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 699’81 : 72’011’2

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002

GT3 September 1988

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 IS : 1643 - 1988

Indian Standard
CODE OFPRACTICEFOR
FIRESAFETY OFBUILDINGS(GENERAL):
EXPOSUREHAZARD
( First Revision )
0, FOREWORD

0.1This IndianStandard ( First Revision ) was Canada. This revision includes the values in
adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards on Of floor
K'eSpeCt area ratio, and open space accord-
2 May 1988, after the draft finalized by the Fire ing to norms adopted by these countries.
Safety Sectional Committee had been approved
by the Civil Engineering Division CkUnCil. o-3 For the purpose of deciding whether a
particular requirement of this standard is
0.2 A series of Indian Standards covering the fire complied with, the final value, observed or cal-
safety of buildings in general, principles of fire culated, expressing the result of a test or analysis,
grading, details of construction, exit requirements shall be rounded off in accordance with IS : 2-
and exposure hazard, have been formulated. This 1960*. The number of significant places retained
Indian Standard, covering the last aspect, was in the rounded off value should be the same as.
first formulated in 1960. In the past 25 years, that of the specified value in this standard.
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

2. GENERAL
height above the ground level and the number of
2.1 The construction and spacing of buildings storeys, depending upon its occupancy and the
with due regard to their classification ( see type of construction. The maximum permissible
IS : 1641-1988* ) are the major factors to be height for any combination of occupancy and
considered which otherwise may lead to a serious types of construction should necessarily be related
conflagration intensely built-up areas. Thus to the width of street fronting the building or.
exposure hazard expressed the danger or risk of floor area ratio ( see 4 ).
spread of fire through the open air in a building
on fire to another building situated in the vicinity. 4. FLOOR AREA RATIO

2.2 The precautions taken by keeping proper 4.1 The comparative floor area ratios for diffe-
spacing of the building prevent spread of fire by rent occupancies and types of construction are
direct contact of flames and hot gases emitted given in Table 1.
from the burning building or by radiated heat
and flying brands.
4.2 Each portion of a building, which is sepa-
rated 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
revision ). permissible height and floor area, provided open-
+Codeof practice for fire safety of buildings ( general ): ings, if any, in the separating wall, are also,
Details of construction (first revision 1. protected by fire assemblies of 4 h.

