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IS 1642 : 2013
(Reaffirmed 2018)

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Indian Standard
FIRE SAFETY OF BUILDINGS (GENERAL): DETAILS OF
CONSTRUCTION — CODE OF PRACTICE
( Second Revision )

ICS 13.220.01; 03.180

© BIS 2013
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002

July 2013 Price Group 8

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Fire Safety Sectional Committee, CED 36

FOREWORD
This Indian Standard (Second Revision) was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards, after the draft finalized
by the Fire Safety Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil Engineering Division Council.
The technical interpretation of fire safety of buildings is to convey the fire resistance of buildings in terms of
hours when subjected to a fire of known intensity. The fire grading of the building itself enables the correct
amount of storage and class of materials, or appropriate ‘fire load’ to be apportioned for that particular application;
the converse also holds good, thus, a building being required to accommodate a particular fire load for a given
period would require the shell or fabric materials and construction to be designed accordingly.
Loss of life in fires is mainly due to smoke and hot gases being inhaled by occupants before actual flames have
developed to a serious degree within the room concerned. Smoke and hot gases spread through doorways and
ventilators which are normally impossible to keep closed. The essential requirements for fire safety in so far as
materials and details of construction are concerned, are that the flame smoke and hot gases shall not spread so
rapidly as to give the occupants insufficient time to escape. Shall a fire occur, the construction shall not further
tend to spread the fire.
In order to reduce spread of fire, it is necessary that:
a) the fire shall not spread rapidly from one room to another through the floors, partitions between rooms,
and particularly between rooms and passages and staircases, that is, the structural elements shall have
adequate fire resistance; and
b) the materials which are exposed to possible ignition, that is, wall and ceiling linings shall not easily
ignite, nor shall the fire spread rapidly over the surface of the materials.
With a view to cover these aspects, this standard dealing with details of construction was first formulated in 1960
and revised in 1989. This revision has been based on useful information collected as a result of research in the
country and abroad over the past years. Further the provisions have been aligned with National Building Code of
India 2005.
The provisions given in this standard are those which are necessary at the time of construction of building new or
addition or alterations for adopting fire safety measures. The provisions are applicable for all types of buildings
including high rise buildings (above 15 m in height). This standard does not include other fire safety measures
required to be adopted in the buildings of various occupancies in respect of provision of first-aid, fire fighting
measures, alarm and extinguishing systems, operation of fire lifts, etc; details of which are covered in relevant
Indian Standards.
The composition of the Committee responsible for the formulation of this standard is given in Annex B.
For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied with, the final value,
observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accordance with IS 2 : 1960
‘Rules for rounding off numerical values (revised)’. The number of significant places retained in the rounded off
value shall be the same as that of the specified value in this standard.
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IS 1642 : 2013

Indian Standard
FIRE SAFETY OF BUILDINGS (GENERAL): DETAILS OF
CONSTRUCTION — CODE OF PRACTICE
( Second Revision )

1 SCOPE such paths that lateral spread of fire and heat is checked,
fire fighting operations are facilitated and minimum
This standard lays down the essential requirements of
fire damage is caused.
fire safety of buildings with respect to details of
construction. 4 TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
2 REFERENCES 4.0 General
The standards listed in Annex A contain provisions The design of any building and the type of materials
which, through reference in this text, constitute used in its construction are important factors in making
provisions of this standard. At the time of publication, the building resistant to a complete burn-out and in
the editions listed were valid. All standards are subject preventing the rapid spread of fire, smoke or fumes,
to revision, and parties to agreements based on this which may otherwise contribute to the loss of lives and
standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility property.
of applying the most recent editions of the standards
listed in Annex A. 4.1 The types of construction according to fire
resistance are classified into four categories, namely,
3 TERMINOLOGY Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 and Type 4 construction. The
fire resistance ratings for various types of construction
3.0 For the purpose of this standard, the definition of for structural and non-structural members shall be as
various terms will be as under. given in Table 1.
3.1 Fire Resistance — Ability of an element of
4.2 For buildings above 15 m in height non-combustible
building construction, component for structure to
materials shall be used for construction and the internal
fulfill, for a stated period of time, the required stability,
walls of staircases shall be of brick work or reinforced
fire integrity and/or thermal insulation and/or other
concrete or any other material of construction with
expected duty in a standard fire resistance test
minimum of 2 h rating. The walls for the chimney shall
(see 1S 3809).
be Type 1 or Type 2 construction depending upon
3.2 Fire Separation — The distance in metres whether the gas temperature is above 200 °C or less.
measured from any other building on the site, or from
4.3 The fire resistance of an element of structure or
other site or from the opposite side of street or other
combination of elements is determined from one of the
public space to the building for the purpose of
following three methods. The fire test is done according
preventing the spread of fire.
to IS 3809:
3.3 Fire Resisting Wall — The wall, either load
a) Information as established by research data
bearing or non-load bearing, capable of specifying the
(see Note).
criteria of fire resistance (see 3.2) with respect to
collapse, penetration and excessive temperature rise. b) Direct application of the results of fire
resistance test on an element of structures.
3.4 Separating Wall — The wall provides complete c) On the basis for calculating the fire resistance
separation of one building from another or part of a of a structural element. (This method is not
building from another part of the same building to applicable to columns or walls.)
prevent any communication of fire or any access or
The fire resistance of a building or its structural and
heat transmission to wall itself which may cause or
non-structural elements is expressed in hours against
assist in the combustion of materials of the side
a specified fire load which is expressed in kcal/m2, and
opposite to that portion which may be on fire.
against a certain intensity of fire. The fire-resistance
3.5 Venting Fire — The process of inducting heat and test for structural element shall be done in accordance
smoke to leave a building as quickly as possible by with IS 3809.

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IS 1642 : 2013

It is required that an element/component shall have the (UK) (see Guidelines for the Construction of Fire Resisting
Structural Elements) has been adopted in this standard.
requisite fire resistance rating when tested in
Therefore, while using this data it may be ensured that the
accordance with IS 3809. Tables 2 to 16 provide specifications of material of construction are same as adopted
available data regarding fire resistance ratings of in this Report. However, as and when data from indigenous
various building components such as walls, columns, source become available, the same shall be incorporated in the
standard.
beams and floors. Fire damage assessment, post fire
structural safety assessment of various structural 5 WALLS
elements of the building and adequacy of the structural
repairs can be done by the fire resistance ratings 5.1 The fire ratings of some types of constructions for
mentioned in Tables 2 to 16. walls (see Note below 4.3) are given in Tables 2 to 7.
The specifications of materials shall be so selected as
NOTE — In the absence of research data available in this
country, the data as arrived by Building Research Establishment to give these ratings.

