Foreword

QCVN 06:2022/BXD is compiled by the Institute of Construction Science and Technology (Ministry of Construction), in collaboration with the Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue Police Department (Ministry of Public Security), submitted for approval by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment (Ministry of Construction), appraised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and issued by the Ministry of Construction in conjunction with Circular No. 06/2022/TT-BXD dated November 30, 2022, by the Minister of Construction.

QCVN 06:2022/BXD replaces QCVN 06:2021/BXD issued in conjunction with Circular No. 02/2021/TT-BXD dated May 19, 2021, by the Minister of Construction.

1 GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1 Scope of application

1.1.1 This regulation stipulates:

a) General requirements on fire safety for rooms, fire compartments, buildings, and construction works (fire compartments, buildings, and construction works hereinafter collectively referred to as buildings);

b) Technical classification of fire for building materials, building components, parts, and elements of buildings, and buildings.

1.1.2 This regulation applies to the following buildings and constructions:

a) Residential buildings: Apartment buildings and collective living buildings with a fire-fighting height of up to 150 m and no more than 3 basement floors; single-family houses with a height of 7 floors or more or having more than 1 basement floor up to 3 basement floors, single-family houses combined with production and business with a floor area for production and business purposes occupying over 30% of the total floor area;

NOTE: In case of converting a single-family house to another purpose, it must comply with the provisions of this regulation and other relevant legal provisions.

b) Public buildings with a fire-fighting height of up to 150 m and no more than 3 basement floors (except for constructions directly used as places of worship, belief; heritage constructions); types of outdoor stadiums with stands (stadiums, training and competition facilities, and similar);

c) Production buildings and warehouses with a fire-fighting height of up to 50 m and no more than 1 basement floor;

d) Buildings providing technical infrastructure facilities and utilities with a fire-fighting height of up to 50 m and no more than 1 basement floor;

e) Buildings serving transportation with a fire-fighting height of up to 50 m and no more than 3 basement floors;

f) Buildings serving agriculture and rural development (except nurseries, greenhouses, and similar).

NOTE: Classification of constructions according to relevant legal provisions. Specific constructions mentioned in 1.1.2, see Table 6.

1.1.3 For buildings belonging to the functional fire hazard group F1.2. F1.3, F4.2, F4.3, and mixed-use buildings with a fire-fighting height greater than 150 m or having 4 basement floors or more, buildings with unique fire prevention and fighting characteristics different from the building groups in Table 6, in addition to complying with this regulation, additional technical requirements and solutions on organization and construction technology must be supplemented in accordance with the unique fire prevention and fighting characteristics of those buildings, based on the applied standard documents.

NOTE: For buildings with basement floors 4, 5 for parking, in addition to applying this regulation, additional regulations related to underground garages must be applied.

1.1.4 This regulation applies when constructing new buildings and constructions specified in 1.1.2, or within the scope of the following changes:

a) Renovation or repair that changes the function of a room, fire compartment, or building;

b) Renovation or repair that changes the escape solutions of a room, fire compartment, or building;

c) Renovation or repair that increases the fire hazard of building materials, or decreases the fire resistance of structures or components;

d) Renovation or repair that changes the fire and explosion hazard class of a room, fire compartment, and building towards increasing the fire hazard;

e) Renovation or repair that raises fire safety requirements for a room, fire compartment, and building;

f) Renovation or repair of the fire protection system of a room, fire compartment, and building;

g) Other cases of renovation or repair according to the guidance of the competent Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue Police (Fire Police) agency.

1.1.5 Parts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 do not apply to buildings with special functions (buildings and constructions belonging to the technology chain of energy facilities: hydroelectric, thermal power, nuclear power plants; wind power, solar power, geothermal power, tidal power, waste power, biomass power; blogas power; co-generation power, air traffic control tower, buildings producing or storing explosive substances and materials; storage of petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, flammable gases, as well as self-igniting substances; shops selling petrol, oil, flammable liquids, gas; buildings producing or storing toxic chemicals; national defense and security constructions; underground part of subway constructions; mining tunnel constructions, and buildings with similar characteristics).

1.1.6 Part 5 also does not apply to the following subjects:

a) Facilities, buildings, and constructions for storing and processing cereal grains;

b) Boiler facilities providing heat; power grid facilities;

c) Firefighting systems for fires caused by metals, substances, and materials with strong chemical reactions with water that can cause explosions, generate combustible gases, cause intense heat generation, such as: aluminum – organic compounds, alkali metals, lithium compounds – organic compounds, lead azide, aluminum hydride, zinc, magnesium, sulfuric acid, titanium chloride, aluminum nitrate.

1.1.7 Fire prevention and fighting requirements of standard documents in construction must be based on the requirements of this regulation.

Along with the application of this regulation, it is also necessary to comply with more specific fire prevention and fighting requirements specified in other standard documents applicable to each building and construction subject. When there are no specific standard documents according to the requirements of this regulation, it is still allowed to use specific provisions in current standards until those standards are revised, as well as to use current foreign standards on the principle of ensuring the requirements of this regulation and Vietnamese legal provisions on fire prevention and fighting, along with provisions on the application of foreign standards in construction activities in Vietnam.

In current standard documents related to fire prevention and fighting for buildings and constructions, if there are provisions or specific technical requirements that are less safe than the provisions of this regulation, this regulation shall be applied.

1.1.8 Fire safety design documents and fire safety technical documents of buildings, structures, components, and building materials must clearly state their fire technical characteristics as prescribed in this regulation.

1.1.9 When designing the construction of buildings and constructions, in addition to complying with this regulation, it is also necessary to comply with regulations and ensure other mandatory technical requirements as prescribed by current laws, such as: planning, architecture, structure, water supply and drainage system, electrical system, electrical equipment, lightning protection, fuel supply system, energy saving, ventilation system, air conditioning, mechanics, safe use of glass, fall prevention, impact.

1.1.10 In some specific cases, it is possible to consider replacing some requirements of this regulation for a specific construction when there is a technical justification submitted to the Ministry of Construction, clearly stating additional solutions, alternatives, and the basis of these solutions to ensure fire safety for the construction. This justification must be agreed upon by the Ministry of Construction, and the construction design documentation must be appraised by the competent Fire Police agency as prescribed by law on fire prevention and fighting.

1.2 Subjects of application

This regulation applies to organizations and individuals involved in construction investment activities in the territory of Vietnam.

1.3 Referenced documents

The following referenced documents are necessary for the application of this regulation. In case the referenced documents are amended, supplemented, or replaced, the latest version shall be applied.

QCVN 17:2018/BXD, National technical regulation on Construction and installation of outdoor advertising facilities.

TCVN 3890, Fire protection and fighting equipment for buildings and constructions – Equipment, arrangement, inspection, maintenance.

TCVN 5738, Fire protection and fighting – Fire alarm system – Technical requirements.

TCVN 7336, Fire protection and fighting – Automatic water and foam firefighting system – Design and installation requirements.

TCVN 9310-4, Fire protection and fighting – Terminology – Part 4: Firefighting equipment.

TCVN 9310-8, Fire protection and fighting – Terminology – Part 8: Terms used for firefighting, rescue, and hazardous material handling.

TCVN 9311-1, Fire resistance tests – Building components – Part 1: General requirements.

TCVN 9311-3, Fire resistance tests of building components – Part 3: Guidance on test methods and application of test data.

TCVN 9311-4, Fire resistance tests of building components – Part 4: Specific requirements for loadbearing vertical separating components.

TCVN 9311-5, Fire resistance tests of building components – Part 5: Specific requirements for loadbearing horizontal separating components.

TCVN 9311-6, Fire resistance tests of building components – Part 6: Specific requirements for beams.

TCVN 9311-7, Fire resistance tests of building components – Part 7: Specific requirements for columns.

TCVN 9311-8, Fire resistance tests of building components – Part 8: Specific requirements for non-loadbearing vertical separating components.

TCVN 9383, Fire resistance test – Fire doors and fire shutters.

TCVN 12695, Reaction to fire tests for building products – Non-combustibility test method.

TCVN 13456, Fire protection and fighting – Emergency lighting and escape guidance – Design and installation requirements

1.4 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this regulation, the following terms and definitions apply:

1.4.1

Fire safety for buildings, constructions (or parts of constructions)

Ensuring requirements on the properties of building materials and construction structure, on architectural solutions, planning, technical and technological solutions suitable to the use characteristics of the construction in order to prevent fire, limit spread, ensure fire extinguishment, prevent harmful hazardous factors to people, minimize damage to property when a fire occurs.

1.4.2

Fire truck parking area

A section of road with a finished surface capable of withstanding the calculated load, arranged along the perimeter or a part of the perimeter of the building, allowing firefighting vehicles to deploy firefighting activities.

NOTE: Compared to a fire truck access road, a fire truck parking area is designed to withstand a greater load and has a greater width to deploy firefighting equipment during operation.

1.4.3

Fire protection

The combination of organizational measures and technical solutions to prevent the impact of fire hazards on people and limit property damage caused by fire.

1.4.4

Fire resistance level of a building, construction, fire compartment

The graded characteristic of a building, construction, and fire compartment, determined by the fire resistance of the structures/components used to construct that building, construction, and fire compartment.

1.4.5

Fire separation component

Used to prevent the spread of fire and combustion products from a fire compartment or from a room with a fire to other rooms. Includes fire separation walls, fire separation partitions, and fire separation floors.

1.4.6

Smoke separation component

A component used to direct, contain, and (or) prevent the spread of smoke (combustion products).

1.4.7

Fire hazard level of building components

The graded characteristic of building components, based on different levels of the test result parameters for igniting the materials constituting the building components according to specified standards.

1.4.8

Fire hazard level of building structure

The graded characteristic of a building, construction, fire compartment, determined by the extent to which the building structure contributes to the development of the fire and the formation of fire hazards.

1.4.9

Fire-fighting height

The fire-fighting height of a building (excluding the top technical floor) is determined as follows:

Equal to the maximum distance from the fire truck access road surface to the lower edge of the open window (door) on the outer wall of the top floor;

Equal to half the total distance from the fire truck access road surface to the floor surface and to the ceiling of the top floor – when there is no window (door).

NOTE 1: When the roof of a building is utilized, the fire-fighting height of the building is determined by the maximum distance from the fire truck access road surface to the top edge of the roof parapet wall.

NOTE 2: When determining the fire-fighting height, the roof of a building is not considered utilized if people are not frequently present on the roof.

NOTE 3: When there is a balcony (loggia) or window covering structure (railing), the fire-fighting height is taken as the maximum distance from the fire truck access road surface to the top edge of the covering structure (railing).

1.4.10

Solid water jet height

Taken as 0.8 times the vertically sprayed water jet height.

1.4.11

Smoke exhaust damper (skylight or flap)

A device (equipment) that is automatically controlled remotely, covering openings on the outer wall of a building that encloses a room protected by a natural smoke exhaust system.

1.4.12

Elevator shaft door

A door designed to be installed in the elevator shaft at the landing to allow entry and exit from the elevator cabin.

1.4.13

Smoke intake

An opening in the duct (pipe) of the smoke exhaust system, fitted with a grate, guard, or smoke intake damper or normally closed fire dampers.

1.4.14

Accessible floor area

The floor area of all covered areas within a building or part of a building, including the area of ducts, elevator shaft floors, restrooms, stairwells, areas occupied by fixed or movable furnishings, equipment, and outdoor living areas above or below the 1st floor of the building.

1.4.15

Fire truck access road

A road designed for firefighting vehicles to approach and move within the premises of a facility to carry out firefighting and rescue activities.

1.4 16

Escape route

A route for people to move, leading directly to the outside or leading to a safe area, refuge floor, refuge space, and meeting the requirements for safe escape of people in case of fire.

1.4.17

Independent escape route

An escape route used exclusively for a part of a building (other parts of the building do not have an escape exit leading to this escape route).

1.4.18

Fire resistance

The time (in hours or minutes) from the start of the fire resistance test under standard temperature conditions of the specimens until the occurrence of one of the limit states of the structure and component.

1.4.19

Refuge space

An area located on the refuge floor used for temporary evacuation in case of a fire incident.

1.4.20

Technical room

A room housing technical equipment of a building or a floor. Technical rooms can be arranged on all or part of a technical floor.

1.4.21

Room

An interior space within a building with a specific function and bounded by building structures.

1.4.22

Room with people working regularly

A room where people are present for not less than 2 continuous hours or are present for a total of 6 hours in a day.

1.4.23

Open corridor

A corridor that is ventilated on one side to the outside, unobstructed, continuous along its length, with a clear height from the top of the parapet wall at the edge of the corridor upwards not less than 1.2 m.

1.4.24

Fire protection system

The fire protection system includes: smoke protection system, indoor fire hydrant system, outdoor fire water supply system, automatic firefighting systems, fire alarm and public address system, emergency lighting and escape guidance system, firefighting elevator, rescue equipment, structural solutions, escape solutions, smoke separation solutions, fire spread prevention.

1.4.25

Smoke control pressurization system

A system that is automatically controlled remotely, with the function of preventing smoke infiltration in case of fire for rooms in the safe zone, stairwells, elevator shafts, fire separation vestibules by supplying air from the outside and creating positive pressure in the above areas, as well as having the function of preventing the spread of combustion products and supplying make-up air to replace the volume of combustion products that have been expelled.

1.4.26

Smoke exhaust system

A system that is automatically controlled remotely, with the function of exhausting smoke and combustion products through smoke intakes to the outside.

1.4.27

Fire hydrant

A combination of specialized equipment including a shutoff valve, hose, nozzle pre-installed to deploy water to the fire.

1.4.28

Fire prevention and fighting distance

The prescribed distance between buildings and constructions with the purpose of preventing the spread of fire.

1.4.29

Fire compartment

A part of a building, separated by fire separation walls and (or) fire separation floors or fire separation roofs, with the fire resistance of the separating structures ensuring that the fire does not spread outside the fire compartment throughout the duration of the fire.

1.4.30

Vestibule

A transitional space between two doors, used to protect against the infiltration of smoke and other gases when entering a building, a stairwell, or other rooms of the building.

1.4.31

Fire separation vestibule

A vestibule protecting an opening on a fire separation component, enclosed by fire separation floors and fire separation partitions, with two openings arranged in succession with fire stopping components or more than two openings with fire stopping components when forced outside air is supplied to the vestibule sufficiently to prevent the vestibule from being contaminated by smoke in case of fire.

1.4.32

Smoke

Gas dust formed by incomplete combustion products of materials in liquid and (or) dry form.

1.4.33

Escape exit (escape path, escape door)

A path or door leading to an escape route, leading directly to the outside or leading to a safe area, refuge floor, refuge space.

1.4.34

Independent escape exit

An escape exit leading to an escape route and not passing through other parts (rooms) of the building with different functions.

1.4.35

Dedicated escape exit

An escape exit from a part of the building (room) leading to an independent escape route, or leading directly to the outside, or leading directly to a safe area, refuge floor, refuge space.

1.4.36

Concrete cover, concrete cover thickness

The concrete layer from the edge of the component to the nearest surface of the reinforcement.

The concrete cover thickness is the thickness from the edge of the component to the nearest surface of the reinforcement.

1.4.37

Utilized roof

A roof of a building with the frequent presence of people (not less than 2 continuous hours or a total time of not less than 6 hours within a day).

1.4.38

Flame

The burning zone in the gas phase with visible radiation.

1.4.39

Building

A construction work whose main function is to protect and shelter people or objects inside, usually partially or fully enclosed and built at a fixed location.

1.4.40

Apartment building

A building with 2 or more floors, having multiple apartments, common walkways, stairways, private ownership parts, common ownership parts, and a system of infrastructure works for common use by households, individuals, organizations, including apartment buildings constructed for the purpose of living and apartment buildings constructed for mixed-use purposes of living and business (also called mixed-use apartment buildings).

1.4.41

Mixed-use building

A building with many different use functions (for example: a building designed for use as offices, commercial services, public activities, and specifically having living rooms).

NOTE: Mixed-use buildings must apply fire safety regulations for mixed-use buildings when the constructed floor area used for each function of the building does not exceed 70% of the total constructed floor area of the building (excluding floor areas used for technical systems, fire prevention and fighting, refuge spaces, and parking).

1.4.42

Production building

A building with industrial production activities inside and ensuring the necessary conditions for people to work and operate technological equipment.

1.4.43

Functional fire hazard group of buildings, constructions, fire compartments, and rooms

The graded characteristic of buildings, constructions, fire compartments, and rooms, determined by the function and specific use characteristics of the aforementioned buildings, constructions, fire compartments, and rooms, including the characteristics of the technological processes of production in those buildings, constructions, fire compartments, and rooms.

1.4.44

Group of building materials according to fire hazard

The graded characteristic of building materials based on different levels of the test result parameters for igniting the materials according to specified standards.

1.4.45

Fire sub-compartment

A part of a fire compartment separated by fire separation components and (or) areas without fire load.

1.4.46

Fire prevention

The combination of organizational solutions and technical measures to ensure safety for people, prevent fire incidents, limit the spread of fire, as well as create conditions for effective fire extinguishment.

1.4.47

Volume scale

The volume of a space within a building or fire compartment. This volume does not include the walls of protected elevator shafts, escape stairwells, and other spaces (e.g., restrooms and storage rooms) enclosed by walls with a fire resistance of not less than 60 minutes, and the passages through walls are protected by type 2 fire doors fitted with self-closing devices. The volume scale is calculated using the following dimensions:

a) The plan dimensions are taken as the distance between the finished inner surfaces of the enclosing walls, or on all sides without enclosing walls, it is taken to a vertical plane extending to the outer edge of the top of the floor;

b) The height is taken as the distance from the top surface of the floor below to the bottom surface of the floor above the space;

c) For a building or fire compartment extending to the roof, it is taken as the distance to the bottom surface of the roof or the bottom surface of the ceiling of the highest floor in the fire compartment, including the space occupied by all walls, or unprotected vertical shafts, ducts, or structures within the space under consideration.

1.4.48

Smoke lobby

A lobby arranged outside the entrance to an escape stairwell. The design of this lobby must ensure the prevention or minimization of smoke infiltration into the stairwells.

1.4.49

Elevator lobby

The open space in front of the entrance and exit of an elevator.

1.4.50

Number of building floors

The number of floors of a building includes all floors above ground (including technical floors, attic floors) and semi-basement floors, excluding the attic floor.

NOTE: The attic floor is not included in the number of building floors when it only serves the function of enclosing the stairwell/elevator shaft and shielding the technical equipment of the construction (if any), with the area of the attic roof not exceeding 30% of the roof floor area.

1.4.51

Fire

An uncontrolled burning leading to damage to people and (or) property.

1.4.52

Combustion

An exothermic oxidation reaction of a substance accompanied by at least one of three elements: flame, luminescence, and smoke generation.

1.4.53

Standard documents

Include documents such as standards, technical specifications, codes of practice, and technical regulations, both domestic and foreign, issued by competent agencies and organizations.

1.4.54

Fire load

The total heat energy released by the combustion of all combustible materials in a construction space.

1.4.55

Attic floor

The floor located inside the space of a sloped roof where all or part of its vertical face is formed by an inclined roof surface or folded surface, in which the enclosing wall (if any) does not exceed 1.5 m above the floor.

1.4.56

Main landing floor (of an elevator)

The floor with the main entrance of the building (usually the 1st floor).

1.4.57

Basement floor

A floor where more than half of its height is below the ground elevation of the construction according to the approved plan.

NOTE: When considering fire safety requirements for buildings with different surrounding ground elevations, a floor below the ground elevation according to the approved plan is not considered a basement floor if the escape route from that floor does not move in an upward direction.

1.4.58

Refuge floor

A floor used for temporary evacuation, arranged in a building with a fire-fighting height greater than 100 m. The refuge floor has one or more refuge spaces.

1.4.59

Semi-basement floor

A floor where half of its height is above or level with the ground elevation of the construction according to the approved plan.

1.4.60

Technical floor

A floor or part of a floor housing technical rooms or technical equipment of the building. The technical floor can be a basement floor, semi-basement floor, attic floor, top floor, or a floor belonging to the middle part of the building.

1.4.61

Above-ground floor

A floor with a floor elevation higher than or equal to the ground elevation of the construction according to the approved plan.

1.4.62

Firefighting elevator

An elevator installed primarily for transporting people but equipped with additional protective control systems, communication, and markings to allow those elevators to be used under the direct control of firefighting forces to reach the floors of the building when a fire occurs.

1.4.63

Smoke ventilation

A controlled air exchange process that takes place inside a building when there is a fire in one of the rooms of the building, having the effect of preventing the harmful effects of combustion products (increase in concentration of toxic substances, increase in temperature, and change in optical density of air) on people and property.

1.4.64

Fire hazard of building substances and materials

The state of substances and materials characterized by the ability to cause combustion or explosion of substances and materials.

1.4.65

Fire hazard of protected objects

The state of protected objects characterized by the ability to cause and develop a fire, as well as the impact of fire hazards on people and property.

1.4.66

Fire resistance

The property of resisting the effects of fire and preventing the spread of fire hazards.

1.4.67

Smoke damper

A normally closed fire damper, only requiring an E fire resistance rating and installed directly on the opening of smoke extraction shafts in smoke-protected corridors and lobbies (hereinafter referred to as corridors).

1.4.68

Fire damper

A remotely automatically controlled device used to cover ventilation ducts or openings on the enclosing structure of a building, with a fire resistance rating evaluated according to the El criterion. Fire dampers include the following types:

Normally open fire damper (closes in case of fire);

Normally closed fire damper (opens in case of fire or after fire);

Double-action fire damper (closes in case of fire and opens after fire);

1.4.69

Safe zone

A zone in which people are protected from the effects of fire hazards, or in which there are no fire hazards, or in which fire hazards do not exceed permissible values.

1.4.70

Smoke zone

A zone inside a construction, bounded or surrounded by smoke separation components or structural elements to prevent the spread of the rising smoke layer due to heat in fires.

1.4.71

Fire protection treatment for structures

Using the method of impregnation or covering, applying protective layers on structures to increase fire resistance and (or) reduce the fire hazard of those structures.

1.4.72

Fire hazards

The fire factors whose effects can lead to injury, poisoning, or danger to life and (or) property damage.

NOTE: Fire hazards: 1) flames and sparks; 2) heat flux, 3) elevated ambient temperature, 4) increased concentration of toxic substances from combustion products and thermal decomposition, 5) low oxygen concentration, 6) reduced visibility in smoke.

1.5 General provisions

1.5.1 In buildings, the design must include structural solutions, spatial layout arrangements, and technical solutions to ensure that when a fire occurs:

– The building maintains its overall stability and integrity for a certain period of time, specified by the fire resistance level of the building;

– All people in the building (regardless of age and health condition) can evacuate to a safe area (hereinafter referred to as outside) before the occurrence of threats to life and health due to the effects of fire hazards;

There is the ability to rescue people;

Firefighting forces and equipment can access the fire and implement firefighting measures, rescue people and property;

Prevent the spread of fire to adjacent buildings, even in the event of collapse of the burning building;

Limit direct and indirect property damage, including the building itself and property inside the building, taking into account the economic correlation between the value of damage and the cost of solutions and fire protection equipment.

1.5.2 During construction, it is necessary to ensure:

– Implementation of fire prevention and fighting solutions according to the design in accordance with current regulations and standards, and appraised as prescribed;

– Implementation of fire prevention and fighting requirements for constructions under construction, auxiliary constructions, and fire prevention and fighting regulations in construction and installation according to current fire prevention and fighting laws;

Equip firefighting equipment as prescribed and in a state of readiness for operation;

Ability to evacuate safely and rescue people, as well as protect property when a fire occurs in the construction under construction and on the construction site.

1.5.3 During operation and use, it is necessary to:

Ensure the parts of the building and the operability of fire protection systems in accordance with design requirements and their technical documents;

Implement fire prevention and fighting regulations according to current laws;

It is not allowed to change the structure or layout, spatial, and technical solutions of the construction without an approved design as prescribed;

When carrying out repairs, it is not allowed to use components and materials that do not meet the requirements of current regulations and standards.

When a building is licensed under conditions that require restrictions on fire load, on the number of people in the building or in any part of the building, a notice of these restrictions must be placed inside the building in easily visible locations, and the building management must establish specific organizational measures for fire prevention, fighting, and evacuation of people when a fire occurs.

1.5.4 When analyzing the fire hazard of a building, it is possible to use calculation scenarios based on the correlation between parameters; the development and spread of fire hazards, the evacuation of people, and the organization of firefighting.

2 TECHNICAL CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE

2.1 Grouping of building materials according to fire hazard

2.1.1 Purpose of grouping

2.1.1.1 The grouping of building substances and materials according to fire hazard is carried out to establish fire safety requirements when having substances and materials, using, storing, and transporting, processing, and disposing.

2.1.1.2 To establish fire safety requirements for building structures, constructions, and fire protection systems, building materials are grouped according to fire hazard.

2.1.2 Grouping criteria

The fire hazard of building materials is determined by the following fire technical characteristics:

– Combustibility;

– Ignitability;

– Surface flame spread;

– Smoke generation ability;

– Toxicity.

2.1.3 Grouping by combustibility

2.1.3.1 According to combustibility, building materials are classified into non-combustible and combustible materials.

2.1.3.2 Non-combustible building materials are materials with combustibility indicators (level of temperature increase, mass loss of test sample, duration of stable flame) when tested as in B.1.1, Appendix B.

Non-combustible building materials are not specified for fire hazard and other indicators are not determined (see B.1.1, Appendix B).

2.1.3.3 Combustible building materials are divided into 4 groups:

– Ch1 (low combustibility);

– Ch2 (moderate combustibility);

– Ch3 (high moderate combustibility);

– Ch4 (high combustibility).

The combustibility and groups of building materials according to combustibility are determined according to B.1.2, Appendix B.

2.1.4 Grouping by ignitability

According to ignitability, combustible building materials are divided into 3 groups:

– BC1 (low ignitability);

BC2 (moderate ignitability);

BC3 (high ignitability).

The group of building materials according to ignitability is determined according to B.1.3. Appendix B.

2.1.5 Grouping by flame spread

According to surface flame spread, combustible building materials are divided into 4 groups:

LT1 (Non-spreading);

LT2 (low spreading);

LT3 (moderate spreading);

LT4 (high spreading).

The group of building materials according to surface flame spread is specified for the surface material layer of roofs and floors, including floor coverings, according to B.1.4, Appendix B.

For other building materials, the grouping of surface flame spread is not determined and not specified.

2.1.6 Grouping by smoke generation ability

According to smoke generation ability, combustible building materials are divided into 3 groups:

– SK1 (low smoke generation ability);

– SK2 (moderate smoke generation ability);

– SK3 (high smoke generation ability).

The group of building materials according to smoke generation ability is determined according to B.1.5, Appendix B.

2.1.7 Grouping by toxicity

According to the toxicity of combustion products, combustible building materials are divided into 4 groups:

– ĐT1 (low toxicity);

– ĐT2 (moderate toxicity);

– ĐT3 (high toxicity);

– ĐT4 (extremely high toxicity).

The group of building materials according to the toxicity of combustion products is determined according to B.1.6, Appendix B.

2.1.8 Classification by fire hazard

2.1.8.1 According to fire hazard, building materials are classified into fire hazard levels increasing from CV0, CV1, CV2, CV3, CV4 to CV5.

NOTE: The fire hazard level of building materials is a composite indicator of the fire hazard groups of materials specified in 2.1.2.

2.1.8.2 The fire hazard level of building materials is determined according to B.1.7, Appendix B.

2.2 Building components

2.2.1 Purpose of classification

2.2.1.1 Building components are classified according to fire resistance and fire hazard.

2.2.1.2 Building components are classified according to fire resistance to determine the possibility of using them in buildings, constructions, and fire compartments with a certain fire resistance level or to determine the fire resistance level of buildings, constructions, and fire compartments.

2.2.13 Building components are classified according to fire hazard to determine the extent of their contribution to the development of a fire and the ability to form fire hazards.

2.2.2 Classification of building components according to fire resistance

2 2.2.1 Building components of buildings and constructions, depending on their ability to resist the effects of fire and the spread of fire hazards under standard test conditions, are classified into building components with the following fire resistance limits:

– Not specified;

– Not less than 15 min;

– Not less than 30 min;

– Not less than 45 min;

– Not less than 60 min;

– Not less than 90 min;

– Not less than 120 min;

– Not less than 150 min;

– Not less than 180 min;

– Not less than 240 min.

2.2.2.2 The fire resistance limit of building components is determined under standard test conditions. The time to reach the fire resistance limit of load-bearing and enclosing components under standard test conditions or according to calculation results is determined by the time to reach one or a number of consecutive signs of the following limit states:

– Loss of load-bearing capacity (denoted by the letter R);

– Loss of integrity (denoted by the letter E);

– Loss of insulation capacity (denoted by the letter I) due to the temperature on the unexposed surface increasing to the limit value;

Loss of ability to limit heat radiation (denoted by the letter W) due to the heat flux at a specified distance from the unexposed surface of the component/structure reaching the limit value.

NOTE 1: The fire resistance limit of building components is determined by fire resistance testing according to TCVN 9311-1 to TCVN 9311-8 or equivalent standards, or by calculation according to the applied fire resistance design standards.

The fire resistance limit of smoke and air ducts is determined according to ISO 6944 or equivalent standards.

