IS :1643 - 1988

( Reaffirmed 1998 )

Indian Standard

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR

FIRE SAFETY OF BUILDINGS (GENERAL):
EXPOSURE HAZARD
( First Revision )
First Reprit

OCTOBER

1998

UDC 69981 : 720112

BUREAU
MANAK

OF
BHAVAN,

GT3

INDIAN

STANDARDS

9 BAHADUR
SHAH
NEW DELHI 110002

ZAFAR

MARG

September

--_

1988

IS : 1643 - 1988

Indian Standard

CODE OFPRACTICEFOR
FIRESAFETY OFBUILDINGS(GENERAL):

EXPOSUREHAZARD
( First Revision )
0, FOREWORD
0.1This IndianStandard ( First Revision ) was
adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards on
2 May 1988, after the draft finalized by the Fire
Safety Sectional Committee had been approved
by the Civil Engineering Division CkUnCil.

Canada.

This revision includes the values in

area ratio, and open space according to norms adopted by these countries.
K'eSpeCt
Of floor

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 : 21960*. The number of significant places retained
in the rounded off value should be the same as.
that of the specified value in this standard.
o-3 For

0.2 A series of Indian Standards covering the fire

safety of buildings in general, principles of fire
grading, details of construction, exit requirements
and exposure hazard, have been formulated. This
Indian Standard, covering the last aspect, was
first formulated in 1960. In the past 25 years,
useful data has become available based on studies
conducted in countries such as USA, UK and

*Rules for rounding off numerical values ( revised 1.

1. SCOPE

between the buildings and size of the buildinps

influence the severity of exposure hazard.

1.1 This standard covers requirements regarding

spacing of buildings to provide adequate safety
against exposure hazard.

3. MAXIMUM

HEIGHT

3.1 Every

building should be restricted in its

height above the ground level and the number of
storeys, depending upon its occupancy and the
type of construction.
The maximum permissible
height for any combination of occupancy and
types of construction should necessarily be related
to the width of street fronting the building or.
floor area ratio ( see 4 ).

2. GENERAL
2.1 The

construction
and spacing of buildings
with due regard to their classification ( see
IS : 1641-1988* ) are the major factors to be
considered which otherwise may lead to a serious
Thus
conflagration
intensely built-up areas.
exposure hazard expressed the danger or risk of
spread of fire through the open air in a building
on fire to another building situated in the vicinity.

4. FLOOR

2.2 The precautions taken by keeping proper

spacing of the building prevent spread of fire by
direct contact of flames and hot gases emitted
from the burning building or by radiated heat
and flying brands.

AREA

RATIO

4.1 The comparative floor area ratios for different occupancies and types of construction are
given in Table 1.

4.2 Each portion of a building, which is separated by one or more continuous fire resisting
2.3 The factors like type of construction ( see walls, having a fire resistance of not less than 4 h,
1s : 1642-1988t ) based on occupancy distance
extending from the foundation to 1 m above the
roof at all points, may be considered to be a
*Cede of practice for fire safety of buildings ( general ):
General principles of fire grading and classification (first separate building for the calculation of maximum
permissible height and floor area, provided openrevision ).
wall, are also,
+Codeof practice for fire safety of buildings ( general ): ings, if any, in the separating
protected by fire assemblies of 4 h.
Details of construction (first revision 1.
1

1S:1643-

1988

TABLE 1 COMPARATIVE FLOOR AREA RATIOS FOR

OCCUPANCIES FACING ONE PUBLIC STREET OF
AT LEAST 9

5.1.1 The open space inside and around a

building have essentially to cater for the lighting
and ventilation requirements of the rooms abutting such o+en spaces, and in the case of buildings abutting on streets in the front, rear or sides,
the open spaces provided should be sufficient for
the future widening of such streets.