Table 1 Fire Resistance of Structural Elements (in hours)

(Clauses 4.1 and 5.10)
Sl No. Structural Element Type of Construction
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4
i) Exterior walls:
a) Fire separation less than 3.7 m
1) Load bearing 4 2 2 1
2) Non-load bearing 2 1½ 1 1
b) Fire separation of 3.7 m or more but
less than 9 m
1) Load bearing 4 2 2 1
2) Non-load bearing 1½ 1 1 1
c) Fire separation of 9 m or more
1) Load bearing 4 2 2 1
2) Non-load bearing 1 1 1 1
ii) Fire walls 4 2 2 2
iii) Fire separation assemblies (like fire 4 2 2 2
check doors)
iv) Fire enclosures of exit ways, exit way 2 2 2 2
hallways and stairways
v) Shaft other than exit ways elevator hoist 1 2 2 2
ways
vi) Exit ways access corridors 1 1 1 1
vii) Vertical separation of tenant spaces 1 1 1 1
viii) Dwelling unit separation 1 1 1 1
Non-load bearing partitions At least half an hour
ix) Interior bearing walls, bearing partitions,
columns, girders, trusses (other than roof
trusses) and framing
a) supporting more than one floor 4 2 2 2
b) supporting one floor only 3 1½ 1 1
c) supporting a roof only 3 1½ 1 1
x) Structural members support walls 3 1½ 1 1
xi) Floor construction including walls 3 1½ 1 1
xii) Roof construction
a) 5 m or less in height to lowest 2 1½ 1 1
member
b) More than 5 m but less than 6.7 m in 1 1 1 1
height to lowest member
c) 6.7 m or more in height to lowest 0 0 0 0
member

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IS 1642 : 2013

Table 2 Masonry Walls Solid (Required to Resist Fire from One Side at a Time)
(Clauses 4.3 and 5.1)
Sl Nature of Construction and Minimum Thickness (mm), Excluding Any Finish for a Fire
No. Materials Resistance (Hours) of
Load Bearing Non-load Bearing
1 1½ 2 3 4 1 1½ 2 3 4
i) Reinforced1) cement concrete 120 140 160 200 240
(25) (25) (25) (25) (25)
ii) Unreinforced cement concrete 150 175 — — —
iii) Non-fines concrete with:
a) 13 mm cement/sand or 150 150 150 150 150
gypsum/sand
b) 13 mm lightweight aggregate 150 150 150 150 150
gypsum plaster
iv) Bricks of clay:
a) Without finish 90 100 100 170 170 75 90 100 170 170
b) With 13 mm lightweight 90 90 90 100 100 75 90 90 90 100
aggregate gypsum plaster
v) Brick of sand lime
a) Without finish 90 100 100 190 190 75 90 100 170 170
b) With 13 mm lightweight 90 90 90 100 100 75 90 90 90 100
aggregate gypsum plaster
vi) Block’s of concrete:
a) Without finish 90 100 100 — — 75 90 100 140 150
b) With 13 mm lightweight 90 90 90 100 100 75 75 75 90 100
aggregate gypsum plaster
c) With 13 mm cement/ sand or — — — — — 75 90 90 100 140
gypsum/sand
vii) Blocks of lightweight concrete:
a) Without finish 90 100 100 140 150 75 75 75 125 140
b) With 13 mm lightweight 90 90 90 100 100 50 63 75 75 75
aggregate gypsum plaster
c) With 13 mm cement/sand or — — — — — 75 75 75 90 100
gypsum/sand
viii) Block of aerated concrete
a) Without finish 90 100 100 140 180 50 63 63 75 100
b) With 13 mm lightweight 90 90 100 100 150 — — — — —
aggregate gypsum plaster

1)
Walls containing at least 1 percent of vertical reinforcement.
( ) Minimum thickness of actual cover to reinforcement.

Table 3 Masonry Walls: Hollow (Required to Resist Fire from One Side at a Time)
(Clauses 4.3 and 5.1)
Sl Nature of Construction and Minimum Thickness (mm), Excluding Any Finish for a Fire Resistance (Hours) of
No. Materials
Load Bearing Non-load Bearing
1 1½ 2 3 4 ½ 1 1½ 2 3 4
i) Bricks of clay:
a) Without finish 170 170 170 200 200 75 100 100 170 170 200
b) With 13 mm lightweight 100 100 170 170 170 75 75 90 100 100 170
aggregate gypsum plaster
ii) Block’s of concrete:
a) Without finish — — — — — 90 125 125 140 140 150
b) With 13 mm cement/ — — — — — 90 125 125 140 140 140
sand or gypsum/sand
c) With 13 mm lightweight 190 200 200 — — 75 90 90 100 125 125
aggregate gypsum plaster
iii) Blocks of lightweight concrete:
a) Without finish
b) With 13 mm cement/ 100 100 100 — — 75 90 90 100 140 150
sand or gypsum/sand — — — — — 75 75 75 100 140 140
c) With 13 mm lightweight
aggregate gypsum plaster — — — — — 63 63 75 75 90 100

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IS 1642 : 2013

Table 4 Framed Construction, Load Bearing

(Required to Resist Fire from One Side at a Time)
(Clauses 4.3 and 5.1)
Sl Nature of Construction and Materials/Timber Studs at Minimum Thickness (mm) of Protection for a Fire
No. Centres not Exceeding 600 mm, Faced on Each Side with Resistance of 1 h
i) Plasterboard layers with joints staggered, joints in outer layer 25
taped and filled — Total thickness for each face
ii) One layer of 127 mm plasterboard with a finish of lightweight 13
aggregate gypsum plaster
iii) Metal lath and plaster, thickness of plaster:
a) Sanded gypsum plaster (metal lathing grade) 22
b) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 13

Table 5 Framed Construction, Non-load Bearing

(Required to Resist Fire from One Side at a Time)
(Clauses 4.3 and 5.1)
Sl Nature of Construction and Materials/Steel or Stud Construction Minimum Thickness (mm) of
No. Timber Frame at Centres not Exceeding 600 Protection for a Fire Resistance
mm, Facings on Both Sides of
½h 1h 1½ h 2h
i) Dry lining with materials fixed direct to studs
(without plaster finish):
a) One layer of plasterboard with taped and Timber or steel 12.7
filled joints
b) Two layers of plasterboard with joints Timber or steel 19 25
staggered, joints in outer layer taped and
filled—Total thickness for each face
c) One layer of asbestos insulating board with Timber steel 9
transverse joints backed by fillers of 12
asbestos insulating board not less than 9
mm thick, or by timber Timber
d) One layer of wood wool slabs Timber or steel 25
e) One layer of chipboard or of plywood 18
ii) Lining with materials fixed direct to studs, with
plaster finish:
a) Plasterboard of thickness:
1) with not less than 5 mm gypsum plaster 9.5
finish
2) without less than 13 mm gypsum plaster Timber or steel 12.7
iii) Wet finish:
a) Metal lath and plaster, thickness of plaster:
1) Sanded gypsum plaster Timber or steel 13 13 19 25
2) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster Timber steel 13

Table 6 Framed External Walls Load Bearing (Required to Resist Fire from One Side at a Time)
(Clauses 4.3 and 5.1)
Sl Nature of Construction and Materials Minimum Thickness (mm) of Protection for a Fire
No. Resistance of 1 h
(1) (2) (3)
i) Timber studs at centres not exceeding 600 mm with internal
lining of

Plasterboard layers with joints in outer layer taped and filled — 31

Total thickness for plasterboard

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IS 1642 : 2013

Table 7A Framed External Walls Non-load Bearing Required to Resist Fire

Only from Inside the Building
(Clauses 4.3 and 5.1)
Nature of Construction and Materials Minimum Thickness (mm) of Protection for a
Modified Fire Resistance of
½h 1h 1½ h 2h 3h 4h
A) Steel frame with an external cladding of non-combustible
sheets (excluding sheet steel), with a steel supporting
framework and internal lining of:
i) Metal lath and plaster, thickness of plaster:
a) Sanded gypsum plaster (metal lathing grade) 13 13
b) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 10 13 15 15 15 19
ii) Two layer of plasterboard with staggered joints in outer 21 32
layer taped and filled — Total thickness
iii) Plasterboard of thickness:
a) With not less than 5 mm gypsum plaster finish 12.7
b) With not less than 13 mm gypsum plaster finish 9.5
c) With not less than 10 mm lightweight aggregate 9.5
gypsum plaster
iv) One layer of asbestos insulating board with transverse 9 9 12 12 12 12
joints backed by fillers of asbestos insulating board not
less than 9 mm thick, or by timber
v) One layer of wood/wool slabs without finish 50
vi) One layer of compressed straw building slabs:
a) Without finish 50 50
b) With not less than 5 mm gypsum plaster finish
vii) Aerated concrete blocks 50 50 63 63 75 100
viii) Bricks of clay:
a) Without finish 75 75 90 90 100 100
b) With not less than 13 mm lightweight aggregate 75 75 90 90
gypsum plaster

