UBBL 1984

U N I F O R M B U I L D I N G B Y L AW 1 9 8 4
UNIFORM BUILDING BY-LAWS 1984
• Is a “PRESCRIPTIVE” building code
– Compliance with this code is requirement by law
– Set a rules and regulations on the application of the code
– Provide a pre-determined prescription

– The prescription are absolute:

no smaller than……….
no bigger than………
no shorter than ……….
or
no less than and no more than
CONCEPTS OF FIRE SAFETY

1. EVACUATION
2. PASSIVE CONTAINMENT
3. ACTIVE INTERVENTION
4. ACCESS FOR FIRE FIGHTING AND RESCUE
EVACUATION
• Contributing factors to designing for evacuation

• Numbers and distribution

State of mind
Occupants
•
• Familiarity of place Designation of
• Physical mobility
purpose groups
in the Fifth
• Detection and alarm
Schedule,
• Complexity of plan
Building • Passive and active systems UBBL
• Designation of purpose group
– UBBL 5th schedule
– UBBL 134
– UBBL 135, 136, 137, 138 and 139
– Every building is to have one overall designation
– Individual components of building with usage from overall must be designed to
accommodate the more stringent requirement, and where these requirements ‘spill’ into the
other parts of the building, ,the more stringent requirement applies
– Only ‘horizontal’ separation is allowed between buildings of different purpose groups
MIXED USE BUILDINGS
BASIC CONCEPT

part of building
use/purpose grp : hotel/iii
HT. 1 to be used for compliance
with Schedules 6,7,9,10 of By-law.
A- HOTEL

part B of building
use/purpose grp : SHOPS/V
HT. 1
HT. 2 to be used for compliance
with Schedules 6,7,9,10 of By-
law.

Vertical compartment wall B-SHOPS

separating Purpose Groups
III & V -By-Law 215 HT. 2
b- shops
Ground level Ground level
Compartment floor
C-CARPARKS
above basement
part C of building c - basement
Depth 3
By-Law 138(d)
use/purpose grp :
basement parking/viii
depth/ht. 3 to be used for compliance
with Schedules 7,9,10 of By-law.
NATURE OF FIRE
Flashover

Temperature / size
Untenable condition

Time

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

Ignition & growth development Full fire Decay
 Available Safe Egress Time ASET

Untenable condition
detection

Temperature / size
alarm

movement
Total
evacuation
Time
ignition

Factor of safety:
RSET < 0.75 ASET
Required Safe Egress Time RSET
EXIT

• Final exit
• Alternative exits
• Storey exit
• Horizontal exit
• Exit route
FINAL EXIT

• UBBL 133 – interpretations

• Final exit refers to the threshold that separated “still within the building” and “out of the
building”. The liability of the design for evacuation from the building ends at this point
ALTERNATIVE EXITS

• UBBL 166
• This is the primary concept for safe evacuation. Every floor space shall be provided with at
least two exits on the basis that if one exit is inoperable, the other exit can serve the function
• This ‘deigning for redundancy’ principles applies to all aspects of evacuation
 Alternative exits
Final exit

Alternative exits

Final
Final
exit
exit
HORIZONTAL EXIT

• UBBL 171
• Exits that lead to an adjacent (horizontal) separated compartment within the same floor
STOREY EXIT

• UBBL 167, 174

• Exits from a floor which is of a different level from the final exit, or if on the same level, a
distance away from the final exit
• As storey exit is to lead to a final exit
EXIT ROUTE

• UBBL 133 – interpretations

• UBBL 169
• The protected passage from a storey exit that lead to the final exit
• Can include spaces that are designated as areas of refuge anywhere between the storey exit and
the final exit
 storey exit

Travel distance
Final exit

Travel distance Travel distance Exit route

horizontal exit

Final exit
TRAVEL DISTANCE
• UBBL 165
• 7th schedule

• DEAD END
• Initial travel distance before a point where an alternative path becomes available

• DIRECT DISTANCE
• Stipulates that travel distance must be measured along the actual path of travel

• OPEN PLAN
• Where an actual path of travel cannot be determined, the direct distance can be measured as a
straight line direct to the exit. Permitted travel distance is then reduced to 2/3
Evacuation : small area
Evacuation : larger area
 UBBL
165 (B)
Max 15m
if room
< 6 pax

Final exits To comply with dead end

and travel distance

Max distance is 15m within room

plus max allowable travel distance
From door of room to final exit

Evacuation : multiple areas

  
165. Measurement of  
(3) In any of individual room which is
 
 
travel distance to exits. subjected to occupancy of not more than six To clarify that this requirement is
  persons, the travel distance shall be measured applicable to each individual room.
(3) In the case of individual rooms which from the door of such room:  
are subject to occupancy of not more than    
six persons, the travel distance shall be    
measured from the doors of such rooms: Provided that the area of the  
  Measurement based on floor area of a
Provided that the travel distance from any room does not exceed 15 square room provides stricter control.
point in the room to the room door does not metres or any other area  
exceed 15 metres.
  determined by the Fire
Authority.
 