m WIDTH

( Clause 4,1 )
FLOOR AREA RATIOs
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION
r--_--h---_-~
Type1
Type2
Type3
Type4
1-o
UL
20
14
Residential
UL
2-o
14
10
Educational
08
UL
15
1.0
Institutional
05
UL
1.0
07
Assembly
23
1.6
UL
2.9
Business
8-O
1=8
1.4
1-o
Mercantile
16
13
Industrial
7.5
1.9
1.3
1-o
6.0
l-5
Storage ( see Note 4)
09
1-l
Hazardous ( see Note 4 ) 2.8
NP

5.2 Open Spaces Separate for Each Building

of Wing - The open spaces should be separate
or distinct for each buildiag and where a building has two or more wings, each wing should
have separate or distinct open spaces for the
purposes of lighting and ventilation of the
wings.
However, separation between accessory and
main buildings more than 7 m in height should
not be less than 1 5 m ; for buildings up to 7 m

UL - Unlimited,
NP - Not permitted.
NOTE 1 -The
FAR/values
given in this table are
subject to overall restrictions on the heights of buildings
in the case of educational,
institutional,
assembly,
storage and hazardous
occupancies
is specified in
co1 3 of Table 2.

in height, no such separation shall be required.

5.3 Residential

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

5.3.1.1 Front open spaces

a)

be modified by the
the other aspects as

as specifically

OPEN

5.1 General
habitation

30
45
60

m
up to 75+
7.5 to 18
18 to 30
Above 30

For streets less than 75 m in width, the

distance of the building ( building line )
should be at least 5 m from the centre
line of the street ( see 4.3.5 ).

NOTE - This limiting distance has to be determined

by the authority for individual
road/street
widths
taking into account the traffic flow.

Staircase room and lift rooms above the topmost

storey; architectural
features; and chimneys and
elevated tanks of dimensions
as permissible under
the code; the area of the lift shaft shall be taken
only on one floor.

5.3.1.2
a)

NOTE 5 - In so far as single storey storage and

hazardous occupancies
are concerned,
they would be
further governed by volume to plot area ratio ( VPR )
to be decided by the authority.

.5.

1%

b)

booth,
pumphouse,
garbage shaft,
electric cabin or substation
and oth,er utility structures meant for the services of the building under
consideration;

.4

i)
ii)

Width of Street
Fronting the Plot

NOTE - In case a building abuts two or more streets

the value of open spaces is to be based on the average
width of streets, of 1.8 m for cases (ii), (iii) and (iv).

b) Watchmans

buildings
and

Min

iv)

or cellar; space under a building

constructed
on stilts and used as a
king space
and air-conditioning
plant room us eaaras accessory
to the principal use;

a) A basement

and accessory
under the code;

Front Open Space

No.

iii)

NOTE 4 -The
FAR values specified in this table
may be increased 20 percent for the following services:

exempted

Every
building fronting a street should
have a front space, forming an integral
part of the site as below:

Sf.

Density in terms of dwelling units per hectare;

Traffic considerations;
Parking spaces:
Local fire fighting facilities; and
Water supply, drainage
and sanitation
requiremen ts.

c) Projections

Buildings

5.3.1 Exterior Open Space

NOTE 2 - This table has been prepared, taking into

account the combustible content in the different occupancies as well as the fire resistance offered by the
type of construction.
NOTE 3 - This table should
authority,
taking into account
given below:

open space or an open verandah open to such

interior or exterior open space.

SPACES

- Every room intended for human

should have an interior or exterior

Rear open space

Every residential building

should have
a rear open space, forming an integral
part of the site, of an average width of
3 m and at no place measuring less than
18 m, except that in the case of a backto-back-site, the width of the rear open
space should be 3 m throughout.
Subject
to the condition
of free ventilation,

*For buildings up to a maximum height of 7 m.

2

IS : 1643- 1988
..

. I

..^.

