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IS 1641 : 2013
(Reaffirmed 2018)

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Indian Standard
FIRE SAFETY OF BUILDINGS (GENERAL): GENERAL
PRINCIPLES OF FIRE GRADING AND
CLASSIFICATION — CODE OF PRACTICE
( Second Revision )

ICS 91.120; 13.220

© BIS 2013
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002

July 2013 Price Group 6

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Fire Safety Sectional Committee, CED 36

FOREWORD
This Indian Standard (Second Revision) was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards, after the draft finalized
by the Fire Safety Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil Engineering Division Council.
A series of Indian Standards covering fire safety of buildings in general principles of fire grading details of
construction, exit requirements and exposure hazards have been formulated. This standard covers general principles
of fire grading and classification, which has been adopted in various Indian Standards in respect to fire safety
aspects. This standard was first published in 1960. Based on considerable research done in field of fire protection
in the past years in advanced countries like USA, UK and Canada, the method of classification of building has
been revised and covered in this revision. In this revision, for determination of fire loads and fire load density for
arriving at the classification of occupancy hazard, guidance including the calorific values of some common
materials and a broad classification of industrial and non-industrial occupancies into low, moderate and high
hazard classes is given, for guidance. Further the provisions have been aligned with SP 7 : 2005 ‘National Building
Code of India 2005’.
Now intelligent buildings are also coming up wherein various automation systems are installed. For fire protection
of electronic processing units, circuits and other installations, reference of IS 12456 : 2004 ‘Fire protection of
electronic data processing installation — Code of practice’ shall be made.
The composition of the Committee responsible for the formulation of this standard is given in Annex C.
For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied with, the final value,
observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accordance with IS 2 : 1960
‘Rules for rounding off numerical values (revised)’. The number of significant places retained in the rounded off
value should be the same as that of the specified value in this standard.
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IS 1641 : 2013

Indian Standard
FIRE SAFETY OF BUILDINGS (GENERAL): GENERAL
PRINCIPLES OF FIRE GRADING AND
CLASSIFICATION — CODE OF PRACTICE
( Second Revision )
ignition, speed of burning, and liberation of heat and
1 SCOPE
fumes. Thus, some materials are more readily ignited
1.1 This Code covers the general principles of fire than others, again, some burn more rapidly than others,
grading of buildings and classification. some materials when heated on fire liberate dangerous
fumes, and some may readily cause ignition of other
2 REFERENCES materials.
The standards given below contain provisions which, 3.4 The content of a building are rarely distributed
through reference in this text, constitute provisions of uniformly over the whole floor area. From the fire
this standard. At the time of publication, the editions protection point, it would be undesirable to have all
indicated were valid. All standards are subject to combustible material concentrated on a fraction of the
revision and parties to agreements based on this floor area, as the average taken over the whole area
standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility would not give a true representation of the actual
of applying the most recent editions of the standard conditions, and the resulting effects on the structure
given below. immediately surrounding would be out of all proportion
IS No. Title to these expected on the basis of average fire load.

1642 : 2013 Fire safety of buildings (general): 4 CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDING BASED

Details of construction — Code of ON OCCUPANCY
practice (second revision)
8758 : 2013 Recommendations for fire 4.1 General Classification
precautionary measures in the All buildings whether existing or hereafter erected
construction of temporary structures should be classified, according to the use or the
and pandals (first revision) character of occupancy in one of the following groups:
15394 : 2003 Code of practice for fire safety in
petroleum refineries and fertilizer Group A Residential
plants Group B Educational
SP 7 : 2005 National Building Code of India
Group C Institutional
3 GENERAL PRINCIPLE Group D Assembly
3.1 Classification Based on Fire Load Group E Business
Fire load is the amount of heat in kilocalories which is Group F Mercantile
liberated per square metre of floor area of a
Group G Industrial
compartment by the combustion of the contents of the
building and any combustible parts of the building Group H Storage
itself. This amount of heat is used as the basis for
Group J Hazardous
classification of occupancies.
4.1.1 Minor occupancy incidental to operations in
3.2 The fire load is determined by multiplying the
another type of occupancy should be considered as part
weight of all combustible materials by their calorific
of the main occupancy and should be classified under
values and dividing the figure by the floor area under
the relevant group for the main occupancy. Examples
consideration.
of buildings in each group are given in 4.1.1.1 to 4.1.1.9.
3.3 Different materials having the same weight and
4.1.1.1 Group A Residential buildings
same calorific value may present different hazards on
account of their other properties, such as ease of These should include any building in which sleeping
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IS 1641 : 2013