1
 1S:1643- 1988

open space or an open verandah open to such

TABLE 1 COMPARATIVE FLOOR AREA RATIOS FOR interior or exterior open space.
OCCUPANCIES FACING ONE PUBLIC STREET OF
5.1.1 The open space inside and around a
AT LEAST 9 m WIDTH building have essentially to cater for the lighting
( Clause 4,1 ) and ventilation requirements of the rooms abutt-
FLOOR AREA RATIO’s ing such o+en spaces, and in the case of build-
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION ings abutting on streets in the front, rear or sides,
r--_--h---_-~ the open spaces provided should be sufficient for
Type1 Type2 Type3 Type4 the future widening of such streets.
Residential UL 2’0 1’4 1-o
Educational UL 2-o 1’4 1’0 5.2 Open Spaces Separate for Each Building
Institutional UL 1’5 1.0 0’8 of Wing - The open spaces should be separate
Assembly UL 1.0 0’7 0’5 or distinct for each buildiag and where a build-
Business UL 2.9 2’3 1.6 ing has two or more wings, each wing should
Mercantile 8-O 1=8 1.4 1-o have separate or distinct open spaces for the
Industrial 7.5 1.9 1’6 1’3 purposes of lighting and ventilation of the
Storage ( see Note 4) 6.0 l-5 1.3 1-o wings.
Hazardous ( see Note 4 ) 2.8 1-l 0’9 NP However, separation between accessory and
UL - Unlimited, main buildings more than 7 m in height should
NP - Not permitted. not be less than 1’ 5 m ; for buildings up to 7 m
NOTE 1 -The FAR/values given in this table are in height, no such separation shall be required.
subject to overall restrictions on the heights of buildings
in the case of educational, institutional, assembly, 5.3 Residential Buildings
storage and hazardous occupancies is specified in
co1 3 of Table 2.
5.3.1 Exterior Open Space
NOTE 2 - This table has been prepared, taking into
account the combustible content in the different occu- 5.3.1.1 Front open spaces
pancies as well as the fire resistance offered by the
type of construction. a) Every building fronting a street should
NOTE 3 - This table should be modified by the have a front space, forming an integral
authority, taking into account the other aspects as part of the site as below:
given below:
a) Density in terms of dwelling units per hectare; Sf. Front Open Space Width of Street
b) Traffic considerations; No. Min Fronting the Plot
c) Parking spaces: m
d) Local fire fighting facilities; and
i) 1% up to 7’5+
e) Water supply, drainage and sanitation require-
men ts. ii) 3’0 7.5 to 18
NOTE 4 -The FAR values specified in this table iii) 4’5 18 to 30
may be increased 20 percent for the following services: iv) 6’0 Above 30
a) A basement or cellar; space under a building NOTE - In case a building abuts two or more streets
constructed on stilts and used as a king space the value of open spaces is to be based on the average
and air-conditioning plant room us eaaras accessory width of streets, of 1.8 m for cases (ii), (iii) and (iv).
to the principal use;
b) Watchman’s booth, pumphouse, garbage shaft, b) For streets less than 7’5 m in width, the
electric cabin or substation and oth,er utility struc- distance of the building ( building line )
tures meant for the services of the building under should be at least 5 m from the centre
consideration;
line of the street ( see 4.3.5 ).
c) Projections and accessory buildings as specifically
exempted under the code; and NOTE - This limiting distance has to be determined
by the authority for individual road/street widths
.4 Staircase room and lift rooms above the topmost taking into account the traffic flow.
storey; architectural features; and chimneys and
elevated tanks of dimensions as permissible under 5.3.1.2 Rear open space
the code; the area of the lift shaft shall be taken
only on one floor.
a) Every residential building should have
NOTE 5 - In so far as single storey storage and a rear open space, forming an integral
hazardous occupancies are concerned, they would be part of the site, of an average width of
further governed by volume to plot area ratio ( VPR )
to be decided by the authority. 3 m and at no place measuring less than
1’8 m, except that in the case of a back-
to-back-site, the width of the rear open
.5. OPEN SPACES space should be 3 m throughout. Subject
to the condition of free ventilation,
5.1 General - Every room intended for human
habitation should have an interior or exterior *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 TABLE 2 SIDE AND REAR OPEN SPACES FOR
DIFFERENT HEIGHTS OF BUILDINGS
account for calculating the average width
of the rear open space. For plots of ( Clause 5.3.3.1 )
depth less than 9 m, for buildings up to Sr. No. HEIURT OF &DE AND REAP. OPEN
7 m in height, the rear open space may BCILDIXW SPACES TOBE LEFT
be reduced to 1’5 m. AROUNDBCILDINQ
(1) (2) (3)
b) Rear open space to extend throughout the m m
rear wall - The rear open space should i) 10 3
be co-extensive with the entire face of the ii) 15 5
rear wall. If a building abuts on two or iii) 18 6
more streets, such rear open space should iv) 21 7
be provided throughout the face of the 24
v) 8
rear wall. Such rear wall should be the
vi) 27 9
wall on the opposite side of the face of
vii) 30 10
the building abutting on the wider street,
viii) 35 11
unless the authority directs otherwise.
ix) 40 12
x) 45 13
5.3.1.3 Side open space xi) 50 14
xii) 53 and above 16
a>Every semi-detached and detached build-
NOTE 1 - For buildings above 24 m in height, there
ing should have a permanently open air
space, forming an integral part of the should be a minimum front open space of 6 m.
site as below: NOTE 2 -Where rooms do not derive light and venti-
lation from the exterior open space, the width of such
1) For detached buildings, there should exterior open space as given in co1 3 may be reduced by
be a minimum side open space of 3 m 1 m subject to a minimum of 3 m and a maximum of
8 m. No further projections shall be permitted.
on both the sides.
NOTE 3 -If the length or depth of the building
NOTE - For detached residential buildings up to exceeds 40 m. add to co1 3 ten percent of length or
7 m in height on plots with a frontage less than 12 m, depth of building minus 4.0 m.
one of the side open spaces may be reduced to 1.5 m.