NOTE 2: The required fire resistance limit of specific building components is specified in this regulation and in technical regulations for each type of construction. The required fire resistance limit of building components is denoted by REI, REW, EI, EW, EIW, RE, or R along with the corresponding indicators of the time of exposure to fire in minutes. For example, a component with a required fire resistance limit of REI 120 means that the component must simultaneously maintain all three capabilities: load-bearing, integrity, and insulation for a period of fire exposure of 120 minutes. A component with a required fire resistance limit of R 60, then the component only needs to maintain its load-bearing capacity for 60 minutes, with no requirement for insulation and integrity.

NOTE 3: A building component is considered to meet the fire resistance limit requirement if it satisfies one of the following conditions:

a) The component has a construction with technical characteristics similar to the fire resistance test sample, and when tested, this sample has a fire resistance limit not less than the required fire resistance limit of that component.

b) The fire resistance limit of the component determined by calculation according to the applicable fire resistance design standards is not less than the required fire resistance limit of that component.

c) The component has a construction with technical characteristics in accordance with the component mentioned in Appendix F, and the corresponding nominal fire resistance limit given in this appendix is not less than the required fire resistance limit of that component.

2.2.3 Classification of building components according to fire hazard

2.2.3.1 According to fire hazard, building components are divided into 4 levels:

K0 (non-combustible);

K1 (low fire hazard);

K2 (moderate fire hazard),

K3 (high fire hazard).

2.2.3.2 The values of the criteria for classifying building components into a certain fire hazard level are determined in accordance with the methods specified in national standards (or equivalent) on fire safety testing.

NOTE 1: It is allowed to classify building components into a fire hazard level without testing as follows:

a) Level K0 – if the component is made only from non-combustible materials;

b) Level K1 – if the outer surface of the component is made of materials with simultaneously fire technical indicators not more hazardous than Ch1, BC1, SK1;

c) Level K2 – if the outer surface of the component is made of materials with simultaneously fire technical indicators not more hazardous than Ch2, BC2, SK2;

d) Level K3 – if the outer surface of the component is made only of materials with one of the fire technical indicators being Ch3, BC3, SK3.

NOTE 2: Glass facade components are considered to have a fire hazard level of K0 if their parts (including the parts connecting to the building) are made of non-combustible materials. It is allowed to disregard sealing joints and outer coating layers with a thickness of less than 0.3 mm (if any).

2.3 Fire separation components

2.3.1 Purpose of classification

Fire separation components are classified according to the method of preventing the spread of fire hazards, as well as fire resistance, to select building structures and filling components of openings in fire separation components with the necessary fire resistance limit and fire hazard level.

2.3.2 Classification of fire separation components

2.3.2.1 Fire separation components, including fire separation walls, fire separation partitions, and fire separation floors, are divided into the types as in Table 1.

NOTE: In addition to those fire separation components, to prevent the spread of fire, there are also measures using: fire curtains, water curtains, fire prevention and fighting distances, spaces without fire load.

2.3.2.2 The filling components of openings in fire separation components (fire doors, dampers, fire dampers, windows, fire curtains), depending on the fire resistance limit of their separating parts, are divided into the types as in Table 2.

NOTE: The fire resistance limit of fire dampers of air distribution systems is determined according to ISO 10294 or equivalent standards. The fire resistance limit of doors, windows, and shutters is determined according to TCVN 9383 or equivalent standards.

2.3.2.3 Fire separation vestibules arranged in openings of fire separation components, depending on the type of component constituting the fire separation vestibule, are divided into fire separation vestibules of type 1 and type 2.

2.3.3 Requirements for fire separation components

2.3.3.1 Fire separation components are used to prevent the spread of fire and combustion products from a fire compartment or from a room with a fire to other rooms.

2.3.3.2 Fire separation components are characterized by fire resistance and fire hazard.

The fire resistance of a fire separation component is determined by the fire resistance of its constituent parts, including:

– The separating part (partition panels, wall panels, floor panels, and similar parts);

– Components for stabilizing the separating part (frames, braces, and similar components);

– Components supporting the separating part (supporting beams, supporting frames, supporting walls, and similar parts);

– The connecting joints between them.

The fire resistance limit according to the state of loss of load-bearing capacity (R) of the components stabilizing the separating part, of the components supporting the separating part, and of the connecting joints between them must not be lower than the required fire resistance limit for the separating part.

The fire hazard of a fire separation component is determined by the fire hazard of the separating part along with the connecting details and the components stabilizing the separating part.

2.3.3.3 The fire resistance limit and types of building components performing the function of fire separation components, the corresponding types of filling components, and fire separation vestibules are specified in Table 1.

2.3.3.4 Fire separation components of type 1 must have a fire hazard level of K0. In specific cases, it is allowed to use a fire hazard level of K1 in fire separation components of types 2 to 4.

2.3.3.5 The fire resistance limit for the corresponding types of opening filling components of fire separation components is specified in Table 2.

Table 1 – Fire resistance limit and types of building components performing the function of fire separation components, the corresponding types of opening filling components, and fire separation vestibules

Table 2 – Fire resistance limit of filling components of fire separation components

2.3.3.6 Requirements for the components of fire separation vestibules of various types are specified in Table 3.

NOTE: When there are doors, dampers, windows, curtains in a fire separation component, or when fire separation vestibules are arranged at the locations of those doors, the doors, fire dampers, and fire separation vestibules must be selected with the ability to prevent fire in accordance with the type of fire separation component as specified in Table 1.

Table 3 – Requirements for components of fire separation vestibules

2.4 Staircases and stairwells

2.4.1 Purpose of classification

Staircases and stairwells are classified to determine the requirements for them regarding layout – spatial solutions and structural solutions, as well as to establish requirements for their use on escape routes for people.

2.4.2 Classification of staircases

2.4.2.1 Staircases and stairwells used for evacuation of people from buildings and constructions in case of fire are classified into the following types:

Type 1 – interior staircases of the building, placed in stairwells;

Type 2 – interior staircases of the building, open;

Type 3 – exterior staircases of the building, open.

NOTE 1: “Open” means not placed in a stairwell.

NOTE 2: Some illustrations of staircase types are shown in Appendix I.

2.4.2.2 Firefighting ladders for firefighting and rescue purposes are divided into the following 2 types:

– P1 – vertical ladders;

– P2 – step ladders with an inclination not exceeding 6:1 (not exceeding 80°).

2.4.3 Classification of stairwells

2.4.3.1 Escape stairwells are classified into the following types depending on the level of protection against smoke infiltration in case of fire:

– Regular stairwells;

– Smoke-free stairwells.

NOTE: Some illustrations of stairwell types are shown in Appendix I.

2.4.3.2 Regular stairwells are classified into the following types:

– L1 – naturally lit through openings (open or glazed) in the exterior wall on each floor or not naturally lit in case they are intended for evacuation only from the rooms of the semi-basement floor;

– L2 – naturally lit through openings (open or glazed) on the roof.

2.4.3.3 Smoke-free stairwells are classified into the following types, depending on the method of protection against smoke infiltration in case of fire:

– N1 – stairwells with access to the stairwell from each floor through an open-air smoke-free buffer zone along continuous travel paths (see Part 3 for some cases of N1 stairwells);

NOTE: It is allowed to replace an N1 stairwell with a stairwell having access to the stairwell from each floor through a vestibule. Both the vestibule and the stairwell must have positive air pressure in case of fire. The air supply to the vestibule and to the stairwell is independent of each other.

– N2 – stairwells with positive air pressure (air pressure inside the stairwell is higher than outside the stairwell) in the stairwell in case of fire;

– N3 – stairwells with access to the stairwell from each floor through a fire separation vestibule always having positive air pressure (positive air pressure in the fire separation vestibule is continuous or in case of fire).

2.5 Buildings, constructions, fire compartments

2.5.1 Purpose of classification

The technical classification of fire for buildings, constructions, and fire compartments aims to establish fire safety requirements for the fire prevention and fighting systems of buildings and constructions depending on their function (intended use) and fire hazard.

2.5.2 Classification criteria

The technical classification of fire for buildings, constructions, and fire compartments takes into account the following criteria:

– Fire resistance level;

– Fire hazard level of structure;

– Functional fire hazard group.

2.5.3 Fire resistance level classification of buildings, constructions, fire compartments

2.5.3.1 Buildings, constructions, and fire compartments are classified into 5 fire resistance levels: I, II, III, IV, V.

2.5.3.2 Establishing the fire resistance level of buildings, constructions, fire compartments

The fire resistance level of buildings, constructions, and fire compartments is established depending on the number of floors (or the fire-fighting height of the building), the functional fire hazard group, the area of the fire compartment (see Appendix H), and the fire hazard of the technological processes taking place in the building, construction, or fire compartment.

2.5.3.3 The necessary fire resistance limit of building structures must be selected in accordance with the chosen fire resistance level of the building, construction, and fire compartment. Except for cases separately specified in this regulation, the correspondence between the fire resistance level of buildings, constructions, and fire compartments with the fire resistance limit of their building structures is specified in Table 4.

Table 4 – Correspondence between the fire resistance level of buildings, constructions, and fire compartments with the fire resistance limit of building components of buildings, constructions, and fire compartments

Load-bearing walls, load-bearing columns, bracing systems, shear walls, trusses, components of floor slabs between floors and of roofs without an attic floor (beams, rafters, joists, floor panels, roofing sheets) are considered as load-bearing components of the building if they ensure the overall stability and spatial stability of the building in case of fire.

Information about the above-mentioned load-bearing components of the building must be clearly specified by the design unit in the technical documentation of the building.

The fire resistance limit and fire hazard level of roof structural components with an attic floor in buildings of all fire resistance levels are not specified. The fire resistance limit of the attic floor gable structures is not specified; in this case, the attic floor gable must have a fire hazard level equivalent to the fire hazard level of the building’s enclosing walls. The components and structures belonging to the roof parts with an attic floor must be instructed by the design unit in the technical documentation of the building.

The fire resistance limit for opening filling components (doors, windows, dampers), skylights on the roof, roof lighting windows, and roof lighting panels is not specified, except for opening filling components on fire separation components and separately mentioned cases.

When the minimum required fire resistance limit of components is R 15 (RE 15, REI 15), it is allowed to use unprotected steel structures if their fire resistance limit according to test results or calculation is R 8 or higher, or the section factor Am/V is less than or equal to 250 m^-1.

NOTE: The section factor A_m/V is determined according to ISO 834-10 or equivalent standards.

In N1 type smoke-free stairwells, it is allowed to use stair treads and landings with a fire resistance limit of R 15 and a fire hazard level of K0.

Fire compartments are separated by type 1 fire separation walls and (or) type 1 fire separation floors. It is allowed to vertically separate fire compartments by a technical floor separated from the adjacent floors by type 2 fire separation floors, if the type 1 fire separation walls do not deviate from the main axis. It is allowed to divide fire compartments in buildings with fire resistance levels IV and V by type 2 fire separation walls.

2.5.4 Classification of fire hazard level of structure of buildings, constructions, and fire compartments

2.5.4.1 Buildings, constructions, and fire compartments are classified into 4 fire hazard levels of structure: S0, S1, S2, and S3, according to the fire hazard of building components.

2.5.4.2 Establishing the fire hazard level of structure of buildings, constructions, and fire compartments

The fire hazard level of structure of buildings, constructions, and fire compartments is established depending on the number of floors, the functional fire hazard group, the area of the fire compartment, and the fire hazard of the technological processes taking place in that building, construction, and fire compartment.

2.5.4.3 Correspondence between the fire hazard level of structure of buildings and the fire hazard level of building components

The fire hazard level of building components must correspond to the fire hazard level of structure of buildings, constructions, and fire compartments. The correspondence between the fire hazard level of structure of buildings, constructions, and fire compartments with the selected fire hazard level of their building structures is specified in Table 5.

2.5.4.4 The fire hazard level is not specified for the opening filling components on the enclosing structure of the building (doors, windows, dampers), skylights on the roof, roof lighting windows, except for the opening filling components in fire separation components.

NOTE: When applying structures or structural systems in actual construction for which it is impossible to determine the fire resistance limit or fire hazard level based on standard fire resistance tests or calculations, it is necessary to conduct fire resistance tests on the parts of that structure or structural system according to the selected applicable standard document.

Table 5 – Correspondence between the fire hazard level of structure of buildings, constructions, and fire compartments with the fire hazard level of building components

2.5.5 Fire Risk Categories by Functions of Buildings, Constructions, Fire Compartments, and Rooms

2.5.5.1 Buildings and their constituent parts (fire compartments, rooms, or groups of rooms with related functions) shall be classified into fire risk categories by function, depending on their use characteristics, the level of threat to occupant safety in the event of a fire, taking into account age, physical condition, the possibility of sleeping occupants, the group of people using the building according to its main function, and the number of people in that group. The fire risk categories by function are specified in Table 6.

2.5.5.2 Production and storage rooms, including laboratories and workshops with an area exceeding 50 m², food preparation rooms with cooking equipment having a capacity over 10 kW in buildings classified under categories F1, F2, F3, and F4, shall be classified under category F5.

2.5.5.3 In buildings with a specific fire risk category by function, where it is generally permitted to arrange groups of rooms and rooms with a different fire risk category by function, in addition to complying with the general requirements of this regulation, it is necessary to ensure additional conditions according to the design standards for the specific types of buildings and their corresponding technical equipment.

Table 6 – Building Classification¹⁾ Based on Fire Risk Category by Function

2.5.6 Classification of Buildings, Constructions, and Rooms with Production and Storage Functions by Fire and Explosion Hazard

2.5.6.1 Purpose of Classification

The classification of buildings, constructions, and rooms with production and storage functions by fire and explosion hazard is carried out to establish fire safety requirements aimed at preventing the possibility of fire occurrence and ensuring fire protection for people and property in the event of a fire in buildings, constructions, and rooms.

2.5.6.2 Classification of Rooms

2.5.6.2.1 According to fire and explosion hazard, rooms with production and storage functions are classified into the following categories:

• High explosion and fire hazard (A);
• Explosion and fire hazard (B);
• Fire hazard (C1, C2, C3, and C4);
• Moderate fire hazard (D);
• Low fire hazard (E).

Room categories with production and storage functions are specified in Appendix C.

2.5.6.2.2 Buildings, constructions, and rooms with other functions are not classified by fire and explosion hazard.

2.5.6.2.3 The category of a room by fire and explosion hazard is determined based on the type of combustible substances and materials present in the room, their quantity and fire hazard properties, as well as on the spatial planning solutions of the room and the characteristics of the technological processes taking place in the room.

2.5.6.2.4 The determination of the room category is carried out by successively checking the room for belonging to a more hazardous category (A) to a less hazardous one (E) according to Table C.1, Appendix C.

2.5.6.3 Classification of Buildings and Constructions

2.5.6.3.1 According to fire and explosion hazard, buildings and constructions are classified into categories A, B, C, D, and E.

2.5.6.3.2 The category of a building and construction by fire and explosion hazard is determined based on the ratio and total area of rooms belonging to this or that category in the building or construction.

2.5.6.3.3 The classification of buildings and constructions is specified in Appendix C.

3 ENSURING SAFETY FOR PEOPLE

3.1 General Requirements

3.1.1 The requirements in this section are intended to ensure:

• Timely and unobstructed evacuation of people;
• Rescue of people affected by the hazardous factors of a fire;
• Protection of people on escape routes from the effects of the hazardous factors of a fire.

3.1.2 Evacuation is the process of organized self-movement of people to the outside from rooms where the hazardous factors of a fire can affect them. Evacuation is also the involuntary movement of a group of people with limited mobility, carried out by service personnel. Evacuation is carried out along escape routes through evacuation exits.

3.1.3 Rescue is the forced movement of people to the outside when they are affected by the hazardous factors of a fire or when there is a direct threat of such effects. Rescue is carried out independently with the assistance of firefighting forces or professionally trained personnel, including the use of rescue equipment, through evacuation exits and emergency exits.

3.1.4 The protection of people on escape routes must be ensured by a combination of spatial planning, amenities, structural and technical solutions, and organizational measures.

Escape routes within a room must ensure safe evacuation through evacuation exits from that room without taking into account the smoke protection and firefighting equipment available in the room.

The protection of escape routes outside the room must be considered in accordance with the conditions for ensuring safe evacuation of people, taking into account the fire hazard by function of the rooms on the escape route, the number of evacuating people, the fire resistance rating and the fire hazard class of the building structures, the number of evacuation exits from a floor and from the entire building.

In rooms and on escape routes outside the room, the fire hazard of building materials belonging to the surface layers of structures (finishing and facing layers) should be limited depending on the fire hazard by function of the room and building, taking into account other solutions for protecting escape routes.

3.1.5 When arranging evacuation from rooms and buildings, measures and means used for rescue, as well as exits that do not meet the requirements for evacuation exits specified in 3.2.1, should not be considered.

3.1.6 It is not allowed to locate category A or B rooms of group F5 under rooms intended for the simultaneous presence of more than 50 people; it is not allowed to locate these group F5 rooms in basements and semi-basements.

It is not allowed to locate rooms of groups F1.1, F1.2, and F1.3 in basements and semi-basements.

3.1.7 In buildings with 2 to 3 basement floors, it is only allowed to locate smoking rooms, supermarkets and shopping centers, cafes, bars, and other public rooms deeper than the first basement floor when there are additional fire safety solutions in accordance with the applicable standards and approved by the competent state management agency as specified in 1.1.10.

For hospitals and general education schools, it is only allowed to locate the main functions from the semi-basement or first basement floor (in the absence of a semi-basement) and above. The first basement floor is the uppermost basement floor or the floor adjacent to the semi-basement.

On all basement floors, there must be at least one entrance to the evacuation stairwell through a smoke-proof vestibule separated from the surrounding spaces by fire walls of type 2. The doors must be self-closing.

3.1.8 To ensure safe evacuation, fire detection and alarm must be timely.

3.1.9 To protect evacuating people, protection against smoke penetration into escape routes of buildings and building parts must be provided.

The basic requirements for fire alarm and smoke protection for buildings are specified in Appendix D.

3.1.10 Electrical equipment of the building’s fire protection system must be supplied with priority power from two independent sources (one grid power source and one backup generator source).

NOTE: For electrical equipment with a separate backup source (e.g., diesel pumps, fire cabinets with backup batteries), only one grid power source is required, but this separate backup source must ensure normal operation during a fire.

3.1.11 The effectiveness of solutions to ensure people’s safety in case of fire can be evaluated by calculation.

3.2 Evacuation Exits and Emergency Exits

3.2.1 Exits are considered evacuation exits if they:

a) Lead from rooms on the first floor to the outside in one of the following ways:

• Directly to the outside;
• Through a corridor;
• Through a lobby (or waiting room);
• Through a stairwell;
• Through a corridor and a lobby (or waiting room);
• Through a corridor and a stairwell.

b) Lead from rooms of any floor, except the first floor, to one of the following:

• Directly into a stairwell or to a type 3 staircase;
• Into a corridor leading directly to a stairwell or to a type 3 staircase;
• Into a common room (or waiting room) with a direct exit leading to a stairwell or to a type 3 staircase;
• Into a side corridor of a building with a fire resistance height of less than 28 m, leading directly to a type 2 staircase;
• Onto an exploited roof or onto a separate roof area leading to a type 3 staircase.

c) Lead into an adjacent room (except for category A or B rooms of group F5) on the same floor, from which there are exits as specified in 3.2.1 a, b). An exit leading to a category A or B room is allowed to be considered an evacuation exit if it leads from a technical room without permanent staff and is only used to serve the above-mentioned category A or B rooms.

d) Exits that meet the requirements of 3.2.2 and other evacuation exits specifically specified in this regulation.

NOTE: When using a type 3 staircase for evacuation, it is necessary to perform appropriate evacuation calculations in accordance with Appendix G.

3.2.2 Exits from basements and semi-basements, in principle, are evacuation exits when they lead directly to the outside and are separated from the common stairwells of the building (see Figure I.1, Appendix I).

The following exits are also considered evacuation exits:

a) Exits from basements through common stairwells with a separate passage to the outside, separated from the rest of the stairwell by a solid fire-resistant partition of type 1 (see Figure I.2, Appendix I);

b) Exits from basements and semi-basements with rooms of categories C1 to C4, D, E, leading to rooms of categories C1 to C4, D, E, and into the lobby on the first floor of a group F5 building;

c) Exits from waiting rooms, cloakrooms, smoking rooms, and toilets in basements or semi-basements of group F2, F3, and F4 buildings, leading to the lobby of the first floor via separate type 2 staircases. In this case, the following requirements must be met:

• The lobby must be separated from adjacent corridors and rooms by fire-resistant partitions of at least type 1;
• Rooms on the first floor and above must have escape routes that do not pass through this lobby (except for rooms located within the lobby);
• The finishing materials of waiting rooms, cloakrooms, smoking rooms, and toilets in basements or semi-basements must meet the requirements for common rooms according to Appendix B;
• The cloakroom must have the number of evacuation exits that meet the requirements of this regulation, not counting the evacuation exit via the above-mentioned type 2 staircase.

d) Swinging doors with hinges on the entrance doors for rail or road vehicles.

It is allowed to arrange a vestibule at the direct exit to the outside from the building, from the basement and semi-basement.

3.2.3 Exits are not considered evacuation exits if they have sliding or folding doors, rolling shutters, or revolving doors.

Swinging doors (hinged doors) located within the above-mentioned doors are considered evacuation exits if they are designed in accordance with the specified requirements.

3.2.4 The number and width of evacuation exits from rooms, floors, and buildings are determined based on the maximum number of evacuating people that can pass through them and the maximum allowable distance from the farthest point where people can be (living, working) to the nearest evacuation exit.

NOTE 1: The maximum number of evacuating people from different spaces of a building or part of a building is determined according to G.3, Appendix G.

NOTE 2: In addition to the general requirements set forth in this regulation, specific requirements for the number and width of evacuation exits are provided in the standards for each type of construction. Appendix G provides some specific provisions for common building groups.

Parts of a building with different functions and separated by fire-resistant elements must have independent evacuation exits, except for cases specifically specified in this regulation.

Parts of a building with different functions and separated by fire-resistant elements into fire compartments in a building with multiple functions must have separate evacuation exits from each floor. It is allowed to have no more than 50% of the evacuation exits leading to an adjacent fire compartment (except for evacuation exits leading to a group F5 fire compartment). The part of the building belonging to group F5 must have a separate evacuation exit.

3.2.5 The following rooms must have at least two evacuation exits:

a) Rooms of group F1.1 with a simultaneous presence of more than 15 people;

b) Rooms in basements and semi-basements with a simultaneous presence of more than 15 people; for rooms in basements and semi-basements with 6 to 15 people simultaneously present, it is allowed to have one of the two exits as an emergency exit according to the requirements in paragraph d) of 3.2.13;

c) Rooms with a simultaneous presence of 50 or more people;

d) Rooms (except for rooms of group F5) with a simultaneous presence of fewer than 50 people (including elevated audience floors or balconies) with a distance along the path from the farthest point where people are present to the evacuation exit exceeding 25 m. When there are evacuation exits leading to the room under consideration from adjacent rooms with more than 5 people present in each adjacent room, the above distance must include the length of the evacuation route for people from those adjacent rooms;

e) Rooms with a total number of people present in them and in adjacent rooms that only have evacuation exits leading into the room under consideration of 50 or more;

f) Rooms of group F5, category A or B, with the number of people working in the busiest shift greater than 5, category C – when the number of people working in the busiest shift is greater than 25 or with an area greater than 1,000 m²;

g) Open work platforms and platforms for personnel operating and maintaining equipment in rooms of group F5 with an area greater than 100 m² – for rooms of category A and B, or greater than 400 m² – for rooms of other categories.

If a room must have 2 or more evacuation exits, it is allowed to arrange no more than 50% of the number of evacuation exits of that room through an adjacent room, provided that the adjacent room also has evacuation exits that comply with the provisions of this regulation and the corresponding standards for that room.

3.2.6 Number of Evacuation Exits from a Building Floor

3.2.6.1 The following building floors must have at least two evacuation exits:

a) Floors of buildings belonging to groups F1.1; F1.2; F2.1; F2.2; F3; F4;

b) Building floors with a number of people of 50 or more;

c) Floors of group F1.3 buildings when the total area of the apartments on one floor is greater than 500 m² (for single-section buildings, the area is calculated per floor of the section). In cases where the total area of the apartments on one floor is less than or equal to 500 m² and when there is only one evacuation exit from a floor, then from each apartment at a height greater than 15 m, in addition to the evacuation exit, there must be an emergency exit according to the provisions of 3.2.13;

d) Floors of group F5 buildings, category A or B, when the number of people working in the busiest shift is greater than 5, category C when the number of people working in the busiest shift is greater than 25;

e) Basement and semi-basement floors with an area greater than 300 m² or used for more than 15 people simultaneously present.

3.2.6.2 It is allowed to arrange one evacuation exit in the following cases (except for buildings with fire resistance rating V):

a) From each floor (or from a part of a floor separated from other parts of the floor by fire-resistant elements) with a fire hazard group by function F1.2, F1.4, F2 (except nightclubs, dance halls, bars, singing rooms, karaoke establishments; and similar service establishments), F3, F4.2, F4.3, and F4.4, when the following conditions are simultaneously met:

• For buildings with a fire resistance height of not more than 15 m, the area of each floor under consideration must not exceed 300 m² . For buildings with a fire resistance height from over 15 m to 21 m, the area of each floor under consideration must not exceed 200 m² ;
• The entire building is protected by an automatic sprinkler fire extinguishing system;
• The maximum number of people on each floor does not exceed 20;
• For buildings over 3 floors or with a fire resistance height greater than 9 m: equipped with type 2 fire doors on the evacuation exit from each floor leading to the evacuation stairwell.
• For buildings up to 3 floors or with a fire resistance height up to 9 m: a type 2 staircase can be used instead of the above-mentioned stairwell when ensuring that people in the building can escape to an open balcony or open roof terrace in case of fire (except for villas, resorts according to specific provisions below).

NOTE: An open balcony or open roof terrace means open to the outside, and the enclosing elements (if any) must ensure easy evacuation and rescue when the firefighting forces approach.

For villas and resorts not exceeding 3 floors belonging to group F1.2, it is allowed to replace the above-mentioned types of stairwells with a type 2 staircase, when simultaneously ensuring the following conditions:

• The area of each floor does not exceed 200 m² , the fire resistance height does not exceed 9 m, and the total number of users does not exceed 15 people;
• The building has at least one evacuation exit directly to the outside or to a type 3 staircase;
• To escape to the outside via a type 2 staircase, it is only necessary to go up or down a maximum of 1 floor. In cases where it is necessary to go down 2 floors to escape to the outside, each room that can be used for sleeping must have at least one window located at a height not exceeding 1 m from the floor and have a direct exit to a corridor or common room with a door to the balcony. The height of the above-mentioned windows and balconies must not exceed 7 m from the ground. In cases where these windows and balconies are located at a height exceeding 7 m up to a maximum of 9 m, each window and balcony must be additionally equipped with emergency escape devices to ensure safe evacuation for people from above (e.g., metal ladders, rope ladders);

b) From technical floors or areas for technical equipment with an area not exceeding 300 m² . In cases where the floor has a technical area as mentioned above, for every 2,000 m² of the remaining area, at least one additional evacuation exit must be provided (in cases where the remaining area is less than 2,000 m² , at least one additional evacuation exit must also be provided). If the technical floor or technical area is located below the basement, the evacuation exit must be separate from other exits of the building and lead directly to the outside. If the technical floor or technical area is located on floors above the ground, it is allowed to arrange exits through common stairwells, and for buildings with N1 stairwells – through the vestibule of the NT stairwell;

c) From floors of group F1.3 buildings with a total area of apartments on that floor (for buildings with sections, the floor area within the section) from over 500 m² to 550 m² and:

• When the height of the top floor does not exceed 28 m – the evacuation exit from the floor under consideration leads to a regular stairwell, provided that each apartment is equipped with an addressable smoke detector;
• When the height of the top floor is greater than 28 m – the evacuation exit from the floor under consideration leads to a smoke-free N1 stairwell, provided that all rooms in the apartment (except for toilets, bathrooms, and utility areas) are equipped with addressable smoke detectors or automatic fire extinguishing devices.

For group F1.3 buildings with a fire resistance height from over 28 m to 50 m and a total area of apartments on each floor up to 500 m² , it is allowed to replace the N1 stairwell with an N2 stairwell when simultaneously meeting the following conditions: 1) The entrance to the stairwell from all floors, including the passage between the stairwell and the lobby, must have a fire-resistant vestibule with positive pressure in case of fire; 2) one of the elevators of the building is reserved for the transportation of firefighting forces; 3) All rooms in the apartment (except for toilets, bathrooms, and utility areas) are equipped with addressable smoke detectors or an automatic fire extinguishing system; 4) The building is equipped with a fire alarm sound system (it is allowed to arrange it in the common corridors between apartments).

NOTE: The area of the apartment includes the area of balconies and (or) loggias.

d) From floors (or a part of a floor separated from other parts of the floor by fire-resistant elements) belonging to the fire hazard group by function F4.1, when simultaneously meeting the following conditions:

• The building has a fire resistance height of not more than 9 m, the area of the floor under consideration does not exceed 300 m² ;
• The floor under consideration has a side corridor leading to an open type 2 staircase or a stairwell, and the rooms of group F4.1 have doors leading to this side corridor.

3.2.7 The number of evacuation exits from a floor must not be less than two if this floor has at least one room requiring not less than two evacuation exits.