accommodation is provided for normal residential e) Sub-division A-5 Hotels — These should
purposes, with or without cooking or dining or both include any building or group of buildings
facilities, except any building classified under Group C. under single management, in which sleeping
accommodation with or without dining
Buildings and structures under Group A should be
facilities, is provided for hire to more than 40
further subdivided as follows:
persons who are primarily transient, for
Sub-division A-1 Lodging or rooming houses example, hotels, inns, clubs and motels.
Sub-division A-2 One or two-family private f) Sub-division A-6 Hotels — These shall include
dwellings the hotels duly approved by the concerned
authorities as Five Star and above Hotels
Sub-division A-3 Dormitories
4.1.1.2 Group B Educational buildings — These shall
Sub-division A-4 Apartment houses (flats) include any building used for school, college, other
Sub-division A-5 Hotels training institutions for day-care purposes involving
assembly for instruction, education or recreation for
Sub-division A-6 Hotels (Starred) not less than 20 students.
a) Sub-division A-1 Lodging for rooming houses Buildings and structures under Group B shall be further
— These should include any building or group sub-divided as follows:
of buildings, in which separate sleeping
accommodation for total of not more than 40 Sub-division B-1 Schools up to senior secondary
persons, on transient or permanent basis, with level
or without dining facilities, but without Sub-division B-2 All others/training institutions
cooking facilities for individuals, is provided. a) Sub-division B-1 Schools up to senior
A lodging or rooming house should be secondary level — This sub-division shall
classified as a dwelling in sub-division A-2, include any building or a group of buildings
if no room in any of its private dwelling units under single management which is used for
is rented to more than three persons. students not less than 20 in number.
b) Sub-division A-2 One or two-family private b) Sub-division B-2 All others/training
dwelling — These should include any private institutions — This sub-division shall include
dwelling which is occupied by members of a any building or a group of buildings under
one or two families and has a total sleeping single management which is used for students
accommodation for not more than 20 persons. not less than 100 in number.
If rooms in a private dwelling are rented to In the case of temporary buildings/structures which are
outsiders, these should be for accommodating utilized for educational purposes, the provisions of
not more than three persons per room. IS 8758 shall apply.
If sleeping accommodation for more than 20
If residential accommodation is provided in the
persons is provided in any one residential
schools/institutions, that portion of occupancy shall be
building, it shall be classified as a building in
classified as a building in sub-division A-3.
sub-division A-3 or A-4 as the case may be.
c) Sub-division A-3 Dormitories — These should 4.1.1.3 Group C Institutional buildings — These should
include any building in which group sleeping include any building or part thereof, which is used for
accommodation is provided, with or without purposes, such as medical or other treatment or care
dining facilities, for persons who are not of persons suffering from physical or mental illness,
members of the same family, in one room or a disease or infirmity; care of infants, convalescents or
series of closely associated rooms under joint aged persons and for penal or correctional detention
occupancy and single management, for in which the liberty of the inmates is restricted.
example, school and college dormitories, Institutional buildings ordinarily provide sleeping
students and their hostels, and military barracks. accommodation for the occupants. Buildings and
d) Sub-division A-4 Apartment houses (flats) — structures under Group C should be further subdivided
These should include any building or structure as follows:
in which living quarters are provided for three a) Sub-division C-1 Hospitals and sanatoria —
or more families, living independently of each This sub-division include any building or a
other and with independent cooking facilities, group of buildings under single management,
for example, apartment houses, mansions and which is used for housing persons suffering
chawls. from physical limitations because of health