2) For semi-detached buildings, there 5.3.3.2 For tower-like structures, as an alter-.

should be a minimum side open space native to 5.3.3.1, open spaces should be as below:
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
NOTE -For semi-detached buildings up to 7 m in
height on plots with a frontage less than 9 m, the side be not less than 6 m;
.open space may be reduced to 1’5 m.
b) For heights between 24 and 37’5.m with
one set-back, the open spaces at the ground
3) For row-type buildings, no side open level should not be less than 9 m;
is required.
c) For heights above 37’5 m with two ‘set-
b) In the case of semi-detached buildings, the backs, the open spaces at the ground level
open spaces provided on one side should should not be less than 12 m; and
be as in (a) and all habitable rooms d) The deficiency in the open spaces should
should abut either on this side open be made good to satisfy 5.3.3.1 through
space or front and rear open spaces or an the set-backs at the upper levels ; these
interior open space. set-backs should not be accessible from
individual rooms/flats at these levels.
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 5.3.4 The front open space would govern the
3 m in height located at a distance of 7’5 m in height of the building.
any street line or front boundary of the plot.
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 a) Znner courtyard - In case the whole of
to a height of 10 m. one side of every room excepting bath,
WC and store room is not abutting on
5.3.3.1 For buildings of height above 10 m, either the front, rear or side(s) open spaces
the open spaces ( side and rear ) should be as it should abut on an inner courtyard where
given in Table 2. minimum width should be 3 m.

3
 IS : 1643 - 1988

Further, the inner courtyard should have more than one building belonging to the same
an area, throughout its height of not less owner, the width of such open air space should
than the square of one-fifth the height of be the one specified for the tallest building as
the highest wall abutting the courtyard. specified in 5.3.3 abutting on such open air
Provided that when any room ( excluding space.
staircase bay, bathroom and water-closet )
is dependent for its light and ventilation 5.3.6.2 If such interior or exterior open air
on an inner courtyard, the dimension space is jointly owned’by more than one person,
should be such as is required for each wing its width should also be as specified in 5.3, pro-
of the building. vided every such person agrees to allow his
portion of such joint open air space to be used
Where only water-closet and bathroom
for the benefit of every building abutting on such
are abutting on the interior courtyard joint open air space and provided he sends such
the size of the interior courtyard should be written consent to the authority for record. Such
in line with the provision for ventilation common open air space should thenceforth be
shaft as given in 5.3.5 (b). treated as a permanently open air space required
b) Ventilation shaft - For ventilating spaces for the purposes of the Code. No boundary
for water-closets and bathrooms, if not wall between such joint open air space should
opening on to front, side, rear and interior be erected or raised to a height of more than
open spaces, these should open on to the 2’0 m.
ventilation shaft, the size of which should
not be less than the values given below: 5.4 Other Occupancies
Height of Size of Venti- Minimum Size 54.1 Open spaces for other occupancies should
Building lation Shaft of Shaft be as below:
,rn me a) Educational buildings - Except for nursery
up to 10 1’2 0; schools, the open spaces around the build-
12 2.8 1.2 ing should be not less than 6 m;
18 4’0 1’5
b) Institutional buildings - The open space
24 5’4 1’8 at front should not be less than 12 m and
30 8’0 2’4 the other open spaces around the building
Above 30 9’0 3’0 should be not less than 6 m;
NOTE1 -For buildings of height above 30 m, a
mechanical ventilation system should be installed c) Assembly building - The open space at
besides the provision of minimum ventilation shaft. front should be not less than 1.2 m and
NOTE 2 - For fully air-conditioned residential
other spaces not less than 6 m;
buildings for lodging purposes,. the ventilation shaft
need not be insisted upon, pronded the air-condition- NOTE-However,. if assembly buildings are,permitt-
ing system works in an uninterrupted manner, also, ed in purely residenttal zones, the open spaces around
provided there is an alternative sources of power the building should be not less than 12 m.
supply.
d) Business, merkantile and storage build-
c) Outer courtyard - The minimum width of ings - The open spaces around the
the outer courtyard ( as distinguished from building should be not less than 4’5 m.
its depth ) should be not less than 2’4 m Where these occur in purely residential zone-
If the width of the outer courtyard is less or in a residential with shops line zone the
than 2’4 m, it should be treated as a notch open spaces may be relaxed;
and the provisions of outer courtyard
should not apply. However, if the depth e) Industrial buildings - The open spaces.
of the outer courtyard is more than the around the building should be not less
width, the provisions of 5.1.2 should apply than 4’5 m for heights up to 16 m, with
for the open spaces to be left between the an increase in the open spaces of 0’25 m
wings. for every increase of 1 m or fraction there-
of in height above 16 m; and
5.3.6 Joint Open Air Space - Every such
interior or exterior open air space, unless the NOTE- Special rules for narrow industrial plots in
the city, namely, plots less than 15 m in width, and
latter is a street, should be maintained for the with appropriate set-backs from certain streets and,
benefit of such building exclusively and should be highways, should be applicable.
entirely within the owner’s own premises.
f) Hazardous occupancies - The open spaces.
5.3.6.1 If such interior or exterior open air around the building should be as specified
space is intended to be used for the benefit of for industrial buildings [ see 5.4.1 ( e I I.
 IS : 1643 - 1988