Table 7B Framed External Walls Non-load Bearing Required to Resist Fire

Only from Inside the Building
(Clauses 4.3 and 5.1)
Nature of Construction and Materials Minimum Thickness (mm) of Protection to Provide
Sufficient lnsulation to Achieve a Modified Fire
Resistance of Up to 4 h
B) Steel frame with an external cladding of sheet steel fully lapped,
steel bolted and fixed 10 steel sheeting rails, with timber or steel
supporting framework und internal lining of:
i) Metal lath and plaster, thickness of plaster:
a) Sanded gypsum plaster (metal lathing grade) 13
b) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 10
ii) One layer of plasterboard with joints taped and filled 12.7
iii) Plasterboard of thickness, with not less than 5 mm gypsum 9.5
plaster finish
iv) One layer of asbestos insulating board with transverse joints 9
backed by fillers of asbestos insulating board not less than 9
mm thick, or by timber
v) One layer of wood/wool slabs 25
vi) One layer of compressed straw building slabs 50
vii) One layer of chipboard or of plywood 18
viii) Aerated concrete blocks 50
ix) Bricks of clay 75
x) Any internal decorative lining with a cavity fill independently 50
supported and retained in position of mineral fibre insulating
material (excluding glass) at a density of 48 kg/m3

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IS 1642 : 2013

Table 7C Framed Walls Non-load Bearing Required to Resist Fire Only from Inside the Building
(Clauses 4.3 and 5.1)
Nature of Construction and Materials Minimum Thickness (mm) of Protection for a Fire
Resistance of 1½ h
C) Timber frame with external cladding of weather boarding or external
plywood, 9.5 mm with an internal lining of:
i) Plasterboard not less than 9.5 mm thick, finished with:
a) Gypsum plaster 13
b) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 10
ii) Plasterboard not less than 12.7 mm thick, finished with:
a) Gypsum plaster 10
b) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 10
iii) One layer of asbestos insulating board with transverse joints 9
backed by fillers of asbestos insulating board not less than 9 mm 12
thick, or by timber

5.2 The separating walls shall be carried through the the north light opening or gabled roof, the screen wall
roof to a height of at least 60 cm above except in the shall be carried through, and 60 cm above the top of
case of reinforced brick/concrete slab roof where it the north light opening except in cases where the screen
shall be bonded flush, with a top level of the slab. At wall becomes of such a height that horizontal distance
the time of designing openings, particular attention between the north light opening and the roof of the
shall be paid to all such factors as will limit fire spread adjoining building and/or compartment or between two
through these openings. Every opening in the wall shall sloping faces of the two consecutive roofs at the level
be protected by fire resisting doors having the fire rating of the top of the screen wall, is at least 6 m.
of not less than 1 h. Similar protection shall also be
If, however, the separating wall is at right angles to the
done in other openings like rope races, motor alley
axis of the north light opening or the gabled roof, the
ways, staircases, etc, of rating not less than 2 h.
‘saw tooth’ gaps shall be bricked up and screen wall
However, for Types 1, 2, 3 constructions, a doorway
extended above the ridge of the north light or the gabled
or opening in a separating wall of any floor shall be
roof.
limited to 5.6 m2 in area with a maximum height of
2.75 m and maximum width of 2 m. 5.8 All separating walls shall be built out to extend
15 cm beyond the eaves of the roof so as to effectively
5.3 When building(s) and/or compartment(s) are
cut off the roofs of the parts so separated. The eaves
separated by separating wall(s) and there is a veranda
shall be cut away on each side of this extension of the
on one or more sides of such building(s) and/or
separating wall. If there is an opening on both sides of
compartment(s), it is necessary that the separating wall
the separating wall within 3 m of the wall, those on
shall be built out across the veranda and be carried
one side shall be bricked up to full thickness of wall,
through the roof of the same; otherwise the building(s)
or an alternative shall be provided with fire resisting
and/or compartment(s) shall be regarded as having
doors of fire rating not less than of 2 h for walls of
internal communication and, therefore, subject to
4 h rating and 1 h for other rating.
danger of spread of fire.
5.9 Common wooden roof members (trusses, joists and
5.4 When opening in walls are provided to allow cable,
purlins) shall not pass through the separating walls but
etc, the space around cables and the wall shall be
they may be embedded therein provided they do not
protected according to the provision given in IS 12459.
extend more than 22.5 cm into wall and are separated
However, such space in case of openings provided to
from the similar roof member in the adjoining building
allow plumbing/gas/steam pipes and similar services
by at least 11 cm or solid wall material.
shall be sealed with filler material of fire rating not
less than that of the walls in which these are situated. 5.10 Partition is used for separating sections or rooms
of a building but is not expected to have a fire resistance
5.5 Where openings are permitted, they shall not
equal to any of the values. In fact, in practice it shall
exceed three-fourths of the area of the wall in case of
not be considered otherwise than structure of light
an external wall.
dimension and strength consistent with the purpose for
5.6 A separating wall shall be supported in a vertical which it is used. The minimum fire rating of the
line by a similar separating wall through all storeys partition is given in Table 1.
below. The separating wall shall be carried and bonded
to the floor of appropriate fire-resisting construction. 6 COLUMNS AND BEAMS

5.7 When a separating wall runs parallel to the axis of 6.1 The fire ratings of some types of construction are

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IS 1642 : 2013

given in Tables 8, 9, 12 and 13 (see Note below 4.3). Table 11 Concrete Floors: Ribbed Open Soffit
The specifications of materials shall be so selected as (Clauses 4.3 and 7.1)
to give these ratings.
Nature of Construction Minimum Dimensions (mm)
and Materials Excluding Any Finish, for a Fire
7 FLOORS AND ROOFS Resistance of
7.1 The fire ratings of some types of construction are ½h 1 h 1½ h 2 h 3h 4h
given in Tables 10, 11, 14, 15 and 16. The specifications 1 Reinforced Thickness 70 90 105 115 135 150
of materials shall be so selected so as to give these ratings. concrete of floor
(simply Rib width 75 90 110 125 150 175
supported) Cover 15 25 35 45 55 65
Table 8 Reinforced Concrete Columns 2 Reinforced Thickness 75 90 105 115 135 150
(Clauses 4.3 and 6.1) concrete Width 75 80 90 110 125 150
(continuous) Cover 15 20 20 35 45 55
Nature of Construction Minimum Dimensions (mm),
and Materials Excluding Any Finish, for a Fire
Resistance of
7.2 Size of Compartment
½h 1h 1½ h 2h 3h 4h
1 Fully Width 150 200 250 300 400 450 7.2.1 All floors of buildings shall be suitably compart-
exposed Cover 20 25 30 35 35 35 mented to prevent the spread of smoke and/or fire to
2 50 percent Width 125 160 200 200 300 350 the adjoining compartment on the same floor or to the
exposed Cover 20 25 25 25 30 35
3 One face Thickness 100 120 140 160 200 240 floors above or below to the floor/compartment of fire
exposed Cover 20 25 25 25 25 25 origin.