The number of evacuation exits from a building must not be less than the number of evacuation exits from any floor of that building.

3.2.8 When there are two or more evacuation exits, they must be arranged in a dispersed manner, and when calculating the evacuation capacity of the exits, it should be assumed that the fire has prevented people from using one of those exits for evacuation. The remaining exits must ensure the safe evacuation capacity for all the people present in the room, on the floor, or in the building (see Figure I.3).

When a room, a part of a building, or a floor of a building requires 2 or more evacuation exits, at least two of those evacuation exits must be arranged in a dispersed manner, located at a distance equal to or greater than half the length of the largest diagonal of the floor plan of that room, part of the building, or floor. The distance between two evacuation exits is measured along a straight line connecting their nearest edges (see Figure I.4 a), b), c)).

If the building is fully protected by an automatic sprinkler fire extinguishing system, this distance can be reduced to 1/3 of the length of the largest diagonal of the floor plan of the above-mentioned rooms (see Figure I.4 d)).

When there are two evacuation stairwells connected by a corridor inside, the distance between the two evacuation exits (doors to the evacuation stairwells) is measured along the path of travel through that corridor (see Figure I.5). This corridor must be protected according to the provisions of 3.3.5.

3.2.9 The clear height of evacuation exits must not be less than 1.9 m, and the clear width must not be less than:

• 1.2 m – from rooms of group F1.1 when the number of evacuees is more than 15 people, from rooms and buildings belonging to other fire hazard groups by function with the number of evacuees more than 50 people, except for group F1.3;
• 0.8 m – in all other cases.

The width of the exterior doors of the stairwell, as well as the doors from the stairwell to the lobby, must not be less than the calculated value or the width of the stair flight specified in 3.4.1.

In all cases, when determining the width of an evacuation exit, it is necessary to take into account the geometric shape of the escape route through the door opening or doorway to ensure that it does not obstruct the transport of stretchers with people lying on them.

If a double-leaf door is used on the evacuation exit, the width of the evacuation exit is only taken equal to the width of the passage through the opening leaf, and it is not allowed to consider the closing or fixed leaf. Double-leaf doors must be equipped with a self-closing mechanism so that the leaves close sequentially.

In buildings with a fire resistance height of more than 28 m (except for buildings of groups F1.3 and F1.4), the evacuation doors from the common corridors of each floor, from the common lobby, waiting room, vestibule, stairwell (except for evacuation doors leading directly to the outside), must be fire doors with a fire resistance limit of at least EI 30.

3.2.10 The doors of evacuation exits and other doors on the escape route must open in the direction of the escape route from inside the building to the outside.

The opening direction of doors is not specified for:

• Rooms of groups F1.3 and F1.4;
• Rooms with a simultaneous presence of no more than 15 people, except for rooms of category A or B;
• Storage rooms with an area not exceeding 200 m² and without permanent staff;
• Toilet rooms;
• Exits leading to the stair flights of type 3 staircases.

3.2.11 The doors of evacuation exits from floor corridors, common spaces, waiting rooms, lobbies, and stairwells must be able to open freely from the inside without a key. In buildings with a fire resistance height of more than 15 m, the above-mentioned door leaves, except for the doors of apartments, must be solid or made with tempered glass.

The doors of evacuation exits from areas (rooms or corridors) that are protected against forced smoke must be solid doors equipped with a self-closing mechanism, and the door gaps must be sealed. If these doors need to be kept open during use, they must be equipped with an automatic closing mechanism in case of fire.

For stairwells, the entrance doors must have a self-closing mechanism, and the door gaps must be sealed. Doors in the stairwell that open directly to the outside are allowed to not have a self-closing mechanism and do not need to have sealed door gaps. Except for cases specifically specified, the doors of the stairwell must be fire doors of type 1 for buildings with fire resistance rating I, II; type 2 for buildings with fire resistance rating III, IV; and type 3 for buildings with fire resistance rating V.

In addition to the specific provisions, the doors of evacuation exits from floor corridors leading to the stairwell serving 4 or more building floors (except in buildings serving detention and rehabilitation purposes) must ensure:

a) All electric locks installed on the doors must automatically unlock when the building’s automatic fire alarm system is activated. Immediately upon power failure, those electric locks must also automatically unlock;

b) Users of the stairwell can always return back inside the building through the same door they just passed through or through designated points where doors are provided to return back inside the building;

c) Arrangement of doors before the points of return back inside the building according to the principle that door leaves are only allowed to obstruct the return back inside the building if they meet all the following requirements:

• There are at least two floors where it is possible to exit the stairwell to reach another evacuation exit;
• There are no more than 4 floors between the building floors where it is possible to exit the stairwell to reach another evacuation exit;
• The return back inside the building must be possible at the uppermost floor or the floor immediately below the uppermost floor served by the evacuation stairwell if this floor allows access to another evacuation exit;
• The doors allowing return back inside the building must be marked on the door face inside the stairwell with the text “DOOR CAN ENTER INSIDE THE BUILDING” with a letter height of at least 50 mm, arranged at a height not lower than 1.2 m and not higher than 1.8 m;
• Doors not allowing return back inside the building must have a notification on the door face inside the stairwell to identify the location of the door allowing return back inside the building or the nearest evacuation exit in each direction of travel.

NOTE: For doors not allowing return back inside the building, on the door face on the corridor side inside the building (outside the stairwell), there should be a warning sign informing users that they cannot return back inside the building when they pass through that door.

3.2.12 Exits that do not meet the requirements for evacuation exits can be considered emergency exits to increase the level of safety for people in case of fire. All emergency exits, including the emergency exits in 3.2.13, shall not be included in the calculation of evacuation in case of fire.

3.2.13 In addition to the case mentioned in 3.2.12, emergency exits also include:

a) Exits to a balcony or loggia, where there is a solid wall section with a width of not less than 1.2 m from the edge of the balcony (loggia) to the window opening (or glazed door) or not less than 1.6 m between glazed openings leading to the balcony (loggia). The balcony or loggia must have a width of not less than 0.6 m, ensure natural ventilation, and be separated from the room by a partition (with door openings) from floor to ceiling. It is allowed to replace the above-mentioned solid wall sections with glass walls having a fire resistance limit of not less than EI 30 or EI 15, depending on the fire resistance limit of the exterior walls of the building;

b) Exits leading to an open transitional passage (connecting bridge) outside, with a width of not less than 0.6 m, leading to an adjacent fire compartment or to an adjacent fire compartment. It is not allowed to arrange enclosing structures/elements that obstruct the movement of people;

c) Exits to a balcony or loggia with a width of not less than 0.6 m, where an external staircase connecting the balconies or loggias on each floor is provided, or there is a hatch in the floor of the balcony or loggia, with minimum dimensions of 0.6 x 0.8 m, which can lead down to the balcony or loggia of the lower floor;

d) Direct exits to the outside from rooms with a finished floor level not lower than minus 4.5 m and not higher than 5.0 m through a window or door with dimensions not less than 0.75 m x 1.5 m, as well as through a hatch with dimensions not less than 0.6 m x 0.8 m; in this case, climbing ladders must be provided at these exits; the slope of these climbing ladders is not specified;

e) Exits to the roof of a building with fire resistance rating I, II, and III belonging to class S0 and S1 through a window, door, or hatch with dimensions and climbing ladders as specified in paragraph d) of this clause.

3.2.14 In technical floors, it is allowed to arrange evacuation exits with a height of not less than 1.8 m.

From technical floors used only for placing building utility networks (pipelines, wiring, and similar objects), it is allowed to arrange emergency exits through a door with dimensions not less than 0.75 m x 1.5 m or through a hatch with dimensions not less than 0.6 m x 0.8 m without the need to arrange evacuation exits.

In basement technical floors, these exits must be separated from other exits of the building and lead directly to the outside.

3.3 Escape Routes

3.3.1 Escape routes must be illuminated and signposted in accordance with the requirements of TCVN 3890.

3.3.2 The maximum allowable distance from the farthest point of a room, or from the farthest workplace to the nearest evacuation exit, measured along the axis of the escape route, must be limited depending on:

• The fire hazard group by function and the explosion and fire hazard category (see Appendix C) of the room and building;
• The number of evacuees;
• The geometric parameters of the room and escape route;
• The fire hazard class of structures and the fire resistance rating of the building.

The length of the escape route via a type 2 staircase is taken as three times the height of that staircase.

NOTE: Specific requirements for the maximum allowable distance from the farthest point to the nearest evacuation exit are provided in the regulations for each type of construction. Some specific provisions for common building groups are provided in Appendix G.

3.3.3 When arranging and designing escape routes, it is necessary to rely on the requirements in 3.2.1. Escape routes do not include elevators, escalators, and the following sections:

• Passages through internal corridors with exits from the elevator shaft, through elevator lobbies and vestibules in front of elevators, if the enclosing structures of the elevator shaft, including the elevator shaft doors, do not meet the requirements for fire-resistant elements;
• Passages through stairwells when there is a passage crossing the flight of the stairwell as part of the internal corridor, as well as passages through a room containing a type 2 staircase, where this staircase is not an evacuation staircase;
• Passages on the roof of the building, except for roofs that are being utilized or a part of the roof that is specifically equipped for evacuation purposes;
• Passages via type 2 staircases connecting 3 or more floors (levels), as well as leading from the basement and semi-basement, except for specific cases of evacuation via type 2 staircases mentioned in 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.6.

3.3.4 Finishing and decorative materials for walls and ceilings (including suspended ceilings, if any), cladding materials, flooring materials on escape routes shall comply with the requirements in Table B.8, Appendix B.

3.3.5 In corridors on evacuation exits mentioned in 3.2.1, except for cases specifically mentioned in the regulation, it is not allowed to arrange: equipment protruding from the plane of the wall at a height of less than 2 m; flammable gas pipelines and flammable liquid pipelines, as well as wall cabinets, except for communication cabinets and cabinets for fire hose stations.

Corridors, lobbies, and common rooms on escape routes must be enclosed by fire-resistant elements in accordance with the provisions in the regulations for each type of construction. The fire-resistant elements enclosing the escape route of a building with fire resistance rating I must be made of non-combustible materials with a fire resistance limit of at least EI 30, and for buildings with fire resistance rating II, III, IV, they must be made of non-combustible or low-combustible materials (Ch1) with a fire resistance limit of at least EI 15. Specifically for buildings with fire resistance rating II of fire and explosion hazard category D, E (see Appendix C), it is possible to enclose the corridor with glass walls. Doors opening into the corridor must be fire doors with a fire resistance limit not lower than the fire resistance limit of the fire-resistant element.

Corridors longer than 60 m must be divided by type 2 fire-resistant partitions into sections with a length determined according to the smoke protection requirements specified in Appendix D, but not exceeding 60 m. Doors in these fire-resistant partitions must comply with the requirements in 3.2.11.

When the door leaves of a room open protruding into the corridor, the width of the escape route along the corridor is taken equal to the clear width of the corridor minus:

• Half the width of the protruding part of the door leaf (taking into account the most protruding door) – when the doors are arranged on one side of the corridor;
• The entire width of the protruding part of the door leaf (taking into account the most protruding door) – when the doors are arranged on both sides of the corridor. This requirement does not apply to the floor corridor (common lobby) located between the door from the apartment and the door leading to the stairwell in the section of a group F1.3 building.

3.3.6 The clear height of horizontal sections of escape routes must not be less than 2 m, and the clear width of horizontal sections of escape routes and sloped sections must not be less than:

• 1.2 m – for common corridors used for evacuation of more than 15 people from rooms of group F1, more than 50 people – from rooms belonging to other fire hazard groups by function.
• 0.7 m – for passages to individual workplaces.
• 1.0 m – in all other cases.

In any case, escape routes must be wide enough, taking into account their geometric shape, so as not to obstruct the transport of stretchers with people lying on them.

3.3.7 On the floor of the escape route, there must not be steps with a height difference of less than 45 cm or protruding thresholds, except for thresholds in doorways. At places with steps, stairs with a number of steps not less than 3 must be provided or a ramp with a slope not exceeding 1:6 (the height difference must not exceed 10 cm over a length of 60 cm or the angle formed by the ramp with the horizontal plane must not be greater than 9.5°).

When making stairs in places with a height difference greater than 45 cm, handrails must be provided.

Except for cases specifically specified in 3.4.4, on the escape route, it is not allowed to arrange spiral staircases, staircases curved in whole or in part in plan, and within the scope of one flight of stairs and one stairwell, it is not allowed to arrange steps with different heights and different tread widths. On the escape route, it is not allowed to arrange mirrors that cause confusion about the escape route.

3.4 Staircases and Stairwells on Escape Routes

3.4.1 The width of the stair flight used for evacuation, including the stair flight inside the stairwell, must not be less than the calculated width or the width of any evacuation exit (doorway) on it, and must not be less than:

• 1.35 m – for buildings of group F1.1;
• 1.2 m – for buildings with more than 200 people on any floor, except the first floor;
• 0.7 m – for staircases leading to individual workplaces;
• 0.9 m – for all other cases.

3.4.2 The slope (inclination angle) of staircases on escape routes must not exceed 1:1 (45°); the width of the tread must not be less than 25 cm, except for outdoor staircases, and the height of the riser must not exceed 22 cm and not be less than 5 cm.

The slope (inclination angle) of open staircases leading to individual workplaces can be increased to 2:1 (63.5°).

It is allowed to reduce the width of the tread of a curved receiving staircase (usually arranged in the lobby of the first floor) in the narrowed part to 22 cm; It is allowed to reduce the width of the tread to 12 cm for staircases leading to technical floors, attic floors, non-utilized roofs, as well as only for rooms with a total number of workplaces not exceeding 5 people (except for rooms of group F5, category A or B).

Type 3 staircases must be made of non-combustible materials (except for buildings with fire resistance rating V) and placed adjacent to the solid parts (without window openings or light openings) of walls with a fire hazard class not lower than K1 and a fire resistance limit not lower than REI 30 or EI 30 (the fire resistance limit of this solid part of the wall is not specified for buildings with fire resistance rating V). These staircases must have landings at the same level as the evacuation exit, have a handrail with a height of 1.2 m, and be located at a distance of not less than 1.0 m from window openings. It is allowed to replace the solid parts of the wall with glass walls having a fire resistance limit of not less than EI 30. The fire resistance limit of the openings leading from the corridor to the stair landing, as well as from rooms for which the type 3 staircase is only used for evacuation from those rooms, is not specified.

Type 2 staircases must meet the requirements specified for the stair flights and landings in the stairwell.

3.4.3 The width of the stair landing must not be less than the width of the stair flight. The width of the landing in front of the elevator entrance (the landing is also the elevator lobby) for elevators with hinged doors opening outwards must not be less than the total width of the stair flight and half the width of the elevator door leaf, but not less than 1.6 m.

Intermediate landings in straight stair flights must have a length of not less than 1.0 m.

When doors with door leaves open into the stairwell, the open door leaf must not reduce the calculated width of the landings and stair flights.

3.4.4 In buildings belonging to fire hazard group by function F4, it is allowed to arrange curved staircases on the escape route when all the following conditions are met:

• The height of the staircase does not exceed 9.0 m;
• The width of the stair flight complies with the provisions in this regulation;
• The minimum radius of curvature is not less than 2 times the width of the stair flight;
• The height of the riser is within the range from 150 mm to 190 mm;
• The inner width of the tread (measured 270 mm from the smallest end of the step) is not less than 220 mm;
• The width measured at the middle of the length of the tread is not less than 250 mm;
• The outer width of the tread (measured 270 mm from the largest end of the step) does not exceed 450 mm;
• The sum of 2 times the riser height and the inner width of the tread is not less than 480 mm, and with the outer width of the tread, it does not exceed 800 mm.

3.4.5 In stairwells and vestibules (if any), it is not allowed to arrange:

• Pipelines for combustible gases and combustible liquids;
• Wall cabinets, except for communication cabinets and cabinets for fire hose stations;
• Exposed cables and wires (except for low-current electrical wiring and wiring for corridor and stairwell lighting);
• Exits from freight elevators and lifting equipment;
• Exits to storage rooms or technical rooms;
• Equipment protruding from the wall surface at a height below 2.2 m from the surface of the steps and landings.

In the space of evacuation stairwells and fire-resistant vestibules with positive air pressure in case of fire, it is not allowed to arrange any functional rooms.

3.4.6 In the space of stairwells, except for smoke-free stairwells, it is allowed to arrange no more than two passenger elevators that only descend to the first floor, with the enclosing structures of the elevator shaft made of non-combustible materials.

Elevator shafts located outside the building, if they need to be enclosed, must use structures made of non-combustible materials.

3.4.7 Stairwells, except for cases specifically specified in this regulation, must have a direct exit to the adjacent land plot of the building or through a vestibule that is separated from adjacent corridors and rooms by type 1 fire-resistant partitions with doorways equipped with self-closing mechanisms and door gaps that must be sealed.

When arranging evacuation exits from two or more stairwells through a common vestibule, the stairwells (except for one of them) must have a direct exit to the outside, except for the exit leading to the lobby. In the case where only one stairwell leads to the vestibule, this stairwell must have a direct exit to the outside.

It is allowed to arrange evacuation exits from two stairwells through a common vestibule for buildings with a fire resistance height of less than 28 m, an area of each floor not exceeding 300 m² , with the maximum number of users on each floor according to the approved design, when the design does not clearly specify this value, the maximum number of people is calculated by the ratio of the floor area of the room, floor, or building divided by the floor space factor (m²/person) specified in Table G.9 not exceeding 50 people, and the entire building is protected by an automatic fire extinguishing system in accordance with current regulations.

For passenger railway stations and large halls with similar usage characteristics, exits from 50% of the stairwells (or from corridors) leading to a common passenger lobby with evacuation exits directly to the outside, to an open overpass outside, or to the station platform can be considered as evacuation exits.

Type N1 stairwells must have a direct exit to the outside.

3.4.8 Stairwells must be provided with natural or artificial lighting.

a) In the case of natural lighting:

Except for type L2 stairwells, the provision of lighting can be achieved by light openings with an area of not less than 1.2 m² on the exterior walls at each floor.

Type L2 stairwells must have a light opening on the roof with an area of not less than 4 m² with a gap between the stair flights having a width of not less than 0.7 m or a light shaft throughout the height of the stairwell with a cross-sectional area of not less than 2 m².

It is allowed to arrange no more than 50% of internal stairwells without light openings, used for evacuation, in the following cases:

• Buildings belonging to groups F2, F3, and F4: for type N2 or N3 stairwells with positive air pressure in case of fire;
• Buildings belonging to group F5, category C with a fire resistance height up to 28 m, and categories D and E regardless of the fire resistance height of the building: for type N3 stairwells with positive air pressure in case of fire.

b) In the case of artificial lighting:

If it is not possible to arrange door openings as specified in paragraph a) of 3.4.8, the evacuation stairwells must be smoke-free stairwells and equipped with artificial lighting, powered as noted in 3.4.13, ensuring the principle of continuously maintaining the power supply for the lighting system to operate stably in case of fire, and the light must be sufficient for people evacuating through these stairwells to clearly see the escape route and not be dazzled.

3.4.9 Smoke protection of type N2 and N3 stairwells must comply with Appendix D. When necessary, type N2 stairwells must be divided into compartments along the height by solid type 1 fire-resistant partitions with passages between the compartments located outside the space of the stairwell.

Windows in type N2 stairwells must be non-openable.

The vestibule of type N3 stairwells must have an area of not less than 3.0 m² and not less than 6.0 m² if the vestibule is also the lobby of the firefighting elevator.

3.4.10 The smoke-free nature of the smoke-free vestibule leading to smoke-free stairwells of type N1 must be ensured by natural ventilation with appropriate structural solutions and spatial planning. Some cases considered appropriate are as follows:

NOTE: Some layout options for smoke-free vestibules leading to type N1 stairwells are illustrated in I.3.2 (Appendix I).

a) Smoke-free vestibules must be open, communicating with the outside, usually located at the inner corners of the building, while ensuring the following requirements (see Figure I.7):

• When a part of the exterior wall of the building is adjacent to another wall part at an angle less than 135°, the horizontal distance from the nearest doorway in this vestibule to the vertex of the adjacent angle must not be less than 4 m; this distance can be reduced to the value of the protruding part of the exterior wall. This requirement does not apply to passages located at adjacent angles greater than or equal to 135°, as well as to the protruding part of the exterior wall with a value not exceeding 1.2 m;

The width of the wall section between the doorways of the smoke-free vestibule and the nearest window opening of the room must not be less than 2 m;

The passages must have a width of not less than 1.2 m with a handrail height of 1.2 m, and the width of the wall section between the doorways in the smoke-free vestibule must not be less than 1.2 m.

NOTE: Some similar cases are illustrated in Appendix I, Figures I.8 a), b), and c)

b) Smoke-free vestibules along a side corridor (see Figures I.8 h), i), and k)) are naturally lit and ventilated by open openings facing and in contact with one of the following spaces:

• The outside space;
• A street or public road or other fully open public spaces above;
• A vertical ventilation shaft with a width of not less than 6 m and a free area of not less than 93 m²;

c) Smoke-free vestibules passing through a smoke-resistant lobby with an area of not less than 6 m² with the smallest dimension in each direction not less than 2 m, separated from adjacent areas of the building by type 2 fire-resistant walls. The entrance doors must have self-closing mechanisms and the door gaps must be sealed. The design of the smoke-resistant lobby must ensure that it does not obstruct the movement of users on the escape route. The smoke-free nature of the smoke-resistant lobby must be ensured by one of the following solutions:

• It has ventilation openings with an area of not less than 15% of the floor area of the smoke-resistant lobby and located not more than 9 m from any part of the lobby. These ventilation openings must communicate with a vertical shaft or a recessed ventilation compartment throughout the height of the building. The dimensions of the vertical shaft or recessed compartment must ensure a width of not less than 6 m and a free area of not less than 93 m² . The walls enclosing the vertical shaft must have a fire resistance of at least 1 hour, and there must be no other openings in the shaft except for the ventilation openings of the smoke-resistant lobby, the evacuation stairwell, and the sanitary areas (see Figures I.8 d), e), f));
• It is a horizontally ventilated corridor with fixed ventilation openings located on two exterior walls. The openings on each exterior wall must not be less than 50% of the free area of the opposite exterior wall. The distance from any point on the floor of the corridor to any ventilation opening must not exceed 13 m (see Figure I.8 g)).

3.4.11 Type L1 stairwells and type 3 staircases are allowed to be arranged in buildings of all fire hazard groups by function with a fire resistance height of up to 28 m; in this case, in group F5 buildings, category A or B, the exit to the floor corridor from category A or B rooms must go through a vestibule that always has positive air pressure.

3.4.12 Type L2 stairwells are allowed to be arranged in buildings with fire resistance rating I, II, III belonging to fire hazard class of structures S0, S1 and groups F1, F2, F3, and F4, with a fire resistance height not exceeding 9 m. It is allowed to increase this height to 12 m (except for inpatient medical facilities) provided that the high light opening automatically opens in case of fire, the number of such stairwells (except for buildings of groups F1.3 and F1.4) is allowed to be a maximum of 50%, and the remaining stairwells must have light openings on the exterior wall at each floor.

When arranging type L2 stairwells, the following requirement must also be met: For group F1.3 buildings of the single-section type, in each apartment located at a height above 4 m, there must be an emergency exit in accordance with the provisions of 3.2.13.

3.4.13 In buildings with a fire resistance height of more than 28 m (except for group F5 buildings, category C, E without permanent staff), as well as in group F5 buildings, category A or B, smoke-free stairwells must be arranged, among which type N1 stairwells must be provided.

In multi-functional buildings, stairwells connecting parts of the building with different fire hazard groups by function must be smoke-free stairwells in accordance with the requirements of this clause, except for cases specifically specified.

NOTE: The N1 stairwell can be replaced as mentioned in 2.5.1c) provided that the system supplying outside air to the vestibule and to the stairwell must be powered with priority from two independent sources (1 grid power source and 1 backup generator source) ensuring the principle of continuously maintaining the power supply for the system to operate stably in case of fire.

It is allowed:

a) In buildings of groups F1, F2, F3, F4, to arrange no more than 50% of type N3 or type N2 stairwells with an entrance to the stairwell through a vestibule with an enclosure solution similar to a type 1 fire-resistant vestibule (that is, positive air pressure is not required in this vestibule, but the enclosing elements must have a fire resistance limit similar to a type 1 fire-resistant vestibule);

b) When a building has two or more basement floors, evacuation from these basement floors can be through type N3 stairwells, or type N2 stairwells with an entrance to the stairwell through a vestibule with an enclosure solution similar to a type 1 fire-resistant vestibule;

c) In group F5 buildings, arrange smoke-free stairwells instead of type N1 as follows:

• In category A or B buildings – type N2 or N3 stairwells with constant positive air pressure;
• In category C buildings – type N2 or N3 stairwells with positive air pressure in case of fire;
• In category D, E buildings – type N2 or N3 stairwells with positive air pressure in case of fire, or type L1 stairwells provided that the stairwell must be compartmentalized by solid fire-resistant partitions every 20 m of height and the passage from one compartment to another of the stairwell must be located outside the space of the stairwell.

3.4.14 In buildings with smoke-free stairwells, smoke protection must be provided for common corridors, lobbies, common spaces, and waiting rooms.

3.4.15 In buildings with fire resistance rating I and II; and fire hazard class of structures S0, it is allowed to arrange type 2 staircases leading from the vestibule to the second floor, taking into account the requirements in 4.26.

In buildings of groups F3.1 and F3.2, it is allowed to use the above-mentioned staircases even without a vestibule.

3.4.16 In buildings with a fire resistance height not exceeding 28 m belonging to fire hazard groups by function F1.2, F2, F3, F4, with fire resistance rating I, II and fire hazard class of structures S0, it is allowed to use type 2 staircases connecting two or more floors, when the evacuation stairwells meet the requirements of the standards and the provisions in 4.27. Type 2 staircases connecting 3 or more floors (levels) are not calculated or used as escape routes in case of fire, except for the cases specified in 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.6.

3.4.17 Escalators must be arranged in accordance with the requirements specified for type 2 staircases.

3.5 Fire Safety Requirements for Building Materials for Buildings

3.5.1 Building materials used for buildings depend on the purpose and fire hazard of the materials.

3.5.2 Fire safety requirements for the application of building materials in buildings are specified in accordance with the fire hazard indicators of materials specified in Table B.7 (Appendix B).

3.5.3 The use of finishing and decorative materials, cladding materials, and flooring materials on escape routes must comply with the requirements in 3.3.4, and for common rooms (except for flooring materials of sports floors and dance floors) – comply with the provisions in Table B.9 (Appendix B).

3.5.4 In rooms of group F5 buildings, category A, B, and C1, where combustible liquids are used or stored, flooring materials must have a fire hazard class not more hazardous than CV1.

3.5.5 In cloakrooms of group F2.1 buildings, it is not allowed to use: types of wall and ceiling finishing materials, suspended ceilings, and cladding materials with a fire hazard class more hazardous than CV1; flooring materials with a fire hazard class more hazardous than CV2.

3.5.6 In rooms for storing books, records, documents, and similar items, only finishing and decorative materials, cladding materials, and flooring materials with fire hazard class CV0 or CV1 may be used.

3.5.7 In exhibition rooms of museums, exhibitions, and similar rooms belonging to group F2.2, it is not allowed to use wall and ceiling finishing materials and suspended ceilings with a fire hazard class higher than CV2, flooring materials with a fire hazard class more hazardous than CV3.

3.5.8 In commercial rooms of group F3.1 buildings, it is not allowed to use wall and ceiling finishing materials and suspended ceilings with a fire hazard class more hazardous than CV2, flooring materials with a fire hazard class more hazardous than CV3.

3.5.9 In waiting rooms of group F3.3 buildings, wall and ceiling finishing materials, suspended ceilings, and flooring materials must have fire hazard class CV0.

3.5.10 It is allowed to apply fire safety requirements for finishing and decorative materials, cladding materials, flooring materials, and corresponding test criteria according to permitted standards to replace the requirements from 3.5.1 to 3.5.9 and Appendix B, except for the requirements specified in A.4.

4 PREVENTION OF FIRE SPREAD

4.1 The prevention of fire spread is carried out by measures to limit the area of fire, fire intensity, and fire duration. Specifically:

• Using structural solutions and spatial planning to prevent the spread of hazardous factors of fire within a room, between rooms, between groups of rooms with different fire hazard by function, between floors and sections, between fire compartments, as well as between buildings.
• Limiting the fire and explosion hazard of technology in rooms and buildings;
• Limiting the fire hazard of building materials used in the surface layers of building structures, including: roofing layer; finishing layers of exterior walls, rooms, and escape routes;
• Having initial firefighting equipment, including automatic and manual equipment;
• Having fire detection and alarm devices.

NOTE: Provisions on fire and explosion safety distances between residential buildings, public buildings, and production buildings are specified in Appendix E. The distance between flammable liquid storage, open above-ground storage containing combustible substances, LPG tanks (LPG is the abbreviation for Liquefied Petroleum Gas), combustible gas, and other structures must comply with specialized regulations and standards.

4.2 Apartment buildings, dormitories, public buildings, production buildings, and storage buildings must ensure the fire prevention requirements of this regulation and the provisions in the design standards for those types of buildings. Specifically, the number of floors (permitted fire resistance height of the building), the area of the fire compartment, and the limiting floor for arranging auditoriums, lecture halls, conference rooms, seminar rooms, meeting rooms, gyms, and similar rooms must comply with the provisions in Appendix H.