.. .

the open space lett up to halt the width

of the plot should also be taken into
account for calculating the average width
of the rear open space. For plots of
depth less than 9 m, for buildings up to
7 m in height, the rear open space may
be reduced to 15 m.

b)

TABLE 2 SIDE AND REAR OPEN SPACES FOR

DIFFERENT HEIGHTS OF BUILDINGS
( Clause 5.3.3.1 )
Sr. No.

HEIURT

OF

AND REAP. OPEN

SPACES TOBE LEFT

&DE

BCILDIXW

AROUNDBCILDINQ
(1)

Rear open space to extend throughout the

rear wall - The rear open space should

i)

be co-extensive with the entire face of the

rear wall. If a building abuts on two or
more streets, such rear open space should
be provided throughout the face of the
rear wall. Such rear wall should be the
wall on the opposite side of the face of
the building abutting on the wider street,
unless the authority directs otherwise.

ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
viii)
ix)
x)
xi)

5.3.1.3 Side open space

xii)

a>Every

semi-detached and detached building should have a permanently open air

space, forming an integral part of the
site as below:

(2)

m
10
15
18
21
24
27
30
35
40
45
50
53 and above

(3)
m
3
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
16

NOTE 1 - For buildings above 24 m in height, there

should be a minimum front open space of 6 m.
NOTE 2 -Where rooms do not derive light and ventilation from the exterior open space, the width of such
exterior open space as given in co1 3 may be reduced by
1 m subject to a minimum of 3 m and a maximum of
8 m. No further projections shall be permitted.

1) For detached buildings, there should

be a minimum side open space of 3 m
on both the sides.

NOTE
3 -If
the length or depth of
exceeds 40 m. add to co1 3 ten percent
depth of building minus 4.0 m.

buildings
up to
NOTE - For detached residential
7 m in height on plots with a frontage less than 12 m,
one of the side open spaces may be reduced to 1.5 m.

the building
of length or

5.3.3.2 For tower-like structures, as an alter-.

native to 5.3.3.1, open spaces should be as below:

2) For semi-detached
buildings, there
should be a minimum side open space
of 3 m on one side.

a) Up to a height of 24 m, with one set-back,

the open spaces at the ground level, should
be not less than 6 m;

NOTE -For
semi-detached
buildings up to 7 m in
height on plots with a frontage less than 9 m, the side
.open space may be reduced to 15 m.

b) For heights between 24 and 375.m with

one set-back, the open spaces at the ground
level should not be less than 9 m;
c) For heights above 375 m with two setbacks, the open spaces at the ground level
should not be less than 12 m; and
d) The deficiency in the open spaces should
be made good to satisfy 5.3.3.1 through
the set-backs at the upper levels ; these
set-backs should not be accessible from
individual rooms/flats at these levels.

3) For row-type buildings, no side open

is required.
b) In the case of semi-detached buildings, the
open spaces provided on one side should
be as in (a) and all habitable rooms
should abut either on this side open
space or front and rear open spaces or an
interior open space.
5.3.2 The provisions of 5.3.1.2 and 5.3.1.3 are
not applicable to parking lock-up garages up to
3 m in height located at a distance of 75 m in
any street line or front boundary of the plot.

5.3.4 The front open space would govern the

height of the building.
5.3.5 Interior Open Spaces

5.3.3 The open spaces mentioned in 5.3.1.1

to 5.3.1.3 should be for residential buildings up
to a height of 10 m.

a) Znner courtyard - In case the whole of

one side of every room excepting bath,
WC and store room is not abutting on
either the front, rear or side(s) open spaces
it should abut on an inner courtyard where
minimum width should be 3 m.

