A33.  Dead-end access way and fire engine access road shall not exceed 45 m in length or if exceeding 45 m, be provided with turning facilities.

A34.  Overhead clearance of access way and fire engine access road shall be at least 4.5 m for passage of fire fighting appliances. Overhead obstruction to access way could be entrance gate, link or bridges connecting buildings.

A35.  In any building which is classified as high-rise or High depth building having more than 2 level of basement, there shall be provided at least one fire lift, which shall be contained within a separate protected shaft or a common protected shaft containing other lifts subject to such other lifts being served at each storey by a fire fighting lobby.  

A36.  Minimum dimension of a Fire lift car shall be of 1950mm either in length of breadth.

A37.   Fire-fighting stairs should be a minimum of 1200 mm wide.

A38.  The fire fighting lobby shall have a clear floor area of not less than 5 m2. The clear floor area should not exceed 20 m2 for spaces serving up to four lifts or 5 m2 per lift for spaces serving more than four lifts.  

A39.  Landing valves shall be located in accordance to the following preference:

i.    In fire Fighting lobby (if provided), for the first landing valve.
ii.   In Fire fighting or exit staircase, for the first landing valve.
iii.  In smoke free enclosure or external corridor.
iv.   In the common corridor or area within a protected shaft.

A40.  Every part of the floor area shall be within 30 m coverage of a landing valve.

A41.  An Emergency Command Centre shall be provided in any building which is ‘Highrise’ with 23 m or more in height with the exception of One-and-Two-Family Dwelling and such Emergency Command Center shall have the following:

i.    Fire lift
ii.   Emergency voice communication system
iii.  Engineered smoke control system.

A42.  An Emergency Command Centre shall be of adequate size to house all the terminals and supervisory/control equipment, etc of the building’s fire protection/detection systems and a free working space of at least 8.9 m2 with no dimension lesser than 2440 mm.

A43.  An Emergency Command Centre shall be located adjacent to the fire lift lobby at the designated storey of the building (i.e. the lobby of the building on the first storey or immediately adjacent thereto)

A44.  Doors required to be of the side-hinged or pivoted-swinging type shall swing in the direction of egress travel where serving a room or area with an occupant load of 50 or more. A door shall swing in the direction of egress travel under either of the following conditions:

i.     Where the door is used in an exit enclosure
ii.    Where the door serves a high hazard contents area

A45.  Exit stairs serving High-rise buildings, Midrise buildings, High depth Underground buildings and buildings connecting four or more stories shall be constructed of RCC (Reinforced Concrete) with a minimum of 2 hour fire rating. Exit Stairs serving Lowrise buildings, Lowdepth Underground buildings and buildings connecting Three or less stories shall be protected with 2 hour fire rated construction.

A46.  Spiral Stairs is not allowed as a part of means of egress.

A47.  Interlocking or scissor stairs shall be considered only as a single exit.

A48.  A floor diagram shall be provided in staircase landings on the wall beside the exit door. Floor diagrams shall also be provided beside fire alarm panels, in smoke-free enclosures, in fire fighting lobbies and in individual rooms of hotels and health care occupancies.

A49.  Floor diagrams shall show the actual floor layout, exit stairways locations, corridors, rooms, landing valves, hosereel, fire extinguishers, lift lobbies and other useful information for fire department as well as occupants.

A50.  Every escape staircase serving buildings of 23 m in height or more must be made a smoke proof enclosure. The means of achieving a smoke proof enclosure should be by pressurization.

A51.  A smoke proof enclosure shall be enclosed from the highest point to the lowest point by barriers having 2-hour fire resistance ratings.  

A52.  The exit passageway shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a 2-hour fire resistance rating.