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IS 1641 : 2013

or age, for example, hospitals, infirmaries, for example, dance halls, night clubs, halls
sanatoria and nursing homes. for incidental picture shows, dramatic,
b) Sub-division C-2 Custodial institutions — theatrical or educational presentation, lectures
This sub-division should include any building or other similar purposes, having no theatrical
or a group of buildings under single stage except a raised platform and used
management, which is used for the custody without permanent seating arrangement; art
and care of persons, such as children galleries, exhibition halls, community halls,
convalescents and the aged, for example, marriage halls, places of worship, museums,
homes for the aged and infirm, convalescent lecture halls, libraries, passenger terminals;
homes and orphanages. heritage and archeological monuments; and
c) Sub-division C-3 Penal and mental buildings used for educational purposes for
institutions — This sub-division should less than 8 h per week.
include any building or a group of buildings d) Sub-division D-4 — This sub-division should
under single management, which is used for include any building primarily intended for
housing persons under restraint, or who are use as described in sub-division D-3; but with
detained for penal or corrective purposes, in accommodation for less than 300 persons with
which the liberty of the inmates is restricted, no permanent seating arrangements.
for example, jails, prisons, mental hospitals, e) Sub-division D-5 — This sub-division should
mental sanatoria and reformatories. include any building or structure permanent
or temporary meant for outdoor assembly of
4.1.1.4 Group D Assembly buildings — These should
people not covered by sub-divisions D-1 to
include any building or part of a building, where
D-4, for example, grand-stands, stadium,
number of persons not less than 50 congregate or gather
amusement park structures, reviewing stands
for amusement, recreation, social, religious, patriotic,
and circus tents.
civil, travel and similar purposes, for example, theatres,
motion picture houses, assembly halls, auditoria, f) Sub-division D-6 — This sub-division shall
exhibition halls, museums, skating rinks, gymnasiums, include any building for assembly of people
restaurants, places of worship, dance halls, club rooms, provided with multiple services/facilities like
passenger stations and terminals of air, surface and shopping complex/malls cinema theatres and
marine public transportation services, recreation piers restaurants, for example, multiplexes.
and stadium, banquet hall etc. This includes inns, clubs, g) Sub-division D-7 — This sub-division shall
motels and guest houses where kitchen is provided. include any building or structure permanent
or temporary meant for assembly of people
Buildings under Group D should be further subdivided not covered by D-1 to D-6, for example,
as follows: underground or elevated railways.
a) Sub-division D-1 — This sub-division should h) Sub-division D-8 — Airport terminal building
include any building primarily meant for — A structure used primarily for air passenger
theatrical or operatic performance and enplaning or deplaning, including tickets
exhibitions, and which has a raised stage, sales, flight information, baggage handling
proscenium curtain, fixed or portable scenery and other necessary functions in connection
or scenery loft, lights, motion picture booth, with air transport operations. This term
mechanical appliances or other theatrical includes any extensions and satellite buildings
accessories and equipment, and which is used for passenger handling or aircraft flight
provided with fixed seats for less than 1 000 service functions. Aircraft loading walkways
persons. and mobile lounges are excluded.
b) Sub-division D-2 — This sub-division should j) Sub-division D-9—Stadium — A place where
include any building primarily meant for use sports or other competitive activities take
as described for sub-division D-1, but with place in the open air and where
fixed seats for over 1 000 persons. accommodation has been provided for
c) Sub-division D-3 — This sub-division should spectators, consisting of artificial structures
include any building, its lobbies, rooms and or of natural structures artificially modified
other spaces connected thereto, primarily for the purpose.
intended for assembly of people, but which k) Sub-division D-10—Marine terminal — A
has no theatrical stage or permanent theatrical facility comprising one or more berths, slips,
and/or cinematographic accessories, and has piers, wharves, loading and unloading areas,
accommodation for more than 300 persons, warehouses and storage yards used for

