Code of Practice for Fire Safety in Buildings 2011 Andy Leung Chairman, Buildings Committee, HKIA HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 1
Code of Practice for Fire Safety in Buildings 2011 The New Code of Practice for Fire Safety in Buildings 2011 (FS Code) was issued by Buildings Department on 30 September 2011 Several briefing sessions were organized by Buildings Department and HKIA in October 2011 Queries and questions were collected from HKIA members after the briefing sessions which were sent to BD on 18 November 2011 for a written response. HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 2
Code of Practice for Fire Safety in Buildings 2011 Salient Points of Amendments affecting Building Design HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 3
Contents of the FS Code Part A - Introduction Part B - Means of Escape (MOE) Part C - Fire Resisting Construction (FRC) Deemed to comply provisions Part D - Means of Access (MOA) Part E - Fire Properties of Building Elements and Components Part F - Fire Safety Management Part G - Guidelines on Fire Engineering Alternative Solutions HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 4
Use Classifications 8 Use Classifications are introduced in the FS Code : 1. - Residential 2. - Hotel and similar Transient Accommodation 3. - Institutional 4. - Commercial 5. - Assembly 6. - Industrial 7. - Carparks 8. - Plant Rooms & the like Clause B4.1 Occupant Capacity and Occupancy Factor New OF are provided for accommodation types not previously defined in the old MOE Code e.g. Carparks - 30 m 2 per person Plant rooms - 30 m 2 per person (for net floor area exceeding 100 m 2 ) HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 5
Part B : Means of Escape Clause B8.2 Access to Required Staircases Access should be provided from one staircase to another staircase (without going through private premises) at each floor; at one of every 5 floors of a domestic building not exceeding 15 storeys; in case refuge floor(s) is/are provided, at the refuge floor(s) AND the roof. HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 6
Part B : MEANS OF ESCAPE Clause B9.1 Exits at Ground Storey Any opening from ground storey to the required staircase shall be through a protected lobby Clause B11.2 & B11.3 Travel Distance Travel distance for most of the Use Classifications (except UC- 3 for institutional use) have been relaxed, especially for residential (UC-1) and Hotel (UC-2). Travel distance for Use Classification 3 (Institutional) has been tightened. Clause B11.4 Multi-level Flats (e.g. Triplex, etc.) Flats with 3 or more levels should be provided with access to a protected exit at 2 or more levels. HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 7
Part B : MEANS OF ESCAPE Clause B17.5 Protected Lobby for required staircases from Basement Protected lobby is no longer required for required staircases from basement : which is provided with a pressurization system; which is an independent staircase (serving one basement only) Clause B20.9 PPE Premises with an Occupant Capacity not more than 500 (other than Cinema / theatre) Relaxation of thoroughfare requirement for small scale PPT not being a Cinema or Theatre Such Places of Public Entertainment with an OC of not more than 500 may be permitted to abut on one thoroughfare only. HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 8
Part C : FIRE RESISTING CONSTRUCTION Most of the Fire Compartment limit have been changed from Volume to Area. Clauses C3.2 and C4.2 Fire Rated Doors Fire Rated Doors through a fire barrier should have the same Fire Resisting Rating (FRR) as that of the fire barrier. (only half of the FRP of the compartment / wall is required in old FRC Code) HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 9
Part C : FIRE RESISTING CONSTRUCTION Clause C5.2 Separation between Buildings on the Same Site Separation distance between buildings on the same site depends on the angle between external walls of the buildings, In general, - minimum of 900mm for external walls with an angle of more than 135 degrees; Minimum of 1800mm for external walls with an angle of less than 135 degrees. HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 10
Part C : FIRE RESISTING CONSTRUCTION Clause C8.1 Insulation Criteria for Fire Rated Doors and Fire Shutters for Fire Compartment Openings Fire Shutters and Fire Rated Doors forming more than 25% of the fire barrier forming part of a fire compartment wall are required to have Insulation Criteria in addition to the integrity requirement. (Note : The new requirement for insulation criteria is effective immediately subsequent to BD s issue of the revised PNAP No. APP-83 in August 2011.) HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 11
Part C : FIRE RESISTING CONSTRUCTION Clause C10.3 Atrium in a Building New restrictions to design of atrium in a building : max. volume of 28,000 m 3. Max. 15m from the lowest connected floor to the underside of the structural member at atrium ceiling Sprinkler system to be provided to the atrium Max. 3 interconnected floors within an atrium. Any atrium design not complying with the above is subject to special approval upon submission of a Fire Engineering proposal. HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 12
Part C : FIRE RESISTING CONSTRUCTION Clause C10.1 Protection of Openings between Floors 450mm fire rated downstand around openings between floors is required in sprinkler protected buildings only. Clause C11.1 Protection against External Fire Spread Protection at external wall between floors can be achieved by means of : 900mm vertical spandrel element with the required FRR; 500mm horizontal projection with the required FRR. The above can be waived for sprinkler protected buildings. HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 13
Part C : FIRE RESISTING CONSTRUCTION Clause C13.4 Open Kitchen in Residential Use (UC-1) Open kitchen in residential use can be approved without submission of any fire engineering proposal, subject to the following provisions : Smoke Detectors Sprinklers Fire rated full height wall adjacent to the exit door. Clause C16.4 Fire Rated Doors bottom gap between doors and floor is now relaxed from 4mm to 10mm smoke seal should be provided to all fire rated doors of the following: a flat or guestroom; a protected lobby; a projector room of a cinema for film projection. HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 14
Part D : MEANS OF ACCESS Most of the requirements for Means of Access remain unchanged except : Clause D8.4 Fireman s Lift Direct line measurement for floors that the internal layout is not shown on plan is relaxed from 40m to 45m. Clause D17.2 Firefighting & Rescue Stairway FRR of firefighting and rescue stairway is reduced from twice of the overall building FRR to the same as the overall building FRR. HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 15
APPLICATION OF NEW FIRE SAFETY CODE Projects for which consent to the commencement of foundation works has been given after 1 April, 2012, the new Fire Safety Code should be complied with. The new FS Code may be adopted for plans submitted before 1 April, 2012 provided that it is used in its entirety. For existing building (based on old codes), only the areas affected by the proposed A&A works (together with the affected exit routes) will need to comply with the new FS Code. For licensed premises in existing buildings, only the areas subject to a new license application (including the affected exit routes) will need to comply with the new FS Code. HKIA Intensive CPD Seminar 2011 on 17 Dec 2011 16
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