BUILDING SERVICES - V

FIRE RESISTANCE AND

FIRE RATING

SUBMITTED BY-
UTKARSH, ANMOL DEEP, SUFIYAN, HAMID, JOEL, SHAFEEQUE
B.ARCH/VTH SEM
Fire resistance
 Fire resistance is the property of materials or their assemblies that prevents or
retards the passage of excessive heat, hot gasses or flames under conditions
of use . Fire resistance of materials is quantified by means of fire resistance
rating. Fire resistance rating is typically determined by measuring the ability
of a passive fire protection material or assembly to withstand a standard fire
resistance test. This is quantified either as a measure of period of time for
which a material or assembly withstands a specific fire resistance test, or by
evaluating through quantifiable criteria set by a specific fire resistance test,
the ability of a material or assembly to perform a specific structural
functionality.
What is Fire Resistance Rating?
 A fire-resistance rating typically means the duration for which a passive fire
protection system can withstand a standard fire resistance test. This can be
quantified simply as a measure of time, or it may entail a host of other criteria,
involving other evidence of functionality or fitness for purpose.
Difference between Fire Resistant and
Fire Retardant

Fire Resistant Fire Retardant

Resistant is defined as a material Retardant is defined as a material

that is inherently resistant to that has been chemically treated to
catching fire (self-extinguishing) self-extinguish.
and does not melt or drip when
exposed directly to extreme heat.
 NEED OF FIRE RATED MATERIALS
Should a fire occur, the construction should not further tend to spread the fire.
In order to reduce spread of fire, it is necessary that:
- the fire should not spread rapidly from one room to another through the
floors, partitions between rooms, and particularly between rooms and passages
and staircases, that is, the structural elements should have adequate fire
resistance.
- the materials which are exposed to possible ignition, that is, wall and ceiling
linings should not easily ignite, nor should the fire spread rapidly over the surface
of the materials.
Hence, several fire rated materials are to be used during the building construction
in order to ensure the same.
Fire Rated Materials

 Bricks: Bricks are the intrinsic part and parcel of

each home and what’s more they are fire resistant.
Bricks are made in fire kilns and have a high
endurance to heat and temperature. While it is true
that a single brick is much more fire resistant than a
wall because of the use of cement, sand and mortar.
A wall still provides adequate protection from fire,
depending on the thickness of the wall during
construction. A brick wall is rated as fire resistant
withstanding fires between one to 4 hours.
Paint

• It reduces flammability and combustion of

building materials it coats.
• Fire-retardant paint does not prevent fires from
occurring, but delays the expansion of fires.
• There are different types and, depending on each
type, it can be applied on metal, wood, lacquered
surfaces, etc.
• It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor surfaces.
• It can be applied with spray gun, brush or roller.
 Fire Resistant Glass
 Fire Resistant Glass: Windows can be a potential
fire hazard due to the popular use of wooden frames
and glass material. Replacing normal glass window
by a fire resistant glass can bring own the fire
hazard potential of window substantially. A normal
window glass can easily break during a fire allowing
the flames to enter the interiors of the house easily.
Fire resistant glasses uses dual paneled glasses
which have a high energy absorption rate making it
four times as stronger than a normal glass window.
Wooden framing may be a potential fire hazard and
replacing wood frames to PVC or steel frames along
with the use of a fire resistant glass will ensure
almost foolproof protection from fire.
 Concrete
 Concrete has got very good fire resistance.
 The actual behaviour of concrete in case of fire depends
upon the quality of cement and aggregates used.
 In case of reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete, it
also depends upon the position of steel.
 Larger the concrete cover, better is the fire resistance of
the member.
 There is no loss in strength in concrete when it is heated up
to 250°C. the reduction in strength starts if the temperature
goes beyond 250°C.
 Normally reinforced concrete structures can resist fire for
about one hour at a temperature of 1000°C.
 Hence cement concrete is ideally used fire resistant
material
Plaster
 Plaster: Plaster also known as “stucco” is a
commonly used material in construction
activity known for its string resistance to heat
and fire. Plaster is made up on Portland
cement, sand and lime and can be used to
cover any structure to provide artistic
coverage as well as fire resistance coverage.
Roof overhangs are protected using plaster
coatings to make them safe and fire resistant.
 Gypsum
 Gypsum: Gypsum is another commonly used fire
resistant material used in construction activity.
Many structural materials are attached
underneath with gypsum sheeting to prevent any
fire hazards and to achieve good fire resistant
ratings. Gypsum boards also known as “dry-walls”
are also chemically treated to enhance the fire
fighting abilities of gypsum. Builders use multiple
layers of gypsum coating on gypsum boards to
make sure their fire resistance properties of the
underlying physical structure gets enhanced.
Timber
Timber
 As a general rule, structural elements made of
timber ignite and get rapidly destroyed in case of
fire.
 Further, they add to the intensity of fire.
 But timber used in heavy sections may attain a high
degree of fire-resistance because timber is a very
bad conductor of heat
 In order to make timber more fire resistant, the
surfaces of timber are sometimes coated with
certain chemicals such as ammonium phosphate
and sulphate, borax and boric acid, zinc chloride,
etc.
 Such a treatment on timber surfaces retards the rise
of temperature during fire.
 Asbestos