4.3 Building parts (rooms, refuge areas, technical floors, basements, semi-basements, and other parts of the building) where firefighting is difficult need to be equipped with additional means to limit the area, intensity, and duration of the fire.

4.4 The effectiveness of solutions to prevent the spread of fire is allowed to be evaluated by economic and technical calculations based on the requirements in 1.5.1 on limiting direct and indirect damages caused by fire.

4.5 Building parts and rooms belonging to different fire hazard groups by function must be separated from each other by dividing elements with fire resistance limits and fire hazard class of structures as specified or separated from each other by type 1 fire walls and (or) type 3 fire floors, unless otherwise specified in this regulation or specialized regulations and standards. In that case, the requirements for the separating structures and fire-resistant elements are considered taking into account the fire hazard by function of the rooms, the value of the fire load, the fire resistance rating, and the fire hazard class of the building structures.

For a building floor with two or more different functions, in which there is a main function occupying at least 90% of the floor area and the remaining functions are auxiliary to the main function, it is allowed to not divide the areas belonging to different fire hazard groups by function with fire-resistant elements, in which case the entire building floor must comply with the fire safety requirements corresponding to the main fire hazard group by function. This provision does not apply to cases where the rooms with auxiliary functions have a higher fire and explosion hazard category than the rooms with the main function.

NOTE: Some specific requirements for group F1.3 buildings are as follows:

a) Walls and partitions between sections; walls and partitions between common corridors (outside the apartment) and other rooms, must have a fire resistance limit of not less than EI 30;

b) Non-load-bearing walls and partitions between apartments must have a fire resistance limit of not less than EI 30 and fire hazard class K0;

c) Rooms with public functions must be separated from living rooms by type 1 fire-resistant partitions, type 3 fire-resistant floors, and in buildings with fire resistance rating I, they must be separated by type 2 fire-resistant floors.

4.6 In a building where parts with different fire hazard by function have been divided by fire-resistant elements, each part must meet the fire safety requirements set out as for a building with the corresponding fire hazard group by function.

The selection of the fire protection system of the building must be based on the fact that when parts of the building have different fire hazard by function, the fire hazard by function of the entire building may be greater than the fire hazard by function of any part of that building.

4.7 In group F5 buildings, if the technological requirements allow, category A and B rooms should be located near the exterior wall, and in multi-story buildings, these rooms should be located on the upper floors.

4.8 In basements and semi-basements, it is not allowed to arrange category A and B rooms, except for cases specifically specified.

4.9 Building components must not create conditions for the spread of hidden fire.

NOTE: For buildings or parts of buildings of group F1.3, the railings of loggias and balconies from the 3rd floor and above must be made of non-combustible materials.

4.10 The fire resistance of the joint details of building components must not be lower than the required fire resistance of the component itself.

4.11 The structures creating floor slopes in audience rooms must meet the requirements for fire resistance limits and fire hazard class according to Table 4 and Table 5, as for floors between stories.

4.12 When arranging utility pipelines and cable lines passing through wall, floor, and partition structures, the junction between the pipelines, cable lines, and these structures must be sealed or appropriately treated so as not to reduce the fire technical indicators as required for the structures.

4.13 Coatings and fire-resistant impregnation layers applied to the exposed surface of components must meet the requirements set out for the finishing of those components.

The technical documents for fire-resistant coatings or impregnation layers must specify the replacement or restoration cycle depending on the operating conditions.

To increase the fire resistance limit or reduce the fire hazard level of a component, it is not allowed to use fire protection layers in locations where it is not possible to restore or periodically replace those protection layers.

4.14 The effectiveness of fire-resistant treatment substances (materials) used to reduce the fire hazard of materials must be evaluated by tests to determine the fire hazard group of building materials specified in Part 2.

The effectiveness of fire-resistant treatment substances (materials) used to increase the fire resistance of components must be evaluated by tests to determine the fire resistance limits of building components specified in Part 2.

4.15 Fire-resistant partitions in rooms with suspended ceilings must also divide the space above the suspended ceiling, and in this space, it is not allowed to arrange ducts and pipelines for transporting combustible substances in the form of gas, dust-gas mixtures, liquids, and combustible materials.

It is not allowed to arrange suspended ceilings in category A or B rooms.

If suspended ceilings are used to increase the fire resistance limit of floors between stories and roof floors, these suspended ceilings must comply with the fire hazard requirements for these floors between stories and roof floors.

4.16 At the intersections between fire-resistant elements and the enclosing structures of the building, including at the locations of changes in the shape of the building, there must be solutions to ensure that fire does not spread through these fire-resistant elements.

4.17 Fire walls that divide the building into fire compartments must be constructed throughout the entire height of the building or up to a type 1 fire-resistant floor and must ensure that fire does not spread from the fire source side into the adjacent fire compartment when the building structures on the fire side collapse.

4.18 Openings in fire-resistant elements must be closed in case of fire.

Windows in fire-resistant elements must be non-openable, while doors, hatches, and valves must have self-closing mechanisms and the door gaps must be sealed. Doors, hatches, and valves, if they need to be open for operation, must be equipped with automatic closing devices in case of fire.

4.19 The total area of door openings in fire-resistant elements, except for the enclosing structures of elevator shafts, must not exceed 25% of the area of that fire-resistant element. The area of openings in fire-resistant elements is not limited if the nominal fire resistance limit of the opening sealing element is not less than the corresponding fire resistance limit of the fire-resistant element (except for type 1 fire walls). The opening sealing elements in fire-resistant elements must meet the requirements in 2.3.3 and the requirements of Part 4.

At the doorways in fire-resistant elements used to separate category A or B rooms from other spaces such as: rooms with a category other than A or B, corridors, stairwells, and elevator lobbies, vestibules with positive air pressure as required in Appendix D must be provided. It is not allowed to arrange common vestibules for two or more rooms of the same category A or B.

4.20 When it is not possible to arrange fire-resistant vestibules in fire-resistant elements used to separate category A or B rooms from other rooms or when it is not possible to arrange doors, hatches, and valves in fire-resistant elements used to separate category C rooms from other rooms, a combination of solutions must be established to prevent the spread of fire and the penetration into adjacent rooms and floors of combustible gases, vapors, vapors of liquids, combustible dust, and fibers that can form hazardous explosive concentrations. The effectiveness of those solutions must be proven.

In door openings of fire-resistant elements between adjacent category C, D, and E rooms, when it is not possible to close them with fire doors, it is allowed to arrange open vestibules equipped with automatic fire extinguishing devices. The enclosing structures of these vestibules must be appropriate fire-resistant structures.

4.21 Fire doors and valves in fire-resistant elements must be made of non-combustible materials.

It is allowed to use materials belonging to a group with a combustibility not lower than Ch3 protected by non-combustible materials with a thickness of not less than 4 mm to make fire doors, hatches, and valves.

Doors of fire-resistant vestibules, doorways, fire hatches in fire-resistant elements on the side of rooms where combustible gases, combustible liquids, and combustible materials are not stored and used, as well as where there are no technological processes associated with the formation of combustible dust, are allowed to be made of materials belonging to the group with combustibility Ch3 with a thickness of not less than 40 mm and without voids.

4.22 It is not allowed to arrange ducts, shafts, and pipelines for transporting combustible gases, combustible dust-gas mixtures, combustible liquids, combustible substances, and materials through type 1 fire walls and fire floors.

For ducts, shafts, and pipelines for transporting substances and materials other than those mentioned above, at the intersections with these fire-resistant elements, there must be automatic devices to prevent the spread of combustion products through the ducts, shafts, and pipelines.

NOTE 1: It is allowed to place ventilation ducts and chimneys in the fire walls of residential buildings, public buildings, and auxiliary buildings when the minimum thickness of the fire wall (excluding the duct section) at that location is not less than 25 cm, and the thickness of the partition between the chimney and the ventilation duct is at least 12 cm.

NOTE 2: Openings for water pipes in fire-resistant elements must be treated in accordance with the provisions of 4.12.

4.23 The enclosing structures of elevator shafts (except for the shafts mentioned in 3.4.6) and elevator machine rooms (except for rooms on the roof), as well as ducts, shafts, and utility boxes, must meet the requirements set out for type 1 fire-resistant partitions and type 3 fire-resistant floors. The fire resistance limit of the enclosing structures between the elevator shaft and the elevator machine room is not specified.

When it is not possible to install fire doors in the enclosing structures of the above-mentioned elevator shafts, vestibules or lobbies with type 1 fire-resistant partitions and type 3 fire-resistant floors or automatic shutters closing the doorway openings of the elevator shaft in case of fire must be provided. These shutters must be made of non-combustible materials and their fire resistance limit must not be less than E 30.

In buildings with smoke-free stairwells, automatic smoke protection must be provided for elevator shafts at the exits of which there are no fire-resistant vestibules with positive air pressure in case of fire.

4.24 Garbage rooms, garbage chutes, and garbage collection doors must be designed and installed in accordance with the standards and technical requirements specifically specified for this component and the following specific requirements:

• Garbage chutes and garbage rooms must be isolated from other parts of the building by fire-resistant elements; garbage collection doors on floors must have automatically closing fire doors;
• Garbage chutes must be made of non-combustible materials;
• Garbage chutes and garbage rooms must not be placed inside stairwells, waiting lobbies, or fire-resistant vestibules used for evacuation;
• Rooms containing garbage chutes or for storing garbage must ensure direct access through an external ventilated space of the building or through a permanently ventilated fire-resistant vestibule;
• The entrance to the garbage room must not be located adjacent to escape routes or exterior doors of the building or attached to windows of residential buildings.

4.25 According to technological conditions, it is allowed to arrange separate staircases for circulation between basement floors or semi-basement floors and the first floor.

These staircases must be enclosed by type 1 fire-resistant partitions with a fire-resistant vestibule having positive air pressure in case of fire.

It is allowed not to arrange fire-resistant vestibules as mentioned for these staircases in group F5 buildings, provided that they lead from the basement or semi-basement with category C4, D, E rooms to rooms of the same category on the first floor.

These staircases are not counted when calculating evacuation, except for the cases specified in 3.2.1.

4.26 When arranging type 2 staircases leading from the lobby of the first floor to the second floor, this lobby must be separated from adjacent corridors and rooms by type 1 fire-resistant partitions.

4.27 A room in which a type 2 staircase is arranged according to the provisions of 3.4.16 must be separated from the corridors communicating with it and other rooms by type 1 fire-resistant partitions. It is allowed not to separate the room with a type 2 staircase by fire-resistant partitions when:

• Automatic fire extinguishing is provided throughout the building;
• In buildings with a fire resistance height of not more than 9 m and a floor area not exceeding 300 m².

4.28 In basements or semi-basements, type 1 fire-resistant vestibules with positive air pressure in case of fire must be provided before the entrances to elevators.

4.29 The selection of the dimensions of the building and fire compartments, as well as the distances between buildings, must be based on the fire resistance rating, fire hazard class of structures, fire hazard group by function, and the value of the fire load, taking into account the effectiveness of the fire protection means used, the presence, location, and level of equipment of firefighting units, and the possible economic and environmental consequences of fire.

4.30 During operation, all fire protection technical equipment must ensure the ability to function in accordance with the set requirements.

4.31 The provision of automatic fire alarm and extinguishing systems must comply with TCVN 3890.

4.32 Prevention of Horizontal Fire Spread on the Exterior of Buildings

4.32.1 Type 1 fire walls must divide exterior walls with fire hazard class K1, K2, K3 and protrude at least 30 cm from the plane of the exterior wall.

It is allowed not to divide exterior walls if the exterior wall has a fire hazard class of K0, or the type 1 fire wall adjoins a vertical strip of the exterior wall (vertical fire-resistant strip) with a minimum width of 1.2 m, a fire resistance limit of not less than E 60, and a fire hazard class of K0.

Type 2 fire walls and type 1 fire-resistant partitions, if connected to the exterior wall, must adjoin a vertical fire-resistant strip with a width of not less than 1 m, a fire resistance limit specified for the exterior wall according to Table 4 or Table A.1 depending on the height of the building. Type 2 fire-resistant partitions must be in contact with a solid vertical strip of the exterior wall, with a width of not less than 1 m, a fire resistance limit specified for the exterior wall according to Table 4 or Table A.1 depending on the height of the building.

4.32.2 It is allowed not to apply the provisions of 4.32.1 if the conditions mentioned in NOTE 6 (Table 4) or NOTE 2 (Table A.1) are met, depending on the height of the building.

4.33 Prevention of Vertical Fire Spread on the Exterior of Buildings

4.33.1 Exterior walls with openings without fire doors or with parts having a fire resistance limit not meeting the requirements, at the junction of the exterior wall with the floor between stories (fire-resistant belt between stories), must be constructed appropriately to prevent the vertical spread of fire. It is allowed for the fire-resistant belt between stories to be constructed in accordance with one of the following provisions:

a) The part of the exterior wall adjoining the floor between stories (the wall section between the windows of the lower and upper floors or between the unprotected fire-resistant parts of the lower and upper floors) must be a solid wall, made of non-combustible materials and have a minimum height of 1.0 m;

b) The lintel of the opening is made of non-combustible materials, has a width (protruding from the face of the exterior wall) of not less than 0.6 m, the fire resistance limit of the lintel is not less than the fire resistance limit specified for the exterior wall;

c) The part of the exterior wall adjoining the floor between stories is made of tempered glass, with a thickness of not less than 6 mm, equipped with sprinkler heads of the automatic fire extinguishing system, ensuring that the sprinkler heads are placed at a distance of not more than 2 m from the side of the rooms (corridors) adjacent to the exterior wall and not more than 0.5 m from the inner face of the exterior wall.

NOTE 1: The requirement for the fire resistance limit (if any) of the components forming the fire-resistant belt is taken in accordance with Table 4 or Table A.1, depending on the scale of the building. For the vertical separation component, the integrity (E) criterion must be ensured; for the joint detail or gap sealing, the integrity (E) and insulation (I) criteria must be ensured; for the fixing joint detail, the load-bearing (R) criterion must be ensured.

NOTE 2: The above requirements do not apply to the locations of the doors of loggias and balconies, with the balcony floor extending more than 0.6 m, as well as to escape exits.

4.33.2 The fire resistance limit of the components of the exterior wall with glazing for lighting must also meet the requirements for non-load-bearing exterior walls and the provisions of 4.32, 4.33.

4.33.3 When one part of the exterior wall of the building is connected to another part of the wall, forming an angle less than 135°, and the horizontal distance between the nearest edges of the openings in the exterior wall in different directions of the angle is less than 4 m, then on the corresponding part of the wall, the openings must have fire doors with a fire resistance limit of not less than E 30 or have a water sprinkler system.

4.33.4 It is allowed not to apply the provisions of 4.33.1 to 4.33.3 for buildings of three stories or less or with a fire resistance height of less than 15 m, open-type floating garages, or buildings that simultaneously meet the conditions mentioned in NOTE 6 (Table 4) or NOTE 2 (Table A.1), depending on the height of the building.

4.34 Prevention of Fire Spread Between Buildings

The fire and explosion safety distances between buildings (specified in E.1 and E.2 in Appendix E) and the fire and explosion safety distances along the boundary line (specified in E.3 in Appendix E) corresponding to the area of unprotected fire openings of the exterior wall of the building and the fire resistance limit of the wall section that must be protected against fire must be ensured.

4.35 Prevention of Fire Spread for Atrium Spaces

The design of one or more atrium spaces in a building or building complex, including the arrangement of open staircases, escalators, horizontal escalators, panoramic elevators, and similar elements within its volume, as well as rooms with openings in the side corridor, needs to ensure the implementation of the following requirements:

a) The atrium space must be located within the volume of a fire compartment, and in the openings of its floors between stories, it is allowed to arrange escalators, open staircases, and elevators (including panoramic elevators);

b) The structures enclosing the rooms and corridors at the junctions with the atrium space must have a fire resistance limit of not less than EI (EIW) 60 or be made of tempered glass, with a thickness of not less than 6 mm, without a specified fire resistance limit but equipped with sprinkler heads of the automatic fire extinguishing system, ensuring that the sprinkler heads are placed from the side of the adjacent rooms (corridors), spaced not more than 2 m apart and not more than 0.5 m from the partition;

c) At the openings leading to the atrium space, including the openings of escalators and rooms in the side corridor, smoke curtains or screens with a fire resistance limit of not less than E 45 are installed, which are lowered in case of fire. They must have automatic and remote-controlled drive mechanisms or be equipped with fixed smoke screens. The working height of the smoke curtains or screens, when lowered, must not be less than the thickness of the smoke layer generated during a fire. The thickness of the smoke layer is determined by calculation during the design. In this case, the lower edge of the smoke layer is determined at a height of not less than 2.5 m from the floor level;

d) The floor area within the fire compartment containing the atrium space is determined by the total area of the lowest floor of the atrium space and the area of the side corridors, passages, and all rooms located above, placed within the volume of the atrium space, bounded by type 1 fire-resistant partitions. If there are no type 1 fire-resistant partitions separating the space of the atrium from the adjacent rooms, the area of the fire compartment is equal to the total area of the corresponding floors;

e) It is allowed to use a natural smoke exhaust system from the atrium space if there is an appropriate calculation justification;

f) The skylight panel at the roof of the atrium space must be made of non-combustible materials, and the structure of this roof panel must be made of reinforced and safety glass (not causing injury). It is allowed to use skylight panel materials with a fire hazard group not more hazardous than Ch1 and not forming hot molten drops;

g) For firefighting in the atrium space, it is allowed to install sprinkler heads underneath the protruding structures of floors between stories, balconies (including under escalators, etc.) without having to install them on the roof of the atrium space. The sprinkler heads are placed at a distance of 1.5 m to 2.0 m apart and not more than 0.5 m from the edge of the floor opening.

5 WATER SUPPLY FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING

5.1 Outdoor Water Supply for Fire Extinguishing

5.1.1 Fire Safety Requirements for Outdoor Water Supply for Fire Extinguishing

5.1.1.1 The provision of outdoor water supply for fire extinguishing must be carried out in accordance with the provisions of TCVN 3890 and other replacement standards.

5.1.1.2 The water quality of the water source for fire extinguishing must be suitable for the operating conditions of firefighting equipment and methods.

5.1.1.3 The fire water pipeline system usually has low pressure; when maintaining high pressure, it is necessary to calculate to ensure the working pressure of the pipeline system. For high-pressure pipelines, fire pumps must be equipped with means to ensure operation no later than 5 minutes after receiving the fire alarm signal.

5.1.1.4 The minimum free pressure in low-pressure fire water pipelines (located above ground) during firefighting must not be less than 10 m. The minimum free pressure in the high-pressure fire water pipeline network must ensure a solid water jet height of not less than 10 m at the maximum required fire flow and with the fire nozzle at the highest point of the building. The free pressure in the combined domestic or production pipeline network is not less than 10 m and not more than 60 m.

5.1.2 Fire Safety Requirements for Outdoor Fire Water Flow

5.1.2.1 The outdoor fire water flow (calculated for 1 fire) and the number of simultaneous fires in a residential area calculated for the main ring pipeline network are taken from Table 7.

5.1.2.2 The outdoor fire water flow (for 1 fire) for buildings belonging to fire hazard groups by function F1, F2, F3, F4 calculated for the combined pipeline and distribution pipeline of the pipeline network, as well as the pipeline network in a small cluster (1 hamlet, 1 row of houses, and similar) is taken as the largest value from Table 8.

5.1.2.3 The outdoor fire water flow for buildings with fire hazard group by function F5, calculated for 1 fire, is taken for the building with the largest required value as in Table 9 and Table 10.

NOTE 1: When calculating the fire water flow for 2 fires, the value is taken equal for the 2 buildings with the largest required flow.

NOTE 2: The outdoor fire water flow for separate auxiliary buildings is taken from Table 8, similar to buildings with fire hazard groups by function F2, F3, F4, and if located within production buildings, it is calculated according to the total volume of the production building and taken from Table 9.

NOTE 3: The outdoor fire water flow for buildings serving agriculture and rural development with fire resistance rating I, II and a volume not exceeding 5,000 m³, fire and explosion hazard category D, E, is taken as 5 L/s.

NOTE 4: The outdoor fire water flow for radio and television stations, regardless of the station’s volume and the number of people living in the area where these stations are located, must be taken not less than 15 L/s, even when Table 9 and Table 10 specify a lower flow than this value.

NOTE 5: The outdoor fire water flow for buildings with a larger volume than in Table 9 and Table 10 must comply with special requirements.

NOTE 6: For buildings with fire resistance rating II made of wooden structures, the outdoor fire water flow is taken 5 L/s higher than in Table 9 and Table 10.

NOTE 7: The outdoor fire water flow for cold storage buildings and areas for food storage is taken similar to buildings with fire hazard category C.

NOTE 8: The outdoor fire water flow for container storage facilities with goods depends on the number of containers and is taken as follows:

From 30 to 50 containers: take 15 L/s;

From 51 to 100 containers: take 20 L/s;

From 101 to 300 containers: take 25 L/s;

From 301 to 1,000 containers: take 40 L/s;

From 1,001 to 1,500 containers: take 60 L/s;

From 1,501 to 2,000 containers: take 80 L/s;

More than 2,000 containers: take 100 L/s;

Table 7 – Water Flow from the Pipeline Network for Outdoor Fire Extinguishing in Residential Areas

Table 8 – Outdoor Fire Water Flow for Buildings Belonging to Fire Hazard Groups by Function F1, F2, F3, F4

Table 9 – Outdoor Fire Water Flow for Buildings of Group F5

Table 10 – Outdoor Fire Water Flow for Buildings of Group F5 without Roof Openings and Width Exceeding 60 m

5.1.2.4 The outdoor fire water flow for buildings divided by fire walls is taken according to the part of the building where the largest flow is required.

5.1.2.5 The outdoor fire water flow for buildings separated by fire-resistant partitions is determined according to the total volume of the building and the highest category of fire and explosion hazard.

5.1.2.6 The fire water flow must be ensured even when the flow for other needs is largest, specifically taking into account:

• Domestic water;
• Individual business households;
• Industrial and agricultural production facilities, where the requirement for drinking water quality or economic purposes is not suitable for a separate pipeline;
• Water treatment stations, pipeline networks, and canals, and similar;
• In cases where technological conditions allow, it is possible to use a part of the production water for firefighting, in which case it is necessary to connect the hydrant on the production pipeline network with the hydrant on the fire pipeline network to ensure the necessary fire water flow.

5.1.2.7 Outdoor fire water supply systems of facilities (water pipelines, pumping stations, tanks, fire water storage reservoirs) must ensure reliability so as not to interrupt the water supply for more than 10 minutes and not to reduce the water flow by more than 30% of the calculated water flow within 3 days.

5.1.2.8 In case the construction is located in an area without outdoor fire water supply infrastructure, or it exists but does not meet the provisions in Tables 8, 9, and 10, it shall be implemented according to the guidance of the competent Fire Police and Rescue Department.

5.1.3 Number of Calculated Simultaneous Fires

5.1.3.1 The number of calculated simultaneous fires for an industrial or agricultural facility must be taken according to the area of that facility, specifically as follows:

• If the area is up to 150 ha, take 1 fire;
• If the area is over 150 ha, take 2 fires.

The number of calculated simultaneous fires at an open or closed storage area containing wood materials is taken as follows: for a storage area up to 50 ha, take 1 fire; for an area over 50 ha, take 2 fires.

NOTE: The area of the facility for calculating the outdoor fire water supply system is the land area of the facility (excluding forest land, park land, agricultural land, or similar areas where there are no construction works).

5.1.3.2 When combining fire pipelines of a residential area and an industrial facility located outside the residential area, the number of calculated simultaneous fires is determined as follows:

• When the area of the industrial facility is up to 150 ha and the population of the residential area is up to 10,000 people, take 1 fire (take the larger water flow); similarly, with a population of 10,000 to 25,000 people, take 2 fires (1 fire for the industrial facility and 1 fire for the residential area);
• When the area of the industrial facility is over 150 ha and the population is up to 25,000 people, take 2 fires (2 fires calculated for the industrial facility area or 2 fires calculated for the residential area, taking the larger required water flow);
• When the population in the residential area is greater than 25,000 people, take 2 fires, in which the water flow of 1 fire is determined by the sum of the larger required flow (calculated for the industrial facility or residential area) and 50% of the smaller required flow (calculated for the industrial facility or residential area).

5.1.3.3 The firefighting duration must be taken as 3 hours, except for the specific provisions mentioned below:

• For buildings with fire resistance rating I, II with structures and insulation layers made of non-combustible materials and areas belonging to fire and explosion hazard category D and E, take 2 hours;
• For nurseries, kindergartens, preschools, buildings belonging to fire hazard group by function F4.1, F4.3 in rural areas, with fire resistance rating I, II, with structures and insulation layers made of non-combustible materials, not exceeding 3 floors, with a construction area up to 500 m², take 1 hour;
• For nurseries, kindergartens, preschools, buildings belonging to fire hazard group by function F4.1, F4.3 in rural areas, with fire resistance rating I, II, with structures and insulation layers made of non-combustible materials, not exceeding 3 floors, with a construction area up to 500 m², it is allowed to use the indoor fire hose system to replace the outdoor fire water supply system;
• For open storage of wood materials – not less than 5 hours.

5.1.3.4 The maximum time to replenish the fire water reserve shall not exceed:

• For residential areas and industrial facilities with areas belonging to fire and explosion hazard category A, B, C, take 24 hours;
• For industrial facilities with areas belonging to fire and explosion hazard category D and E, take 36 hours;
• For residential areas and agricultural facilities, take 72 hours.

NOTE: For industrial facilities with a required outdoor fire water flow of up to 20 L/s, it is allowed to increase the fire water replenishment time as follows:

a) For areas belonging to fire hazard category D and E, up to 48 hours is allowed;
b) For areas belonging to fire hazard category C, up to 36 hours is allowed.

When it is not possible to ensure the replenishment of the fire water according to the specified time, it is necessary to provide an additional n times the amount of fire water reserve. The value of n (n = 1.5; 2.0; 2.5; 3.0 …) depends on the actual replenishment time, ttt, and is calculated by the following formula:

n = t_tt / t_qđ

where: t_tt is the actual fire water reserve replenishment time;
t_qđ is the fire water reserve replenishment time (according to 5.1.3.4).

5.1.4 Fire Safety Requirements for Pipeline Networks and Structures Built on Them

5.1.4.1 When installing 2 or more water supply pipelines, transfer valves must be installed between them so that in case of interruption of 1 supply line or a part of it, the firefighting is still ensured at 100%.

5.1.4.2 The fire water pipeline network must be in a ring configuration. It is allowed to have dead-end pipelines when: supplying water for firefighting or domestic – firefighting purposes when the pipeline length does not exceed 200 m, regardless of the required fire water flow.

It is not allowed to connect the outdoor pipeline network with the indoor pipeline network and structure.

In residential areas with up to 5,000 people and a required outdoor fire water flow of up to 10 L/s or a number of indoor fire hydrants of up to 12, it is allowed to use a dead-end network with a length of over 200 m if there are tanks, pressure water towers, or balancing tanks for the dead-end network, which contain the total amount of water for firefighting.

5.1.4.3 The pipeline must be divided into sections by shut-off valves to ensure that during repairs, no more than 5 fire hydrants will be cut off.

5.1.4.4 The valves on the pipelines of all diameters, when remotely controlled or automated, must be electrically controlled valves.

It is allowed to use pneumatic, hydraulic, or electromagnetic valves.

When not remotely controlled or automated, the shut-off valves with diameters up to 400 mm can be manually operated, and with diameters larger than 400 mm, they must be electric or hydraulic valves; in special justification cases, it is allowed to install manually operated valves with diameters over 400 mm.

In all cases, manual opening and closing must be allowed.

5.1.4.5 The diameters of the supply pipeline and the network downstream of the supply pipeline must be calculated based on:

• Technical and economic factors;
• Operating conditions when individual sections are emergency shut off.

The diameter of the outdoor fire water pipes for residential areas and production facilities must not be less than 100 mm, and for rural areas – not less than 75 mm.

5.1.4.6 Fire hydrants must be located at a distance not exceeding 2.5 m from the edge of the road, but not closer than 1 m to the wall of the building; it is allowed to arrange hydrants (underground hydrants) located on the roadway.

5.1.4.7 Fire hydrants must be arranged on the pipeline network so that at least 2 hydrants when the required flow is 15 L/s or more, at least 1 hydrant when the required flow is less than 15 L/s, serve every point of the building horizontally, and the service radius of each hydrant does not exceed 200 m, measured along the path of the fire hose going outside the building.

NOTE: On the pipeline network for settlements with up to 500 people, it is allowed to replace the 3-outlet fire hydrants with a DN 80 mm vertical pipe section with a hydrant.

5.1.4.8 Facilities subject to the installation of fire hose systems as well as automatic sprinkler fire extinguishing systems must have a pipeline connection from the fire water pumping station of the facility to at least 1 fire hydrant with 3 outlets or 2 outlets DN65 installed on the outer wall surface of the facility facing the traffic road.

5.1.5 Requirements for Tanks and Reservoirs for Outdoor Fire Water Storage

5.1.5.1 Tanks and reservoirs for water supply by function must include balancing, firefighting, emergency, and priming water.