7.2.2 For the purpose of determining the size of

Table 9 Concrete Beams
compartment, the total area on the floor or floor(s),
(Clauses 4.3 and 6.1) including mezzanine floor if any, that are communicating
Nature of Construction Minimum Dimensions (mm) with each other by way of internal stairs and/or escalators
and Materials Excluding Any Finish, for a Fire shall be construed as single compartment.
Resistance of
½h 1 h 1½ h 2 h 3h 4h 7.2.3 The size of the compartment shall not exceed 750
1 Reinforced Width 80 120 150 200 240 280 m2 (1 125 m2 in case automatic sprinklers are provided
concrete Cover 20 30 40 60 70 80 on the floor/building in accordance with IS 15105) on
(simply
supported) any floor of the building including basement (s).
2 Reinforced Width 80 80 120 150 200 240
concrete Cover 20 20 35 50 60 70 Provided that the authority having jurisdiction may
(continuous) permit the use of automatically actuated smoke curtains/
3 Prestressed Width 100 120 150 200 240 280
concrete Cover 25 40 55 70 80 90 water curtain and/or smoke stops at ceiling level, as
(simply the case may be depending upon the intended use of
supported) the floor of the building, in place of physical barrier of
4 Prestressed Width 80 100 120 150 200 240
concrete Cover 20 30 40 55 70 80
required fire resistance rating in case building is
(continuous) provided with automatic sprinkler system and the
mechanical smoke exhaust system.

Table 10 Concrete Floors Provided further, that where compartmentation is

achieved by means other than physical barrier of
(Clauses 4.3 and 7.1)
required fire resistance rating, the area above the false
Nature of Construction Minimum Dimensions (mm) ceiling, if any, shall be separated by a physical barrier
and Materials Excluding Any Finish, for a Fire
Resistance of
having 2 h fire resistance rating, 1 h in case area is
protected with automatic sprinkler system.
½h 1 h 1½ h 2 h 3h 4h
1 Reinforced Thickness 75 95 110 125 150 170 7.2.4 All the electrical and mechanical service areas
concrete Cover 15 20 25 35 451) 55 1) shall be segregated from rest of the floor by 4 h fire
(simply
supported) resisting construction and such areas shall not be
2 Reinforced Thickness 75 95 110 125 150 170 counted in determining the size of compartment. All
concrete Cover 15 20 20 25 35 451) such areas shall, however, have independent means of
(continuous)
1)
Require attention to the additional measures necessary to reduce venting and/or mechanical smoke exhaust system as
the risk of sapling. the case may be.

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IS 1642 : 2013

Table 12 Encased Steel Columns, 203 mm × 203 mm (Protection Applied on Four Sides)
(Clauses 4.3 and 6.1)
Nature of Construction and Materials Minimum Thickness (mm) of Protection for a Fire
Resistance of
1h 1½ h 2h 3h 4h
A) Hollow protection (without an air cavity over the flanges):
1 1) Metal lathing with trowelled lightweight aggregate gypsum 13 15 20 32
plaster
2 Plasterboard with 1.6 mm wire binding at 100 mm pitch, finished
with lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster not less than the
thickness specified:
a) 9.5 mm plaster board 10 15
b) 19 mm plaster board 10 13 20
3 Asbestos insulating boards, thickness of board:
a) Single thickness of board, with 6 mm cover fillets at transverse 19 25
joints
b) Two layers, of total thickness 38 50
4 Solid bricks of clay, composition or sand lime, reinforced in every 50 50 50 75 100
horizontal joint, unplastered
5 Aerated concrete blocks 60 60 60
6 Solid blocks of lightweight concrete 50 50 50 60 75
Hollow protection (with an air cavity over the flanges)
B) Asbestos insulating board screwed to 25 mm asbestos battens 12 19
C) Solid protections
1 Concrete, not leaner than 1 : 2 : 4 mix (unplastered) :
a) Concrete not assumed to be load bearing, reinforced 2) 25 25 25 50 75
b) Concrete assumed to be load bearing 50 50 50 75 75
2 Lightweight concrete, not leaner than 1 : 2 : 4 mix (unplastered): 25 25 25 40 60
concrete not assumed to be load bearing, reinforced 2)
1)
So fixed or designed, as to allow full penetration for mechanical bond.
2)
Reinforcement shall consist of steel binding wire not less than 2.3 mm in thickness, or a steel mesh weighing not less than 0.5 kg/m2.
In concrete protection, the spacing of that reinforcement shall not exceed 200 mm in any direction.

Table 13 Encased Steel Beams, 406 mm × 176 mm (Protection Applied on Three Sides)
(Clauses 4.3 and 6.1)
Nature of Construction and Materials Minimum Thickness (mm) of Protection for a Fire
Resistance of

½h 1h 1½ h 2h 3h 4h
A) Hollow protection (without an air cavity beneath the lower flange):
1 1) Metal lathing with trowelled lightweight aggregate gypsum 13 13 15 20 25
plaster (metal lathing grade)
2 Plasterboard with 1.6 mm wire binding2) at 100 mm pitch, finished
with lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster not less than the
thickness specified :
a) 9.5 mm plaster board 10 10 15
b) 19 mm plaster board 10 10 13 20
3 Asbestos insulating boards, thickness of board:
a) Single thickness of board, with 6 mm cover fillets at transverse 19 25
joints
b) Two layers, of total thickness 38 50
B) Hollow protection (with an air cavity below the lower flange):
1 Asbestos insulating board screwed to 25 mm asbestos battens 9 12
C) Solid protection :
1 Concrete, not leaner than 1 : 2 : 4 mix (unplastered):
a) Concrete not assumed to be load bearing, reinforced 3) 25 25 25 25 50 75
b) Concrete assumed to be load bearing 50 50 50 50 75 75
2 Lightweight concrete4), not leaner than 1 : 2 : 4 mix (Unplastered) 25 25 25 25 40 60
1)
So fixed or designed, as to allow full penetration for mechanical bond.
2)
Where wire binding cannot be used, expert advice shall be sought regarding alternative methods of support to enable the lower edges
of the plasterboard to be fixed together and to the lower flange, and for the top edge of the plasterboard to be held in position.
3)
Reinforcement shall consist of steel binding wire not less than 2.3 mm in thickness or a steel mesh weighing not less than 0.5 kg/m2.
In concrete protection, the spacing of that reinforcement shall not exceed 200 mm in any direction.
4)
Concrete not assumed to be load bearing, reinforced.

