Upcoming changes in NBC 2016 Part 4 ANNEX E (Clauses 5.1.4 and 6) E-7

Upcoming changes in NBC 2016 Part 4 ANNEX E (Clauses 5.1.4 and 6) E-7 

As on date 31-08-2025, latest version of NBC 2025 still not released. This post is tentative / draft only. Latest version of NBC 2025 is applicable for existing buildings when they are altered (see clause 5.1.4 and 6) or in the opinion of the authority constitute a hazard to the safety of the adjacent property or to the occupants of the building itself or are unsafe.

ANNEX E indicate ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

E-1 GENERAL (No Changes in upcoming NBC 2025)

E-2 EGRESS AND EVACUATION STRATEGY  (No Changes in upcoming NBC 2025)

E-3 FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR LIFTS  (No Changes in upcoming NBC 2025)

E-4 HORIZONTAL EXITS AND REFUGE AREA  (Changes in upcoming NBC 2025)

E-5 ELECTRICAL SERVICES  (No Changes in upcoming NBC 2025)

E-6 FIRE PROTECTION (Changes in upcoming NBC 2025)

E-7 FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY AUDIT (Changes in upcoming NBC 2025)

E-8 HELIPAD (No Changes in upcoming NBC 2025)

The purpose of the Fire and Life Safety audit is to reduce injury, loss of life, and property damage by developing the area of fire prevention and life safety via leadership and vision for fire safety professionals. Fire and life safety audit is concerned with protecting the occupants of a building from any associated fire and life safety risk by taking life safety precautions.

The objectives of Fire & Life Safety Audit can be focused on the following:

·        Review of Fire safety policy statement (Fire order)

·        Identify all significant fire hazards

·        Identify the people who are at risk from each hazard

·        Evaluate the existing control measures

·        Determine the additional control measures required

·        Examine the availability of a suitable emergency plan detailing the responsibility and action of key personnel

·        Review the availability of a suitable fire alarm and detection system

·        Review the availability of suitable fire fighting facilities, such as hydrants, sprinklers, extinguishers, etc.

·        Evaluate passive fire protection systems provided

·        Evaluate the general awareness of occupants and security personnel on matters relating to fire safety and rescue operations

·        Evaluate the training and instructions on fire safety imparted to the employees and occupants

·        Verifying the records of training imparted to employees and occupants with regards to fire safety

·        Assessing all relevant electrical safety risks

·        Examining the storage and control of flammable and hazardous substances

·        Assessing the existing fire preventive and protective control measures, On-site emergency response plans and fire risk assessment report

·        Testing of all fire safety equipment and systems (Optional).

At SSA Integrate, we specialize in helping businesses develop effective, cost-efficient fire safety strategies. Here’s how we can assist:

1.   Fire Risk Assessment: Identifying potential fire hazards and risks in your facility.

2.   Custom Safety Plans: Designing tailored fire prevention and protection strategies.

3.   Compliance Support: Ensuring adherence to local and national fire safety regulations (NBC, IE, CEA and BIS).

4.   Staff Training: Equipping your team with the knowledge to respond to fire emergencies.

5.   Cost-Effective Solutions: Maximizing safety while minimizing costs.

 

Case Study 1: AMRI Hospital Fire, Kolkata (2011)

On December 9, 2011, a massive fire broke out at AMRI Hospital in Kolkata, originating in the basement where flammable materials like diesel and medical supplies were stored. The fire spread rapidly, filling the building with toxic smoke, and tragically claimed 90 lives, mostly patients and staff who were unable to escape due to blocked exits and non-functional fire alarms.

Reference link: https://www.ndtv.com/kolkata-news/4-years-after-kolkata-hospital-fire-in-which-90-died-charges-framed-1426676

Case Study 2: Kumbakonam School Fire, (2004)

In 2004, a devastating fire at a school in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, resulted in the tragic deaths of 94 children. The incident led to legal proceedings against several individuals associated with the school.

Reference link: https://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/kumbakonam-fire-mishap-madras-high-court-suspends-conviction-sentence-of-7-1736263

E-7.1 The following shall be applicable:

a) Fire and life safety audit shall be carried out for all buildings having a height

of more than 15m.

b) Such audits shall preferably be conducted by a third party auditor having

requisite experience in fire and life safety inspections.

c) Frequency of such audits shall be once in two years.