5.5 Exemption to Open Spaces 5.5.2.2 Porticos in existing developed area -

Porticos in bazar areas of existing developed
5.5.1 Projections into Open Spaces - Every areas may be permitted to prqject on road and
open space provided either interior or exterior subject to the following limitations:
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 0’75 m wide;
b) The porticos should not be less than 3 m
wide;
b) Sunshades over windows/ventilators or
other openings not more than 0’75 m
c) Nothing should be allowed to be cons-
wide; tructed 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 1’5 m between the d) Nothing should be allowed to project
plot boundary and the canopy; beyond the line of arcades; and

4 Projected balcony at higher floors of width e) The space under the portico should be
not more than 0’9 m; and paved and channelled as required.

e) Projecting rooms/balconies [ see 5.5.1(. d > ] 5.5.2.3 Sunshades over windows and ventilk
at alternate floors such that rooms of the tors - Projections of sunshades over windows
lower two floors get light and air and the or ventilators in existing built-up or congested
prqjection being not more than the height areas, when pe<mitted by the authority should
of the storey immediately below. fulfil the following conditions:

However, these projections into open spaces

4 No sunshade should be permitted over the
road or over any drain or over any portion
should not reduce the minimum required open outside the boundaries of the site below a
spaces. height of 2’8 m from the road level;
5.5.1.1 Accessory building - The following b) Sunshades provided above a height of
accessory buildings may be permitted in the open 2’8 m from the ground level should be
spaces: permitted to project up to a maximum
width of 60 cm, if the road over which
they project exceeds 9 m in width; and
4 In an existing building, sanitary block of
2’4 m in height subject to a maximum of C) No sunshade should be permitted on roads
4 m in the rear open space at a distance of less than 9 m in width or on roads having
1’5 m from the rear boundary may be per- no footpaths.
mitted, where facilities are not adequate;
5.6 Limitations to Open Space
b) Parking lock-up gasages not exceeding 2’4 m
in height should be permitted in the side 5.6.1 Safeguard Against. Reduction of Open
or rear open spaces at a distance of 7’5 m Space - No construction work on a building,
from any road line or the front boundary should be allowed if such work operates to reduce
of the plot; and an open air space of any other adjoining building,
belonging to the same owner to an extent less
c) Suction tank and pump room each up to than what is prescribed at the time of the pro-
2’5 m in area. posed work or to reduce further such open space,
if it is already less than that prescribed.
5.5.2 Projection into Street
5.6.2 Additions or extensions to a Building -
5.5.2.1 In existing built-up or congested areas, Additions or extensions to a building should be
no projection of any sort whatsoever, except allowed, provided the open spaces for the addi-
sunshades ( see 5.5.2.3 ) extending more than tions/extensions satisfy 5.3 after such additions/
23 cm below a height of 4’3 m, should project extensions are made.
over the road or over any drain or over any
portion outside the boundaries of the site, pro- 6. HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
vided the projection arising out of the vertical
part of the rain-water spouts projection at the 6.1 For high rise buildings, the following addi-
road level or the water pipe may be permitted tional provisions of means of access to the
in accordance with the drainage plan. building should be ensured:

5
IS : 1643 - 1988

4 The width of the main street on which the the premises should be provided at the
building abuts should not be less than main entrance; the width of such entrance
12 m and one end of this street should should be not less than 4’5 m. If an arch
join another street not less than 12 m in or covered gate is constructed, it should
width; have a clear head-room of not less than
5 m.
b) The road should not end in a dead end; 6.2 Mired Oceupaacy - When any building is
4 The compulsory open spaces around the used for more than one type of occupancy, it
building should not be used for parking; should conform to the requirements for the most
and hazardous the occupancies. If mixed occupancies
are separated by a separating wall of 4 h fire
4 Adequate passageway and clearances rating, the occupancies should be treated
required for fire fighting vehicles to- enter Individually.

6
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Amend No. Date of Issue Text Affected

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