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IS 1641 : 2013

transfer of people and/or cargo between water merchandise and located in the same building should
borne carriers and land. be included under this group.
m) Sub-division D-11—Railway station — A 4.1.1.7 Group G Industrial buildings — These should
place designated for the purpose of loading include any building or part of a building or structure,
and unloading passengers, including patron in which products or materials of all kinds and
service areas and ancillary spaces associated properties are fabricated, assembled, manufactured or
with the same structure. processed, for example, assembly plants, laboratories,
n) Sub-division D-12—Bus stations — A place dry cleaning plants, power plants, pumping stations,
designated for the purpose of loading and smoke houses, laundries, gas plants, refineries, dairies
unloading passengers, including patron and mills.
service areas and ancillary spaces associated
with the same structure. The hazard of occupancy, for the purpose of the Code
should be the relative danger of the start and spread of
4.1.1.5 Group E Business buildings — These should fire, the danger of smoke or gases generated the danger
include any building or part of a building which is used of explosion or other occurrence potentially
for transaction of business (other than that covered by endangering the lives and safety of the occupants of
Group F and parts of buildings covered by 4.1.1) for the buildings.
keeping of accounts and records and similar purposes,
professional establishments, service facilities, etc. City Hazard of occupancy should be determined by the
halls, town halls, court houses and libraries should be authority on the basis of the character of the contents
classified in this group so far as the principal function and the processes or operations conducted in the
of these is transaction of public business and keeping building, provided, however, that the combustibility
of books and records. of the building, the flame spread rating of the interior
finish or other features of the building or structure are
Business buildings should be further sub-classified as such as to involve a greater than the occupancy hazard,
follows: the greater degree of hazard should govern the
a) Sub-division E-1 — Offices, banks, classification.
professional establishments, like offices of Where different degrees of hazard of occupancy exist
architects, engineers, doctors, lawyers and in different parts of a building, the most hazardous of
police stations etc. those should govern the classification for the purpose
b) Sub-division E-2 — Laboratories, research of this Code, except in as far as hazardous areas are
establishments and test houses. segregated or protected as specified in the Code.
c) Sub-division E-3 — Electonic Data Processing Buildings under Group G shall be further sub-divided
Installations as follows:
d) Sub-division E-4 — Telephone exchanges.
a) Sub-division G-1 — This sub-division should
e) Sub-division E-5 — Broadcasting stations,
include any building in which the contents are
T.V. stations, Film studios and T.V. serial
of such low combustibility and the industrial
studios.
processes or operations conducted therein are
4.1.1.6 Group F Mercantile buildings — These should of such a nature that there are no possibilities
include any building or part of a building, which is for any self propagating fire to occur and the
used as shops, stores, market, for display and sale of only consequent danger to life and property
merchandise, either wholesale or retail. may arise from panic, fumes or smoke, or fire
from some external source.
Mercantile buildings should be further sub-classified
as follows : b) Sub-division G-2 — This sub-division should
include any building in which the contents or
a) Sub-division F-1 — Shops, stores, malls, industrial processes of operations conducted
departmental stores, markets with area up to therein are liable to give rise to a fire which
500 m2. will burn with moderate rapidity or result in
b) Sub-division F-2 — Shops, stores, malls, other hazardous situation and may give off a
departmental stores, markets with area more considerable volume of smoke, but from
than 500 m2. which neither toxic fumes nor explosions are
c) Sub-division F-3 — Underground structures to be feared in the event of a fire.
(excluding occupancy type J). c) Sub-division G-3 — This sub-division should
include any building in which the contents or
Storage and service facilities incidental to the sale of
industrial processes or operations conducted
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therein are liable to give rise to a fire which c) Storage and handling of hazardous and highly
will burn with extreme rapidity or result in flammable or explosive materials, other than
other hazardous situation or from which liquids; and
poisonous fumes or explosions are to be d) Manufacture of artificial flowers, synthetic
feared in the event of a fire. For fire safety in leather, ammunition, explosives and fireworks.
petroleum and fertilizer plant, IS 15394 may
NOTE — A list of hazardous substances giving
be referred. quantities, for which or exceeding which owners
handling such substances are required to be covered
4.1.1.8 Group H Storage buildings — These should
under the Public Liability Insurance Act, has been
include any building or part of a building used primarily notified under Government of India, Ministry of
for the storage or sheltering (including servicing, Environment and Forests Notification No. G.S.R.
processing or repairs incidental to storage) of goods 347(E) dated 1 August 1996.
wares or merchandise (except) those that involve highly For determination of fire loads and fire load density
combustible or explosive products or materials, for arriving at the classification of occupancy hazard,
vehicles or animals, for example, warehouses, cold guidance including the calorific values of some
storage, freight depots, transit sheds, storehouses, truck common materials is given at Annex A.
and marine terminals garages, hangars (other than
aircraft repair hangars) grain elevators, barns and A broad classification of industrial and non-industrial
stables. occupancies into low, moderate and high hazard classes
is given at Annex B, for guidance. Any occupancy not
Storage properties are characterized by the presence covered in Annex B, shall be classified in the most
of relatively small number of persons in proportion to appropriate class depending on the degree of hazard.
the area. Any new use which increases the number of
occupants to a figure comparable with other classes of A certificate of occupancy shall be necessary, as
occupancy should change the classification of the required under Part 2 ‘Administration’ of SP 7, before
building to that of the new use, example, hangars used any change is effected in the character of occupancy
for assembly purposes, warehouses used for office of any building.
purposes, garage buildings used for manufacturing. 4.2 Any building not covered by the above should be
4.1.1.9 Group J Hazardous buildings — These should classified in the group which most nearly resembles
include any building or part of a building which is used its existing or proposed use.
for the storage, handling, manufacture or processing 4.3 Where change in the occupancy of any building
of highly combustible or explosive materials or places it in a different group or in a different subdivision
products are liable to burn with extreme rapidity and/ of the same group, such building should be made to
or which may produce poisonous fumes or explosions comply with the requirements of the code the new
for storage, handling, manufacturing or processing group or its sub-division.
which involve highly corrosive, toxic or noxious
alkalis, acids or other liquids or chemicals producing 4.4 Where the new occupancy of any building is less
flame, fumes and explosive poisonous irritant or hazardous, based on life and fire risk than its existing
corrosive gases; and for the storage, handling or occupancy, it should not be necessary to conform to
processing of any material or corrosive gases; and for the requirements of the Code for the new group or its
the storage, handling or processing of any material sub-division.
producing explosive mixtures of dust which result in
5 FIRE ZONES
the division of matter into fine particles subject to
spontaneous ignition. Examples of buildings in this 5.1 Demarcation
class are those buildings which are used for:
The city or area should for the purpose of the Code, be
a) Storage, under pressure of more than demarcated into, distinct zones, based on fire hazard
0.1 N/mm2 and in quantities exceeding 70 m3 inherent in the buildings and structures according to
of acetylene, hydrogen, illuminating and occupancy (see 4), which should be called the ‘Fire Zones’.
natural gases, ammonia, chlorine, phosgene,
sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, methyloxide 5.2 Number and Designation of Fire Zones
and all gases subject to explosion, fume or 5.2.1 The number of fire zones in a city or area under
toxic hazard, cryogenic gases, etc; the jurisdiction of the authority, depends upon the
b) Storage and handling of hazardous and existing layout, types of building construction,
flammable/toxic liquids and gases like LPG, classification of existing buildings based on occupancy
rocket propellants, etc; (see 3) and the expected future development of the city
or area. In large cities on areas, three fire zones may