5.1.5.2 If direct water intake for firefighting from water supply sources is not compatible with economic and technical conditions, then in all cases, water tanks and reservoirs must ensure sufficient firefighting water according to calculations.

5.1.5.3 The volume of firefighting water in tanks and reservoirs must be calculated to ensure:

• The supply of firefighting water from outdoor hydrants and other fire extinguishing systems;
• Supply to specialized firefighting equipment (sprinklers, drenchers, and similar) without separate tanks;
• The maximum amount of water for domestic and production purposes throughout the firefighting process.

5.1.5.4 Ponds for fire trucks to draw water must have access routes and a parking area with dimensions not less than 12 m x 12 m with a surface ensuring the load capacity for fire trucks.

When determining the volume of firefighting water in tanks and reservoirs, it is allowed to consider the additional filling of the tanks and reservoirs during the firefighting time if it has a water supply system that ensures the provisions of 5.1.2.7.

5.1.5.5 When supplying water through a single supply pipeline, additional water for firefighting must be reserved, as specified in 5.1.5.3.

It is allowed not to consider the additional water for firefighting when the length of a single supply pipeline does not exceed 500 m for residential areas with a population of up to 5,000 people, as well as for facilities with a required outdoor fire water flow not exceeding 40 L/s.

5.1.5.6 The total number of tanks and reservoirs for firefighting in a pipeline network must not be less than 2 (not applicable to tanks and reservoirs for outdoor water supply of individual facilities).

Among the tanks and reservoirs in the pipeline network, the lowest and highest firefighting water levels must correspond accordingly.

When one tank or reservoir is shut off, the stored water for firefighting in the remaining tanks and reservoirs must not be less than 50% of the required amount of water for firefighting.

5.1.5.7 The storage of firefighting water in specialized tanks and reservoirs or open water bodies is allowed for:

• Residential areas with up to 5,000 people;
• Buildings, regardless of function, standing separately outside residential areas without a domestic or production water pipeline system, to provide the necessary amount of water for the outdoor water supply system;
• Buildings with different functions with a required water flow for outdoor firefighting water supply not exceeding 10 L/s;
• Buildings with 1 to 2 floors, regardless of function, with a construction area not exceeding the allowable fire compartment area for that type of building.

5.1.5.8 The amount of firefighting water in tanks, reservoirs, and artificial water bodies is determined based on the calculation of water consumption and firefighting time according to the provisions of 5.1.2.2, 5.1.2.3, 5.1.2.4, 5.1.2.5, 5.1.2.6, and 5.1.3.3.

NOTE 1: The calculation of the firefighting water volume of an open artificial water body must take into account the possibility of water evaporation and freezing. The minimum water level must not be less than 0.5 m.

NOTE 2: Access for fire trucks to approach tanks, reservoirs, and similar water intake points must be ensured.

5.1.5.9 Outdoor firefighting water tanks, reservoirs, hydrants, natural and artificial firefighting water bodies must be located at a position that ensures a service radius:

• When using fire trucks: 200 m;
• When using mobile pumps: 100 m to 150 m within the technical operating range of the pump;
• To increase the service radius, it is allowed to install dead-end pipelines with a length not exceeding 200 m from tanks, reservoirs, and artificial water bodies, ensuring the provisions of 5.1.5.8;
• The distance from the water intake point from tanks, reservoirs, or artificial water bodies to buildings with fire resistance rating III, IV, and V or to open storage of combustible materials must not be less than 30 m, and to buildings with fire resistance rating I and II must not be less than 10 m.

5.1.5.10 When it is not possible to directly draw firefighting water from tanks, reservoirs, or water bodies using fire truck pumps or mobile pumps, water intake pits with a volume of 3 m³ to 5 m³ must be provided. The diameter of the connecting pipe between the tank, reservoir, or water body and the intake pits is taken according to the calculated conditions of the outdoor fire water flow, but not less than 200 mm. On the connecting pipe section, there must be a valve box to shut off the water circulation, and the opening and closing of the valve must be possible from outside the box. The end of the connecting pipe section on the side of the artificial water body must have a screen.

5.1.5.11 Pressurized tanks and reservoirs for firefighting must be equipped with a water level gauge and a water level signaling device to the pumping station or water distribution station.

Pressurized tanks and reservoirs of high-pressure firefighting pipelines must be equipped with a device to ensure automatic shutoff of water to the tanks and reservoirs when the fire pump is operating.

5.1.5.12 Pressurized tanks and reservoirs used for pressure boosting must have a standby compressor in addition to the operating compressor.

5.2 Indoor Fire Hose System

5.2.1 Residential buildings, public buildings, administrative and auxiliary buildings of industrial facilities must be equipped with an indoor fire hose system with a minimum water flow for firefighting determined according to Table 11, and for production buildings and warehouses, it is determined according to Table 12.

When determining the required fire water flow, it is necessary to consider the height of the solid water jet and the diameter of the fire nozzle determined according to Table 13. In this case, the simultaneous operation of hydrants and other fire extinguishing systems must be taken into account.

Based on the water supply flow, fire hydrants are classified as:

• Low flow (from 0.2 L/s to 1.5 L/s). Equipment for low-flow fire hydrants has diameters of DN 5, DN 10, DN 15, DN 20, DN 25, DN 40;
• Medium flow (greater than 1.5 L/s).

In case of using low-flow hydrants, it is necessary to ensure the total water supply flow and the height of the solid water jet determined according to Tables 11, 12, and 13.

Table 11 – Number of Fire Jets and Minimum Water Flow for Indoor Fire Hose System

Table 12 – Number of Fire Jets and Minimum Water Flow Rate for Indoor Firefighting in Production Buildings and Warehouses

Table 13 – Fire Water Flow Rate Dependent on Solid Water Jet Height and Diameter of Fire Nozzle

5.2.2 To calculate the pump capacity and water reserve for firefighting, the number of water jets and water flow rate for indoor firefighting in public buildings for the part of the building located at a fire resistance height above 50 m must be taken as 4 jets, each jet 2.5 L/s, and for group F5 buildings, fire and explosion hazard category A, B, C with a fire resistance height above 50 m, it must be taken as 4 jets, each jet 5 L/s.

5.2.3 For production buildings and warehouses using structures that are easily damaged when exposed to fire, according to Table 12, the minimum water flow rate for calculating the pump capacity and water reserve for firefighting specified in Table 12 must be increased depending on the case as follows:

• When using unprotected steel structures in fire resistance rating III, IV buildings (groups S2, S3), as well as natural wood or plywood structures (in this case, wood that has been treated for fire protection), it must be increased by 5 L/s;
• When using combustible materials surrounding the structure of fire resistance rating IV buildings (groups S2, S3), it must be increased by 5 L/s for buildings with a volume of up to 10,000 m³. When the building has a volume larger than 10,000 m³ , it must be increased by 5 L/s for each additional 100,000 m³ or fraction thereof.

5.2.4 The number of fire jets for each fire point is taken as 2 jets for facilities requiring a number of fire jets equal to or greater than 2.

5.2.5 For parts of a building with different functional areas, the water flow rate for firefighting must be calculated separately for each part according to the provisions of 5.2.1 and 5.2.2. In this case, the calculated indoor fire water flow rate is determined as follows:

• For buildings not divided by fire walls, it must be calculated according to the total volume;
• For buildings divided by type 1 or 2 fire walls, it must be calculated according to the volume of the part of the building with a higher water flow requirement.

When connecting buildings with fire resistance rating I and II by passages made of non-combustible materials and equipped with fire doors, the volume of the building for determining the fire water flow rate is calculated as the separate volume of each building; when there are no fire doors, it is calculated according to the total volume and the higher fire hazard category.

5.2.6 The hydrostatic pressure in the domestic water – firefighting system measured at the sanitary – technical devices located at the lowest water level must not exceed 0.45 MPa.

The hydrostatic pressure of the separate firefighting system measured at the fire hydrant located at the lowest water level must not exceed 0.90 MPa.

When calculating, if the pressure in the firefighting system exceeds 0.45 MPa, a separate firefighting system network must be installed.

When the pressure between the valve and the connection of the fire hydrant is greater than 0.4 MPa, a diaphragm and pressure regulating device must be installed to reduce the excess pressure.

5.2.7 The free pressure of fire hydrants must ensure the necessary height of the solid water jet for firefighting at all times of the day for the highest and farthest area. The minimum height and operating radius of the solid firefighting water jet must be equal to the height of the area, measured from the floor to the highest point of the beam (ceiling), but not less than the following values:

• For residential buildings, public buildings, production buildings, and auxiliary buildings of industrial facilities with a fire resistance height of up to 50 m, not less than 6 m;
• For residential buildings with a fire resistance height above 50 m, not less than 8 m;
• For public buildings, production buildings, and auxiliary buildings of industrial facilities with a fire resistance height above 50 m, not less than 16 m.

NOTE 1: The pressure of fire hydrants must be calculated for the losses of fire hose reels with lengths of 10, 15, and 20 m.

NOTE 2: To obtain a solid water jet with a flow rate of up to 4 L/s, use a DN 50 fire hydrant; for larger flow rates, a DN 65 hydrant must be used. When economically and technically justified, it is allowed to use a DN 50 fire hydrant for flow rates above 4 L/s.

5.2.8 The design of pressure tanks for buildings must ensure that at all times, a solid water jet with a height of over 4 m can be provided at the highest floor or the floor immediately below the tank location, and not less than 6 m for the remaining floors; in this case, the number of water jets ensured: 2 jets, each with 2.5 L/s for 10 minutes when the calculated number of jets is 2 or more, 1 jet in other cases.

When installing fire hydrants used as sensors for automatic control of fire pumps, there is no need to consider pressure water tanks.

5.2.9 In the case of installing a separate fire hose system from automatic fire extinguishing systems, the volume of the reserve water storage tank must ensure the amount of water used in 1 hour for one fire hydrant and other water needs.

When installing a fire hose system on automatic fire extinguishing systems, the operating time of the hydrant is taken equal to the operating time of the automatic fire extinguishing system.

5.2.10 In buildings of 6 floors or more, when combining the domestic water and firefighting systems, the risers must be connected in a ring at the top. In this case, to ensure water replacement in the building, the risers must be connected in a ring with one or several vertical drain pipes with shut-off valves.

In dry pipe firefighting systems installed in unheated buildings, the shut-off valves must be installed in areas where there is no possibility of freezing.

5.2.11 The determination of the location and number of risers and fire hydrants inside the building must ensure the following provisions:

• It is allowed to install double hydrants on risers in production and public buildings when the calculated number of water jets is not less than 3, and in residential buildings not less than 2;
• In residential buildings with a corridor length of up to 10 m, when the number of water jets is 2 for each point, it is allowed to spray 2 jets from one riser;
• In residential buildings with a corridor length greater than 10 m, as well as production and public buildings with 2 or more calculated water jets for each point, 2 spraying jets must be arranged from 2 adjacent fire cabinets (2 different hydrants).

NOTE 1: Fire hydrants must be installed in technical floors, attic floors, and technical basements if they contain materials and structures made of combustible materials.

NOTE 2: The number of water jets from each cabinet must not exceed 2.

5.2.12 Fire hydrants are installed so that the hydrant opening is located at a height of 1.20 m ± 0.15 m from the floor level and placed in fire cabinets with ventilation holes, sealed. For double fire hydrants, it is allowed to install 1 hydrant above 1 hydrant below, in which case the lower hydrant must be installed at a height of not less than 1.0 m from the floor level.

5.2.13 The indoor fire hose system in buildings and structures must have a standby hydrant installed outside the building, with a connection of an appropriate size for connecting to mobile firefighting equipment. For buildings with a height of 17 floors or more, the standby hydrant for supplying water to the indoor fire hose system must be divided into zones along the height, with each zone not exceeding 50 m. These hydrants must be installed with a one-way valve and sealed open.

5.2.14 Indoor fire hydrants must be installed at the entrances inside the corridors (in places where there is no risk of water freezing) of stairwells (except for smoke-free stairwells), in lobbies, corridors, passages, and other easily accessible places, while the arrangement must ensure that it does not obstruct evacuation activities.

5.2.15 In areas protected by an automatic fire extinguishing system, it is allowed to install indoor fire hydrants on pipelines with DN 65 or larger, after the control valve assembly of the water sprinkler system.

5.2.16 In confined areas with the possibility of freezing, the pipelines of the indoor fire hose system after the pump station are allowed to be dry.

5.2.17 The valves for shutting off water from dead-end branch pipes, as well as large shut-off valves from closed steel pipes, must be arranged to ensure that each pipe section shuts off no more than 5 fire hydrants on the same floor.

5.2.18 Based on the function of the protected object, the following options for equipping the fire hose system can be selected:

• Option 1: using medium flow fire hydrants. This option is allowed to be applied to all types of structures;
• Option 2: using low flow fire hydrants in combination with equipping dry standpipes. This option is allowed to be applied to residential buildings and public structures;
• Option 3: using low flow fire hydrants. This option is allowed to be applied to structures equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system for the entire structure;
• Option 4: using low flow fire hydrants in combination with medium flow fire hydrants. This option is allowed to be applied to residential buildings and public structures.

NOTE: In one structure, it is allowed to combine different options for equipping fire hydrants.

5.3 Fire Water Supply Pumping Station

5.3.1 Fire water supply pumps, whether designed separately or combined with the domestic and production water system, must have a backup pump with a capacity equivalent to the main pump. The number of backup pumps is specified as follows:

• When calculating the need for one to three main fire pumps, there must be at least one backup pump;
• When calculating the need for four or more main fire pumps, there must be at least two backup pumps;

Fire pumps must be connected to two separate power sources from the grid power source, power source from a generator, or using an internal combustion engine pump. It is allowed not to equip a backup pump or backup power source when supplying water to production buildings and warehouses with fire resistance rating I, II with fire and explosion hazard category D, E and the required outdoor fire water supply flow rate is less than 20 L/s.

5.3.2 Fire water supply pumps can be controlled locally by hand or automatically remotely and must ensure that the pump is activated and put into operation within no more than 3 minutes from the moment of receiving the fire alarm signal. When the required outdoor fire water supply flow rate is 25 L/s or more, there must be a mechanism for automatic remote control of fire pumps.

5.3.3 When buildings are designed with an indoor fire hose system where the constant water pressure is not sufficient to supply the fire hydrants, there must be a remote pump control unit located directly at the fire hydrant.

6 FIRE FIGHTING AND RESCUE

6.1 Buildings and structures must ensure firefighting and rescue capabilities through the following solutions: structural, spatial planning, technical – construction, and organizational solutions.

These solutions include:

• Arranging fire truck access roads, fire truck parking areas, and access routes for firefighting forces and equipment, either integrated with the building’s functional roads and passages or arranged separately;
• Arranging external firefighting stairs and ensuring other necessary means to bring firefighting forces and technical firefighting equipment to the floors and roof of the building, including the arrangement of elevators with a “firefighting force transport” mode (hereinafter referred to as firefighting elevators);
• Arranging firefighting water supply pipelines, either integrated with domestic water supply pipelines or arranged separately, and when necessary, arranging fire department connections, standpipes for firefighting forces, fire hydrants, firefighting water storage tanks, or other firefighting water sources;
• Providing smoke protection for the access routes of firefighting forces inside the building;
• Equipping the building with individual and collective rescue equipment when necessary;
• Arranging and constructing firefighting and rescue stations (teams) suitable for the number of personnel and necessary firefighting technical equipment, meeting the firefighting conditions for the structures or areas within the scope of operation of these stations (teams) in accordance with current regulations.

The selection of the above solutions depends on the fire resistance rating, fire hazard class of structures, and fire hazard group by function of the building or structure.

In localities where the public transport infrastructure and common water supply conditions do not meet the requirements of this regulation, firefighting and rescue solutions shall be implemented according to separate guidelines of the state management agency on fire prevention and fighting in those localities.

6.2 Fire Truck Access Roads and Fire Truck Parking Areas

6.2.1 General Requirements

6.2.1.1 The clear width of the fire truck access road surface must not be less than 3.5 m.

6.2.1.2 The fire truck parking area must have a clear width that ensures the ability to enter and deploy firefighting equipment suitable for the fire resistance height and fire hazard group by function of the building as specified in Table 14.

Table 14 – Dimensions of Fire Truck Parking Area

6.2.1.3 Structures above the fire truck access road and fire truck parking area are only allowed if all the following requirements are met:

• The clear height for firefighting vehicles to pass through must not be less than 4.5 m;
• The dimensions of the overhead structure (measured along the length of the fire truck access road and fire truck parking area) must not exceed 10 m;
• If there are two or more overhead structures spanning across the fire truck access road or fire truck parking area, the clear distance between these structures must not be less than 20 m;
• The length of the end section of the fire truck access road or fire truck parking area not obstructed by overhead structures must not be less than 20 m;
• The length of the fire truck parking area must not include sections with overhead structures.

6.2.1.4 Along the outer walls of the building, at positions facing the fire truck parking area, overhead access openings through the outer wall into the building (overhead access) must be arranged in accordance with the provisions of 6.3 to deploy firefighting and rescue activities.

6.2.2 The arrangement of fire truck access roads and fire truck parking areas must ensure the following requirements:

6.2.2.1 Group F1, F2, F3, and F4 buildings with a fire resistance height not exceeding 15 m do not require a fire truck parking area; however, there must be a fire truck access road reaching any point on the building’s horizontal projection not exceeding 60 m.

6.2.2.2 Group F1.3 buildings with a fire resistance height greater than 15 m must ensure all the following requirements:

• There must be a fire truck access road within a travel distance of not more than 18 m from the end point of the road to the entrances of all vestibules of firefighting elevators or evacuation stairwells equipped with DN 65 standby connections for professional firefighting forces (of the dry pipe system);
• There must be a fire truck parking area to access at least the entire outer surface of each building block. The fire truck parking area must be located at a distance not closer than 2 m and not farther than 10 m from the outer wall of the building;
• The design of the fire truck parking area and fire truck access road must meet the provisions specified in Table 14.

6.2.2.3 For buildings or parts of buildings of groups F1.1, F1.2, F2, F3, and F4 with a fire resistance height greater than 15 m, at each location with overhead access, a fire truck parking area must be arranged to directly access the overhead access doors. The length of the fire truck parking area must be taken from Table 15 based on the allowable access floor area of the floor with the largest allowable access floor area. For buildings with atriums, that value is calculated as follows:

a) For buildings with atriums, including basement floors connected to above-ground floors, the allowable access floor area is taken as the cumulative area of the allowable access floor areas of all the atrium floors;

b) For buildings with two or more groups of atrium floors, the allowable access floor area must be taken as the cumulative value of the group of atrium floors with the largest area;

c) For group F5 buildings, there must be a fire truck parking area for firefighting vehicles. The length of the fire truck parking area must be taken from Table 16, based on the total volume of the building (excluding basements).

When production conditions do not require an access road, the fire truck access road can be arranged with a 3.5 m wide section for vehicle travel, and the road foundation can be reinforced with materials that ensure the load-bearing capacity of fire trucks and ensure surface water drainage.

The distance from the edge of the fire truck access road to the building wall must not exceed 5 m for buildings with a fire resistance height less than 12 m, not exceed 8 m for buildings with a fire resistance height from 12 m to 28 m, and not exceed 10 m for buildings with a fire resistance height over 28 m.

In necessary cases, the distance from the near edge of the vehicle travel lane to the outer wall of the building and structure can be increased to 60 m, provided that the building and structure have dead-end access roads, along with fire truck turnarounds and fire hydrants. In that case, the distance from the building and structure to the fire truck turnaround must not be less than 5 m and not exceed 15 m, and the distance between the dead-end roads must not exceed 100 m.

NOTE 1: The width of the building and structure is taken as the distance between the positioning axes.

NOTE 2: For water bodies used for firefighting, an access route with a courtyard area of not less than 12 m on each side must be provided.

Table 15 – Length of Fire Truck Parking Area for Buildings or Parts of Buildings of Groups F1.1, F1.2, F2, F3, F4

Table 16 – Length of Fire Truck Parking Area for Group F5 Buildings

6.2.2.4 The arrangement of fire truck access roads or fire truck parking areas for mixed-use buildings must ensure the following requirements:

a) When the non-residential part (not belonging to group F1.3) is only located in the lower part of the building, the fire resistance height of the building to determine the requirements for fire truck access roads or fire truck parking areas must be based on the non-residential part of the building;

b) For mixed-use buildings without a part belonging to group F1.3, the required length of the fire truck access road or fire truck parking area must be taken as the larger value of the two values determined based on:

• The total volume of the building parts belonging to group F5; or
• Determined according to Table 15;

c) For mixed-use buildings with a part belonging to group F1.3, the length of the fire truck parking area must be calculated according to 6.2.2.3 and must also meet the provisions of 6.2.2.

For basements, there must be a fire truck access road within 18 m from the ground-level entrance of all vestibules of firefighting elevators or evacuation stairwells equipped with DN 65 standby connections for professional firefighting forces (of the dry pipe system).

6.2.3 The fire truck parking area must be arranged to ensure that the horizontal distance from the near edge of the parking area to the midpoint of the overhead access is not closer than 2 m and not farther than 10 m.

6.2.4 The surface of the fire truck parking area must be level. If it is on a sloped surface, the gradient must not exceed 1:15. The gradient of the fire truck access road must not exceed 1:8.3.

6.2.5 If the length of the fire truck access road or fire truck parking area of the dead-end type is greater than 46 m, a turnaround area designed according to the provisions of 6.4 must be provided at the end of the dead-end section.

6.2.6 Public roads can be used as fire truck parking areas if the position of the road is in accordance with the provisions on the distance to the overhead access in 6.2.3.

6.2.7 The fire truck access road and fire truck parking area must be ensured to be clear at all times. The space between the fire truck parking area and the overhead access must be ensured not to be obstructed by trees or other fixed objects.

6.2.8 All corners of the fire truck parking area and fire truck access road must be marked, except for public roads used as fire truck parking areas or fire truck access roads. The marking must be done with reflective paint strips, ensuring visibility at night, and must be arranged on both sides of the fire truck access road or fire truck parking area at intervals not exceeding 5 m.

At the beginning and end points of the fire truck access road or fire truck parking area, there must be a white background sign with red letters and a letter height of not less than 50 mm. The height from the ground to the lowest point of the sign must be within the range of 1.0 m to 1.5 m. The sign must be ensured to be visible at night and must not be placed more than 3 m away from the fire truck access road or fire truck parking area. All parts of the fire truck access road or fire truck parking area must not be more than 15 m away from the nearest sign.

6.2.9 The surface of the fire truck access road and fire truck parking area must be able to withstand the load of fire trucks according to the design requirements and be suitable for the type of vehicles of the Fire Police and Rescue Department where the construction is located.

6.3 Overhead Access for Firefighting and Rescue

6.3.1 Overhead access must be ensured to be clear and unobstructed at all times during the building’s use. Overhead access can be openings on the exterior wall, windows, balcony doors, glass wall panels, and doors that can be opened from the inside and outside. Furniture or any objects that may cause obstructions must not be placed within 1 m of the floor area inside the building from the overhead access.

6.3.2 Overhead access must be arranged facing a usable space. It must not be located in storage rooms or machine rooms, evacuation stairwells, smoke-free lobbies, firefighting elevator lobbies, or spaces leading to a dead end.

6.3.3 The outer face of the overhead access doors must be marked with a red or yellow equilateral triangle with sides not less than 150 mm, the triangle can be pointing up or down. On the inner face, there must be the text “OVERHEAD ACCESS – DO NOT OBSTRUCT” with a letter height of not less than 25 mm.

6.3.4 Overhead access must have a width of not less than 850 mm, a height of not less than 1,000 mm, the lower edge of the access must not be more than 1,100 mm from the inner floor level, and the upper edge must not be less than 1,800 mm from the inner floor level.

6.3.5 The number and location of overhead access for each fire compartment of a building or part of a building not belonging to group F1.3 must ensure the following provisions:

For buildings of groups F1.1, F1.2, F2, F3, F4, and F5, the number of overhead access points must be calculated based on the length of the fire truck parking area. For every full or partial 20 m length of the fire truck parking area, there must be one overhead access location;

• Overhead access points must be located far apart along the edge of the building. The farthest distance measured along the exterior wall between the centers of two consecutive overhead access points served by a fire truck parking area must not exceed 20 m. Overhead access points must be distributed to ensure that there is at least 1 overhead access point on each 20 m length of the fire truck parking area, except for single-story building parts not belonging to group F5;
• For buildings belonging to groups F1.1, F1.2, F2, F3, and F4 with a fire resistance height from over 15 m to 50 m, there must be overhead access on all floors except the 1st floor and must be located opposite the fire truck parking area;
• For group F5 buildings, overhead access points must be arranged above a fire truck parking area, up to a fire resistance height of 50 m.

The requirement for overhead access does not apply to group F1.3 buildings, including auxiliary areas (e.g., gyms, club rooms, and rooms with similar functions serving only the residents of the building) in group F1.3 buildings.

6.4 The design of turnarounds must comply with one of the following provisions:

• An equilateral triangle with sides not less than 7 m, one vertex located at the dead end, two vertices located symmetrically on both sides of the road;
• A square with sides not less than 12 m;
• A circle with a diameter of not less than 10 m;
• A rectangle perpendicular to the dead end, symmetrical on both sides of the road, with dimensions not less than 5 m x 20 m.

NOTE: The above provisions are minimum thresholds; the fire prevention and fighting management agency may issue specific regulations based on the technical requirements of firefighting vehicles in each locality.

6.5 For narrow roads only wide enough for 1 lane of vehicle travel, at least every 100 m, a widened section with a minimum length of 8 m and a minimum width of 7 m must be designed to allow fire trucks and other vehicles to easily pass each other.

6.6 For buildings of 2 floors or more with flat roofs or roofs with a slope of less than 25% and a height greater than or equal to 10 m measured to the eaves or the top edge of the outer wall (parapet wall), there must be direct roof access from stairwells or through the attic floor, or via a type 3 staircase, or via an external firefighting staircase.

The number of roof access points and their arrangement must be based on the fire hazard by function and dimensions of the building. Group F1, F2, F3, and F4 buildings must have at least 1 roof access point for each full or partial area of 9,300 m² of roof. For group F5 buildings, the provisions of A.1.3.1 shall apply.

It is allowed not to arrange firefighting stairs on the main facade of the building if the building width does not exceed 150 m and there is a firefighting water supply pipeline in front of the building.

6.7 In the attic floors of buildings, except for group F1.4 buildings, there must be roof access via fixed stairs and doorways, hatches, or windows with dimensions not less than 0.6 m x 0.8 m.

Roof or attic access from stairwells must be arranged via stair flights with landings in front of the access, through type 2 fire doors with dimensions not less than 0.75 m x 1.5 m. The above-mentioned stair flights and landings may be made of steel but must have a slope (inclination angle) not exceeding 2:1 (63.5°) and a width not less than 0.7 m.

In group F1, F2, F3, and F4 buildings with a fire resistance height of up to 15 m, it is allowed to arrange access to the attic floor or roof from stairwells via type 2 fire hatches with dimensions of 0.6 m x 0.8 m using fixed steel climbing ladders.

6.8 In technical floors, including technical basements and technical attics, the clear height of the passage must not be less than 1.8 m; in attic floors along the entire building – not less than 1.6 m. The width of these passages must not be less than 1.2 m. In separate sections with a length not exceeding 2 m, it is allowed to reduce the height of the passage to 1.2 m, and the minimum width is 0.9 m.

6.9 In buildings with an attic floor, there must be hatches in the enclosing structures of the attic floor cavities.

6.10 At points of elevation difference of the roof greater than 1.0 m (including elevation difference for lifting light and ventilation openings), firefighting stairs must be provided.

In the area of roof elevation difference exceeding 10 m, if each roof part with an area greater than 100 m² has a separate roof access that meets the requirements of 6.6, or the height of the lower part of the roof, determined according to 6.6, does not exceed 10 m, it is allowed not to arrange firefighting stairs.

6.11 When arranging roof access using external firefighting stairs according to the requirements of 6.6, type P1 firefighting stairs must be used for heights up to 20 m and at roof elevation differences from 1.0 m to 20 m. Type P2 firefighting stairs must be used for heights greater than 20 m and at elevation differences above 20 m.

Firefighting stairs must be made of non-combustible materials, placed in easily visible locations, and at a distance of not less than 1.0 m from windows. The width of the stairs is 0.7 m. For type P1 stairs, from a height of 10 m and above, there must be a protective arch with a radius of 0.35 m, the center of the arch located 0.45 m from the stairs. The arches must be spaced 0.7 m apart, and at the roof access point, there must be a landing with a handrail of at least 0.6 m in height. For type P2 stairs, there must be handrails and landings spaced not more than 8 m apart.

6.12 Between stair flights and between the handrails of stair flights, there must be gaps with a clear width in plan of not less than 100 mm.

6.13 Each fire compartment of buildings with a fire resistance height greater than 28 m (greater than 50 m for group F1.3 buildings), or buildings with a depth of the lowest basement floor (measured to the elevation of the escape exit to the outside) greater than 9 m, must have at least one firefighting elevator.

NOTE: Other technical requirements such as electrical cables, control systems, signaling, communication, equipment for fire protection, and similar systems must be ensured according to specific technical standards selected for firefighting elevators.

