While planning and designing buildings, it should be the aim of every engineer and architect that the buildings provide adequate fire resistance to provide protection to the occupants in the event of a fire. This objective is achieved by proper planning, use of fire resistant materials and construction techniques and providing quick and safe means of escape in the building.
The building should be so planned or oriented that the construction or building component elements can withstand fire for a specified time depending on the size and use of the building and separate the different compartments so as to minimize the spread of fire. can be reduced. Adequate separation is essential to prevent rapid spread of fire, gases and smoke through corridors, stairwells, lift shafts etc. Adequate separation from adjacent buildings should also be planned.
All structural elements, such as floors, walls, columns and beams, should be made of fire-resistant materials to protect life, equipment or materials and activities within the building.
The construction of structural elements i.e. walls, floors, columns, lintels, arches, etc., should be designed to function for a minimum time sufficient for the occupants to escape safely. Fire escape elements such as staircases and stairs, corridors, lobbies and entrances should also be made of fire resistant materials and well separated from the rest of the building.
Adequate means of escape are provided to allow occupants to exit the building quickly and safely in case of fire. This objective is achieved by providing safe escape routes from within a building, corridors and stairways leading to streets or by providing an open space or roof of an adjacent building from which an escape route can be found. The required degree of fire resistance depends largely on the use of the buildings. In India, building construction and fire zone types in a city are classified based on fire resistance and fire risk characteristics respectively.
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