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be necessary, while in smaller ones, one or two may be 5.5 Temporary Buildings
adequate.
5.5.1 Temporary buildings should be permitted only in
5.2.2 The fire zones should be made use of in the land Fire Zones No. 1 and 2 as the case may be, according
use development plan and should be designated as to the purpose for which these are to be used, by special
follows: permit from the authority for a limited period and
subject to such conditions as may be imposed in the
a) Fire Zone No. 1 — This should comprise areas
permit.
having residential (Group A), educational
(Group B), institutional (Group C), assembly 5.5.2 Such buildings should be completely removed
(Group D), small business (Sub-division E- on the expiry of the period specified in the permit.
1) and retail mercantile (Group F) buildings,
5.5.3 Adequate fire precautionary measures in the
or areas which are under development for such
occupancies. construction of temporary structures and pandals shall
be taken in accordance with IS 8758.
b) Fire Zone No. 2 — This should comprise
business (Sub-divisions E-2 to E-5) and 5.6 Restrictions on Type of Construction for New
industrial buildings (Sub-divisions G-1 and G- Buildings (see IS 1642)
2) except high hazard industrial buildings
(Sub-division G-3 ) or areas which are under 5.6.1 Buildings erected in Fire Zone No. 1 should
development for such occupancies. conform to construction of Type 1, 2, 3 or 4.
c) Fire Zone No. 3 — This should comprise areas 5.6.2 Buildings erected in Fire Zone No. 2 should
having high hazard industrial buildings conform to construction of Type 1, 2 or 3.
(Sub-division G-3), storage buildings
(Group H) and buildings for hazardous uses 5.6.3 Buildings erected in Fire Zone No. 3 should
(Group J) or areas which are under conform to construction of Type 1 or 2.
development for such occupancies.
5.7 Restrictions on Existing Buildings
5.3 Change in the Fire Zone Boundaries
5.7.1 The existing buildings in any fire zone shall not be
When the boundaries of any fire zone are changed, or required to comply with the requirement of the Code
when it is intended to include other areas or types of unless these are altered, or in the opinion of the Authority,
occupancies in any fire zone, it should be done by such building constitutes a hazard to the safety of the
following the same procedure as far promulgating new adjacent property or the occupants of the building itself
rules. or is an unsafe building. In the event of alteration, it
shall be necessary to obtain permission of the Authority
5.4 Overlapping Fire Zones
for such alteration consistent with fire hazard.
5.4.1 When any building is so situated that it extends
5.7.2 Alterations/modifications/renovations shall be
to more than one fire zone, it should be deemed to be
in the fire zone in which the major portion of the accomplished so as to ensure conformity with all the
building or structure is situated. safety requirements of the new buildings. Such alterations
shall not in anyway bring down level of fire and life
5.4.2 When any building is so situated that it extends safety below that which existed earlier. Any addition or
equally to more than one fire zone, it should be deemed alterations or construction of cubicles or partitioning for
to be in the fire zone having more hazardous occupancy floor area exceeding 500 m2 for all high rise buildings
buildings. shall be with approval of local fire authority.

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ANNEX A
(Clause 4.1.1.9)
CALORIFIC VALUES OF COMMON MATERIALS AND TYPICAL
VALUES OF FIRE LOAD DENSITY
A-1 The calorific values of some common materials are given in Table 1 for guidance.

