# Designing for Fire Safety

Fire safety is a fundamental aspect of architectural design, ensuring the protection of occupants, property, and emergency responders in the event of a fire. 

Here’s an overview of fire safety principles for both **building scale** and **site layout**, with key considerations for each.

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### **1. Purpose Group**

**Fire safety requirements will depend on the Purpose Group (PG), which is the main function of the building.**

For example, Singapore classifies the buildngs into various Purpose Group starting from least hazardous to most. The more hazardous the PG is, the more strict requirements are.

PG 1 - Small residential (Residential dwelling house, such as: bungalow, detached house, semi-detached house & terrace house)

PG 2 - Other residential (Accommodation for residential purposes other than any premises comprised in PG I, such as: apartment, cluster housing, condominium flat, maisonette, town house)

PG 3 - Institutional (Education/Training facilities, Worker lodging, Healthcare)

PG 4 - Offices

PG 5 - Shops

PG 6 - Factory

PG 7 - Place of Public Resort (Communal facilities, Hotels, Museums, Auditoriums, Stadiums, Transport Facilities)

PG 8 - Warehouse (storage of goods/vehicles eg: Carpark, Coldroom)

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### **2. Building Scale**

**Compartmentation** 

* Compartmentation is the limitation of extents of a space that is protected by fire rated elements (walls, slab) by height and/or cubic volume.
* Also used to separate spaces of different purpose groups.
* Fire rated walls and doors are used to 'compartment' these spaces to prevent fire spread.
* Fire rating will depend on purpose of the space. The more hazardous the use, the higher fire rating required.  
* If compartmentation is not feasible, the provision of sprinkler is required.

**Means of Escape vs. Occupant Load Calculations**

* **Occupant Load**: Determine the maximum number of occupants for each space based on its use and size.
* **Means of Escape**: Ensure exits are adequate to accommodate the calculated occupant load, factoring in capacity and evacuation time.

**Travel Distance to Nearest Exit**

* Limit the maximum travel distance to the nearest exit to ensure swift evacuation.
* Check your local fire code for the applicable max travel distance (1-way and 2-way, depending on program)

**Exit Provisions**

* **Number of Exits**: Provide at least two exits for rooms and spaces exceeding the occupant load threshold.
* **Clear Width of Exits**: Maintain clear widths (e.g., **900mm for single exits**, more for larger loads).
* **Separation of Exits**: Ensure exits are well-separated to prevent a single fire from obstructing all routes.
* **Protected Corridors/Staircases**: Design fire-rated, smoke-free paths leading directly to external spaces.
* **Exit signs and exit directional signs:** To direct occupants towards nearest exit.

**Firemen Access**

* **Facade Openings**: Incorporate accessible openings for fire brigade operations.
* **Breeching Inlet**: Provide inlets at strategic locations to allow firefighters to connect water supplies. 
* **Fire Lifts**: Include fire-rated lifts with independent power and fireproof shafts for firefighter use.
* **Hosereels**: Position hosereels for coverage of all spaces within 30 meters.

**Building Materials and Fire Safety Products**

* Use fire-rated materials for walls, floors, and structural elements, ensuring compliance with required fire-resistance durations (e.g., **1–4 hours**).
* Install certified fire doors, fire stops, and smoke seals in critical areas.

**Fire Protection Systems**

* **Sprinkler Systems**: Automatically suppress fires in sprinklered buildings.
* **Detectors and Alarms**: Install smoke and heat detectors to alert occupants promptly.
* **Manual Call Points**: Place at exits and in prominent locations for manual alarm activation.
* **Emergency Voice Communication Systems and alarm monitoring**: For real-time monitoring and communication with fire post during emergencies.

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### **3. Site Layout**

**Fire Engine Accessway Provision**

* **Length and Perimeter**: Ensure  accessibility for fire engines, with a minimum clearance width of **4.0 meters for access road**. **6.0 meters for fire engine accessway.**
* **Turning Radius**: Design accessways with turning radii suitable for fire engines.

**Hydrant and Breeching Inlet Locations**

* **Hydrant Placement**: Position fire hydrants within **50 meters** of a breeching inlet or building entry points.
* **Breeching Inlets**: Locate inlets near main accessways for easy connection by the firefighters.

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### **Integration and Compliance**

* Follow local fire codes and regulations to ensure designs meet the fire safety requirements
* Typically, the more hazardous the building program, the more strict the requirements are.
* Fire safety plans are to be submitted and approved before construction.
* There are 2 kinds of compliance: Prescriptive and Performance Based.
  * Prescriptive: Where the design is following the applicable Fire Code.
  * Performance-based: Where the design cannot comply to Fire Code and requires additional fire engineering assessment. Do engage early with fire safety engineers and authorities to review plans for compliance.

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Fire safety design requires a comprehensive approach that considers both the building's internal layout and its integration with the surrounding site. 

By addressing means of escape, fire protection systems, and access provisions for emergency responders, architects can create environments that prioritize occupant safety while meeting regulatory requirements. 

Balancing functionality and safety is key to effective fire safety planning.
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