Fire Load Calculation

Fire load:
An important factor in establishing the basis for the assessment of

the fire risk pertaining to any building is the concept of ‘fire load’
which indicates the quantity of heat liberated per unit
area when a building and its contents are
completely burnt.
All occupancies/buildings, etc. can be graded according to their
fire hazard and are to be provided for with suitable fire precautions
on the basis of the fire load.
Hence, grading of buildings according to both fire load and fire

resistance can be made.
The formula for calculating fire load is as stated.
Fire load = (combustibles in kg) x calorific value in kcal/kg

Floor area in square meters
The calculation of the fire load is the basis for the determining
the classification of the occupancies for the fire grading of
buildings.
Fire grading of the structures:
 Structural element of buildings are graded according to the

the time factor which is nearly equal to but does not exceed
the test period which the element fulfills its specified
requirements.
 Accordingly, all structural elements have been graded under
the following five categories depending upon their five
resistance, viz.,
Grade 1…………………… 6 hours
Grade 5…………………… 0.5 hours
Classification of Occupancies :
The fire offices committee (U.K.), in its report of fire grading of

buildings in 1946, has recognized 3 main classes of occupancies on
the basis of the fire load. This also conforms to the relevant I.S.
specifications and may be stated as:
Occupancies of low fire load:

ordinary buildings for residential purposes, hotels, offices, schools,
etc, or occupancies having a fire load not exceeding 2,75,000
kcal/sq.mtr of net floor area of any compartment, nor exceeding an
average of550,000 kcal/sq.mtr on a limited isolated area. (for
reference, the maximum for this type in F.P.S. system is 1,00,000
B.Th.U/sq.ft)
The fire resistance required by buildings of this category to

withstand the complete burn-out of their contents without collapse
is 1 hour as has been found after tests. Extensive investigations
carried out in Switzerland and Germany have shown that the fire
load in offices varies from 10 kg to 30 kg/sq.mtr wood equivalent
to 43,356 to 130,068 kcal/sq.mtr where as this type of occupancy
has an one hour rating with maximum fire loading upto 270,978
kcal/sq.mtr equivalent to 60 kg/sq.m.
Occupancies of moderate low fire load:

Retail shops, bazaars, stalls, factories, etc. hence the fire load
exceeds, 2,75,000 kcal/sq.mtr, and is upto 550,000 kcal/sq.mtr.
This is equivalent to the fire load of 2,75,000 kcal/sq.mtr, not
exceeding an average of 1,100,000 kcal/sq.mtr on limited isolated
area as per relevant I.S. specifications. Occupancies of this type
should have a fire resistance of two hours.
Occupancies of high low fire load:

Godowns, warehouses, etc. this category as per I.S. specifications
exceeds the fire load by 550,000 kcal/sq.mtr, but does not exceed
an average of 1,100,000 kcal/sq.mtr of floor area. A fire resistance
of 4 hours for these types of occupancies is considered sufficient.
(for reference, the maximum for this type in F.P.S. system is

4,00,000 B.Th.U/sq.ft exceeding an average of 2,00,000
B.Th.U/sq.ft).
Example:
The manufacturing process industry uses the following material.
Calculate the Fire load by using the following data:
Material Quantity in kg. Area in sq.mtr Calorific

value (kJ/kg)
Paper 1000 10 15600
Wood 20,000 20 17500
Coal 100,000 50 20000
Rubber 5000 25 40000
Paetroleum 50,000 30 43000
product
Note: 1 calorie – 4.18 Joule

Fire load = (combustibles in kg) x calorific value in kcal/kg
Floor area in square meters
Fire load (paper) = 1000 x 3732.05 = 373205.74 kcal/sq.mt

10
Fire load (wood) = 20000 x 4186.602 = 418602 kcal/sq.mt

20
Fire load (coal) = 100,000 x 4784.688 = 9569377.99 kcal/sq.mt
50
Fire load (rubber) = 5000 x 9569.37 = 1913874 kcal/sq.mt
25
Fire load
(Petroleum products) = 50,000 x 10287.081 = 17145135.57
30 kcal/sq.mt
Total fire load = 29420195.3 kcal/sq.mt
Result indicates that the occupancy has High fire load. So fire
resistance should be of 4 hours.
Installation of fire extinguishers:
Example:
(1) Determine the number of fire extinguishers required to give

adequate protection for a given property.
Risk: Light engineering workshop (Light hazard)

Area: 315m x 112 m. i.e. 35,280 sq. mtr.
Type of hazard:
Class ‘A’ fire due to normal combustibles.
As per IS 2190 this is Light Hazard so one 9 ltr water expelling

extinguisher for every 600 sq.mtr of floor area should be installed.
Extinguisher should be available within 25 mtr radius.
Here Total area is 35,280 sq.mt.
So no. of extinguisher = 35,280 sq.mt . = 58.8

600
so no. of extinguisher required is 59.
(2) Determine the number of fire extinguishers required to give

adequate protection for a given property.
Risk: Petroleum processing units (High hazard)

Area: 300m x 150 m. i.e. 45000 sq. mtr.
Type of hazard:
Class ‘B’ fire due to petroleum products.
As per IS 2190 this is High Hazard so two 9 ltr foam

chemical/mechanical type; or 5 kg capacity dry powder
extinguisher for every 600 sq.mtr with minimum of four
extinguisher per compartment shall be installed.
Extinguisher should be available within 15 mtr radius.
Here Total area is 45000 sq.mt.
So no. of extinguisher = 45000 sq.mt . = 75

600
so no. of extinguisher required is 75.

Fire Load Calculation

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Fire load:

An important factor in establishing the basis for the assessment of

Hence, grading of buildings according to both fire load and fire

Fire load = (combustibles in kg) x calorific value in kcal/kg

Fire grading of the structures:

 Structural element of buildings are graded according to the

The fire offices committee (U.K.), in its report of fire grading of

Occupancies of low fire load:

The fire resistance required by buildings of this category to

Occupancies of moderate low fire load:

Occupancies of high low fire load:

(for reference, the maximum for this type in F.P.S. system is

Material Quantity in kg. Area in sq.mtr Calorific

Note: 1 calorie – 4.18 Joule

Fire load (paper) = 1000 x 3732.05 = 373205.74 kcal/sq.mt

Fire load (wood) = 20000 x 4186.602 = 418602 kcal/sq.mt

Total fire load = 29420195.3 kcal/sq.mt

(1) Determine the number of fire extinguishers required to give

Risk: Light engineering workshop (Light hazard)

As per IS 2190 this is Light Hazard so one 9 ltr water expelling

Here Total area is 35,280 sq.mt.

So no. of extinguisher = 35,280 sq.mt . = 58.8

(2) Determine the number of fire extinguishers required to give

Risk: Petroleum processing units (High hazard)

As per IS 2190 this is High Hazard so two 9 ltr foam

Here Total area is 45000 sq.mt.

So no. of extinguisher = 45000 sq.mt . = 75

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