Fire Requirement UBBL

BTAR 1032
BUILDING BY-LAWS
Edited by
Dr.Mazura bt Mahdzir
Part VII: Fire Requirements
Fire protection system
Protection of a building and its contents from damage

by fire can be divided into two(2)categories:
i) Passive - usually falls under the Architect scope
ii) Active - which usually falls under the M&E consultant scope
The overall protection strategies for development projects in

Malaysia are based on ‘Fire Safety Philosophy’ of the
Malaysian Uniform Building By-Laws(1984) (UBBL)
UBBL are to ensure the safety of the occupant in term of

fire safety
Fire protection system –
Passive
Passive fire protection systems are Intended to maintain
the following:
Provide structural integrity of floor, wall, and ceiling
assemblies during a fire for a specified time period
Control the fire spread by compartmentalize the fire

room or space
Provide exiting systems for occupants to evacuate

the building safely
Provide structural integrity of floor, wall,
and ceiling
Fire resistance – Clause 222 - 224

All structural elements shall be able to
withstand fire – according to schedule 9
Major separation wall will normally have
longer fire resistance periods than the
enclosure to escape routes.
One hour is a common minimum, but up to
four hours or more are possible, demanded by
fire authorities
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
Control the fire spread by compartmentalize the fire
room or space
1. WHAT - Compartment” means any part of a building which is
separated from all other parts by one or more compartment walls or
compartment floors..
2. WHY
- to reduce the likelihood of smoke inhalation-deaths
- To avoid large volumes and interconnecting spaces
- To contain specific hazards (for eg fuel stores),from the building
and separate particular hazards from high-risk occupancies
- To isolate escape routes
3. HOW
- to subdivide a large building so that a fire starting anywhere is
caged within its cell of origin.
- By means of providing fire window, fire door, fire wall, drywall,
ceiling or fire stop
COMPARTMENTATION
Clause 137 Compartment wall & floor requirement.
a) building height more than 30m
b) floor height more than 9m
Clause 139 - Separation of fire risk areas from areas of occupancy.

The following area shall be separated and constructed with fire resisting
construction
- Boiler room, associated fuel storage areas
- Laundries
- Liquefied petroleum gas storage areas
- Transformer room and substations
- Flammable liquid stores
Clause 148
Special Requirements for Compartment Walls and Floors
No compartment wall or floors shall have opening except that
the opening is fitted with a door – FRP
Junction with structure shall be fire-stopped
Provide exiting systems for occupants
to evacuate the building safely
Types of exit/ means of escape

corridors
exit passageway
exit doors
interior stairs
exterior stairs
Means of Escape
Means of escape is a continuous, unobstructed path for
evacuees from any point in a building to a public way.
The effectiveness of All the exits must be ensured by these

following factors:
clear and unobstructed access is provided to all exits
exits are identified and well lit
the proper type of door is used and it opens in the

direction of travel
exits are equipped with the proper opening and locking

hardware
Clear exits discharge to a public way

clear and unobstructed access is
provided to all exits
exits are identified and well lit
Clause 165 Travel distance
Travel distance to an exit shall be measured on the floor

along the centre line (with 0.3m clearance)
- from most remote (farthest) point of occupancy
- to ending at exit
Open space - the direct distance not exceed 2/3 travel
distance.
Individual rooms (max. 6 person)- travel distance max.15m
from door
Clause 166 & 167 Storeys exits
minimum 2 separate exits from each storey not
nearer than 4.5m apart and located within the
limits of travel distance, widths of exits as specified
in Seventh Schedule
Every upper floor to have minimum 2 staircases except
buildings lower than 12m
Clause 194 Building with a single
stairscase
Residential or Office Buildings permitted to be served by a Single
Staircase - when top floor is 12m high or less
- stairs separated from Ground Floor with fire rated walls – 2

hours
- maximum travel distance 12m from exit door to any point in

the area
- At Ground and First Floors, if there are windows with opening

lights possible for emergency escape the maximum travel
distance may be 30m.
Clause 172 Emergency exit signs
Storey exits and access shall be marked by visible signs
and shall not be obscured by any decorations, furnishings
or other equipment
Clause 173 Exit doors