5.3.3.1 For buildings of height above 10 m,

the open spaces ( side and rear ) should be as
given in Table 2.
3

IS : 1643 - 1988
Further, the inner courtyard should have
an area, throughout
its height of not less
than the square of one-fifth the height of
the highest wall abutting the courtyard.
Provided that when any room ( excluding
staircase bay, bathroom and water-closet )
is dependent for its light and ventilation
on an inner courtyard,
the dimension
should be such as is required for each wing
of the building.
Where only water-closet
and bathroom
are abutting on the interior
courtyard
the size of the interior courtyard should be
in line with the provision for ventilation
shaft as given in 5.3.5 (b).
b) Ventilation shaft - For ventilating spaces
for water-closets and bathrooms,
if not
opening on to front, side, rear and interior
open spaces, these should open on to the
ventilation shaft, the size of which should
not be less than the values given below:
Height of
Building

Size of Ventilation Shaft

,rn
up to 10
12
18
24
30
Above 30

me
12
2.8
40
54
80
90

Minimum Size
of Shaft

0;
1.2
15
18
24
30

NOTE1 -For
buildings of height above 30 m, a
mechanical ventilation system should be installed
besides the provision of minimum ventilation shaft.

NOTE 2 - For fully air-conditioned

residential
buildings for lodging purposes,. the ventilation shaft
need not be insisted upon, pronded the air-conditioning system works in an uninterrupted
manner, also,
provided there is an alternative sources of power
supply.
c) Outer courtyard -

The minimum width of

the outer courtyard ( as distinguished from
its depth ) should be not less than 24 m
If the width of the outer courtyard is less
than 24 m, it should be treated as a notch
and the provisions of outer courtyard
should not apply. However, if the depth
of the outer courtyard is more than the
width, the provisions of 5.1.2 should apply
for the open spaces to be left between the
wings.

5.3.6 Joint Open Air Space - Every such

interior or exterior open air space, unless the
latter is a street, should be maintained for the
benefit of such building exclusively and should be
entirely within the owners own premises.
5.3.6.1 If such interior or exterior open air
space is intended to be used for the benefit of

more than one building belonging to the same

owner, the width of such open air space should
be the one specified for the tallest building as
specified in 5.3.3 abutting on such open air
space.
5.3.6.2 If such interior or exterior open air
space is jointly ownedby more than one person,
its width should also be as specified in 5.3, provided every such person agrees to allow his
portion of such joint open air space to be used
for the benefit of every building abutting on such
joint open air space and provided he sends such
written consent to the authority for record. Such
common open air space should thenceforth be
treated as a permanently open air space required
for the purposes of the Code. No boundary
wall between such joint open air space should
be erected or raised to a height of more than
20 m.
5.4 Other Occupancies
54.1 Open spaces for other occupancies
be as below:

should

a) Educational buildings - Except for nursery

schools, the open spaces around the building should be not less than 6 m;
b) Institutional buildings - The open space
at front should not be less than 12 m and
the other open spaces around the building
should be not less than 6 m;
c) Assembly building - The open space at
front should be not less than 1.2 m and
other spaces not less than 6 m;
NOTE-However,. if assembly buildings are,permitted in purely residenttal zones, the open spaces around
the building should be not less than 12 m.

d) Business,
ings -

merkantile

and

storage

build-

The open spaces

around
the
building should be not less than 45 m.
Where these occur in purely residential zoneor in a residential with shops line zone the
open spaces may be relaxed;

e) Industrial

buildings - The open spaces.

around the building should be not less
than 45 m for heights up to 16 m, with
an increase in the open spaces of 025 m
for every increase of 1 m or fraction thereof in height above 16 m; and

NOTE- Special rules for narrow industrial plots in

the city, namely, plots less than 15 m in width, and
with appropriate set-backs from certain streets and,
highways, should be applicable.

f) Hazardous occupancies - The open spaces.

around the building should be as specified
for industrial buildings [ see 5.4.1 ( e I I.