Table 1 Calorific Values of Common Materials

Material Calorific Value Wood Material Calorific Value Wood
(103 kJ/kg-1) 1) Equivalent (103 kJ/kg -1) 1) Equivalent
(kg/kg) (kg/kg)
(1) (2) (3) (1) (2) (3)

Solid Fuels Rubber 37.4 2.13

Anthracite 28.6 1.66 Straw 13.2 0.75
Bituminous coal 30.8 1.75 Tallows 37.6 2.14
Charcoal 28.4 1.61 Tan bark 20.9 1.19
Coke (average) 27.5 1.56 Tar (bituminous) 35.2 2.00
Peats 20.9 1.19 Wool (raw) 21.6 1.23
Sub-bituminous coal 22.0 1.25 Wool (scoured) 19.6 1.11
Woods (hard or softwood) 17.6 1.00 Foodstuffs
Hydrocarbons Barely 14.1 0.80
Benzene 39.6 2.25 Bran 11.0 0.63
Butane 47.1 2.68 Bread 9.9 0.56
Ethane 49.1 2.79 Butter 29.5 1.68
Ethylene 47.7 2.71 Cheese (Cheddar) 18.1 1.03
Fuel oil 41.6 2.36 Corn meal 14.1 0.80
Gas oil 42.9 2.44 Flour 14.1 0.80
Hexane 44.9 2.55 Margarine 29.5 1.68
Methane (natural gas) 52.8 3.00 Oatmeal 15.8 0.90
Octane 45.3 2.58 Rice 13.9 0.79
Paraffin 39.6 – 44.0 2.3 – 2.5 Soya been flour 16.1 0.91
Pentane 46.0 2.61 Sugar 15.4 0.88
Propane 47.3 2.69 Whole wheat 14.3 0.81
Propylene 46.2 2.63 Miscellaneous
Alcohols Acetone 29.7 1.69
Ethyl alcohol 28.4 1.61 Acetaldehyde 25.1 1.43
Methyl alcohol 21.1 1.20 Formaldehyde 17.6 1.00
Propyl alcohol 31.9 1.81 Hydrogen 134.2 7.63
Polymers Magnesium 24.0 1.36
1)
Casein 23.1 1.31 1 kJ is approximately equal to 1 Btu so the figures in the
Cellulose 16.5 0.94 tables are also equivalent to Btu/kg.
Cellulose acetate 17.8 1.01
Polyethylene 48.4 2.75 A-2 The typical values of fire load density for arriving
Polypropylene 48.4 2.75
Polystyrene 41.8 2.38
at the classification of occupancy hazard is given in
Polyvinylchloride 20.9 1.19 Table 2 for guidance.
Polymethylmethacrylate 24.6 1.40
Polyurethane 35.2 2.00 Table 2 Typical Values of Fire Load Density
Polyamide (nylon) 22.0 1.25
Polyester 22.0 1.25 Sl Building Type Fire Load Density
Common Solids No. (Expressed as
Wood Equivalent)
Asphalt 38.3 2.13 kg/m2
Bitumen 33.4 1.90 (1) (2) (3)
Carbon 32.1 1.83
i) Residential (A-1 & A-2) 25
Cotton (dry) 15.8 0.90
ii) Residential (A-3 to A-5) 25
Flax 14.3 0.81
iii) Institutional and Educational 25
Furs and skins 18.7 1.06
(B & C)
Hair (animal) 20.9 1.19
iv) Assembly (D) 25-50
Leather 17.6 1.00 v) Business (E) 25-50
Ozokerite (wax) 43.3 2.46 vi) Mercantile (F) Up to 250
Paper (average) 15.4 0.88 vii) Industrial (G) Up to 150
Paraffin wax 40.9 2.33 viii) Storage and Hazardous (H & J) Up to 500
Pitch 33.0 1.88

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ANNEX B
(Clause 4.1.1.9)
BROAD CLASSIFICATION OF INDUSTRIAL AND NON-INDUSTRIAL OCCUPANCIES INTO
DIFFERENT DEGREE OF HAZARD

B-1 LOW HAZARD OCCUPANCIES Godowns and warehouses (non-combustible goods)

Abrasive manufacturing premises Gold thread/gilding factories

Aerated water factories Gum and/or glue and gelatin manufacturing

Agarbatti manufacturing premises Ice candy and ice-cream and ice factories

Analytical and/or Q.C. Laboratories Ink (excluding printing ink) factories

Areca nut slicing and/or Betel nut factories Mica products manufacturing

Asbestos steam packing and lagging manufacturers Office premises

Assembly buildings small (D-4 and D-5) Places of worship

Battery charging and service stations Pottery works

Battery manufacturing Poultry farms

Breweries Residential buildings (A-1 to A-4) (except hotels A-5)