E-7.2 Good practices towards fire and life safety audit shall be as given below:

a) Objective is to ensure that a building’s fire prevention, fire protection and life

safety measures are evaluated against established ISs.

b) Methodology includes: Audit planning, on-site audit execution, documentation

& reporting, coordination & communication, follow-up procedures.

c) Audit objectives to cover: compliance verification, risk identification, performance evaluation, corrective recommendations, documentation & process review.

d) Fundamental principles shall be: objectivity, consistency, risk-based approach,

comprehensive coverage, continuous improvement, transparency & documentation, and stakeholder involvement.

e) In the audit methodology and process the following should be adhered:

Planning and Preparation (Pre-Audit data collection, Risk assessment & prioritization techniques, Audit team composition & qualifications), Audit Execution (On-site inspection procedure, Documentation review and interview, Checklist & Performance indicators), and Audit Reporting (Structure & content of the report, Documentation of Non-Compliances & Recommendations, Methods for Risk Communication).

f) Audit criteria for fire safety should be well established, covering respectively for

Fire Prevention namely:

1) Building design & construction features

i. Structural fire resistance

ii. Fire compartmentation & separation

iii. Material selection & non-combustibility

iv. Means of egress & access routes

v. Integration of fire safety systems

vi. Compliance with regulatory requirements

vii. Documentation & verification

2) Maintenance of fire prevention systems & house keeping practices

i. Regular maintenance and servicing

ii. House keeping practices

iii. Documentation & verification

iv. Training & accountability

g) Audit criteria for fire safety should be well established; covering respectively for

Fire Protection Systems namely:

1) Assessment of fire detection & alarm systems

i. Design & installation compliance

ii. Function performance & testing

iii. Maintenance & calibration

iv. Integration with emergency systems

v. Documentation & compliance verification

2) Inspection of fire suppression systems

i. Design & installation compliance

ii. Operational testing & performance

iii. Maintenance & inspection records

iv. Integration with fire safety systems

v. Physical condition & accessibility

vi. Compliance with regulatory & manufacturer specifications

3) Evaluation of emergency lighting signage

i. Design & installation compliance

ii. Visibility & illumination levels

iii. Operational performance

iv. Maintenance & inspection

v. Integration with overall safety systems

vi. Documentation & compliance verification

4) Evaluation of life safety components

i. Assessment of exit routes, corridors and stairways

- Design & layout

- Unobstructed passage

- Dimensions & capacity

- Signage & Emergency lighting

- Physical condition & maintenance

- Special provisions

- Documentation & verification

ii. Verification of occupant load, exit capacities & travel distances

- Occupant load verification

- Assessment of exit capacities

- Measurement of travel distances

- Integration & documentation

- Assessment of portable & wheeled fire extinguisher

h) Audit criteria for Life Safety should be well established to cover:

1) Structural and environment safety

i. Evaluation of structural fire resistance & compartmentation

ii. Assessment of emergency communication systems & evacuation aids

2) Accessibility and special needs

i. Consideration for persons with disabilities

i. Audit of assisted evacuation procedures

ii) Performance Indicators and Compliance Assessment – To address:

1) Scoring and rating methodologies for audit findings

2) Risk evaluation and prioritization of deficiencies

3) Criteria for Compliance/ Partial Compliance / Non-Compliance

j) Corrective actions and follow-up are essential so as to provide opportunity to

the building owner/resident to address the shortfall so as to make the premises

safe.

k) Reporting & Record keeping – to have standard formats/templates to record

observations, measurements including photographs stored in compatible

formats, all with a view to enable suitable reviewing for consistency.

Reference:-

CED 46(26992) WC - Draft Code for Comments Only.

NBC 2016 Part 4.

Carrying Out A Fire Risk Assessment

Carrying Out A Fire Risk Assessment

It is essential to carry out a fire risk assessment. When a building or facility is being constructed the same should be continuously reviewed, evaluated as well as updated. Also, it assists in recognising and measuring hazards and risks associated with fire. Therefore, the organisation can decide whether the identified risks are acceptable or additional control measures are required.

A fire risk assessment is a methodical and scheduled investigation of your premises, performed in order to ascertain the fire risks and safety levels of your surroundings. The elements of this assessment are carried out in order to highlight the likelihood of a fire starting and the harm it could cause in certain circumstances to those in and around the area. The main aims of the assessment are to:

• Identify – Any potential fire risks and hazards (sources of ignition, fuel etc).
• Reduce – Those risks to a level that is as low as reasonably possible.
• Evaluate – What precautions need to be put in place to ensure the safety of those in and around your premises (escape routes, lighting, training etc).

A well trained professional who has good experience and knowledge of fire safety should carry out the fire risk assessment.

A fire risk assessment follows the 5 steps of a standard risk assessment.

1. Identify the hazards

• oxygen sources;
• fuel sources; and
• ignition sources

Decreasing ignition sources:

SMOKING

It is essential to have a ‘no smoking’ sign in every workplace. Any designated outdoor location where smoking cigarettes are allowed must be of a low fire risk design. In addition, they must be kept away from any flammable or combustible products and supplied with metal ashtrays full of sand.

Bring the smoking regulations to the focus of all employees as well as site visitors. Show the appropriate indications, specifically in common areas such as canteens as well as site access points.

PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Also, consideration should be offered to the storage space of plant and tools concerning fire threat. Select plant, both electrical and engine driven, to prevent it from getting too hot throughout its usage, particularly in dirty conditions.