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IS 1642 : 2013

Table 14 Timber Floors — Tongued and Grooved Boarding, or Sheets of Tongued and Grooved Plywood
or Wood Chipboard, of not Less than 21 mm Finished Thickness
(Clauses 4.3 and 7.1)
Sl No. Nature of Construction and Materials Minimum Thickness (mm) of Protection
for a Fire Resistance of
½h 1h 2h
37 mm (minimum) timber joists with a ceiling of:
i) Timber lathing and plaster, plaster of thickness 15
ii) Metal lathing and plaster, thickness of plaster:
a) Sanded gypsum plaster (metal lathing grade) 15
b) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 13 13 25
iii) One layer of plasterboard with taped and filled joints 12.7
iv) Two layers of plasterboard with joints staggered, joints in outer layer taped 19 31
and filled total thickness
v) One layer of plasterboard not less than 9.5 mm thick, finished with:
a) Gypsum plaster 5
b) Sanded gypsum plaster 13
c) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 13
vi) One layer of plasterboard not less than 12.7 mm thick, finished with:
a) Gypsum plaster 5
b) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 10
vii) One layer of asbestos insulating board with any transverse joints backed by 9 12
fillets of asbestos insulating board not less than 9 mm thick, or by timber
Table 15 Timber Floors — Tongued and Grooved Boarding, or Sheets of Tongued and Grooved Plywood
or Wood Chipboard, of not Less than 15 mm Finished Thickness
(Clauses 4.3 and 7.1)
Sl No. Nature of Construction and Materials Minimum Thickness (mm) of Protection
for a Fire Resistance of
½h 1h 2h
37 mm (minimum) timber joists with a ceiling of:
i) Timber lathing and plaster, plaster of thickness 15
ii) Metal lathing and plaster, thickness of plaster for:
a) Sanded gypsum plaster (metal lathing grade) 15
b) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 13 13 25
iii) One layer of plasterboard with taped and filled joints 12.7
iv) Two layers of plasterboard with joints staggered, joints in outer layer taped 22 31
And filled total thickness
v) One layer of plasterboard not less than 9.5 mm thick, finished with:
a) Gypsum plaster 5
b Sanded gypsum plaster 15
c) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 13
vi) One layer of plasterboard not less than 12.7 mm thick, finished with:
a) Gypsum plaster 5
b) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 10
vii) One layer of asbestos insulating board with any transverse joints backed by 9 12 1)
fillets of asbestos insulating board not less than 9 mm thick, or by timber
1)
Finished on top in 25 mm minimum thick glass fibre or mineral wool laid between joints.
Table 16 Timber Floors — Any Structurally Suitable Flooring of Timber or Particle Boards
(Clauses 4.3 and 7.1)
Sl No. Nature of Construction and Materials Minimum Thickness (mm) of Protection for a
Fire Resistance of
½h 1h
37 mm (minimum) timber joists with a ceiling of:
i) Timber lathing and plaster, plaster of thickness 15
ii) Metal lathing and plaster, thickness of plaster for:
a) Sanded gypsum plaster (metal lathing grade) 15
b) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 13 19
iii) One layer of plasterboard with joints taped and filled and backed by timber 12.7
iv) Two layers of plasterboard with joints staggered, joints in outer layer taped 25
and filled total thickness
v) Two layers of plasterboard each not less than 9.5 mm thick, joints between 5
boards staggered and outer layer finished with gypsum plaster
vi) One layer of plasterboard not less than 9.5 mm thick, finished with:
a) Sanded gypsum plaster 13
b) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 15
vii) One layer of plasterboard not less than 12.7 mm thick, finished with:
a) Sanded gypsum plaster 15
b) Lightweight aggregate gypsum plaster 13
viii) One layer of asbestos insulating board with any transverse joints backed by 12
fillets of asbestos insulating board not less than 9 mm thick, or by timber

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7.2.5 In case of long exit corridors, 1 h fire resistance of the building is used as a floor, it shall
rating fire/smoke check doors shall be provided at an comply with (d), and this shall also apply for
interval of every 30 m. any furnace or motor chamber
communicating with the staircase or hoist
7.2.6 All the vertical shafts other than plumbing shaft
enclosure.
shall be sealed at every floor level by concrete or any
other material having 2 h fire resistance rating to 7.6 Linings or false ceilings shall not be permissible
prevent spread of smoke from floor to floor. in buildings and in situations, where permitted; such
additions shall not detract in anyway from minimum
7.3 A surface covering of non-combustible and non-
fire rating of half an hour.
toxic material shall be laid directly on the
incombustible floor. Wood flooring may be laid directly In some cases, requiring provision of skylights, monitor
on such surface covering or directly on such floor lights or north lights in the roofs and where these are
provided that in either case there is no intervening space necessary, the glazing shall be of glass in metal frames
and that any wood fillets for affixing such flooring is for lire rating of half an hour minimum.
bedded not more than 2.5 cm in the non-combustible
7.7 Composite roofs may be used over as addition to
floor.
the roofs of buildings as a weatherproofing, but shall
7.4 In the case of building used for storage purposes, not be considered as a roof in itself, that is, without the
the floor surface shall conform to the above, in addition, support of a non-combustible construction beneath,
it shall be at least 15 cm above the ground level or the unless it is of not less than half an hour fire resistance.
level of the door sills whichever is higher, and shall
slant towards the doors. 8 AIR-CONDITIONING

7.5 An opening through a floor shall comply with the 8.1 Air-conditioning systems shall be so installed and
following: maintained as to minimize the danger of spread of fire,
smoke or fumes thereby from one floor or fire area to
a) At the time of designing openings particular another, or from outside into any occupied building or
attention shall be paid to all such factors which structure.
will limit fire spread through these openings.
b) When opening in floors are provided to allow 8.2 Air-conditioning systems circulating air to more
than one floor area shall be provided with dampers
cable, etc, the space around cable and the floor
designed to close automatically in case of fire and
shall be protected according to the provisions
thereby prevent spread of fire or smoke. Such a system
given in IS 12459. However, such space in
shall also be provided with automatic controls to stop
case of openings provided to allow plumbing/
fans in case of fire, unless arranged to remove smoke
gas/steam pipes and similar services shall be
from a fire, in which case these shall be designed to
sealed with filler material of fire rating not
remain in operation.
less than 1 h.
c) Openings for steam, gas and/or water pipes 8.3 Air-conditioning system serving large places of
and electrical conduits, whether of iron or assembly (over 1 000 persons), large departmental
earthenware, shall have a radial clearance, to stores or hotels with over 100 rooms in a single block
allow for any heat expansion, not greater than shall be provided with elective means for preventing
3 mm. circulation of smoke through the system in the case of
d) The enclosure for staircases and hoists shall a fire in air filters or from other sources drawn into the
be constructed entirely of brick, concrete or system even though there is insufficient heat to actuate
of reinforced concrete or similar material of heat sensitive devices controlling fans or dampers. Such
construction having 2 h rating. Every opening means shall consist of approved effective smoke
from the enclosure on to a roof used as floor sensitive controls.
or to any other part of the building shall be 8.4 Air-conditioning shall conform to the following:
fitted with a fire resistant door of rating not
less than 1 h. a) Escape routes like staircases, common
corridors, lift lobbies, etc, shall not be used
e) If any staircase or hoist extends to the top
as return air passage.
storey of a building, the roof of which is not a
roof used as a floor, the enclosing walls shall b) The ducting shall be constructed of metal in
be carried through and at least 45 cm above accordance with IS 655.
the roof of the building and a skylight or c) Wherever the ducts pass through fire walls or
window glazed shall be provided above the floor, the opening around the ducts shall be
roof of the building. Alternatively, if the roof sealed with fire resisting materials of same