Brickworks Salt crushing factories/refineries stables

Canning factories Sugar candy manufacturing

Cardamom factories Sugar factories and refineries

Cement factories and/or asbestos or concrete products Tanneries

manufacturing premises Umbrella assembling factories
Ceramic factories, crockery, stoneware pipe Vermicelli factories
manufacturing
Water treatment/filtration plants and water pump
Clay works houses
Clock and watch manufacturing Zinc/copper factories
Clubs B-2 MODERATE HAZARD OCCUPANCIES
Coffee curing, roasting and grinding factories Airport and other transportation terminal buildings
Condensed milk factories, milk pasturising plants and Aluminium factories
dairies
Assembly buildings (D-1, D-2 and D-3)
Confectionary manufacturing
Atta and cereal grinding
Dwellings, lodges, dormitories, etc
Bakeries and biscuit factories
Educational and research institutions
Beedi factories
Electric lamps (incandescent and fluorescent) and T.V.
tube manufacturing Bobbin factories
Electroplating works Book-binders, envelopes and paper bag manufacturing
Engineering workshops Camphor boiling
Fruits and vegetables dehydrating and drying factories Candle works
Fruits products and condiment factories Carbon paper/typewriter ribbon makers
Glass and glass fibre manufacturing Card board box manufacturing

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Carpenters, wood wool and furniture makers Oxygen plants

Carpet and durries factories Paper and cardboard mills (except raw material yard)
Cashewnut factories Piers, wharves, dockyards
Chemical manufactures (using raw materials having Plastic goods manufacturing
F.P > 23°C)
Plywood/wood veneering factories
Cigar and cigarette factories
Printing press premises
Coir factories
Pulverizing and crushing mills
Cold storage premises
Residential apartments, hotels, cafes, restaurants
Computer installations
Rice mills
Cork products manufacturing (coir, carpets, rugs and
Rope works
tobacco) (hides and skin presses)
Rubber goods manufacturing
Dry cleaning, dyeing and laundries, cable manu-
facturing Rubber tyres and tubes manufacturing
Electric substations/distribution stations Shellac factories
Electrical generating stations except u/g powerhouses Silk filatures
Enamelware factories Soaps and glycerine factories
Filler and wax paper manufacturing Spray painting
Flour mills Starch factories
Garment makers Tea factories (including blending packing of tea)
Ghee factories (other than vegetable) Telephone exchanges, garages
Godowns and warehouses (other than non-combustible Textile mills
goods)
Tobacco chewing and pan masala making
Grains and seed disintegrating or crushing
Tobacco re-drying factories
Grease manufacturing
Woolen mills
Hosiery, lace, embroidery and thread
B-3 HIGH HAZARD OCCUPANCIES
Hospitals including ‘X’ ray and other diagnostic clinics
(institutional buildings) A)
Incandescent gas mantle manufacturers Aircraft hangers
Industrial gas manufacturing (only halogenated Aluminium/magnesium powder plants
hydrocarbons/inert gases)
Bitumanized paper/hessian cloth/tar felt manufacturing
Man-made yarn/fibre (except acrylic fibre/yarn)
Bulk storage of flammable liquids (tank farm, etc)
Manure and fertilizer works (blending, mixing and
Celluloid goods making
granulating only)
Chemical manufacturers (where raw materials have a
Mercantile occupancies (departmental stores, shopping
F.P. < 23°C)
complex, etc)
Cigarette filter manufacturing
Mineral oil blending and processing
Cinema films and T.V. production studios
Museums, archives, record rooms
Coal, coke and charcoal ball and briquettes making
Oil and leather cloth factories
Collieries, steel plants
Open storage of flammable liquids (in drums, cans,
etc) Cotton seeds cleaning and delinting factories

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Cotton waste factories Oil terminals/depots

Distilleries Paints/varnish factories
Duplicating/stencil paper making Paper and cardboard mills (only raw material yard)
Fire works manufacture Pressing factories
Foamed plastic and/or converting plants Printing ink making
Godowns of warehouses (combustible/hazardous Resin, lamp black and turpentine manufacture
goods) (H)
Saw mills
Grass, hay, fodder and bhoosa (chaff)
Surgical cotton manufacturing
Hazardous occupancy buildings (J)
Tarpaulin and canvas proofing factories
Industrial gas manufacturing (except halogenated
Turpentine and resin distilleries
hydrocarbon gases/inert gases)
Type retreading and resoling factories
Industrial units (G-3 occupancies)
Underground shopping complexes (F 3)
Jute mills and jute presses
Linoleum factories B)

Man made fibres (only acrylic fibre/yarn making) Ammonia and urea synthesis plants

Match factories Explosive factories

Mattress and pillow makings (foam plastics) LPG bottling plants

Metal or tin printers (if more than 50 percent is Petrochemical plants

engineering, shift to ordinary hazard) Petroleum refineries
Oil mills NOTE — In case of complexes having segregated plants with
varying degrees of hazards, the competent authority having
Oil extraction plants jurisdictions shall be consulted to decide the level of protections
to be provided.