Preserve all plant appropriately and, specifically, air filters need to be cleaned on a regular basis in dirty conditions. Position the vents well so that the air is without combustible gases as well as vapours.

Portable fuelled generators in your home or in confined locations provide a power source for heating and other equipment. However, this can put workers at risk of serious diseases as well as death from carbon monoxide poisoning. This danger is present from the exhaust fumes of any combustion engine. Consequently,  care needs to be taken to prevent using various devices such as pressure washers, disc cutters, flooring brushes and also chainsaws.

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS

Electrical instalments, must be developed, installed, checked and maintained by competent personnel.

Some common electric faults for fire threats include:

• cord laid or near combustible material, frequently in roofing and also ceiling voids
• use of flat twin as well as earth cable as expansion leads as opposed to appropriate versatile cable
• overloading of outlets in site accommodation

Decreasing potential fuel sources:

Harmful substances can put people’s safety at risk from fire and explosion. Employers must:

• prepare plans to take care of accidents, incidents and emergencies involving hazardous substances
• discover what dangerous materials exist in their workplace and what the fire risks are
• identify areas in the office where fire may take place and look out for ignition sources in those locations
• have control measures in place to either get rid of those risks or, where this is not possible, control them
• put controls in position to reduce the impacts of any incidents involving unsafe materials
• ensure employees are correctly informed and educated to handle the threats from the unsafe materials

2. Protect Vulnerable Members Of Staff

All facility / building occupants and visitors are vulnerable should a fire occur. However, some people are considered to be at greater risk than others, due to their age, health or mobility. Examples of high-risk people include apprentices under the age of 18, pregnant members of staff, and those with a disability or limited mobility. So that the entire workforce is protected, a special action plan should be included to evacuate all at-risk people in the case of an emergency. Some people may need special assistance and this should be accounted for when creating your fire safety plan.

3. Evaluate the risks and the adequacy of the control measures

Fire prevention: Presence of oxygen, fuel and ignition sources and their proximity to each other.

Fire protection: Control measures to prevent fires from starting and  spreading (housekeeping, hot work permits-to-work, protected electrical equipment, anti-static footwear, compartmentation, etc.)

FIRE PRECAUTIONS:

• means of fire / smoke detection
• contacting the fire / rescue services and safe assembly
• means of raising the alarm
• ways of fighting the fire (fixed and portable fire fighting equipment such as, hoses, sprinklers, extinguishers, blankets, etc.)
• means of escape (doors, routes, emergency lighting and signs)

MANAGEMENT ISSUES:

• emergency plan (building zones, assembly points and fire marshal / wardens)
• staff and contractor training and instruction (including marshals / wardens, practice fire evacuation, fire awareness, etc.)
• fire inspections (housekeeping, equipment, etc.)
• maintenance of equipment (electrical and gas equipment, fire detection, warning, fighting, etc.)

4. Prevent Enforcement Notices, Fines And Legal Penalties

As a Responsible Person, you are legally obliged to carry out a risk assessment and create an Emergency Plan. This should be codified as a written document and the appropriate training carried out so it can be implemented at short notice.

The Fire and Rescue Service may carry out a fire audit on your premises at any time. They will expect to see a clear Emergency Plan that demonstrates compliance with the Fire Safety Order. If you fail to show this, then they may impose an Enforcement Notice, requiring you to make changes. In the case of a serious breach, they may issue a Prohibition Notice barring you from the use of your building until changes are made.

An Enforcement Notice is an extremely serious business. Depending on the required changes, you will have around 28 days to comply with the demands. Failure to do this may result in a prosecution.

In addition, the Responsible Person is deemed to be personally, criminally liable for failure to comply with an Enforcement Notice. A successful prosecution could bring personal fines and imprisonment of up to 2 years.

5. Service & Maintenance

You must ensure all existing equipment is kept in working order, and checked at regular intervals by a competent person.  One way of achieving this is by using a third party accredited company to carry out these checks.

Here is a quick list of necessities that must also be in place as part of your fire risk assessment procedure:

• Employees and all relevant persons must be made aware of the relevant information and the risks identified by the assessment. They must also be made aware of the measures you take to prevent such risks and how these measures will protect your employees in the event of a fire.
• Employees need to be consulted and a handful of them nominated to carry out specific roles in connection to your fire safety proposals.
• If employing children you must provide their parents with clear information on the fire risks as identified in your assessment. You must also make them aware of the measures you plan to put in place.
• All non-employees and temporary site workers/visitors must be made aware of the relevant risks and the fire safety procedures behind them.
• You must take into consideration the presence of dangerous substances and the risks they present to your premises in the event of a fire.
• A suitable method of contacting emergency services must be established.
• Appropriate information and training must be provided to employees the moment they begin working for your company and then periodically after that.
• All fire-fighting equipment and detectors should be properly and periodically maintained by a competent person in an efficient manner.
• All emergency escape routes should be highlighted clearly and maintained regularly.