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IS 1642 : 2013

rating as of walls/floors. q) The air-handling unit room shall not be used

d) Where duct crosses a compartment which is for storage of any combustible materials.
fire rated, the ducts shall be fire rated for same r) Inspection panels shall be provided in the
fire rating. Further depending on services main trunking to facilitate the cleaning of
passing around the duct work, which may get ducts of accumulated dust and to obtain access
affected in case of fire temperature rising, the for maintenance of fire dampers.
ducts shall be insulated. s) No combustible material shall be fixed nearer
e) As far as possible, metallic ducts shall be used than 150 mm to any duct unless such duct is
even for the return air instead of space above properly enclosed and protected with non-
the false ceiling. combustible material at least 3.2 mm thick and
f) The material used for insulating the duct which would not readily conduct heat.
system (inside or outside) shall be of flame In case of buildings more than 24 m in height in non-
resistant and non-conductor of heat. ventilated lobbies corridors, smoke extraction shaft
g) Where plenum is used for return air passage, shall be provided. The automatic fire damper shall be
ceiling and its fixtures shall be of non- so arranged so as to close by gravity in a direction of
combustible material. movement and to remain tightly closed upon operation.
h) Air ducts serving main floor areas, corridors,
9 SMOKE AND FIRE VENTING
etc, shall not pass through the staircase
enclosure. 9.1 Provision has to be made for venting which allows
j) The air-handling units shall be separate for escape of hot gases and smoke release by accidental
each floor and air ducts for every floor shall burning of combustible material stored or are being
be separated and in no way inter-connected processed inside a building, and will give ample time
with the ducting of any other floor. for all the inmates to escape before the roof collapses
k) Area more than 750 m2 on individual floor either in part or wholly in the event of fire.
shall be segregated by a fire wall and Provisions in this regard are essential for industrial
automatic fire dampers for isolation shall be buildings; details of which are covered in a separate
provided. Indian Standard. The provisions with regard to the
m) In case of more than one floor, arrangement domestic buildings are given in 9.2. The form of vent
by way of automatic fire dampers for isolating shall be a ventilator-cum-exhaust which in addition to
by ducting at every floor from the main shall the requisite grading of fire rating is easily openable.
be made. Where plenums used for return air 9.2 Smoke venting facilities, where required for safe
passage, ceiling and its fixtures and air filters use of exits in windowless buildings, underground
of the air handling units shall be flame structures, large area factories, departmental store,
resistant [see 8.4 (f)]. Inspection panels shall domestic dwelling, theatres, cinemas, lecture halls, etc,
be provided in the main trunking. No or where required shall be automatic in action with
combustible material shall be fixed nearer manual controls in addition.
than 15 cm to any duct unless such ducting is
properly enclosed and protected with flame 9.3 Natural draft smoke venting shall utilize roof vents
resistant material. The fire dampers shall be or vents in walls at or near the ceiling level; such vents
located in conditioned air ducts and return air shall be normally open, or if closed, shall be designed
ducts passages at the following points which for automatic opening in case of fire, by release of heat
will operate automatically and are smoke sensitive elements, breakage of glass, or melting
simultaneously switch off air-handling fans: of plastic under the influence of heat; or by other
1) at the fire separation wall, approved means.
2) where ducts/passages enter the central 9.4 Where smoke venting facilities are installed for
vertical shaft, purposes of exit safety, these shall be adequate to
3) where the ducts pass through floor, and prevent dangerous accumulation of smoke during the
4) at the inlet of supply air duct and the period of time necessary to evaluate the area served,
return air duct of each compartment on using available exit facilities with a margin of safety
every floor. to allow for unforeseen contingencies. It is
recommended that smoke exhaust equipment should
n) The vertical shaft for treated fresh air shall
have a minimum capacity of 12 air changes per hour.
be of masonry construction.
Where mechanical venting is employed, it shall be
p) The air filters of the air-handling units shall fire safe.
be of non-combustible materials.
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IS 1642 : 2013

9.5 The discharge apertures of all natural draft smoke 11.3 In multi-level basements, intake ducts may serve
vents shall be so arranged as to be readily susceptible all basement levels, but each basement and basement
to opening by fire service personnel. compartment shall have separate smoke outlet duct or
ducts. Ducts so provided shall have the same fire
9.6 Power operated smoke exhausting systems may
resistance rating as the compartment itself. Fire rating
be substituted for natural draft vents (see IS 941).
may be taken as the required smoke extraction time
9.7 In case of buildings more than 15 m in height for smoke extraction ducts. Mechanical extractors for
the staircase shall be ventilated to the atmosphere at smoke venting (see IS 941) from low basement levels
each landing and a vent at the top, the vent openings shall also be provided, with provision of automatic
shall be 0.5 m2 in the external wall and top. If the operation of system actuation of heat/smoke sensitive
staircase cannot be ventilated because of location detectors or sprinklers if installed, and shall have a
or other reasons, the provision shall be made for considerably superior performance compared to the
pressurization (50 Pa) to be separated automatically standard units. It shall also have an arrangement to start
with the fire alarm. The roof of the shaft in the latter it manually. Mechanical extractors shall have an inter-
case shall be 1 m above the surrounding roofs. locking arrangement, so that extractors shall continue
Glazing or glass bricks shall not be used in the to operate and supply fans shall stop automatically with
staircase. the actuation of fire detectors. Mechanical extractors
shall be designed to permit 30 air changes per hour in
10 SERVICE DUCTS case of tire or distress call. However, for normal
10.1 Service ducts shall be enclosed by walls of 2 h operation, only 28 air changes shall be maintained.
and doors of 1 h fire rating; if ducts are larger than Mechanical extractors shall have an alternative source
1 m3 the floor shall seal them, but provide suitable of supply. Ventilating ducts shall be integrated with
openings for the pipes to pass through, with the gaps the structure and made out of brick masonry or RCC
sealed. as far as possible and when this duct crosses the
transformer area or electrical switch board, fire
10.2 A vent opening at the top of the service shaft shall dampers shall be provided. Basement/sub-basement
be provided between one-fourth and one-half of the shall not be used for storage, cooking purposes, garage
area of the shaft. and shops unless provision is made for sprinkler
system. If cut-outs are provided from basements to the
11 BASEMENTS
upper floors or to the atmosphere all sides of the cut-
11.1 Each basement shall be separately ventilated. out openings in the basements shall be protected by
Vents with cross-sectional area (aggregate) not less than sprinkler head at close spacing so as to form a water
2.5 percent of the floor area spread evenly round the curtain in the event of a fire.
perimeter of the basement shall be provided in the form
of grills or breakable stall board lights or pavement 12 CHIMNEYS
lights or by way of shafts. Alternatively, a system of 12.1 Over and above the provisions given in 4.2, the
air inlets shall be provided at basement floor level and following provisions shall be followed:
smoke outlets at basement ceiling level. Inlets and
extractors may be terminated at ground level with stall a) A clearance of at least 4 cm between the outer
board or pavement lights as before, but ducts to convey surface of the chimney and any adjacent
fresh air to the basement floor level have to be laid. combustible material forming; part of a wall
Stall board and pavement lights shall be in positions lining enclosing the chimney;
easily accessible to the fire brigade and clearly marked b) The fire resistance of any structure
‘SMOKE OUTLET’, or ‘AIR INLET’ with an surrounding a flew or flew pipe shall be not
indication of area served at or near the opening. less than that for external walls. In the case of
flew pipe there shall be an air space between
11.2 The staircase of basements shall be of enclosed
it and the surrounding structure of sufficient
type having fire resistance of not less than 2 h and shall
width to permit access to the pipe for
be situated at the periphery of the basement to be
inspection and repair;
entered at ground level only from the open air and in
such positions that smoke from any fire in the basement c) When a flew pipe passes though any other
shall not obstruct and exit serving the ground and upper room or an enclosed roof space it shall be
storeys of the building and shall communicate with protected by structure having a fire resistance
basement through a lobby provided with fire resisting equal to the external walls;
self-closing doors of 1 h fire resistance. If the travel d) The chimney excluding the pot shall be
distance exceeds 18.5 m, additional staircases shall be carried to a minimum height of 1 m above
provided at proper places. the highest point of its junction with the roof;