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ANNEX C
(Foreword)
COMMITTEE COMPOSITION
Fire Safety Sectional Committee, CED 36

Organization Representative(s)
Delhi Fire Services, New Delhi SHRI R. C. SHARMA (Chairman)
SHRI A. K. SHARMA (Alternate)
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai SHRI A. K. TANDLE
Builders Association of India, New Delhi REPRESENTATIVE
Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee DR M. P. SINGH
DR SUVIR SINGH (Alternate)
Central Electricity Authority, New Delhi SHRI C. S. KASANA
SHRI P. C. KUREEL (Alternate)
Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata REPRESENTATIVE
Central Industrial Security Force, New Delhi DEPUTY INSPECTOR G ENERAL (FIRE)
SHRI S. L. NAGARKAR (Alternate)
Central Public Works Department, New Delhi SHRI SATYA PRAKASH BARNWAL
SHRI ASHOK KUMAR GOEL (Alternate)
Centre for Fire & Explosive Environment Safety, New Delhi DIRECTOR
DR K. C. WADHWA (Alternate)
Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Chennai SHRI J. P. K. HEPAT
Controllerate of Quality Assurance, Pune LT-COL B. T. MANJUNATH
SHRI M. B. PARADKAR (Alternate)
Council of Architecture, New Delhi SHRI A. R. RAMANATHAN
SHRI GIRISH MISHRA (Alternate)
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, New Delhi SHRIMATI TRIPTA KHURANA
Directorate General of Factory Advice Service & Labour Institute, SHRI A. K. GANGULY
Mumbai SHRI S. P. BANDOPADHYAYA (Alternate)
Electricity Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum, New Delhi SHRI HEMANT KUMAR
Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch, New Delhi SHRI A. K. RAY
SHRI S. K. GUPTA (Alternate)
Engineering Industrial Technical Section, Ministry of Industry, SHRI P. K. SUNKARIA
New Delhi SHRI K. C. MATHUR (Alternate)
Engineers India Limited, New Delhi SHRI ARVIND KUMAR
MS ALPANA SRIVASTAVA (Alternate)
GAIL, New Delhi SHRI JAYANT CHAKRABORTY
Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Noida SHRI T. K. KUMAR
Institution of Fire Engineers, New Delhi PRESIDENT
GENERAL SECRETARY (Alternate)
Lloyd Insulations (India) Limited, New Delhi SHRI K. K. MITRA
SHRI SANJEEV ANGRA (Alternate)
Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi SHRI OM PRAKASH
SHRI D. K. SHAMI (Alternate)
Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai CHIEF FIRE OFFICER
DEPUTY CHIEF FIRE OFFICER (Alternate)
National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd, New Delhi SHRI D. K. SURYANARAYAN
Oil Industry Safety Directorate, New Delhi SHRI S. C. GUPTA
SHRI B. R. GADEKAR (Alternate)
Reliance Refineries Limited, Jamnagar SHRI VARADENDRA KOTI
SHRI UMESH KHANDALKAR (Alternate)
Shriram Institute of Industrial Research, Delhi REPRESENTATIVE

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Organization Representative(s)
State Bank of India, Mumbai SHRI J. S. GAHLAUT
In personal capacity P/4 Belgacuta, Kolkata SHRI S. N. KUNDU
In personal capacity K-33-A Green Park, New Delhi SHRI S. K. DHERI
In personal capacity C-127 Kendriya Vihar, Noida SHRI H. S. KAPARWAN
In personal capacity 305, SJR Verity, Amrita College Road SHRI T. R. A. KRISHNAN
Kasavanahalli, Bangalore
BIS Directorate General SHRI A. K. SAINI, Scientist ‘F’ & Head (Civil Engg)
[Representing Director General (Ex-officio)]

Member Secretary
SHRI S. CHATURVEDI
Scientist ‘E’ (Civil Engg), BIS

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Bureau of Indian Standards

BIS is a statutory institution established under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 to promote
harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods
and attending to connected matters in the country.

Copyright

BIS has the copyright of all its publications. No part of these publications may be reproduced in any form
without the prior permission in writing of BIS. This does not preclude the free use, in the course of
implementing the standard, of necessary details, such as symbols and sizes, type or grade designations.
Enquiries relating to copyright be addressed to the Director (Publications), BIS.

Review of Indian Standards

Amendments are issued to standards as the need arises on the basis of comments. Standards are also reviewed
periodically; a standard along with amendments is reaffirmed when such review indicates that no changes are
needed; if the review indicates that changes are needed, it is taken up for revision. Users of Indian Standards
should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest amendments or edition by referring to the latest issue of
‘BIS Catalogue’ and ‘Standards : Monthly Additions’.

This Indian Standard has been developed from Doc No.: CED 36 (7632).

Amendments Issued Since Publication

Amend No. Date of Issue Text Affected

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