Category: 7. Building Services

These are powered stairs. They are used when it is necessary to move a large number of people from floor to floor. These stairs run continuously without the need for operators. These escalators are in the form of inclined bridges spanning between floors. The components of an escalator are a steel trussed framework, hand rails…

All structural components of the building shall be constructed in such a manner and of such materials that they will resist fire in the event of fire (i.e., 1) for the duration required by the type of construction as an integral member of the building. do -1 for 4 types of buildings 4 hours to…

A fire cannot occur under any of the following conditions: Absence of an essential component for combustion.Inadequate ratio of combustible material to oxygen to form a combustion system.The available heat source is insufficient to ignite the combustion system.The heat source is not available long enough to ignite the combustion system.It is possible to determine different…

This material, which is made by mixing fibrous minerals with portland cement, has great fire resistance value. Asbestos cement products are mostly used for construction of fireproof partitions, ceilings etc. Because of the poor conductors of heat and non-combustible materials, structural members fused with asbestos cement offer great resistance to cracking, swelling or disintegration in…

Due to its low thermal conductivity, this material undergoes very little change in volume during expansion or contraction and is therefore considered a good fire resistant material. However, sudden and extreme changes in temperature can result in fractures or cracks. When glass is reinforced with a mesh of steel wires, such as in wire glass,…

In general, it is a poor conductor of heat and has good fire-retardant properties. The actual degree of fire resistance of this material depends on the nature of the aggregates used and its density. In the case of RCC and prestressed construction, it also depends on the position of the steel in the concrete. It…

In some developed countries, aluminum is being used for strengthening purposes in multi-story structures due to its light weight and anti-corrosion properties. However, its performance as a fire-resistant material is very poor and its use (as a composite) should be limited to structures with low fire hazards. It is a good conductor of heat and…

Wrought iron behaves almost like steel when subjected to fire except that it has less ductility and less strength in compression and tension than steel. Cast iron is rarely used in construction from a fireproofing point of view, as it shrinks and splinters when cooled suddenly. For use of cast iron in fireproof construction, it…

Steel, although a non-combustible material, has a very low fire resistance value. With an increase in temperature, it becomes softer and, therefore, decreases in resistance to the effects of tension and compression. At about 600 °C, its yield stress drops to only one-third of its value at normal temperature. When the steel members come in…

Like brick, it is a clay product that has better fireproofing properties than brick. Due to its high cost, its use in the construction of fire resistant floors is limited.