The arrangement and installation of firefighting elevators must ensure the following basic provisions:

• Elevators primarily used for transporting goods must not be used as firefighting elevators;
• Under normal conditions, firefighting elevators can still be used for carrying passengers. Firefighting elevators can be arranged with a separate elevator lobby or in a common lobby with passenger elevators and combined with them by an automatic group control system;
• Have a calculated sufficient number so that the distance from the location of those elevators to any point on the floor plan it serves does not exceed 60 m;
• If there is only one firefighting elevator, that elevator must at least reach all floors adjacent to the fire floor of the building;
• If there are multiple firefighting elevators arranged together in an elevator shaft, the elevators can serve different areas of the building, provided that the area served is clearly indicated on each elevator;
• In all cases, the service mode of firefighting elevators must be the same and common, for example, elevators serving only odd or even floors or all floors;
• If there are refuge floors, each of those floors must be served by at least one firefighting elevator;
• In normal operating mode, the doors of firefighting elevators must not open onto those refuge floors, and the elevator shaft doors on those refuge floors must be constantly locked and only automatically unlocked when switching to the firefighting force service mode.

In case of fire, firefighting elevators must ensure that firefighters:

• Are the only ones who have the right to control and operate to easily, familiarly, safely, and quickly access the fire with their equipment;
• Are protected safely when using them from the effects of fire and smoke by appropriate solutions, especially when exiting those elevators;
• Have clear and safe access to those elevators as well as to the floors served by those elevators;
• Do not have to move more than two floors to access any floor that may be on fire in the building when there are 2 or more firefighting elevators;
• Are protected in separate elevator shafts (not shared with other types of elevators), and in each such elevator shaft, no more than 3 firefighting elevators are allowed. The enclosing structure of the elevator shaft must have a fire resistance limit of not less than REI 120.

The firefighting elevator lobby is a vestibule that ensures all the following provisions:

• Has an area of not less than 4 m²;
• When combined with lobbies of smoke-free stairwells, the area is not less than 6 m²;
• Is enclosed by type 1 fire-resistant partitions;
• Has a DN 65 standby connection installed for professional firefighting forces;
• The arrangement of firefighting elevators must anticipate the movement path of the professional firefighting team and ensure that the firefighting team can access all rooms on all floors of the building;
• The carrying capacity of the firefighting elevator must not be less than 630 kg for group F1.3 apartment buildings and not less than 1,000 kg for other production and public buildings;
• The travel speed of the firefighting elevator must not be less than H/60 (m/s), where H is the lifting height (m);
• The enclosing structure of the firefighting elevator cabin must be made of non-combustible or low-combustibility materials.

6.14 In buildings with a roof slope of up to 12%, a height to the eaves or the top edge of the outer wall (parapet wall) greater than 10 m, as well as in buildings with a roof slope greater than 12% and a height to the eaves greater than 7 m, there must be railings and handrails on the roof in accordance with current standards. Such railings and handrails must also be arranged for flat roofs, balconies, loggias, external corridors, open external staircases, stair flights, and landings, regardless of the fire resistance height of the building.

6.15 The firefighting water supply systems for buildings must be ensured to be accessible and usable by firefighting forces and equipment at all times.

6.16 The firefighting water supply as well as the equipment and arrangement of other specialized firefighting equipment for buildings and structures must comply with the basic provisions in Part 5 of this regulation and relevant technical standards.

6.17 Fire Control Room

6.17.1 Residential buildings and public works over 10 floors; buildings with 2 to 3 basement floors; public facilities with large crowds of people (theaters, cinemas, discotheques, karaoke establishments that require 2 or more evacuation exits according to A.4, and buildings with similar purposes, with the number of people per floor, calculated according to Table G.9 (Appendix G), exceeding 50 people); garages (car, motorcycle, bicycle parking), production buildings, warehouses with a total floor area over 18,000 m² must have a fire control room and have specialized staff constantly on duty in the control room.

6.17.2 The fire control room must:

• Have sufficient area to arrange the equipment according to the fire prevention requirements of the building but not less than 6 m²;
• Have two entrances: one communicating with the open space outside the building and one communicating with the main corridor for evacuation;
• Be separated from other parts of the building by type 1 fire-resistant elements;
• Have communication equipment and terminals of the fire alarm system connected to all areas of the building;
• Have a monitoring panel, controls for firefighting equipment, smoke control equipment, and have a floor plan diagram of the arrangement of the building’s firefighting equipment.

6.18 All basement floors in buildings with 2 to 3 basement floors must be equipped with a two-way emergency communication system from the fire control room to the following areas:

• Equipment rooms related to the fire extinguishing system, especially sprinkler system pump rooms, pump rooms supplying water to the standpipe system, switchboard rooms, generator rooms, and elevator machine rooms;
• All rooms where smoke control system control equipment is installed;
• Firefighting elevators;
• All refuge areas;
• Ventilation system control rooms.

7 IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

7.1 Transitional Provisions

7.1.1 Construction design documentation that has been commented on or appraised for fire prevention and fighting by a competent state management agency before the effective date of this regulation shall continue to be implemented according to the commented or appraised design documentation.

7.1.2 Construction design documentation that is commented on or appraised for fire prevention and fighting by a competent state management agency from the effective date of this regulation must comply with the provisions of this regulation.

7.2 The Ministry of Construction is responsible for organizing the dissemination and guidance on the application of this regulation to relevant entities.

7.3 State management agencies for fire prevention and fighting and construction at the central and local levels are responsible for organizing the inspection of compliance with this regulation in the formulation, appraisal, approval, and management of construction of buildings and structures in their localities in accordance with the provisions of the law.

7.4 Competent state management agencies for fire prevention and fighting and construction in localities are responsible for coordinating the issuance of regulations related to technical parameters for the design and construction of fire truck access roads and fire truck parking areas suitable to the characteristics of firefighting vehicles in the locality.

7.5 During the implementation of this regulation, if there are any problems, all comments should be sent to the Department of Science, Technology, and Environment – Ministry of Construction for guidance and handling.

APPENDIX A (regulation) SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR CERTAIN SPECIFIC BUILDING GROUPS

A.1 Production Buildings and Warehouses

A.1.1 Scope of Application

A.1.1.1 Production buildings used for the production of products and goods belonging to groups F5.1 and F5.2, with no more than 1 basement floor.

A.1.1.2 Not applicable to buildings with special functions (buildings for the production or storage of explosive substances and materials; storage of petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, flammable gases, as well as self-igniting substances; production buildings or warehouses of toxic chemicals; mine structures; and structures with similar usage characteristics).

A.1.1.3 Not applicable to the following buildings and rooms:

a) Warehouses and storage rooms used for storing (keeping) dry mineral fertilizers and plant protection chemicals, radioactive substances, non-flammable gases stored in cylinders under pressure greater than 70 kPa, cement, cotton, flour, animal feed, fur and fur products as well as agricultural products;

b) Cold storage buildings or rooms and grain warehouses;

c) Production buildings with 2 or more basement floors.

A.1.1.4 It is allowed not to apply to production buildings using foreign fire prevention and fighting standards in design in accordance with the provisions of Vietnamese law, but must be approved by the competent Fire Police and Rescue Department.

A.1.2 General Provisions

A.1.2.1 The total area of the building is taken as the total area of all floors (above-ground floors, including technical floors, semi-basement floors, and basement floors), with the floor plan dimensions measured within the limits of the inner surface of the enclosing walls (or by the axis of the outer columns in areas without enclosing walls); tunnels; support floors in the building; mezzanine floors; all floors of multi-tier racks in the building; loading and unloading platforms (bridges); corridors (in the floor plan) and connecting corridors to other buildings. The total area of the building does not include: the area of technical basement floors with a height, measured from the floor to the underside of the protruding structure above, less than 1.8 m (where there is no requirement for access passages to maintain technical pipelines); the area above suspended ceilings; as well as the floor area of multi-tier racks used for maintaining rails under bridge cranes, maintaining cranes, hoists, single rails, and lighting equipment.

The area of rooms with a clear height of 2 floors or more, within a multi-story building (rooms connecting 2 or more floors), is included in the total area of the building within one floor.

When determining the number of floors of a building, each support floor and mezzanine floor located at any elevation with an area greater than 40% of the floor area of that building must be counted as one floor.

The floor area of a building within a fire compartment is determined by the inner perimeter of the enclosing walls of the floor, excluding the area of stairwells. If within that area there are support floors, floors of multi-tier racks, and mezzanine floors, then for single-story buildings, the area of all support floors, floors of multi-tier racks, and mezzanine floors must be included; for multi-story buildings, only the area of support floors, floors of multi-tier racks, and mezzanine floors located within the height range between the levels of support floors, floors of multi-tier racks, and mezzanine floors with an area at each elevation not exceeding 40% of the floor area shall be included. The area of external loading and unloading platforms (bridges) for road and rail vehicles shall not be included in the floor area of the building within the fire compartment.

The construction area is determined by the outer perimeter of the building at the base of the walls, including protruding parts, passages under the building, and building parts without external enclosing structures.

A.1.2.2 The construction volume of the building is determined as the total volume of the above-ground parts of the building measured from level ± 0.00 and above, and the submerged part from the finished floor level of the lowest basement floor up to level ± 0.00.

The volume of the above-ground and underground parts of the building is calculated based on the dimensions from the outer surface of the enclosing structures, including light and ventilation openings of each part of the building.

A.1.2.3 The height of rooms measured from the floor to the underside of the protruding elements below the ceiling or roof must not be less than 2.2 m. Passages with frequent human traffic and escape routes must have a height measured from the floor to the underside of the protruding elements of technical pipelines and equipment not less than 2.0 m, and for passages without frequent human traffic, that height must not be less than 1.8 m. The clear height of the entrance to the building for fire trucks to pass through must not be less than 4.5 m.

A.1.2.4 For technical floors, if the technological requirements necessitate access passages for the maintenance of technical equipment, technical pipelines, and supporting technological equipment arranged therein, the height of these passages must be selected in accordance with the provisions of A.1.2.3.

A.1.2.5 Exits from basement floors must be located outside the operating area of lifting equipment.

A.1.2.6 The width of the vestibule and fire-resistant vestibule outside the elevator doors must be at least 0.5 m wider than the door width (0.25 m on each side of the door), and the depth of those vestibules must not be less than 1.2 m and must be at least 0.2 m larger than the door leaf width.

When wheelchair users are present, the depth of the vestibule and fire-resistant vestibule must be at least 1.8 m, and the width must be at least 1.4 m.

A.1.2.7 In rooms with explosion and fire hazard categories A and B, easily releasable external panels must be installed.

In case of insufficient area to make easily releasable external glass panels, the following types of materials are allowed to be used (but must be non-combustible):

• Steel, aluminum;
• Soft tiles, metal tiles;
• Stone and effective thermal insulation materials.

The area of easily releasable external panels must be determined by calculation. In the absence of calculation data, the area of easily releasable external panels must be taken as not less than 0.05 m² per 1 m³ of room volume for category A and not less than 0.03 m² per 1 m³ of room volume for category B.

NOTE 1: If glass with a thickness of 3, 4, or 5 mm is used for easily releasable external panels, then the corresponding area is not less than 0.8, 1.0, and 1.5 m². Reinforced glass, double-glazed, triple-glazed, stalinite, and polycarbonate must not be used in easily releasable external panels.

NOTE 2: The roll covering on the area of easily releasable external panels of the roof must be arranged in sections with an area not exceeding 180 m².

NOTE 3: The calculated load of the mass of easily releasable external panels on the roof must not exceed 0.7 kPa.

A.1.3 Spatial Planning

A.1.3.1 For buildings with a height from the designed ground level to the eaves or the top surface of the parapet wall greater than or equal to 10 m, for every 40,000 m² of roof area, there must be 1 roof access, if the roof area is less than 40,000 m², at least 1 roof access must still be provided. For single-story buildings, the roof access is arranged via an open external steel staircase, while for multi-story buildings, it is arranged from the stairwell.

For buildings with a height from the designed ground level to the top floor not exceeding 30 m and the height of the top floor is not sufficient to arrange a stairwell leading to the roof, it is allowed to arrange an open steel climbing ladder for evacuation from the stairwell via this ladder to the roof.

A.1.3.2 The arrangement of rooms with different fire hazard categories within the same building and the separation between them must comply with the requirements for the fire resistance limit of the enclosing elements of those rooms, escape routes and evacuation exits, smoke extraction equipment, vestibules and fire-resistant vestibules, stairwells and ladders, as well as roof access specified in the relevant parts of this regulation and specialized regulations and standards.

It is allowed to arrange a floor with storage or control room functions inside a production building, as well as a floor with production and control functions inside a warehouse building if the fire and explosion safety distance requirements specified in Appendix E and the relevant provisions of this regulation are ensured.

In single-story transit warehouses (bonded warehouses) with fire resistance rating I or II and fire hazard class of structures S0, if there are corridors for evacuation enclosed by type 1 fire-resistant partitions and have positive air pressure in case of fire, the length of that corridor section is not required to be included in the length of the escape route.

A.1.3.3 When arranging a warehouse in a production building, the maximum allowable area of the warehouse within a fire compartment and their height (number of floors) must not exceed the values specified in Appendix H.

When there are support floors, floors of multi-tier racks, and mezzanine floors with an area at each elevation exceeding 40% of the floor area, the floor area is determined as for multi-story buildings.

A.1.3.4 When arranging technological lines with different fire and explosion hazard categories together in one building or one room, there must be solutions to prevent the spread of fire and explosion between those lines. The effectiveness of those prevention solutions must be considered and evaluated in the technological part of the project. If the selected solutions do not ensure the effectiveness of prevention, the technological lines with different fire and explosion hazard categories must be arranged in separate rooms and separated in accordance with the requirements in Appendix E.

A.1.3.5 Basement floors with category C1, C2, C3 rooms must be divided into fire compartment sections with an area not exceeding 3,000 m² each, by type 1 fire-resistant partitions. These sections must be protected against smoke according to the requirements in Appendix D. The floor above these basement floors must be at least a type 3 fire-resistant floor. The above-mentioned rooms must be separated from the corridor by type 1 fire-resistant partitions.

The corridors must have a width of not less than 2 m leading directly to the outside or through a smoke-free stairwell.

A.1.3.6 The structural components of loading and unloading platforms (bridges) and the enclosing elements of loading and unloading platforms (bridges) adjacent to buildings with fire resistance rating I, II, III, and IV, fire hazard class S0 and S1 must be made of non-combustible materials.

A.1.3.7 Goods loading and unloading platforms and loading and unloading platforms must have at least 2 climbing stairs or ramps arranged far apart (dispersed).

A.1.3.8 The selection of structures and materials for the foundation and floor covering of warehouses and storage rooms must take into account relevant factors to ensure the prevention of dust generation.

Floor surfaces in areas with the risk of forming explosive mixtures of gases, dust, liquids, and other substances with concentrations that can cause explosion or fire when exposed to sparks from the impact of an object on the floor or static electricity must have appropriate measures to prevent static electricity and not generate sparks when impacted.

Warehouses storing goods with temperatures exceeding 60°C must use heat-resistant floors.

A.1.3.9 Storage rooms in production buildings must be isolated from other types of rooms according to specific provisions as follows.

Production rooms, technical rooms, and storage rooms (fire hazard group by function F5) with fire and explosion hazard categories C1 to C3 placed in residential and public buildings, unless otherwise specified, must be separated from other rooms and corridors at least as follows:

• For buildings with fire resistance rating I, separated by type 1 fire-resistant partitions and fire-resistant floors not less than type 2;
• For buildings with fire resistance rating II, III, IV, separated by type 1 fire-resistant partitions and fire-resistant floors not less than type 3.

It is not allowed to place storage rooms, production rooms, laboratories, and similar rooms with fire and explosion hazard category C1, C2, and C3 or higher in other buildings intended for 50 or more simultaneous users.

Production rooms, technical rooms, and storage rooms with fire and explosion hazard category C4, placed in residential or public buildings, must be separated from other rooms and corridors by fire-resistant partitions not less than type 2.

Storage rooms with fire and explosion hazard category C1, C2, and C3 in production buildings must be separated from other areas by type 1 fire-resistant partitions and fire-resistant floors not less than type 3. For high-rise rack storage warehouses, they must be separated by type 1 fire walls and type 1 fire-resistant floors. For these storage rooms, if storing finished products with fire and explosion hazard category C1, C2, and C3 placed in production buildings, they must have external enclosing walls.

NOTE: High-rise racks are racks with a storage height above 5.5 m.

A.1.3.10 Warehouses storing goods with fire and explosion hazard category C on high-rise racks must be arranged in single-story buildings with fire resistance rating I to IV and fire hazard class of building structures S0.

The goods racks must have horizontal, solid support floors made of non-combustible materials spaced no more than 4 m apart in height.

A.1.3.11 When dividing a storage room containing goods of the same fire hazard level by partitions according to technological or sanitary conditions, the requirements for those partitions must be clearly stated in the technological explanatory part of the project.

A.1.3.12 The window openings of warehouses must be equipped with additional upward-opening shutters with a total area determined by calculation to ensure smoke extraction in case of fire.

In storage rooms, it is allowed not to install window openings if there is a smoke extraction system calculated in accordance with the requirements in Appendix D.

A.2 Buildings (with fire resistance height from over 50 m to 150 m) belonging to groups F1.2, F4.2, F4.3, and mixed-use buildings

A.2.1 The buildings belonging to these groups must have a minimum fire resistance rating of I.

A.2.2 The building must be divided into fire compartments along the height, with the height of each fire compartment not exceeding 50 m. The fire compartments are separated from each other by fire walls and fire floors or by technical floors. Technical floors are separated by fire floors with a fire resistance limit of not less than REI 90. The fire resistance limit of these fire walls and fire floors is taken according to the provisions in A.2.24.

Each section or a fire compartment (when not divided into sections) must have an independent fire protection system (ensuring operation as intended when necessary, regardless of whether the fire protection system in another fire compartment is operating or not) and have a room for initial firefighting equipment.

A.2.3 The maximum allowable area of an above-ground floor within a fire compartment:

• Not exceeding 3,000 m² – for the base block;
• Not exceeding 1,500 m² – for group F1.2 (hotels, dormitories);
• Not exceeding 2,000 m² – for group F1.3;
• Not exceeding 2,500 m² – in other cases.

Walls and partitions between sections must have a corresponding fire resistance limit not lower than specified in A.2.24.

A.2.4 Rooms with a large concentration of people with a fixed seating capacity from over 300 to 600 – must not be located at a fire resistance height above 15 m; with a fixed seating capacity from over 150 to 300 – must not be located at a fire resistance height above 40 m, and with a fixed seating capacity from 100 to 150 – must not be located at a fire resistance height above 50 m. Public rooms located at a fire resistance height above 50 m must have a fixed seating capacity not exceeding 100.

A.2.5 Buildings with restaurants, cafes, and public rooms of groups F3.2 and F3.6, located at a fire resistance height above 50 m, where the number of people simultaneously present in each of those rooms, calculated according to Table G.9 (Appendix G), exceeds 50 people, the distance from the evacuation exit of those rooms to the nearest smoke-free stairwell must not exceed 20 m.

NOTE: For building floors located at a fire resistance height above 50 m without corridors enclosed by fire-resistant elements as specified in A.2.24, the travel distance to the door of the smoke-free stairwell must be calculated from the farthest point of the room.

If the building roof is used to arrange restaurants, cafes, or areas for sightseeing, strolling, with the number of people simultaneously present, calculated according to Table G.9 (Appendix G), exceeding 50 people, that area must have not less than 2 evacuation exits.

A.2.6 Rooms with a large concentration of people, with the number of people simultaneously present that may exceed 500 people, must be separated from other rooms by walls and fire floors with a fire resistance limit according to the provisions in A.2.24. The distance from the evacuation exit of these rooms to the nearest smoke-free stairwell must not exceed 20 m.

A.2.7 Rooms where people with disabilities regularly live must not be located higher than the 2nd floor; if there are people with disabilities using wheelchairs, they must not be located higher than the 1st floor.

In case people with disabilities live on higher floors, additional solutions must be provided to ensure the ability for people with disabilities to safely move to the evacuation exit or to reach the refuge area in case of fire. The additional solution must be explained by calculation based on the currently applied standards.

A.2.8 It is not allowed to arrange storage rooms, book and newspaper storage rooms, and rooms for storing flammable items with an area larger than 50 m² at a fire resistance height above 50 m, as well as placing them below or adjacent to rooms where the number of people calculated according to Table G.9 (Appendix G) exceeds 50 people.

A.2.9 It is not allowed to arrange rooms with explosion and fire hazards (category A or B) within the building.

A.2.10 Transformers of substations located inside the building or adjacent to the building must be dry-type or filled with non-flammable oil (insulating oil) and must be located on the 1st floor, semi-basement, first basement, or any technical floor. Transformer substations must be separated by fire-resistant elements with a fire resistance limit according to the provisions in A.2.24.

It is allowed to use diesel generators as an independent power supply and on-site backup source. In that case, it is allowed to arrange the rooms for diesel generators not deeper than the 1st basement or on the above-ground floors, within the dimensions of the building or in a separate building when implementing the following requirements:

• The fire resistance limit of the wall and floor load-bearing structures of the room must be taken as not less than REI 180;
• The traffic between the room for diesel generators and other rooms must go through a type 1 fire-resistant vestibule, with positive air pressure in case of fire;
• To prevent the spread of fuel fire, in case of fuel spillage outside the containment curbs, it is necessary to arrange under the generators, containment trays to hold all the spilled fuel;
• Arrange gas analyzers to detect fuel leakage and issue signals to the room of the fire station, as well as arrange emergency ventilation using air ventilation;
• Arrange automatic fire extinguishing equipment in the rooms for diesel generators;
• The volume of the oil tank located within the frame structure of each diesel generator must not exceed 1 m³;
• The capacity of the diesel generator and the supply and storage of fuel must ensure the operation of fire protection systems, determined from the required time for their operation in case of fire.

It is allowed to use gas-fueled generators when placing these machines in a separate building, with fire safety requirements specified in relevant standards.

A.2.11 Elevator lobbies must be separated from adjacent corridors and rooms by fire-resistant partitions with a fire resistance limit according to the provisions in A.2.24.

The materials of the elevator cabin components must be constructed like those of firefighting elevators.

A.2.12 Firefighting elevators must be arranged in separate elevator shafts, with independent elevator lobbies. The exit from these elevators to the outside of the building must not be arranged through the common lobby.

The number of firefighting elevators for each fire compartment must be calculated to be sufficient so that the distance from the location of those elevators to any point on the floor plan it serves does not exceed 45 m.

The enclosing components of the firefighting elevator cabin (walls, floor, ceiling, doors) must be made of non-combustible materials or from the group of materials Ch1.

The finishing materials for the surface of the enclosing components of the cabin are applied as for rooms according to the provisions in A.2.25.

A.2.13 The fire resistance limit of the elevator shaft structure and the elevator machine room is taken according to the provisions in A.2.24.

A.2.14 Corridors must be divided into compartments separated by type 1 fire-resistant partitions. Fire doors installed on these fire-resistant partitions must have a self-closing mechanism and the door gaps must be covered (except for the bottom part). The length of each corridor compartment must ensure the following:

• For the apartment block: not exceeding 30 m.
• For the non-apartment block: not exceeding 60 m.

A.2.15 All smoke-free stairwells of the building must have a direct exit to the outside at the 1st floor, and at the same time must have an exit to the building roof, through a type 1 fire door.

A.2.16 Escape routes must be calculated with the number of people in the building or in the room increased by 1.25 times compared to the design number (except for performance rooms and other rooms with a specified number of seats).

A.2.17 If at the same time, the areas of the building or floor are used by many different user groups or for many different purposes, the evacuation requirements for the entire building or floor must be calculated based on the function or purpose of use with the most stringent evacuation requirements, or separate evacuation requirements must be determined for each area of the building.

A.2.18 If the building, building floor, or a part of the building is used for multiple purposes with different activities at different times, the function or purpose of use related to the largest number of people must be applied as the basis for determining the evacuation requirements.

A.2.19 When the entrance doors of apartments or rooms are arranged on a dead-end corridor, the distance from that door to the nearest evacuation exit must not exceed 15 m. When the door is arranged between smoke-free stairwells, this distance must not exceed 20 m.

A.2.20 Buildings with a fire resistance height above 100 m must have a refuge floor or refuge area that meets the requirements according to A.3.2.

A.2.21 The arrangement of fire truck access roads and fire truck parking areas shall comply with the provisions in 6.2.

A.2.22 The building must have rooms for storing on-site firefighting equipment equipped according to current regulations, arranged on the lower floors of each fire compartment along the height. On the 1st floor, the room for initial firefighting equipment of the building must be located adjacent to the room for installing the control center of the fire protection system. In the upper fire compartments, the room for initial firefighting equipment must be arranged not more than 30 m from the smoke-free stairwell or firefighting elevator.

A.2.23 The prevention of fire spread on the exterior of the building must comply with the requirements in 4.32, 4.33.

A.2.24 Fire Resistance Requirements for Building Structures and Components

A.2.24.1 The fire resistance limit of building components must not be lower than the values specified in Table A.1.

Table A.1 – Minimum Fire Resistance Limit of Building Components

A.2.24.2 The fire resistance limit of doorways, hatches, and plugs for openings in building components with fire resistance requirements according to Table A.1 must have a fire resistance limit not less than EI 30 (EIW 30) when used in components with a fire resistance limit of EI 60 (EIW60), and not less than EI 60 (EIW 60) in other cases.

A.2.24.3 The doors of elevator lobbies and the doors of elevator machine rooms must be airtight and smoke-tight.

A.2.24.4 In technical shafts used only for water supply and drainage pipes with pipes made of non-combustible materials, it is allowed to use type 2 fire doors and valves (EI 30).

A.2.25 Use of Materials According to Fire Hazard

A.2.25.1 Roofing and roof covering materials must be non-combustible. In case the roof has a waterproofing layer made of combustible materials, the surface above that layer must be covered with non-combustible materials with a thickness of not less than 50 mm.

A.2.25.2 The finishing layer of walls, ceilings, and floor coverings on escape routes (corridors, lobbies, waiting rooms), as well as on technical floors, must be made of non-combustible materials.

A.2.25.3 Materials for finishing walls, ceilings, decorating suspended ceilings, and floor coverings in rooms must comply with the provisions in Table B.9 (Appendix B).

A.2.25.4 In large rooms with audience seating for more than 50 seats, the components of soft armchairs, curtains, and draperies must not be made of easily flammable materials (group BC3). In these rooms, regardless of the number of seats, the seats must not be made of materials with toxicity higher than DT2.

Fabric and fiber products used for interior decoration must not be made of materials belonging to the easily flammable group (BC3).

A.2.26 Fire Alarm, Firefighting, and Rescue Equipment

A.2.26.1 The building must be equipped with an addressable automatic fire alarm system; automatic fire alarm bells must be arranged in all areas, including: apartments, office rooms, corridors, elevator lobbies, common lobby waiting rooms, technical rooms with regular staff presence, and similar), except for rooms with normal operating environment conditions that are always wet.

A.2.26.2 The building must be equipped with a public address and evacuation control system.

A.2.27 Firefighting Water Supply

A.2.27.1 The indoor firefighting water supply system (pipeline network and equipment) must be designed independently, with a pumping station arranged separately from rooms with other functions.

A.2.27.2 The indoor firefighting water flow for each fire compartment must be sufficient for 4 fire jets, with a water flow of each jet not less than 2.5 L/s.

A.2.27.3 In fire compartments with public rooms, it is allowed to arrange fire hydrants with a flow rate of not less than 2.5 L/s, provided that there are standpipes to ensure the supply to the hydrants reaches a flow rate of 5 L/s.

A.2.27.4 Two connecting pipes with appropriately sized connection heads must be provided to connect the indoor firefighting water supply system and automatic firefighting equipment with outdoor mobile firefighting equipment.

Shut-off valves and check valves must be provided inside the building to regulate the amount of firefighting water supplied to the system. The connection heads leading outside the building must be placed in convenient locations for fire trucks to access and must be clearly marked with easily readable signs.

A.2.27.5 The arrangement of sprinkler heads of the automatic water-based fire extinguishing system for rooms, lobbies, escape routes, and other components must ensure the protection of window openings (from the outside or inside of the room) and doorways of apartments, office rooms, and other rooms where those doors open into the corridor.

A.2.27.6 The sprinkler density for automatic fire extinguishing systems must not be lower than 0.08 L/(s∙m²).

A.2.27.7 For the sprinkler fire extinguishing system, the water flow must be ensured to be not less than 10 L/s.

A.2.27.8 In the vestibules of smoke-free stairwells, D 65 standby water connections must be provided for professional firefighting forces (of the dry pipe system); on the 1st floor, these pipes must have connecting pipes to connect with the high-pressure pumps of fire trucks.

A.2.28 Electrical System

A.2.28.1 Power supply to the following technical equipment systems must ensure the maintenance of operation of that equipment for a period of not less than 3 hours from the onset of fire and must be taken from 2 independent supply sources:

• Firefighting elevators;
• Equipment of the fire protection system;
• Automatic fire alarm and evacuation guidance system;
• Equipment of the automatic fire extinguishing system and firefighting water supply;
• Fire protection equipment for technical equipment systems;
• Rescue equipment.

A.2.28.2 Electrical cables from the transformer substation and from the independent power supply to the input distribution equipment in each fire compartment must be placed in separate channels (boxes) with fire resistance according to the provisions in A.2.24, or must be fire-resistant cables.