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IS 1642 : 2013

e) The outlet of a flew from domestic appliance h) Exit from the lift lobby, if located in the core
having a roof covering shall be at least 2.5 m of the building shall be to a self closing stop
in a horizontal plain from the roof of any door of minimum 1 h fire rating or half an
structure built upon the roof or at least 0.6 m hour fire rating with sprinkler.
higher than any ridge within 2.5 m; j) Lifts shall not normally communicate to the
f) If the roof covering is not fire resistant, no basement if, however, lifts are in communication,
flew outlet shall be lower than the ridge for the lift lobby of the basements shall be
the highest point of the roof or less than 1 m pressurized as in (g), with self-closing door
above any ridge within 25 m; and as in (h).
g) Where a metal chimney passes through a roof k) Suitable arrangements, such as providing
covering which is not fire resistant, it shall be slope in the floor of lift lobby shall be made
guarded by a suitable iron or metal thimble to prevent water used during fire fighting, etc,
extending not less than 22.5 cm above and on any landing from entering the lift shaft.
below roof construction and of a size to m) The sign shall be posted and maintained at
provide not less than 15 cm clearance on all every floor at or near the lift indicating that
sides of chimneys. in case of fire occupants shall use the stairs
unless instructed otherwise. The sign shall
13 STAIRCASES AND LIFTS
also contain a plan for each floor showing the
13.1 Staircases location of staircase.
The details with regard to the provisions of staircases n) Grounding switch, at ground floor level, shall
have been given in IS 1644. be provided on all the lifts to enable the fire
service to ground the lifts.
13.2 Lifts p) Telephone or other communication facilities
13.2.1 The general requirements for the provision of shall be provided in all lift cars for building.
lifts shall be as follows: Communication system for lifts shall be
connected to fire control room for the
a) Walls of lifts and enclosures shall have a fire
building.
rating of 2 h; lift shaft shall have a vent at the
top of area not less than 0.2 m2. Alternate source of power supply shall be provided
b) Lift motor room shall be located preferably for all the lifts through a manually operated changeover
on top of the shaft and separated from the shaft switch.
by the floor of the room. 13.2.2 Fire Lifts
c) Landing doors in lifts and enclosures shall
have a fire resistance of not less than 1 h. 13.2.2.1 To enable fire services personnel to reach the
upper floors with the minimum delay, one fire lift per
d) The number of lifts in one lift tank shall not
1 200 m2 of floor area shall be provided and shall be
exceed 4 and the total number of lifts in the
available for the exclusive use of the firemen in an
bank (of two rows) shall not exceed 8.
emergency.
Individual shafts in a bank shall be separated
by a wall of 2 h fire rating. 13.2.2.2 The lift shall have a floor area of not less than
e) Lift care door shall have a fire resistance rating 1.4 m2. It shall have loading capacity of not less than
of not less than half an hour. 545 kg (8 persons lift) with automatic closing doors of
f) Collapsible gates shall not be used for lifts minimum 0.8 m width.
and shall have doors with fire resistance of at 13.2.2.3 The electric supply shall be on a separate
least 1 h. service from electric supply mains in a building and
g) In opening other than the lift lobby door in the cables run in a route safe from fire, that is, within
the lobby enclosure wall shall also have the the lift shaft. Lights and fans in the elevators having
minimum fire resistance of one hour. If the wooden paneling or sheet steel construction shall be
lift shaft and lobby is in the core of the operated on 24 V supply.
building, a positive pressure between 25 and
13.2.2.4 Fire fighting lift should be provided with a
30 Pa shall be maintained in the lobby and a
ceiling hatch for use in case of emergency, so that when
positive pressure of 50 Pa shall be maintained
the car gets stuck up, it shall be easily openable.
in the lift shaft. The mechanism for
pressurization shall act automatically with the 13.2.2.5 In case of failure of normal electric supply, it
fire alarm; it shall be possible to operate this shall automatically trip over to alternate supply. For
mechanically also. apartment houses, this changeover of supply could be
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IS 1642 : 2013

done through manually operated changeover switch. 17 ELECTRICAL SERVICES

Alternatively, the lift shall be so wired that in case of
The electrical services shall conform to the following
power failure, it comes down at the ground level and
(see also IS 1646):
comes to stand-still with door open.
a) The electric distribution cables/wiring shall
13.2.2.6 The operation of a fire lift is by a simple toggle
be laid in a separate duct. The duct shall be
or two-button switch situated in a glass-fronted box
sealed at every alternative floor with non-
adjacent to the lift at the entrance level. When the
combustible materials having the same fire
switch is on, landing call-points will become
resistance as that of the duct. Low and
inoperative and the lift will be on car control only or
medium voltage wiring running in shaft and
on a priority control device. When the switch is off,
above false ceiling shall run in separate
the lift will return to normal working. This lift can be
conduits.
used by the occupants in normal times.
b) Water mains, telephones lines, inter-com
14 REFUGE AREA lines, gas pipes or any other service line shall
not be laid in the duct for electric cables. Use
In case of buildings more than 24 m in height, refuge of bus ducts/solid rising mains instead of
area of 15 m2 or an area equal to 0.25 m2 per person to cables is preferred.
accommodate the occupants of two consecutive floors,
c) Separate circuits for fire fighting pumps, lifts,
whichever is higher, shall be provided as under. Refuge
staircases and corridor lighting and blowers
area shall be provided on the periphery of the floor or
for pressurizing system shall be provided
preferably on a cantilever projection and open to air at
directly from the main switch gear panel and
least on one side protected with suitable railings:
these circuits shall be laid in separate conduit
a) For floors above 24 m and up to 39 m — One pipes, so that fire in one circuit will not affect
refuge area on the floor immediately above the others. Such circuits shall be protected at
24 m. origin by an automatic circuit breaker with
b) For floor above 39 m — One refuge area on its no-volt coil removed. Master switches
the floor immediately above 39 m and so on controlling essential service circuits shall be
after every 15 m. Refuge area provided in clearly labelled.
excess of the requirements shall be counted d) The inspection panel doors and any other
towards FAR. opening in the shaft shall be provided with fire
NOTE — Residential flats in multi-storied building doors having fire resistance of not less than
with balcony, need not be provided with refuge area, 1 h or half an hour for sprinklered system.
however flats without balcony shall provide refuge area e) Medium and low voltage wiring running in
as given above.
shafts and within false ceiling shall run in metal
15 REFUGE CHUTES conduit. Any 230 V wiring for lighting or other
services above false ceiling shall have 660 V
Refuge chutes shall have opening at least 1 m above grade insulations. The false ceiling including
roof level or venting purpose and they. Refuge chutes all fixtures used for its suspension shall be of
shall have an enclosure wall of non-combustible non-combustible material and shall provide
material with fire resistance of not less than 2 h. They adequate fire resistance to the ceding in order
shall not be located within the staircase enclosure or to prevent spread of fire across ceiling.
service shafts, or air-conditioning shafts. Inspection
f) An independent and well-ventilated service
panel and doors shall be tight fitting with 1 h fire
room shall be provided on the ground floor
resistance; the chutes shall be as far away as possible
or first basement with direct access from
from exits.
outside or from the corridor for the purpose
16 DRAINAGE of termination of electric supply from the
licensee’s service and alternative supply
It is essential to make provision for drainage of any cables. The doors provided for the service
such water on all floors to prevent or minimize water room shall have fire resistance of not less than
damage of the contents. 2 h.
The drain pipe shall be provided on the external wall NOTE — If service room is located at the first basement,
it should have automatic fire extinguishing system.
for drainage of water from all floors. On large area
floors several such pipes may be necessary which shall g) If the licensees agree to provide meters on
be spaced 30 m apart. The pipe shall conform to upper floors, the licensees’ cables shall be
relevant Indian Standards. segregated from consumers’ cables by