IS : 1643 - 1988
5.5.2.2 Porticos in existing developed area Porticos in bazar areas of existing developed
areas may be permitted to prqject on road and
subject to the following limitations:

5.5 Exemption to Open Spaces

5.5.1 Projections
into Open Spaces - Every
open space provided either interior or exterior
should be kept free from any erection thereon
and should be open to the sky, except as below:

a) Porticos may be allowed on such roads

leaving a minimum clear space of 18 m
between kerbs;

4 Cornice, roof or weather shade not more

than 075 m wide;

b) The porticos
wide;

b) Sunshades

over windows/ventilators
or
other openings not more than 075 m
wide;

should not be less than 3 m

c) Nothing should be allowed to be constructed on the portico which should be

used as open terrace;

cl Canopy at first level, but not to be used as

sitout with clearance of 15 m between the
plot boundary and the canopy;

d) Nothing should be allowed to

beyond the line of arcades; and

4 Projected balcony at higher floors of width

project

e) The space under the portico should

paved and channelled as required.

not more than 09 m; and

be

5.5.2.3 Sunshades over windows and ventilk

Projections of sunshades over windows
or ventilators in existing built-up or congested
areas, when pe<mitted by the authority should
fulfil the following conditions:

e) Projecting rooms/balconies

[ see 5.5.1(. d > ]

at alternate floors such that rooms of the
lower two floors get light and air and the
prqjection being not more than the height
of the storey immediately below.

tors -

4 No sunshade should be permitted over the

However, these projections into open spaces

should not reduce the minimum required open
spaces.

road or over any drain or over any portion

outside the boundaries of the site below a
height of 28 m from the road level;

b) Sunshades provided

above a height of
28 m from the ground level should be
permitted to project up to a maximum
width of 60 cm, if the road over which
they project exceeds 9 m in width; and

5.5.1.1 Accessory building - The following

accessory buildings may be permitted in the open
spaces:

4 In an existing building, sanitary block of

24 m in height subject to a maximum of
4 m in the rear open space at a distance of
15 m from the rear boundary may be permitted, where facilities are not adequate;

C) No sunshade should be permitted

on roads
less than 9 m in width or on roads having
no footpaths.

5.6 Limitations to Open Space

b) Parking lock-up gasages not exceeding 24 m

in height should be permitted in the side
or rear open spaces at a distance of 75 m
from any road line or the front boundary
of the plot; and

5.6.1 Safeguard Against. Reduction of Open

work on a building,
Space - No construction

should be allowed if such work operates to reduce

an open air space of any other adjoining building,
belonging to the same owner to an extent less
than what is prescribed at the time of the proposed work or to reduce further such open space,
if it is already less than that prescribed.

c) Suction tank and pump room each up to

25 m in area.

5.5.2 Projection into Street

5.6.2 Additions or extensions to a Building Additions or extensions to a building should be

allowed, provided the open spaces for the additions/extensions satisfy 5.3 after such additions/
extensions are made.

5.5.2.1

In existing built-up or congested areas,

no projection of any sort whatsoever, except
sunshades ( see 5.5.2.3 ) extending more than
23 cm below a height of 43 m, should project
over the road or over any drain or over any
portion outside the boundaries of the site, provided the projection arising out of the vertical
part of the rain-water spouts projection at the
road level or the water pipe may be permitted
in accordance with the drainage plan.

6. HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

6.1 For high rise buildings,
tional provisions of means
building should be ensured:

the following addiof access to the

IS : 1643 - 1988

4 The width of the main street on which the

building abuts should not be less than

12 m and one end of this street should
join another street not less than 12 m in
width;

b) The road should not end in a dead end;

4 The compulsory open spaces around the
building
and

4 Adequate
required

should not be used for parking;

passageway
and
clearances
for fire fighting vehicles to- enter

the premises should be provided at the

main entrance; the width of such entrance
should be not less than 45 m. If an arch
or covered gate is constructed, it should
have a clear head-room of not less than
5 m.
6.2 Mired Oceupaacy - When any building is
used for more than one type of occupancy, it
should conform to the requirements for the most
hazardous the occupancies. If mixed occupancies
are separated by a separating wall of 4 h fire
the occupancies should
be treated
rating,
Individually.

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