All exit doors shall be openable from the inside
without use of a key or effort.
Exit doors shall close automatically when released

and all door devices shall release the doors upon
power failure or actuation of fire alarm.
Clause 196 & 197 Smoke & Protected lobbies
Smoke lobbies – must have fire door – to access stair
Protected lobbies - Provided to serve staircases in
buildings exceeding 18m where staircase enclosures not
ventilated.
Buildings exceeding 45m

–protected staircase shall be pressurised.
Protected lobbies may be

omitted if staircase pressurised.
A pressurisation system protects escape

routes and fire-fighting shafts against
the ingress of smoke. Smoke and fire
ventilation is maintained by the
pressure within the escape route being
higher than that in the adjacent
spaces
SMOKE CONTROL - Pressurized escape routes
to create greater air pressure in escape routes such as

corridors and stairs, than the remainder of rooms
Usually in an office block and other large and high-rise

compartmentation buildings.
The effect is to contain smoke -and fire at its point of

outbreak
allowing it to leak out through windows or purpose-made

ventilation grills
Clause 140 -Fire appliance access e.g.
12m width road to support fire engine
PART VII: FIRE REQUIREMENTS
Provision of compartment walls & floors
Fire appliance access (BL140) – minimum proportion of
perimeter of building
Separating walls
Measurement of travel distance to exits (BL165)
(e.g. office: dead-end limit 15m)
Building with single staircase (BL194)
– top most floor < 12m
Fire resistance for walls
Part VIII: Fire Alarms, Fire Detection,
Fire Extinguishment and Fire Fighting Access
Fire protection system -

Active
Clause 225
Every building to have
1means of detecting and
extinguishing fire, equipped
with fire alarm and exit signs
2a minimum one Fire
Hydrant not more than
91.5m from nearest fire
brigade access
Fire protection system - Active
Installation of an alarm and detecting system to give
warning of outbreak.
Installation and equipment for automatic fire extinction
Provision of first-aid fire fighting equipment

Provide for facilities to assist the fire service
In general, it involve two major system:-

1. Detect
2. Suppress a fire
Clause 229
Buildings with top most floor higher than 18.3m to be provided with
means of access and fighting fire from within building via fire fighting
access lobbies directly accessible from outside, staircases, fire lifts in
protected lobbies or staircases or corridors and dry or wet risers. Fire
fighting lobbies at every level no more than 45.75m from furthermost
point.
Suppress a fire
a. Portable extinguisher
Clause 227
Portable extinguishers provided based on relevant codes and sited
prominently and visible along exit routes
Suppress a fire
a. Automatic sprinkle system
- Comprises fire pump, water storage tanks,
sprinkler head, pipe works and valves etc.
- Operate automatically without human intervention
Clause 228
Sprinkler valves to be located on exterior walls accessible to Firemen
and alarm electrically connected to nearest Bomba station
Suppress a fire
a. Dry riser
Dry risers are normally dry and
depend on the fire engine to pump
water into the system
Clause 230
Dry rising system to be provided in buildings
with top most floor more than 18.3m but
less than 30.5m.
Suppress a fire
a. Wet riser
Wet risers are a form of internal
hydrant for the fireman to use and
are always charged with water
Clause 231
Wet rising system to be provided in
buildings with top most floor more than
30.5m. Wet riser to be provided to every
staircase which extends to the roof. Each
stage of wet riser to be no more than
61.0m except in cases may be permitted
to 70.15m
Suppress a fire
a. Hose reel
Hose reel system is intended for the occupant to use during the
early stages of a fire and comprises hose reel pumps, fire storage
tank, hose reels, pip work and valves.
Detect a fire
- Smoke - Heat - Flame
Besides that, every fire detection system must
include manual call point (break glass), so that in the
event of fire, help can be called immediately
During a fire, activation of an alarm sounders or bells

