Fire Fighting in High-rise Buildings &

Branches

Ranjeet Kumar, Manager (Fire)

Fire Fighting in High Rise Buildings

High-rise building

For the purpose of Fire Safety, all buildings 15 m or above in height shall be considered as high rise buildings (National Building Code of India 2005).

Fire Safety in High Rise Buildings are implemented as per the requirement specified in by-laws of Local Govt. bodies in respect of High Rise Building.

Fire Safety Challenges

Modern Open-floor Office Design- Cubicle Work Stations- Dwarf Partitions

Movement of smoke within building – Stack Effect

Central Air Conditioning System Difficulty in Reaching the Fire Seat Upper floors evacuation only from

inside

More Challenges

Access only through internal staircase beyond aerial apparatus reach

Staircases is availed by fire-fighters and occupants simultaneously.

Ventilation is complicated and critical. Reaction time is higher. Communication can be difficult Maintenance of in-built protection

system

Preparedness

Safe Operating Procedures (SOP)

Staff Members Awareness

Mock Drills

Fire Prevention Procedures

Fire Protection System

Evacuation Facility

Additional Resources

Fire Fighting Requirements

FAS U/G-T Ter-T U/G-P (3.5 P)

Ter-P

(2.0 P)

<10m NR NR 10000 NR R

10m – 15m

R 50000 5000 J+M+D R

15m – 24m

R 75000 10000 J+M+D NR

24m – 30m

R 100000 20000 J+2M+D NR

>30m R 200000 20000 J+2M+D NR

Safe Operating Procedure

Identification of Key Personnel

Level of response

Accountability

Safety

Evacuation & Rescue

Elevators / Stairwells / Ventilation

Fire protection systems

Fire Fighting

Assessing Fire

Scene

Attacking Fire

Lobby Control

Ventilation

Assessing a Fire Scene

Seat of fire

How will access be attained?

Lay-out of building – stair / elevators

Fire Hydrants – wet or dry?

equipment to mitigate scene

Ventilation

Evacuation (Search & Rescue) Plan

Attacking a Fire

Identify fire floor

Attack on fire floor

Life safety of persons in

immediate danger

Additional resources

Establish support system

Lobby Control

Evacuation through lobby area

Instructions on PA System

Accountability list of fire fighting personnel

Building floor plans / keys

Locating technical staff

Monitoring audio visual alarms

Ventilation

Shut-down HVAC

Stairwell Pressurisation

Creating opening at top as

necessary

Horizontal ventilation – breaking

out window

Checks / Precautions

Fire Fighting System in place & maintained (Extinguisher, Riser, Fire Alarm)

Safe Operating Procedure (SOP) in place

Staff members aware of fire fighting systems & SOPs

Staircase / Lift Lobby free from any blockade

Lobby pressurization, if enclosed HVAC Shut-off in case of Fire

Checks / Precautions

Key personnel identified and

informed as per SOP

Refuge Area / Horizontal Exit

Assembly Point

Mock Drill rehearsed

NOC obtained from Municipal body

Fire Control Room -

Communication

Fire Fighting in Branches

Challenges at Bank Branch

Premises Location

Branch Layout

Visitors

Ambience

Fuels in form of papers

24 X 7 Power Supply

Unmanned at Night

Preparedness at Branch

Fire Safety Awareness / Mock Drills

Pro-active Fire Prevention Steps No Smoking, Access Control

Fire Protection System / Equipment Fire Extinguishers, Smoke Detectors

Inspection/testing of fire protection system

Emergency Action Plan

Business Continuity

Electrical Safety

Electrical Load within sanctioned

load.

Distribution as per usage like

Lighting, Air-conditioner, UPS.

Circuit Breaker for each distribution.

Circuit Breaker for each Air-

conditioner

Ventilation / Cooling to the UPS.

Checks / Precautions

Location / Layout Fire Extinguisher / Fire Alarm Safe Operating Procedure (SOP) as

per Business Continuity Plan Staff members aware of fire

extinguisher operations & SOPs Exit free from any blockade Electrical Safety Electrical Audit & Compliance Communication Facility

THANK YOU.

Be Safe Everyday Be Safe Everyday

Let Safety Lead the Let Safety Lead the Way Way