A.2.28.3 At the input distribution equipment of each fire compartment, there must be a protective disconnecting device and it must be treated for fire protection.

A.2.28.4 At the floor distribution cabinets and at the electrical panels of the apartments, there must be protective disconnecting devices. The structural design of these cabinets must ensure the elimination of the possibility of fire spreading outside the cabinet.

A.2.28.5 At the locations where cables and wires pass through building components with fire resistance requirements, the cable gap sealing connection must have a fire resistance limit not lower than the fire resistance limit of the component through which the cables and wires pass.

A.2.28.6 Evacuation lighting fixtures must ensure the maintenance of operation under high-temperature conditions.

A.2.28.7 Electrical cables (wires) from the floor distribution cabinet to the rooms must be routed in ducts or in building components made of non-combustible materials.

A.2.28.8 Electrical wires and cables from the input distribution equipment to the fire protection systems (electrical equipment of the fire extinguishing system, fire alarm system, smoke extraction system, evacuation lighting, and similar) must be made with fire-resistant cables (electrical wires and cables with a mineral layer or other electrical wires and cables with a fire resistance limit not lower than 120 minutes).

A.2.29 Ventilation and Smoke Protection System

A.2.29.1 Groups of rooms with different functions located within the same fire compartment must have independent ventilation, air conditioning, and air heating systems.

A.2.29.2 Ventilation equipment rooms must be located within the fire compartment they serve; it is allowed to place in a common room the ventilation equipment of systems serving different fire compartments, except for the following cases.

• Equipment of air supply systems, from air recirculation, serving rooms with fire and explosion hazard categories C1 to C3, must not be placed together with equipment of systems used for rooms with other fire and explosion hazard categories;
• Equipment of air supply systems serving residential rooms must not be placed together with equipment of air supply systems serving rooms used in lifestyle services, as well as with equipment of air exhaust systems;
• Equipment of air exhaust systems (exhausting unpleasant odors to the outside, from smoking rooms, toilets, and similar) must not be placed together with equipment of air supply systems;
• Equipment of local exhaust systems for explosive hazardous mixtures must not be placed together with equipment of other systems.

A.2.29.3 It is not allowed for ventilation systems serving different fire compartments to use common outdoor air intake equipment (intake openings). The horizontal distance between air intake openings arranged in adjacent fire compartments must not be less than 3 m.

A.2.29.4 The horizontal distance between the outdoor air intake equipment (intake opening) and the exhaust opening of the same air exhaust system installed on the same vertical surface outside the building must be ensured to be not less than 10 m. If the horizontal distance is not ensured, the vertical distance must be ensured to be not less than 6 m.

A.2.29.5 It is allowed to construct air ducts and header sections of all systems within the fire compartment they serve, according to the following provisions:

• Made of non-combustible materials and have a fire resistance limit not lower than EI 15, provided that the air duct is placed in a common shaft, with the enclosing structure of the shaft having a fire resistance limit not lower than REI 120, and fire dampers must be installed at the locations where the ducts pass through the enclosing structures of that shaft;
• Made of non-combustible materials and have fire dampers at all locations where the ducts pass through walls, partitions, and floors with fire resistance requirements;
• Air duct sections located outside the fire compartment they serve, measured from the fire-resistant elements on the boundary of that fire compartment, must have a fire resistance limit not less than EI 180.

A.2.29.6 When arranging air ducts and header sections of all systems serving different fire compartments in a common duct or shaft, the enclosing structure of that duct or shaft must have a fire resistance limit not less than REI 180 and the construction of those ducts must ensure the following provisions:

• Have a fire resistance limit not lower than EI 60 when the duct is located within the fire compartment it serves and have fire dampers installed at the locations where the duct passes through the enclosing structure of the duct and shaft;
• Have a fire resistance limit not lower than EI 60 when the duct is located outside the fire compartment it serves, and have fire dampers installed at the locations where the duct passes through the fire-resistant floors located at the boundaries of the fire compartments, with a floor fire resistance limit of REI 180.

A.2.29.7 Air ducts with fire resistance requirements must be made of non-combustible materials, with a thickness of not less than 0.8 mm and must have axial thermal expansion compensation. The sealing of the joints of the air ducts must be done with non-combustible materials.

A.2.29.8 Fire dampers must have remote-controlled and automatic drive devices. It is not allowed to use fire dampers with thermal element drives. The fire resistance limit of fire dampers must ensure the following provisions:

• Not lower than EI 90 – when the corresponding fire-resistant element has a fire resistance limit of REI 120 or higher;
• Not lower than EI 60 – when the corresponding fire-resistant element has a fire resistance limit of REI 60.

A.2.29.9 The smoke exhaust system to the outside must ensure the following provisions:

• The fire resistance limit of the exhaust fans must meet the operating requirement according to the calculated temperature of the air flow;
• Air ducts and ducts made of non-combustible materials have a fire resistance limit not lower than:

EI 180 – for air ducts and ducts located outside the fire compartment they serve;

EI 120 – For vertical air ducts and ducts located within the fire compartment they serve;

• Smoke dampers must have remote-controlled and automatic drive devices, with a fire resistance limit not lower than:

EI 60 – for car parking areas and isolated corridors of enclosed garages;

EI 45 – for rooms with 50 or more people simultaneously present, calculated according to Table G.9 (Appendix G), in a certain period of time and for atriums;

EI 30 – for corridors, lobbies, side corridors.

A.2.29.10 Fans used to push combustion products to the outside must be placed in separate rooms, enclosed by type 1 fire-resistant partitions.

A.2.29.11 Shafts enclosing the pipelines of the air supply system for smoke protection must have a fire resistance limit not lower than the fire resistance limit of the floors they pass through. The required fire resistance limit of the air ducts of this air supply system must not be less than:

EI 60 – for floor-by-floor air ducts of the air supply system for fire-resistant vestibules, isolated corridors of enclosed garages;

EI 30 – for air ducts of the air supply system protecting stairwells and elevator shafts, as well as for fire-resistant vestibules at elevations above ground level.

A.2.29.12 The fire dampers of the air supply system for smoke protection must have a fire resistance limit not lower than the required fire resistance limit for the air ducts of this system.

A.2.29.13 The control of equipment and operating mechanisms of the smoke protection system must be carried out both automatically (from the fire detection system) and remotely (from the control panel of the dispatcher staff on duty and from the push buttons located at the evacuation exits of the floors or in fire cabinets). In all scenarios of fire hazard situations, the normal ventilation and air conditioning systems (not used in smoke protection mode) must be switched off, and the smoke exhaust system and air supply system for smoke protection must be immediately turned on.

A.2.29.14 The information about the location and actual status of the devices and operating mechanisms of the smoke protection system must be monitored and identified at the control station.

A.2.29.15 The operating mechanisms and devices of the smoke protection system must ensure the reliability of operation determined by a safety probability of not less than 0.999.

A.2.30 Garbage collection system

A.2.30.1 The body of the garbage chute must be made of non-combustible materials.

A.2.30.2 The garbage receiving valve of the garbage chute must be located in a separate room, separated from other spaces by fire-resistant partitions with a fire resistance rating of not less than El 120. The fire doors installed on these partitions must have a fire resistance rating of not less than El 60, be equipped with a self-closing mechanism, and have sealed door gaps.

A.3 Apartment buildings classified as fire hazard group F1.3 with a fire safety height from over 75 m to 150 m

A.3.1 Buildings with a fire safety height from over 75 m to 100 m

A.3.1.1 The minimum fire resistance rating of the building is level I, the fire resistance requirements for building structures and components are taken according to A.2.24, except for the cases specified in A.3.1.10 and A.3.1.14.

A.3.1.2 The building must be divided into fire compartments by height, with the height of the lowest fire compartment not exceeding 75 m, and each subsequent fire compartment not exceeding 50 m. The fire compartments must be separated from each other by a fire-resistant floor with a minimum fire resistance rating of REI 150 or by a technical floor with horizontal load-bearing structures (floor and ceiling) having a fire resistance rating of not less than REI 90.

A.3.1.3 The maximum allowable area of a building floor within a fire compartment is determined according to A.2.3.

A.3.1.4 At the intersections between fire-resistant floors and fire-resistant components with the building envelope, there must be solutions to ensure that fire does not spread through the fire-resistant components. Preventing fire spread along the building exterior must comply with the requirements in 4.32, 4.33.

A.3.1.5 Each fire compartment by height must have an independent fire protection system (water supply for firefighting, smoke extraction, emergency lighting, fire alarm, automatic fire extinguishing). It is allowed for fire compartments to share a water supply pump station, firefighting pump station, smoke extraction fan, and central fire alarm control panel.

A.3.1.6 Above the exits from garages on the ground floor, non-combustible canopies with a width of not less than 1.0 m must be arranged, ensuring a distance from this canopy to the lower edge of the window openings above not less than 4.0 m.

A.3.1.7 The partitioning and allowable length of the partitioned sections of corridors in the building must comply with A.2.14. The allowable limit distance from the entrance door of an apartment to the nearest escape route (stairwell or outside exit) must comply with A.2.19.

A.3.1.8 The clear width of stair flights and landings of type N1, N3 stairwells in the residential part of the building must not be less than 1.20 m; for type N2 stairwells, not less than 1.05 m with a clear opening distance between stair flights of not less than 100 mm.

A.3.1.9 From all smoke-free stairwells, there must be stair flights leading to the roof through type 2 fire doors.

A.3.1.10 The part of the building with a different function (including technical rooms, auxiliary rooms serving the apartment part) must be separated from the apartment part of the building by solid fire-resistant walls with a fire resistance rating of REI 150 and type 1 fire-resistant floors, and at the same time have separate escape exits.

A.3.1.11 The insulation layer (if any) of the building’s exterior walls must be made of non-combustible materials. It is allowed to use insulation layers made of materials with fire groups Ch1 and Ch2 if they are protected from all sides by concrete or plaster with a thickness of not less than 50 mm. At the locations of window and door frames on the exterior walls, the thickness of this concrete (plaster) layer must not be less than 30 mm.

A.3.1.12 Fire doors must be arranged appropriately for each case as follows:

a) Except for paragraphs b) and c) below, the fire resistance rating of the door must be taken not less than El 30 (EIW 30) when used in components with a fire resistance rating of El 60 (EIW 60) and not less than El 60 (EIW 60) in other cases.

b) Fire doors are type 2 in the case of: doors from the vestibule leading to smoke-free stairwells, elevator lobbies, and garbage chute rooms.

c) Elevator shaft doors leading to the elevator lobby must be smoke-tight doors.

A.3.1.13 The materials for finishing ceilings, walls, and floors on escape routes, in elevator lobbies, common lobbies, and technical floors must be non-combustible.

A.3.1.14 The sound insulation layer of rooms, as well as the thermal insulation for technical equipment and pipelines, must be made of non-combustible materials.

A.3.1.15 The main vertical pipelines of the technical systems (drainage, rainwater drainage, hot and cold water supply) must be made of non-combustible materials or placed in channels or technical boxes made of non-combustible materials. Requirements for the garbage collection system are implemented according to A.2.30.

A.3.1.16 The smoke protection for the building, the fire alarm system, and the automatic fire extinguishing system are implemented according to the following additional provisions:

a) All rooms that are not apartments (garages, auxiliary rooms, technical rooms, public spaces, garbage storage compartments, and rooms with similar functions) and garbage chutes must have sprinkler heads (except for electrical and electronic technical rooms that require the arrangement of a gaseous fire extinguishing system or equipment);

b) Above the entrance doors to the apartments, sprinklers connected to the firefighting water supply pipeline through a flow switch must be installed;

c) The automatic fire alarm system must clearly indicate the address of each apartment. Smoke detectors must be installed in the rooms of the apartments and the floor corridors, including the elevator lobbies. Each apartment must be equipped with a public address system to guide evacuation, ensuring that everyone in the apartment can clearly hear the announcement and instructions in case of an emergency;

d) It is necessary to equip fire alarm systems, automatic fire extinguishing equipment, and means in electrical, communication, and other technical shafts and channels with fire hazards;

e) The power supply for the fire protection system, including: elevators for transporting personnel and firefighting equipment; smoke protection system; automatic fire alarm and extinguishing system; must be taken from independent electrical cabinets or separate electrical panels with different paint patterns along two separate routes to the distribution equipment of each fire compartment.

A.3.1.17 The fire resistance requirements for the wires and cables of the power supply for the fire protection system are implemented according to A.2.28.

A.3.2 Buildings with a fire safety height from over 100 m to 150 m

A.3.2.1 For buildings with a fire safety height from over 100 m to 150 m, in addition to complying with the provisions in A.3.1, it is necessary to arrange refuge floors and refuge areas meeting the following requirements:

a) Refuge floors are spaced no more than 20 floors apart, with the first refuge floor located no higher than the 21st floor. The area where the refuge area is located must be separated from other areas by fire-resistant components with a fire resistance rating of not less than REI 150. Other areas outside the refuge area can be used for public functions. Apartments or a part of an apartment must not be located on the refuge floor;

NOTE: The technical floor or a part of the technical floor can be used as a refuge area when meeting the requirements in paragraphs b), c), d), e), f).

b) The refuge area must have an area with a norm of 0.3 m²/person, ensuring sufficient capacity to accommodate the largest total number of people evacuating from all floors above, calculated from the floor with the refuge area to the next refuge floor, or the remaining floors above for the topmost refuge floor. It is not allowed to use the refuge area for commercial activities, but it can be used as a playground for children or for physical exercise;

NOTE: The largest number of people evacuating from different spaces of the building or part of the building is determined according to G 3, Appendix G. Specifically for buildings or parts of buildings with a fire hazard group other than F1.3, the additional provisions in A.2.16 also apply.

c) The refuge area must be naturally ventilated through fixed wall openings (ventilation openings) arranged on two exterior walls, ensuring the following requirements:

– The total area of the ventilation openings must be at least equal to 25% of the refuge area;

– The minimum height of the ventilation openings (measured from the lower edge to the upper edge) must not be less than 1.2 m;

– The ventilation openings for the refuge area must be located at least 1.5 m horizontally and 3.0 m vertically from other unprotected wall openings that are level with or below it. If the ventilation openings for the refuge area have a total area of not less than 50% of the refuge area, the vertical distance can be reduced to 1.5 m;

d) All equipment and tools placed in the refuge area must be made of non-combustible materials;

e) The refuge area must have escape exits leading directly to smoke-free stairwells and escape exits leading to the vestibule of the firefighting elevator. The escape routes leading to the refuge area must pass through a smoke stop lobby/firefighting elevator lobby or a side corridor;

f) The refuge area must have firefighting equipment including: indoor fire hydrants, automatic sprinkler fire extinguishing system, emergency lighting, external communication telephone, public address system for evacuation guidance, and similar equipment;

g) Inside the escape stairwell and on the outer surface of the escape stairwell wall at the location of the refuge floor, there must be a sign with the content “GIAN LÁNH NẠN/FIRE EMERGENCY HOLDING AREA” placed at a height of 1,500 mm from the finished floor level of the landing or the refuge floor. The height of the letters on the sign must not be less than 50 mm;

NOTE: In addition to being presented in Vietnamese and English, the content of the sign can also be presented in other languages depending on the characteristics of the common users in the building.

h) It is allowed for the area of the refuge area not to be included in the land use coefficient and the construction floor area of the project.

A.4 Karaoke and dance hall service business establishments (belonging to group F2.1)

A.4.1 The fire resistance rating of karaoke and dance hall service business establishments must comply with the provisions of this regulation and be at least level IV.

A.4.2 The floors of karaoke and dance hall service business establishments must have not less than two escape exits.

It is allowed for each floor to have one escape exit when simultaneously satisfying the following conditions:

– For buildings with a fire safety height not exceeding 15 m, the area of each floor under consideration must not exceed 300 m². For buildings with a fire safety height from over 15 m to 21 m, the area of each floor under consideration must not exceed 200 m²;

– The entire building is protected by an automatic fire extinguishing system;

– The maximum number of adults on each floor does not exceed 20 people;

– There must be at least one additional emergency exit from the building floors leading to an open balcony, or leading to a safe area on an open rooftop, or leading to a type 3 staircase.

NOTE: An open balcony or open rooftop means exposed to the outside, and the enclosure (if any) must ensure easy evacuation and rescue when the firefighting force approaches.

A.4.3 The escape exit from each floor of a karaoke or dance hall service business establishment must lead to a stairwell with a type 2 fire door. The escape route on each floor of the building must be protected by fire-resistant components with a fire resistance rating as follows:

a) For buildings with fire resistance rating I – must be made of non-combustible materials with a fire resistance rating of at least El 30;

b) For buildings with fire resistance rating II, III, IV – must be made of non-combustible or low-combustible materials (Ch1) with a fire resistance rating of at least El 15.

A.4.4 Along the escape route, additional low-level escape route signs must be arranged according to TCVN 13456.

A.4.5 Finishing materials, decorative materials (including suspended ceilings, if any), cladding materials, and floor covering materials used in karaoke and dance hall service business establishments must have a fire hazard level not more hazardous than CV1.

A.4.6 The fire control room (if any) must comply with 6.17.

A.4.7 The fire alarm system, automatic fire extinguishing system, and fire protection equipment in karaoke and dance hall service business establishments must comply with TCVN 3890, TCVN 5738, TCVN 7336.

A.4.8 Fire alarm bells and lights must be arranged in corridors, common lobbies, and in each room of karaoke and dance hall service business establishments. The electrical system of the sound and image systems must be interconnected and automatically disconnected when there is a signal from the automatic fire alarm system and manually controlled (the manual control switch is placed in the fire control room or at the reception area, with a guide sign) in case of fire.

A.4.9 Karaoke and dance hall service business establishments must have an open rooftop and high-level access according to the provisions in 6.3.1 to 6.3.4 for the firefighting force to approach.

A.4.10 Billboards of karaoke and dance hall service business establishments must comply with the provisions of QCVN 17:2018/BXD.

NOTE: The review, remediation, and assurance of fire safety according to the provisions of this regulation for karaoke and dance hall service business establishments put into use before the effective date of this regulation shall be carried out according to separate guidelines of the competent police agency.

APPENDIX B (regulation) CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDING MATERIALS ACCORDING TO TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE AND FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR MATERIALS

B.1 Classification of building materials according to technical characteristics of fire

B.1.1 Types of non-combustible materials and combustible materials

Building materials are classified into two types: combustible materials and non-combustible materials according to the values of fire test parameters as follows:

Non-combustible materials are materials that ensure throughout the test duration:

– The temperature increase of the furnace does not exceed 50 °C;

– The mass loss of the sample does not exceed 50%;

– The duration of flame persistence does not exceed 10 s.

Combustible materials are materials that, when tested, do not satisfy one of the above 3 factors.

NOTE: The test parameters are determined according to the national standard TCVN 12695 (ISO 1182) or an equivalent standard.

EXAMPLE: Some practical materials classified as non-combustible materials include inorganic materials in general such as concrete, fired clay bricks, ceramics, metals, masonry and plaster, and similar materials.

B.1.2 Groups of combustible materials according to combustibility

Table B.1 – Groups of combustible materials according to combustibility

B.1.3 Groups of materials according to ignitability

Table B.2 – Groups of combustible materials according to ignitability

B.1.4 Groups of materials according to surface flame spread

Table B.3 – Groups of combustible materials according to surface flame spread

B.1.5 Groups of combustible materials according to smoke production

Table B.4 – Groups of combustible materials according to smoke production

B.1.6 Groups of combustible materials according to toxicity

Table B.5 – Groups of combustible materials according to toxicity

B.1.7 Fire hazard level of materials

Table B.6 – Fire hazard level of materials

Table B.7 – List of necessary fire hazard indicators depending on the use of building materials

B.2 Fire safety requirements for materials

Table B.8 – Scope of application for finishing materials, decorative materials, cladding materials, and floor covering materials in escape routes

Table B.9 – Scope of application for finishing materials, decorative materials, cladding materials, and floor covering materials in common rooms, except for sports arenas and dance hall floors

APPENDIX C (regulation) FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD CATEGORIES OF BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES, AND ROOMS WITH PRODUCTION AND STORAGE FUNCTIONS

C.1 Fire and explosion hazard categories of rooms

Table C.1 – Fire and explosion hazard categories of rooms

C.2 Fire and explosion hazard categories of buildings and structures

C.2.1 Category A

C.2.1.1 Buildings and structures are classified as Category A if the total area of Category A rooms in the building or structure exceeds 5% of the area of all rooms in the building or exceeds 200 m².

C.2.1.2 Buildings and structures shall not be classified as Category A if the total area of Category A rooms in the building or structure does not exceed 25% of the total area of all rooms in the building (but not exceeding 1,000 m²) and all Category A rooms are equipped with automatic fire extinguishing systems.

C.2.2 Category B

C.2.2.1 Buildings and structures are classified as Category B if they simultaneously meet the following two conditions:

– The building or structure does not belong to Category A;

– The total area of Category A and B rooms exceeds 5% of the total area of all rooms in the building or structure or exceeds 200 m².

C.2.2.2 Buildings and structures shall not be classified as Category B if the total area of Category A and B rooms in the building or structure does not exceed 25% of the total area of all rooms in the building or structure (but not exceeding 1,000 m²) and all these rooms are equipped with automatic fire extinguishing systems.

C.2.3 Category C

C.2.3.1 Buildings and structures are classified as Category C if they simultaneously meet the following two conditions:

The building or structure does not belong to Category A or B;

The total area of Category A, B, C1, C2, and C3 rooms exceeds 5% (10%, if there are no Category A and B rooms in the building or structure) of the total area of all rooms in the building or structure.

C.2.3.2 Buildings and structures shall not be classified as Category C if the total area of Category A, B, C1, C2, and C3 rooms in the building or structure does not exceed 25% of the total area of all rooms in the building or structure (but not exceeding 3,500 m²) and all these rooms are equipped with automatic fire extinguishing systems.

C.2.4 Category D

C.2.4.1 Buildings and structures are classified as Category D if they simultaneously meet the following two conditions:

– The building or structure does not belong to Category A, B, or C;

– The total area of Category A, B, C1, C2, C3, and D rooms exceeds 5% of the total area of all rooms in the building or structure.

C.2.4.2 Buildings and structures shall not be classified as Category D if the total area of Category A, B, C1, C2, C3, and D rooms in the building or structure does not exceed 25% of the total area of all rooms in the building or structure (but not exceeding 5,000 m²) and all Category A, B, C1, C2, and C3 rooms are equipped with automatic fire extinguishing systems.

C.2.5 Category E

Buildings and structures are classified as Category E if they do not belong to Category A, B, C, or D.

C.3 Methods for determining classification criteria

C.3.1 The methods for determining the criteria for classifying buildings, structures, and rooms with production and storage functions into categories according to fire and explosion hazards are specified in the standards.

C.3.2 Some buildings and rooms belonging to workshops, warehouses, and production units may be classified according to fire and explosion hazards as follows:

C.3.2.1 Category A

– Workshops for the manufacture and use of Sodium and Potassium;

– Workshops of synthetic fiber and synthetic rubber factories;

– Workshops for the production of gasoline and oil;

– Workshops for hydrogenation, distillation, and gas separation;

– Workshops for the production of synthetic liquid fuels, recovery and distillation of organic solvents with a flash point in vapor state of 28 °C or below;

– Storage facilities for gas cylinders, gasoline storage;

Alkaline and acid battery rooms of power plants;

Pumping stations for liquids with a flash point in vapor state of 28 °C or below.

C.3.2.2 Category B

– Workshops for the production and transportation of coal dust, sawdust, stations for cleaning mazut tanks and other liquids with a flash point in vapor state from 28 °C to 61 °C;

– Grinding and rolling rooms for solids, workshops for processing synthetic rubber, sugar production workshops, mazut storage facilities of power plants, pumping stations for liquids with a flash point in vapor state from 28 °C to 61 °C.

C.3.2.3 Category C

– Woodworking workshops, workshops for the production of wooden handicrafts;

– Textile and garment workshops;

– Paper industry workshops with a dry production process;

– Enterprises for primary processing of cotton, jute, and other fibrous materials;

– Grain screening and drying units of mills and grain storage facilities;

– Workshops for the regeneration of oils and fats, distillation of bitumen, storage facilities for combustible materials and oils;

– Electrical distribution equipment with circuit breakers and electrical devices containing more than 60 kg of oil per unit;

– Belt conveyor galleries used for the transportation of coal and lignite;

– Enclosed coal storage facilities, mixed storage facilities, pumping stations for liquids with a flash point of vapor above 61 °C.

C.3.2.4 Category D

– Foundry and metallurgical workshops, forging and welding workshops;

– Locomotive repair stations;

– Hot metal rolling workshops, thermal metal processing workshops;

– Rooms housing internal combustion engines;

– High-voltage electrical laboratories;

– Main buildings of power plants (furnace rooms, turbine rooms, and similar rooms);

– Boiler stations.

C.3.2.5 Category E

– Cold metal processing workshops (except for magnesium alloys);

– Ore storage yards;

– Caustic soda production workshops (except for furnace units);

– Ventilation stations, air compressor stations, and stations for non-combustible gases;

– Acid regeneration workshops;

– Electric vehicle and electric locomotive repair stations;

– Stamping, molding, and cold rolling workshops for asbestos, salt, and other non-combustible raw materials;

– Textile and paper industry workshops with a wet production process;

– Food, fish, meat, and dairy processing workshops;

– Electrical control rooms;

– Water treatment facilities (sedimentation, filtration, purification, and facilities with similar use characteristics);

– Pumping and water intake stations of power plants;

– Carbonic acid and chlorine storage units, cooling towers, pumping stations for non-combustible liquids.

APPENDIX D (regulation) SMOKE PROTECTION

D.1 General requirements

D.1.1 Smoke protection for buildings and structures aims to prevent and (or) limit the spread of smoke and combustion products (hereinafter collectively referred to as smoke) within the building, with the purpose of:

– Creating safe conditions for people to escape and protect property in the event of a fire;

– Creating the necessary conditions for firefighting forces to rescue people, detect, and contain the fire within the building.

D.1.2 Smoke protection solutions for buildings and structures include:

– Dividing and isolating smoke into smoke zones (smoke reservoirs);

– Natural ventilation in case of fire;

– Smoke ventilation: including smoke exhaust systems and smoke-free air supply systems based on natural or forced mechanisms;

– Creating positive pressure for areas that need to be protected against smoke infiltration.

One or more of the above solutions can be applied simultaneously, and it must be ensured that the lower boundary of the smoke layer is not less than 2 m above the highest walkable floor level in the room or in the corridor protected against smoke.

D.1.3 The devices of the smoke exhaust and smoke-free air supply systems, regardless of the operating mechanism (natural or forced), must be automatically activated (from automatic fire alarm signals or from automatic fire extinguishing devices) and remotely activated (from the building’s control room, or fire control room, or from push buttons located on escape routes or in fire alarm cabinets. These push buttons must be arranged in a way that people can easily activate them).

The devices of the smoke protection system (including ducts) must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s regulations, periodically inspected, and properly maintained. The auxiliary equipment for installing and suspending the devices must ensure the maintenance of the device’s operating capability as specified by the manufacturer throughout the entire period of operation.

D.1.4 When activating the smoke exhaust system of the building in case of fire, the general ventilation and air conditioning systems, as well as the ventilation and air conditioning systems serving technological requirements (if any) of the building (except for systems serving technological safety), must be turned off, and normally open fire dampers must be closed. The shutdown of ventilation and air conditioning systems can be partial or complete, depending on the specific design, but it must satisfy the condition of not allowing the spread of smoke and fire through the general ventilation and air conditioning system.

D.1.5 The smoke ventilation system must be independent for each fire compartment, except for:

– Air supply systems that create positive pressure to protect staircases and elevator shafts connecting different fire compartments;

– Smoke exhaust systems protecting atrium floors and atrium corridors that are not divided into fire compartments.

D.1.6 The make-up air supply system (supplying outside air to compensate for the volume of smoke exhausted) can only be used in conjunction with the smoke exhaust system. It is not permitted to apply the make-up air supply system alone without a corresponding smoke exhaust system. In all cases, the pressure difference across the exit doors must ensure that a normal person can easily open the door.

It is not allowed to use a shared smoke protection system for rooms with different functional fire hazard groups.

D.1.7 It is permitted to modify the requirements in this Appendix D based on technical justifications for smoke protection solutions in accordance with applicable standards.

D.1.8 For some rooms with special functions or special technological requirements (such as clean rooms, cold storage), smoke protection can be implemented according to applicable standard documents. In all cases, the safety of people escaping from the building and rescue forces accessing the building must be ensured.

NOTE: The concept and classification of clean rooms are determined according to ISO 14644 or equivalent standards.