is to arouse the attention of the occupants so that
evacuation can be carried out without causing harm
to the occupants.
Clause 237
Fire alarms to be provided with premises exceeding area of
9,290sqm or higher than 30.5m provided with two-stage alarm
system
Suppress a fire
Clause 238
Large or tall buildings over 30.5m require Command and
Control Centre to be located at designated floor with direct
telephone connection to Bomba
Clause 242
Fire fighting access lobbies to be 5.57sqm or more in area and
have openable windows or openings for ventilation or
mechanically ventilated.
Clause 243
Buildings with top most occupied floor over 18.5m to be
provided with Bomba lifts. Bomba lifts to be provided for every
group of lifts discharged into the same protected enclosure
but no more than 61.0m travel distance from furthermost point
of the floor.
Summary - Fire protection
system
Active
Hose reel
Sprinkler system
Riser – wet/ dry riser
Portable fire extinguisher – CO2, foam, soda acid
Passive
Means of scape
Smoke control
Compartmentation
Fire wall
Fire door/ window
Fire stopper
ceiling
PART IX: MISCELLANEOUS
Malaysian Standard Specification and Code Practice

FAILURE TO BUILDINGS:
QP’s obligation to report failure, explain cause of failure and
state remedial action taken. The responsibility for the failure
shall lie with the submitting person / QP despite approved by
authority.
PART IX: MISCELLANEOUS
First schedule: Plan processing fees

Second schedule: Form A, B, C, D and E
Third schedule: Mechanical ventilation
Fourth schedule: Weights of materials & loads
Fifth schedule: Purpose groups & compartments
Sixth schedule: Limits of unprotected areas
Seventh schedule: Maximum travel distances & capacity of
exits
Eight schedule: Restriction of spread of flame over walls &
ceilings
Ninth schedule: Limits of compartments & minimum periods
of fire resistance
Tenth schedule: Requirements for fire extinguishment, alarm
systems and emergency lighting
9
10 LIMITS OF COMPARTMENTS
REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE
& MINIMUM PERIODS OF 8
EXTINGUISHMENT ALARM SYSTEMS FIRE RESISTANCE RESTRICTION OF SPREAD OF
& EMERGENCY LIGHTING FLAME OVER WALLS AND
CEILINGS
1
PLAN PROCESSING FEES
7
MAXIMUM TRAVEL DISTANCES
& CAPACITY OF EXITS
2
FORM A,B,C,D and E
3 SCHEDULES 6
MECHANICAL LIMITS OF UNPROTECTED
VENTILATION AREAS
5
4 DESIGNATION OF
WEIGHT OF MATERIALS & PURPOSE GROUP &
COMPARTMENTS
LOADS

Fire Requirement UBBL

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BTAR 1032

Protection of a building and its contents from damage

The overall protection strategies for development projects in

UBBL are to ensure the safety of the occupant in term of

Control the fire spread by compartmentalize the fire

Provide exiting systems for occupants to evacuate

Fire resistance – Clause 222 - 224

Clause 139 - Separation of fire risk areas from areas of occupancy.

Types of exit/ means of escape

The effectiveness of All the exits must be ensured by these

exits are identified and well lit

the proper type of door is used and it opens in the

exits are equipped with the proper opening and locking

Clear exits discharge to a public way

Travel distance to an exit shall be measured on the floor

- stairs separated from Ground Floor with fire rated walls – 2

- maximum travel distance 12m from exit door to any point in

- At Ground and First Floors, if there are windows with opening

Clause 173 Exit doors

Exit doors shall close automatically when released

Buildings exceeding 45m

Protected lobbies may be

A pressurisation system protects escape

to create greater air pressure in escape routes such as

Usually in an office block and other large and high-rise

The effect is to contain smoke -and fire at its point of

allowing it to leak out through windows or purpose-made

Fire protection system -

Installation and equipment for automatic fire extinction

Provision of first-aid fire fighting equipment

In general, it involve two major system:-

During a fire, activation of an alarm sounders or bells

Malaysian Standard Specification and Code Practice

First schedule: Plan processing fees

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