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IS 1642 : 2013

providing a partition in the duct. Meter rooms surfacing material shall be considered as divided into
on upper floors shall not open into stair case four classes as follows :
enclosures and shall be ventilated directly to
Class 1— Surfaces of very low flame spread.
open air outside.
Class 2 — Surfaces of low flame spread.
h) Suitable circuit breakers shall be provided at
the appropriate points. Class 3 — Surfaces of medium flame spread.
Class 4 — Surfaces of rapid flame spread.
18 FINISHES
18.3.1 In case of buildings more than 15 m in height,
18.1 There are certain aspects, applicable to particular the interior finish material shall not have rating
occupancies only, which may affect the spread of fire, exceeding Class 1.
smoke or fumes and thus the safe evacuation of the
building in case of fire. Some such aspects are as 18.3.2 The situation under which materials falling into
follows: various classes shall be used in building construction
is given below:
a) Interior finish and decoration;
Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
b) Seating, aisles, railings and turnstiles in place
of assembly; May be used May be used in any Shall be used only
c) Service equipment and storage facilities in in any situa- situation, except on in living rooms
tion walls, facade of the and bedrooms
buildings other than storage buildings; and
building and ceilings (but not in rooms
d) Hazards on stage, in waiting spaces, projection of staircases and on the roof) and
booths, etc, in theatres and cinemas. corridors only as a lining to
18.2 The use of flammable surface finishes on wall solid walls and
(including external facade of the building) and ceilings partitions. Not on
affects the safety of the occupants of a building. Such staircases or corri-
finishes tend to spread the fire and even though the dors or facade of
the building
structural elements may be adequately fire resistant,
serious danger to life may result. It is, therefore, NOTE — Paneling (lining) shall be permitted in a limited area.
essential to have adequate precautions to minimize It shall not be permitted in a vestibule.
spread of flame on wall, facade of building and ceiling
surfaces. For Class 4, referemce may be made to National
Building Code of India: Part 4 Fire and life safety.
Any materials used for various surfaces and décor shall
be such that the flame spread rating shall not be more 18.3.3 When frames, walls, partitions or floors are
than the values given in 18.3 to 18.6 and in addition lined with combustible materials the surfaces on both
shall not generate toxic smoke/flumes. sides of the material shall conform to the appropriate
class because there is considerable danger from fire
18.3 Susceptibility to fire of various types of wall starting and rapidly spreading within the concealed
surfaces is determined in terms of flame spread cavity unknown to the occupants whose escape may
(see IS 12777). Based on the rate of spread of flame, be hampered there by.

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IS 1642 : 2013

ANNEX A
(Clause 2)
LIST OF REFERRED INDIAN STANDARDS

IS No. Title IS No. Title

IS 655 : 2006 Metal air ducts — Specification IS 1646 : 1997 Code of practice for fire safety of
(second revision) buildings (general): Electrical
IS 941 : 1985 Specification for blower and installation (second revision)
exhauster for fire fighting (second IS 3809 : 1979 Fire resistance test for structure (first
revision) revision)
IS 1644 : 1988 Code of practice for fire safety of IS 4355 : 1977 Specification for fire-resistant
buildings (general): Exit brattice cloth (first revision)
requirements and personal hazard IS 12459 : 1988 Code of practice for fire protection
(first revision) of cable runs
IS 12777 : 1989 Fire safety — Flame spread of
products — Method for classification

ANNEX B
(Foreword)
COMMITTEE COMPOSITION
Fire Safety Sectional Committee, CED 36

Organization Representative(s)
Delhi Fire Services, New Delhi SHRI R. C. SHARMA (Chairman)
SHRI A. K. SHARMA (Alternate)
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai SHRI A. K. TANDLE
Builders Association of India, New Delhi REPRESENTATIVE
Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee DR M. P. SINGH
DR SUVIR SINGH (Alternate)
Central Electricity Authority, New Delhi SHRI C. S. KASANA
SHRI P. C. KUREEL (Alternate)
Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata REPRESENTATIVE
Central Industrial Security Force, New Delhi DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL (FIRE)
SHRI S. L. NAGARKAR (Alternate)
Central Public Works Department, New Delhi SHRI SATYA PRAKASH BARNWAL
SHRI ASHOK KUMAR GOEL (Alternate)
Centre for Fire & Explosive Environment Safety, New Delhi DIRECTOR
DR K. C. WADHWA (Alternate)
Chennai Petroleum Corp Ltd, Chennai SHRI J. P. K. HEPAT
Controllerate of Quality Assurance, Pune LT-COL B. T. MANJUNATH
SHRI M. B. PARADKAR (Alternate)
Council of Architecture, New Delhi SHRI A. R. RAMANATHAN
SHRI GIRISH MISHRA (Alternate)
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, New Delhi SRIMATI TRIPTA KHURANA
Directorate General of Factory Advice Service & Labour SHRI A. K. GANGULY
Institute, Mumbai SHRI S. P. BANDOPADHYAYA (Alternate)
Electricity Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum, New Delhi SHRI HEMANT KUMAR

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IS 1642 : 2013

Organization Representative(s)
Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch, New Delhi SHRI A. K. RAY
SHRI S. K. GUPTA (Alternate)
Engineering Industrial Technical Section, Ministry of Industry, SHRI P. K. SUNKARIA
New Delhi SHRI K. C. MATHUR (Alternate)
Engineers India Limited, New Delhi SHRI ARVIND KUMAR
MS ALPANA SRIVASTAVA (Alternate)
GAIL, New Delhi SHRI JAYANT CHAKRABORTY
Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Noida SHRI T. K. KUMAR
Institution of Fire Engineers, New Delhi PRESIDENT
GENERAL SECRETARY (Alternate)
Lloyd Insulations (India) Limited, New Delhi SHRI K. K. MITRA
SHRI SANJEEV ANGRA (Alternate)
Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi SHRI O M PRAKASH
SHRI D. K. SHAMI (Alternate)
Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai CHIEF FIRE OFFICER
DEPUTY CHIEF FIRE OFFICER (Alternate)
National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd, New Delhi SHRI D. K. SURYANARAYAN
Oil Industry Safety Directorate, New Delhi SHRI S. C. GUPTA
SHRI B. R. GADEKAR (Alternate)
Reliance Refineries Limited, Jamnagar SHRI VARADENDRA KOTI
SHRI UMESH KHANDALKAR (Alternate)
Shriram Institute of Industrial Research, Delhi REPRESENTATIVE
State Bank of India, Mumbai SHRI J. S. GAHLAUT
In personal capacity (P/4 Belgacuta, Kolkata) SHRI S. N. KUNDU
In personal capacity (K-33-A Green Park, New Delhi) SHRI S. K. DHERI
In personal capacity (C-127 Kendriya Vihar, Noida) SHRI H. S. KAPARWAN
In personal capacity (305, SJR Verity, Amrita College Road SHRI T. R. A. KRISHNAN
Kasavanahalli, Bangalore)
BIS Directorate General SHRI A. K. SAINI, Scientist ‘F’ & Head (Civ Engg)
[Representing Director General (Ex-officio)]

Member Secretary
SHRI S. CHATURVEDI
Scientist ‘E’ (Civ Engg), BIS

17
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 Free Standard provided by BIS via BSB Edge Private Limited to Manoj Kumar -
Chennai(samkce@gmail.com) 49.205.84.210 [for non-commercial use only].

Bureau of Indian Standards

BIS is a statutory institution established under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 to promote
harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods
and attending to connected matters in the country.

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Review of Indian Standards

Amendments are issued to standards as the need arises on the basis of comments. Standards are also reviewed
periodically; a standard along with amendments is reaffirmed when such review indicates that no changes are
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should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest amendments or edition by referring to the latest issue of
‘BIS Catalogue’ and ‘Standards : Monthly Additions’.

This Indian Standard has been developed from Doc No.: CED 36 (7635).

Amendments Issued Since Publication

Amend No. Date of Issue Text Affected

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