D.2 Smoke exhaust in case of fire must be implemented from the following areas:

a) From corridors (except side corridors) and lobbies of residential buildings, public buildings, administrative and auxiliary buildings (in industrial facilities), and mixed-use buildings with a fire safety height greater than 28 m;

b) From corridors and pedestrian tunnels of basements and semi-basements of residential buildings, public buildings, administrative and auxiliary buildings (in industrial facilities), production buildings, and mixed-use buildings, when these corridors and pedestrian tunnels are connected to rooms where people work regularly;

c) From corridors longer than 15 m without natural ventilation in case of fire in buildings of 2 or more floors of the following types:

– Production buildings, storage buildings of categories A, B, and C;

– Public buildings, including administrative and auxiliary buildings in industrial facilities;

– Mixed-use buildings;

d) From common corridors (except side corridors) and common lobbies of buildings with smoke-free staircases;

e) From atrium floors and commercial corridors surrounding atrium floors (hereinafter collectively referred to as atrium floors);

f) From rooms where people work regularly, serving production or storage purposes, including places for storing books, documents, artifacts, restoration workshops of museums (for storage rooms with shelves, regardless of whether people work there regularly), if these rooms belong to categories A, B, C1 to C3 in buildings of fire resistance levels I to IV, or categories C4, D, E in buildings of fire resistance level IV;

g) From each room connected to a smoke-free staircase, or from each room without natural ventilation in case of fire, of the following types:

– Area of 50 m² or more, regularly or temporarily gathering a large number of people (more than 1 person per 1 m² of floor area, not including the area occupied by equipment and furnishings);

– Commercial spaces, product display spaces;

– Reading rooms and book storage rooms of libraries, exhibition spaces, museums with an area of 50 m² or more, where people work regularly, used for storing or using combustible substances and materials;

– Changing rooms, luggage storage rooms with an area of 200 m² or more;

h) Enclosed, underground, or aboveground car garages, built separately or as part of buildings with other functions, and the separated ramps of these garages.

It is allowed to exhaust smoke through adjacent corridors from rooms with an area of up to 200 m² and fire hazard categories C1, C2, C3, or used for storing or using combustible substances and materials.

For commercial and office spaces with an area not exceeding 800 m² , when the distance from the farthest point of the room to the nearest escape exit does not exceed 25 m, it is allowed to exhaust smoke through adjacent areas such as corridors, lobbies, atrium floors, and atrium corridors.

It is not allowed to divide the dead-end portion of a building’s corridor with partitions having doors into sections with a length less than 15 m.

NOTE 1: An area without natural ventilation in case of fire is an area without openings on the external building structure (external wall) or an area with openings but with insufficient area for the discharge of combustion products.

NOTE 2: To provide natural ventilation in case of fire for corridors, openable windows or openings on the external wall must be arranged with the following requirements:

– The top edge of the opening is not lower than 2.5 m and the bottom edge of the opening is not higher than 1.5 m from the floor level,

– The total width of the openable parts of the openings is not less than 1.6 m for each 30 m segment of the corridor length,

– The openings must be easily openable by hand when a person is standing on the floor.

NOTE 3: To provide natural ventilation in case of fire for a room, there must be openable windows or openings on the external wall similar to NOTE 2, with a minimum width of 0.24 m for each meter of the external wall length. If the external wall is only on one side of the room, the distance from this external wall to the internal partition wall must not exceed 20 m. If the openings are located on two opposite external structures, the distance between the two structures must not exceed 40 m, in which case the length of the external wall must not be less than 1/3 of the total length of the internal partition walls of the room.

D.3 The requirements in D.2 do not need to be applied to:

a) Rooms with an area of up to 200 m², equipped with an automatic foam or water fire extinguishing system (except rooms of fire hazard categories A, B, rooms directly connected to smoke-free staircases N2 and N3, and enclosed car garages with manual parking (drivers must park the cars themselves));

b) Rooms equipped with automatic gas, powder, or aerosol fire extinguishing systems (except enclosed car garages with manual parking);

c) Corridors and lobbies where all rooms with doors opening into these corridors or lobbies are designed for direct smoke exhaust;

d) Rooms with an area of up to 50 m² each, located within a main room already designed for smoke exhaust;

e) Corridors (except those specified in a) and b) of D.2) without natural ventilation in case of fire, if there are no people working regularly in all the rooms with doors opening into these corridors, and these doors are smoke-tight fire doors;

f) Public function spaces built on the ground floor (1st floor) in groups F1.2 and F1.3, with separating structures from the residential area and direct escape exits to the outside, when the distance from the farthest point of the room to this exit does not exceed 25 m and the area does not exceed 800 m².

D.4 The smoke exhaust rate must be determined by calculation in the following cases:

a) From the corridors specified in paragraphs a), b), c), and d) of D.2 – for each segment not longer than 60 m;

b) From the rooms specified in paragraphs e), f), g), and h) of D.2 – for each smoke zone with an area not exceeding 3,000 m².

D.5 The design of the smoke exhaust system for protecting corridors must be separate from the smoke exhaust system for protecting rooms.

It is allowed to use a common smoke exhaust system for protecting the corridors of the rooms specified in paragraph f) of D.3 and the corridors of the residential rooms on the upper floors if all these rooms are located within one fire compartment.

D.6 Smoke inlets of the smoke exhaust shafts for extracting smoke from corridors must be placed below the ceiling of the corridor and not lower than the lintel (top edge of the doorway) of the escape exit. It is allowed to place smoke inlets on branch ducts leading into the smoke exhaust shaft. The length of the corridor requiring one smoke inlet is as follows:

– Not exceeding 45 m for a straight corridor;

– Not exceeding 30 m for a bent corridor;

– Not exceeding 20 m for a closed-loop corridor.

The length of the corridor is determined by the sum of the lengths of the adjacent rectangular or near-rectangular corridor segments.

D.7 When extracting smoke directly from rooms with an area exceeding 3,000 m², the room must be divided (by enclosure solutions (using smoke barriers) or assumed solutions) into smoke zones (smoke reservoirs) with an area not exceeding 3,000 m² and the possibility of a fire occurring in one of these zones must be considered. Each smoke inlet can only be considered to serve an area not exceeding 1,000 m².

If smoke barriers (smoke curtains) are used to divide the room into smoke zones, it is allowed to design the activation of only one smoke exhaust system in the smoke zone with the fire. If an assumed solution is used to divide the room into smoke zones, there must be a corresponding calculation basis, and all smoke exhaust systems must be designed to activate simultaneously for all smoke zones.

NOTE: A smoke curtain is a remotely automatically controlled rolling curtain or a fixed structural element made of smoke-impermeable materials with a fire hazard not greater than Ch1 on a non-combustible substrate (in the form of a mesh, fabric, or other forms), attached to the ceiling of the protected room or to the opening in the wall and lowered by a distance not less than the thickness of the formed smoke layer, acting to prevent the spread of smoke and divide the room into smoke zones.

D.8 For direct smoke exhaust from rooms and corridors of single-story buildings, a forced smoke exhaust system or a natural smoke exhaust system through smoke shafts (ducts) with smoke dampers, through smoke hatches, or through open skylights that do not face the wind can be applied.

NOTE 1: A forced smoke exhaust system is a smoke exhaust system in which the force for extracting smoke to the outside is generated and maintained by an exhaust fan.

NOTE 2: A natural smoke exhaust system is a smoke exhaust system in which smoke naturally discharges to the outside of the building through openings in the building envelope according to natural physical laws.

In multi-story buildings, a forced smoke exhaust system should be used. It is allowed to use a natural smoke exhaust system for the top floor of a multi-story building through smoke dampers, smoke hatches, or open skylights, open louvers that do not face the wind.

For single-story buildings and the top floor of multi-story buildings, it is allowed to use natural ventilation in case of fire instead of a smoke exhaust system when the following conditions are ensured:

– There is a smoke exhaust calculation in accordance with the applicable standards, considering the most unfavorable conditions for smoke exhaust (regarding outdoor air temperature, outdoor wind speed, fire location, position and opening state of openings, and other factors). In the calculation, the lower boundary of the smoke layer must not be less than 2 m above the highest walkable floor level in the corridor or room under consideration.

– The openings and skylights considered in the smoke exhaust calculation must always be open or automatically open in case of fire and must be ensured to be manually operable from a remote location. The open area of the openings and skylights in case of fire must be in accordance with the calculation.

D.9 The smoke exhaust system must meet the following requirements:

a) The placement of exhaust fans (including auxiliary fan components for connecting to ducts) with appropriate fire resistance limits (e.g., 0.5 hours at 200 °C; 0.5 hours at 300 °C; 1 hour at 300 °C; 1 hour at 400 °C; 1 hour at 600 °C or 1.5 hours at 600 °C, etc.) must be based on the calculated temperature of the moving flow and the category of the protected room;

b) Ducts and channels, if required to have a fire resistance limit, must be made of non-combustible materials (including thermal insulation and fire protection coatings of the ducts) and have a tightness class B (tightness classification determined according to EN 15727 or equivalent standards), with a fire resistance limit not lower than:

– EI 120 – for smoke ducts and channels located outside the boundaries of the fire compartment they serve; in this case, fire dampers of the normally open type must not be installed at the locations where the smoke ducts and channels pass through the fire-resistant walls and floors of the fire compartment;

– EI 60 – for smoke ducts and channels located within the boundaries of the served fire compartment when used for smoke exhaust from enclosed car garages;

– EI 45 – for vertical smoke ducts and channels located within the boundaries of the served fire compartment when directly extracting smoke from the served area;

– EI 30 – for other cases located within the boundaries of the served fire compartment.

NOTE 1: Fire resistance is not required for ducts located within channels or technical shafts enclosed by fire-separating elements with an equivalent fire resistance limit as specified.

NOTE 2: A normally open fire damper is a type of fire damper that will close in case of fire.

c) Normally closed fire dampers with a fire resistance limit not lower than:

EI 60 – for enclosed car garages;

EI 45 – for direct smoke exhaust from protected rooms;

EI 30 – for corridors and lobbies when installing dampers on branch ducts from smoke shafts;

EI 30 – for corridors and lobbies when installing smoke dampers directly on the openings of smoke shafts;

d) Smoke and combustion products must be discharged to the outside of the building and structure according to the following options:

– Discharge above the roof: a minimum distance of 5 m must be ensured from the smoke discharge location to the air intake of the smoke-free air supply system. The minimum height of the smoke exhaust duct is 2 m if the roof is made of combustible materials; a lower height of the smoke exhaust duct is allowed if the roof is protected with non-combustible materials within a minimum distance of 2 m from the edge of the smoke exhaust opening, or no protection is required if using a roof-mounted fan for vertical smoke exhaust;

– Discharge through smoke hatches, considering the outdoor wind speed;

– Through vents or smoke exhaust shafts located on the external wall without openings or at a distance not less than 5 m from openings in both horizontal and vertical directions and more than 2 m above the ground. The distance to openings can be reduced if ensuring a smoke exhaust velocity of not less than 20 m/s;

– Through separate smoke exhaust shafts located on the ground at a distance not less than 15 m from the external wall with windows (in case the external wall windows are smoke-tight windows that are always closed or automatically close in case of fire, no minimum distance is specified) or from the inlets of the ventilation air supply system of adjacent buildings or the smoke-free air supply system of the building under consideration. It is allowed to replace this requirement with other smoke exhaust solutions according to applicable standard documents.

It is allowed to discharge smoke from smoke exhaust ducts from basements and semi-basements through ventilated spaces. In this case, the smoke exhaust outlets must be located at least 6 m above the floor of the ventilated space in the first basement (at least 3 m vertically and 1 m horizontally from the structure of a building) or, for wet-type exhaust devices, at least 3 m above the floor level. No smoke dampers should be installed on these ducts.

Smoke exhaust fans must be located in separate rooms with enclosing structures having a fire resistance limit not lower than the required fire resistance limit of the smoke ducts passing through these enclosing structures or located directly in the rooms they protect.

Smoke exhaust fans can be placed on the roof or outside the building with an enclosure that ensures inaccessibility to unauthorized persons. It is allowed to place exhaust fans on the external wall of the building when meeting the requirements specified in paragraph d) of D.9.

D.10 In case of fire, the smoke-free air supply system must supply outside air to the following areas:

a) Elevator shafts (when there is no fire-resistant pressurized vestibule at the exit of the elevator shaft) in buildings with smoke-free staircases;

b) Vestibules of firefighting elevator shafts;

c) Smoke-free staircases of type N2;

d) Fire-resistant vestibules on the fire floor of smoke-free staircases of type N3;

e) Fire-resistant vestibules from the elevator exit to the parking areas of underground garages;

f) Fire-resistant vestibules at internal staircases of the building, leading to the rooms on the 1st floor from basements or semi-basements with rooms using or storing combustible substances and materials or with corridors without natural ventilation. In the vestibules of smelting, casting, rolling workshops, and other thermal processing areas, it is allowed to supply air from the ventilated areas of the building;

g) Fire-resistant vestibules at the entrance to atrium floors and shopping areas from the levels of semi-basements and basements;

h) Vestibules (if required by regulations for the arrangement of vestibules in type N2 staircases) on the fire floor of type N2 staircases in apartment buildings with a fire safety height above 75 m, mixed-use buildings with a fire safety height above 28 m, and public buildings with a fire safety height above 50 m;

i) The lower part of rooms and corridors protected by a smoke exhaust system to compensate for the volume of smoke that has been exhausted;

NOTE: The lower part of rooms or corridors is the part of a room or corridor located below the smoke layer in case of fire, protected by the smoke exhaust and smoke-free air supply system.

j) Fire-resistant vestibules separating enclosed underground or above-ground car garages from rooms with other functions;

k) Fire-resistant vestibules separating the parking area from the enclosed ramps of underground garages;

l) Fire-resistant vestibules at the entrances to lobbies from type N2 staircases connected to the upper floors of the building;

m) Fire-resistant vestibules (elevator lobbies) at the exit from elevators to semi-basements and basements of the building;

n) Rooms belonging to the safe zone (if any) on the fire floor.

It is allowed to supply positive pressure air to common corridors of rooms with direct smoke exhaust, as well as to corridors connected to recreation areas, waiting rooms, other corridors, lobbies, and atrium floors protected by a smoke exhaust system.

In fire-resistant vestibules (elevator lobbies) at the exit from elevators to the basements of the building, it is not allowed to supply air from the elevator shaft through normally closed fire dampers if the main landing floor of these elevators is on the 1st floor of the building and the elevator shafts are protected by a smoke-free air supply system with air supplied not lower than the main landing floor.

When arranging a safe zone in elevator lobbies, it is not allowed to supply air to these lobbies through normally closed fire dampers from adjacent elevator shafts.

D.11 The air supply rate of the smoke-free air supply system must be calculated to ensure an excess pressure of 20 Pa to 50 Pa in the following areas:

a) In elevator shafts – when all elevator shaft doors are closed, except for the door at the main landing floor of the elevator;

b) In type N2 staircases – taking the higher flow rate value in the following cases:

– On the fire floor: When the doors from the corridor and lobby to the escape route leading to the staircase are all open, or the doors from the rooms directly to the staircase are all open;

– The door from the building to the outside is open, while all other doors leading from the corridor and lobby on all floors are closed;

c) In fire-resistant vestibules on the fire floor (when all doors are closed).

The air supply rate to fire-resistant vestibules at the entrance to type N2 or N3 staircases, to type 2 staircases, at the entrances to atrium floors from basements and semi-basements, in front of elevator lobbies of underground garages, needs to be calculated to ensure an air velocity through the open door of not less than 1.3 m/s, considering the simultaneous operation of the smoke exhaust system.

The positive pressure value is determined relative to the adjacent rooms of the protected room.

D.12 When calculating the parameters of the smoke-free air supply system, the following requirements must be followed:

a) Excess pressure not less than 20 Pa and not more than 50 Pa in the following areas:

– Type N2 staircase;

– Fire-resistant vestibules at the entrance to type N2 or N3 staircases from the floors;

– Fire-resistant vestibules at the entrance to atrium floors from basements and semi-basements;

– Fire-resistant vestibules separating the parking area from the ramps of underground garages;

– Elevator lobbies of basements and semi-basements;

– Common corridors of rooms with direct smoke exhaust;

– Rooms of the safe zone (if any);

– In elevator shafts.

b) For double-leaf doors, the area of the larger leaf is taken, and this area must not be less than the area required for escape. In the opposite case, the area of the entire double-leaf door must be taken;

c) Elevator landing on the main landing floor;

d) The excess pressure on the closed doors of escape exits must not exceed 50 Pa under the simultaneous action of the smoke exhaust and smoke-free air supply systems.

D.13 The smoke-free air supply system must meet the following conditions:

a) Supply fans can be installed in the following locations:

– In rooms without other types of fans, with the fire resistance limit of the enclosing structure not lower than the required fire resistance limit for the structures intersecting with the duct;

– Within the boundaries of a fire compartment: in rooms containing the air supply system of the general ventilation system if the requirements of the design standards are met, or installed directly in staircases, corridors, and fire-resistant vestibules;

– On the roof and outside the building, with an enclosure to prevent access by unauthorized persons.

b) Ducts and channels must be made of non-combustible materials (including thermal insulation and fire protection coatings of the ducts), have a tightness class B, and a fire resistance limit not lower than:

– EI 120 – for air collection shafts and air supply channels located outside the boundaries of the served fire compartment;

– EI 120 – for channels of the air supply system protecting the vestibules of firefighting elevator shafts;

– EI 60 – for air supply channels to fire-resistant vestibules at the entrance to type N2 or N3 staircases from the floors, as well as for supplying air to enclosed car garage spaces;

– EI 30 – for air collection shafts and air supply channels within the boundaries of the served fire compartment.

NOTE: Fire resistance is not required for ducts located within channels or technical shafts enclosed by fire-separating elements with an equivalent fire resistance limit as specified.

c) Outside air intakes must be located at a distance not less than 5 m from the smoke exhaust outlets of the smoke exhaust system;

d) Normally closed fire dampers in air supply channels to fire-resistant vestibules have a fire resistance limit not lower than:

– EI 120 – for the systems specified in paragraph b) of D.10;

– EI 60 – for the systems specified in paragraphs d), e), h), j), k), l) of D.10;

– EI 30 – for the systems in paragraphs f), g), i) of D.10, as well as paragraph m) of D.10, considering paragraph b) of D.13.

NOTE: Fire resistance is not required for normally closed fire dampers in air supply ducts located within channels or technical shafts enclosed by fire-separating elements with an equivalent fire resistance limit as specified.

e) Fire dampers do not need to be installed for systems serving only one fire-resistant vestibule. It is not allowed to use uninsulated blades in normally closed fire dampers in air supply channels to fire-resistant vestibules;

f) The minimum distance between the smoke inlets of the smoke exhaust system and the air supply outlets of the smoke-free air supply system specified in paragraph i) of D.10 is not less than 1.5 m in the vertical direction.

D.14 Some requirements for space-planning and structural solutions

D.14.1 The enclosing structures of rooms for general ventilation equipment located within the served fire compartment must have a fire resistance limit not lower than EI 45.

The enclosing structures of rooms for smoke exhaust ventilation equipment – according to the requirements of D.9 and paragraph a) of D.13.

Doors to the above rooms must be fire doors of type 2 (except for rooms for general ventilation equipment of category E).

D.14.2 The enclosing structures of rooms for general ventilation and smoke exhaust ventilation equipment located outside the served fire compartment must have a fire resistance limit not lower than EI 150. Doors to the above rooms must be fire doors of type 1.

D.14.3 In buildings not protected by a smoke exhaust system, it is not allowed for elevator doors to be open on any floor.

D.14.4 The exit from the elevator to an underground garage must have a fire-resistant vestibule protected by a smoke-free air supply system.

D.14.5 To compensate for the volume of smoke exhausted from the room by the smoke exhaust system, an air supply system must be designed based on a natural or forced mechanism:

a) Air based on a natural mechanism can be supplied through openings in the external enclosing walls or through air supply shafts with automatically and remotely operated dampers. The openings must be located in the lower part of the protected room. To compensate for air in atrium floors and corridors surrounding atrium floors, direct escape exit doors to the outside can be used, and these doors must be remotely automatically controlled. The total ventilation area of the open openings must be determined in accordance with D.4 and meet the requirement that the air velocity through the openings does not exceed 6 m/s;

b) The smoke-free air supply system based on a forced mechanism can be designed independently or using the main air supply systems to fire-resistant vestibules or elevator shafts (except for firefighting elevator shafts and type N2 staircases).

APPENDIX E (regulation) FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION DISTANCES

E.1 Fire prevention and protection distances between residential buildings, public buildings and structures, and from residential buildings, public buildings and structures to production buildings, structures, and warehouses.

The minimum fire prevention and protection distances between residential buildings, public buildings and structures (including office buildings, service buildings) are specified in Table E.1.

The minimum fire prevention and protection distances from the above-mentioned residential buildings, public buildings and structures to production buildings, structures, and warehouses are specified in Table E.1.

In case it is necessary to ensure distances between buildings and structures serving firefighting and rescue operations, the distance between the two structures must meet the corresponding requirements, in addition to the provisions of this appendix for fire prevention and protection distances.

NOTE: The determination of fire prevention and protection distances for car garages is similar to that for warehouses; for administrative and auxiliary buildings in industrial facilities – similar to public buildings.

Table E.1 – Fire prevention and protection distances between residential buildings, public buildings and structures, and distances from residential buildings, public buildings and structures to production buildings, structures, and warehouses

E.2 Fire prevention and protection distances between production buildings and warehouses

The fire prevention and protection distances between buildings within an industrial facility, depending on the fire resistance level, structural fire hazard class, and fire and explosion hazard category, must not be less than the values specified in Table E.2.

Table E.2 – Fire prevention and protection distances between buildings within an industrial facility

E.3 Determination of the unprotected opening area of external walls and the corresponding fire resistance limit of the fire-protected part of the external wall

E.3.1 The fire prevention and protection distance along the boundary line specified in this section is used to determine the proportion of the unprotected area of the external wall and the fire resistance limit of the external wall.

E.3.2 The fire prevention and protection distance along the boundary line is the width of the open and unchanged space, measured horizontally at a 90° angle from the external wall of the building to the boundary line of the adjacent land plot, or to the centerline of the adjacent traffic road, or to a conventional line between the external walls of adjacent buildings on the same land plot. The conventional line is determined as follows:

– If one building already exists, the conventional line will be parallel and at a distance from the outer surface of the existing building corresponding to the total unprotected outer surface area and the fire resistance limit of the external wall of this building (see Tables E.3, E.4a and E.4b);

– If both buildings are newly constructed, the conventional line is the line consistent with the unprotected outer surface area and the fire resistance limit of the external walls of both buildings.

– If the outer surface of the building has an uneven shape, the dividing line is determined according to the safest option from the different external wall planes.

NOTE: The unprotected parts of the external wall are usually the following parts:

a) Doors (entrance doors, windows, and similar doors) that do not meet the requirements of fire doors in fire walls;

b) Wall parts with a lower fire resistance limit than the fire resistance limit of the corresponding fire wall;

c) Wall parts where the outer surface uses materials with a fire hazard equal to and higher than groups Ch1 and LT1.

E.3.3 The maximum total area ratio of unprotected openings to the total surface area of the wall facing the boundary line is determined according to Tables E.4a and E.4b. The fire resistance limit of the fire-protected part of the wall is specified in Table E.3.

NOTE: In all cases, the requirements for fire spread prevention along the outer surface of the building in 4.32, 4.33 must also be complied with.

Table E.3 – Fire resistance limit of the external wall depending on the fire prevention and protection distance along the boundary line

Table E.4a – Maximum total area ratio of unprotected openings to the total surface area of the wall facing the boundary line, % (for buildings belonging to items 1, 2 of Table E.3)

Table E.4b – Maximum total area ratio of unprotected openings to the total surface area of the wall facing the boundary line, % (for buildings belonging to item 3 of Table E.3)

APPENDIX F (regulation) NOMINAL FIRE RESISTANCE LIMITS OF SOME STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

F.1 Wall structural elements

Table F.1 – Masonry or concrete walls

Table F.2 – Non-load-bearing external walls

F.2 Reinforced concrete beams

Table F.3 – Reinforced concrete beams

F.3 Prestressed concrete beams

Table F.4 – Prestressed concrete beams

F.4 Reinforced concrete columns

Table F.5 – Reinforced concrete columns (with all 4 sides exposed to fire)

Table F.6 – Reinforced concrete columns (with 1 side exposed to fire)

F.5 Steel structures

Table F.7 – Steel posts with protective covering (mass of post per 1 m length not less than 45 kg)

Table F.8 – Protected steel beams (beam weight per 1 m length not less than 30 kg)

F.6 Floor structures

Table F.9 – Reinforced concrete floors (silica or limestone based aggregate)

Table F.10 – Prestressed concrete floors (silica or limestone based aggregate)

APPENDIX G (regulation) DISTANCE TO ESCAPE EXITS AND WIDTH OF ESCAPE EXITS

G.1 Maximum allowable distance from the farthest point (where people live or work) to the nearest escape exit

G.1.1 Residential buildings

The maximum allowable distance from the entrance door of an apartment (group F1.3 buildings) or a residential room (group F1.2 buildings) to the nearest escape exit (stairwell or outside exit) is specified in Table G.1.

Table G.1 – Maximum allowable distance from the entrance door of an apartment or residential room to the nearest escape exit

G.1.2 Public buildings

G.1.2.1 The maximum allowable distance along the escape route from the entrance door of the farthest room in a public building (except for toilets, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other service rooms) to the nearest escape exit (outside exit or stairwell entrance, or to a type 2 staircase allowed by this regulation for evacuation) is specified in Table G.2a.

NOTE: For building floors with corridors not enclosed by fire-separating elements as specified in 3.3.5 or not complying with the requirements in 3.3.4, the maximum allowable distance of the escape route must be measured from the farthest point of the room on that floor. This note does not apply to floors with karaoke or discotheque rooms.

G.1.2.2 The maximum allowable distance from any point in rooms of various volumes without audience seating to the nearest escape exit is specified in Table G.2b. When main escape routes are combined into a common route, the width of the common route must not be less than the total width of the constituent routes.

Table G.2a – Maximum allowable distance from the entrance door of a room to the nearest escape exit for public buildings

Table G.2b – Maximum allowable distance from any point in a public room without audience seating to the nearest escape exit

G.1.3 Production buildings and warehouses

G.1.3.1 The maximum allowable distance from the farthest workplace in a room to the nearest escape exit (direct outside exit or stairwell) is specified in Table G.3. For rooms with an area larger than 1,000 m², the distance specified in Table G.3 includes the length of the path along the corridor to the exit.

G.1.3.2 The maximum allowable distances specified in Table G.3 for intermediate values of the room volume are determined by linear interpolation.

G.1.3.3 The maximum allowable distances in Table G.3 are specified for rooms with a height of up to 6 m. When the room height is greater than 6 m, this distance is increased as follows: when the room height is up to 12 m, it is increased by 20%; up to 18 m, it is increased by 30%; up to 24 m, it is increased by 40%, but not exceeding 140 m for rooms of category A, B and not exceeding 240 m for rooms of category C.

G.1.3.4 The maximum allowable distance from the entrance door of the farthest room with an area not exceeding 1,000 m² in a production building to the nearest escape exit (outside or to a stairwell) is specified in Table G.4.

Table G.3 – Maximum allowable distance from the farthest workplace to the nearest escape exit of a production building

Table G.4 – Maximum allowable distance from the entrance door of a production room with an area up to 1,000 m² to the nearest escape exit

G.2 Width of escape exits

G.2.1 Public buildings

G.2.1.1 The width of an escape exit from a corridor to a stairwell, as well as the width of the stair flight, must be determined according to the number of people who need to evacuate through that exit and the number of people per 1 meter width of the exit (door). Depending on the fire resistance level of the building, the following values should not be exceeded:

– Buildings with fire resistance level I, II: 165 people/m;

– Buildings with fire resistance level III, IV: 115 people/m;

– Buildings with fire resistance level V: 80 people/m.

G.2.1.2 To calculate the width of escape exits for secondary schools, boarding schools, and dormitory areas of schools, it is necessary to determine the maximum number of people simultaneously present on one floor based on the maximum number of people in classrooms, vocational training rooms, and bedrooms, as well as in sports facilities, conference rooms, and lecture halls located on that floor (see G.3, Table G.9).

G.2.1.3 The width of exit doors from classrooms with more than 15 students must not be less than 0.9 m.

G.2.1.4 The width of an escape exit from rooms without audience seating must be determined according to the number of people who need to evacuate through that exit according to Table G.5, but not less than 1.2 m for rooms with a capacity of more than 50 people.

Table G.5 – Maximum number of people per 1 m width of an escape exit from rooms without audience seating in public buildings

G.2.1.5 The width of the main escape routes in a commercial room must not be less than:

– 1.4 m – when the commercial area does not exceed 100 m²;

– 1.6 m – when the commercial area is greater than 100 m² and does not exceed 150 m²;

– 2.0 m – when the commercial area is greater than 150 m²and does not exceed 400 m²;

– 2.5 m – when the commercial area is greater than 400 m².

G.2.1.6 The number of people per 1 m width of the escape route from the stands of outdoor sports and performance facilities is specified in Table G.6.

Table G.6 – Maximum number of people per 1 m width of the escape route from the stands of outdoor sports and performance facilities

G.2.2 Production buildings and warehouses

G.2.2.1 The width of an escape exit from a room must be determined by the number of people who need to evacuate through that exit and the number of people per 1 m width of the escape exit specified in Table G.7, but not less than 0.9 m.

The number of people per 1 m width of an escape exit for intermediate values of the building volume is determined by linear interpolation.

The number of people per 1 m width of an escape exit from rooms with a height greater than 6 m is increased as follows:

– Increased by 20% when the fire safety height of the building is 12 m;

– Increased by 30% when the fire safety height of the building is 18 m and increased by 40% when the fire safety height of the building is 24 m.

When the fire safety height of the building has intermediate values, the number of people per 1 m width of an escape exit is determined by linear interpolation.

Table G.7 – Maximum number of people per 1 m width of the escape exit from a room of a production building