in its place and preventing its spreading inside the same building or into theother buildings like in figure 6.1.

6.3.2 ExceptionsThe following are considered an independent fire compartment with theexception of other allowed situations:

1. The area unit that is rented to one independent tenant like the apartment or the

office or the shop.2. The floor in multiple floor building.3. Various occupancies4. The vertical spaces in the buildings like the stairs compartment, the elevator

well, stretching separators.5. Some of the means of egress according to chapter 5 codes and the specialcodes.

6. Some of the special danger places while committing to the special codes.

6.3.3 Fire resistant barriers6.3.3.1 Types of barriers

The fire compartments should be separated with barriers that have the neededfire resistance, and there types are:

1. Barrier that has a resistance of 3 hours

2. Barrier that has a resistance of 2 hours

3. Barrier that has a resistance of 1 hours4. Barrier that has a resistance of half an hour

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6.3.3.2 Size of barrierThe fire barrier should be a full barrier that can prevent smoke and fire from passing.Should be continuous to cover the whole wall compartment from wall to wall goingthrough any void spaces from the floor up to the ceiling like in figure 6.2.

6.3.3.3 Opening protection inside the fire resistant barriersThe openings in the barriers should be protected by doors or windows that are fireresistant and by smoke throttle which is approved by the civil defence and have asuitable fire resistance. (sketch 12)

6.3.4 Fire compartments separation on the faadeA. The separation between the fire compartments on the facade should becontinuous according to these codes. For the exit sides, the rules of chapter 5 areapplied and the separations shall be done by providing a barrier on the outer side thathas a minimum fire resistance of one hour. The width shall be no less than thefollowing:

-200 cm on the horizontal level, if the fire compartments are nearby horizontally, like infigure 6.3.-100 cm on the vertical level, if the fire compartments are nearby vertically, like infigure 6.4 except: in buildings with less than 4 floors in buildings completely protected by sprinklers.B. All the openings which are situated in a vertical distance that is 450 cm or lessover the roof of another fire compartment in another nearby building and a horizontaldistance of 450 cm or less, unless the roof is fire resistant for at least 1 hour like infigure 6.5.

6.3.5 Protection of external fire spreading

6.3.5.1 GeneralA. To limit the external fire spreading enough distance should be available betweenthe buildings or separating them with fire resistant walls.B. The resistance of the outer walls should be according to table 6.2, and if theouter walls are load bearing then it should submit to the rules in table 6.1 too.C. In buildings which are fully protected by sprinklers, it is allowed to decrease thenumbers mentioned in table 6.2 with one hour with the exception of group I.

Table 6.2 The needed fire resistance for the outer walls in hours and its relationto the separating distance between the buildings and the type of occupancy

The separation

area betweenthe buildings

Type of occupancy

I E,F1,G1 A,B,C,D,F2,G2

0-1.5 3 3 3

More than 1.5-3 3 2 1

More than 3,4.5 3 1 0

More than 4.5-9 1 0 0

More than 9 0 0 0

(m)

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Sketch 12

Fire disconnection measures

Glass/Metalfacade

Space to be filled with Stone wool

Fire proof material

Fixing Point

Possible fire distributionif not properly sealed of

Vertical Section

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6.3.5.2 OpeningsA. The area of the unprotected and protected openings in any outer wall for anyfloor should be no more than the percentages mentioned in table 6.3.

B. When there are unprotected openings in addition to the protected openings thenthe overall area of the allowed openings are calculated according to the followingformula:

X/X1 + Y/Y1


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A. The following are excluded from the table:1. The open parking on the sides where the unprotected openings can be 100% butthe separation distance should be 3 meters at least.2. The group I buildings where its not allowed to have any unprotected openingsunless the separation distance is 4.5m at least.

B. The buildings which are fully protected with water sprinklers these percentagescan be increased but it should not go over the amounts accepted as protected

openings and that is for all the types of occupancy with the exception of group I.C. It is allowed to have unprotected openings of 100% on the outer walls which facethe streets in the ground floor but the width of the street should be no less than 4.5meters and that is for all the occupancies with the exception of group I.

6.3.5.3 Protection of the outer walls openingsA. The required protection should be provided to all the outer walls when it is

needed that these openings are from the protected type. The protection is achieved byinstalling doors or windows that have the applicable fire resistant rating . Protection isachieved by using water

Abu Dhabi Building Fire Code

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