 It is a building material in
which asbestos fibres are used
to reinforce thin rigid cement
sheets.
 Advertised as a fireproof
alternative to other roofing
materials such as asphalt,
asbestos-cement roofs were
popular not only for safety but
also for affordability
 PVC\UPVC
• uPVC windows will not accelerate the spread
of flames in the event of a fire as the chlorine
content of the PVC acts as a fire retardant.
• uPVC window frames do not melt which is a
common misconception based on how people
perceive other plastic materials.
• Once the source of ignition has been removed
uPVC windows stops burning.
• Whilst installing double glazing within your
property will not prevent the outbreak of fires
they will not exacerbate the situation.
Fire resistance rating according to
NBC-2016

So, to ensure this, several norms are to be followed in distinct areas or fire zones.
As per Table 1 from ‘part 4’ of NBC-2016 it is required that a structural and/or non-structural
element/component shall have the requisite fire resistance rating.
The fire resistance rating for the structural and non-structural elements shall be based on guidelines as
per approved and accepted standards. The fire rating shall be validated and certified with a view to
meeting the requirements of Table 1.
Table 1
 FIRE RATINGS OF NON STRUCTURAL AND
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
 NBC-2016 states that All buildings shall satisfy certain requirements, which contribute,
individually and collectively, to the safety of life from fire, smoke, fumes and panic arising from
these or similar causes. There are, however, certain general principles and common requirements,
which are applicable to all or most of the occupancies.
 The types of construction according to fire resistance shall be classified into four categories,
namely, Type 1 Construction, Type 2 Construction, Type 3 Construction and Type 4 Construction.
 The min. fire rating required for the construction to be classified into one of the above type are
given in Table 1 of part:4 NBC-2016. The specifications of materials should be so selected as to
give these ratings in the building.
 Non-combustible materials should be used for construction of buildings, and the internal walls of
staircase enclosures should be of brick work or reinforced concrete or any other material of
construction with minimum of 120 min rating. The walls for the chimney shall be of Type 1 or Type
2 Construction depending on whether the flue gas temperature is above 200°C or less,
respectively.
CONSTRUCTION TYPES according
to fire ratings
TYPE :1 (FIRE PROOF CONSTRUCTION)

 These types of buildings include construction of buildings that resist fire damage and spread of
fire.
 These type of buildings should be constructed using materials with no burning components such
as, steel, terra-cotta, plaster and concrete.
 Fire- resistance ratings can range from 180 minutes to 240 minutes.
 Some common structural rating requirements are as follows-
1. Exterior bearing walls : 1 - 4 hours
2. Interior bearing walls : 3 - 4 hours
3. Columns : 2 - 4 hours
4. Beams, girders, trusses and arches : 3 - 4 hours
5. Floors : 2 hours
6. Roof : 0 – 2 hours
CONSTRUCTION TYPES
according to fire ratings
TYPE :2 (NON-COMBUSTIBLE CONSTRUCTION)

 These types of buildings include construction of buildings that resist spread of fire.
 These type of buildings should be constructed using masonry materials like Brick or concrete on
the outside walls of the structure.
 Use of non combustible materials for construction of roof and floor.
 Fire- resistance ratings can range from 120 minutes to 180 minutes.
 Some common structural rating requirements are as follows-
1. Exterior bearing walls : 1 - 2 hours
2. Interior bearing walls : 1.5 - 2 hours
3. Columns : 1.5 hours
4. Beams, girders, trusses and arches : 1.5 – 2 hours
5. Floors : 1.5 hours
6. Roof : 0 – 1.5 hours
CONSTRUCTION TYPES according
to fire ratings
TYPE :3 (EXTERIOR PROTECTED CONSTRUCTION OR ORDINARY
BUILDING)
 These type of buildings are constructed using non – combustible materials on the outer walls only.
 Fire- resistance ratings can range from 0 minutes to 60 minutes.
 Only the exterior load bearing walls shall be non-combustible or limited combustible and shall
have a minimum 60 min fire rating.
 Some common structural rating requirements are as follows-
1. Exterior bearing walls : 1 - 2 hours
2. Interior bearing walls : 1 - 2 hours
3. Columns : 1hours
4. Beams, girders, trusses and arches : 1 – 2 hours
5. Floors : 1 hours
6. Roof : 0 – 1 hours
CONSTRUCTION TYPES according
to fire ratings
TYPE :4 (WOOD CONSTRUCTION)
 These type of buildings comprise of the exterior walls, bearing walls, roof and floor wholly or
partially made up of wood.
 Fire- resistance ratings can range from 0 minutes to 60 minutes.
 Structural members are entirely or partially made from wood or other combustible materials.
Some common structural rating requirements are as follows-
1. Exterior bearing walls : 1 hours
2. Interior bearing walls : 1 - 2 hours
3. Columns : 1hours
4. Beams, girders, trusses and arches : 1 – 2 hours
5. Floors : 1 hours
6. Roof : 0 – 1 hours
 FIRE ZONES

 The city or area under the jurisdiction of the Authority shall, for the purpose of the Code, be
demarcated into distinct zones, based on fire hazard inherent in the buildings and structures
according to occupancy ,which shall be called as FIRE ZONES.
 The construction of different types of buildings should comply with the requirements of the code
depending on the type of the zone.
 The number of fire zones in a city or area under the jurisdiction of the Authority depends upon the
existing layout, types of building construction , classification of existing buildings based on
occupancy and expected future development of the city or area. In large cities or areas, three fire
zones may be necessary, while in smaller ones, one or two may be adequate.
TYPES OF FIRE ZONES

 The fire zones shall be made use of in land use development plan and shall be
designated as follows:
a) Fire Zone No. 1 : This zone shall comprise areas having residential,
educational, institutional, assembly, small business and mercantile buildings,
or areas which are under development for such occupancies.
b) Fire Zone No. 2 : This zone shall comprise business and industrial buildings,
except high hazard industrial buildings or areas which are under development
for such occupancies.
c) Fire Zone No. 3 : This zone shall comprise areas having high hazard industrial
buildings, storage buildings and buildings for hazardous uses or areas which
are under development for such occupancies.
RESTRICTION ON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
DEPENDING ON THE FIRE ZONE
 Construction of any type of building in an area shall comply with the requirements of code.
 These shall be as follows:
a) Buildings erected in Fire Zone No. 1 shall conform to construction of Type 1, 2, 3 or 4.
b) Buildings erected in Fire Zone No. 2 shall conform to construction of Type 1, 2 or 3.
c) Buildings erected in Fire Zone No. 3 shall conform to construction of Type 1 or 2.
 For ex- While construction of any building in fire zone 3, the materials used in the construction
should be only of type 1 or type 2 buildings that is the buildings can only be Either FIRE PROOF
TYPE CONSTRUCTION or NON- COMBUSTIBLE TYPE. No, wood or ordinary buildings shall be
constructed in fire zone 3.
THANK YOU.