 Final exits UBBL 165 (B)
Max 15m2 and
< 6 pax

Travel distance measured from

door if room is less than 15m2
and with less than 6 occupants

Evacuation : multiple areas

Horizontal
exits

storey exits

Evacuation : multiple areas

 23
1

Horizontal exits
 2 2
1

Horizontal exits
COMPONENTS
Not all fire rated doors are exit doors
Not all exit doors need to be fire doors
Not all doors need to be exit doors
• Exit door Not all doors can be exit doors
• Exit discharge
Exit doors must always be able to be opened
• Protected corridor (without undue effort) at all times
• Protected staircase Exit discharge must always allow the passage
of people at all times
• Balcony approach
• Single staircase ‘Exit’ in this context means storey exit,
horizontal exit or final exit
Final exit Final exit

Evacuation : separation of routes

PROTECTED CORRIDOR,
PROTECTED STAIRCASE

• UBBL 133-interpretations
• UBBL 157, 189, 190, 191

• While not expressed, it is inferred from the UBBL that all components that form
the Exit Route shall be of protected construction.

• Using the same inference, ‘protected’ shall mean ‘enclosed’, ‘separated’ or

‘isolated’
SINGLE STAIR

• UBBL 194

• Special provision for the common ‘shop-house’ design

• Usage limited to shop (ground floor only), residential or office.

• Uppermost floor level limited to 12m

 SINGLE STAIRCASE
Domestic or office use PROVISION
Height of UBBL 194
topmost floor < 12m

Shop or car park

Assumed Room of occupancy < 6

Diagram 4.4.8.1.
12m
Height of topmost floor
max.
of building with single not more 12m
12m
staircase max.

Diagram 4.4.8.2.
Maximum travel distance

By-Law 194 stipulates when a single staircase may be permitted. Essentially, this is only
allowed where the occupancy above ground level is confined to either domestic or office
purposes. The ground floor may be used for shops or car parks. (shop offices, shop
houses)

All elements of structure shall have a FRP of not less than one hour except the enclosure
for the staircase at the ground floor where the wall shall have an FRP of not less than two
hours, assuming the ground floor will not be used for residential purposes.
194. Building with single staircase.
 
A single staircase may be permitted in the following premises:
 
(a) any dwellings at a height of 12 metres measured from the fire
appliance access level to the highest and lowest floor; and
 
(b) any shophouses or dwellings not exceeding two (2) storeys or the
first storey not exceeding 6 metres from the ground level.
 
Clause 194 (b) : single staircase for shop house
Single staircase

House
House/
only
office

<=12m
<= 6m
Shop

1) House only on upper floor

2) No more than 2 storeys
3) Height of first floor no more than 6m above ground level

Clause 166 and 167 (not less than two exits) shall apply
for other building types
 Sample calculation

Scenario 1: upper floor assembly area in an institutional building

Stair A Stair B

50m
Occupancy load

(UBBLAssume
180(b))lobby C is inaccessible,
=1.35m2/pax
VII persons per unit for stair = 75
Therefore 20m
C =Ahorizontal
and B must accommodate
exit, persons pertotal
unit occupancy
= 100
1000m2 / 1.35m2 = 741 persons
371 / 75 = 4.95, say 5
741 / 2 371
stairs
pax =/ 100371 persons per stair
= 3.71,
5 x 0.55m = 2.75m width each stair
3.71 x 0.55m = 2.04 m min width for lobby C

Lobby C
 Sample calculation

Scenario 2: upper floor assembly area in an institutional building

Stair A Stair B

15m 35m
Assume C inaccessible, either B or D
B = stair = 75 pax per unit
Must accommodate
260/ 75 = 3.47
222 persons 519 persons
3.47 x 0.55m = 1.9m width
519 / 2 exits = 260 persons
20m
222 persons
D = horizontal exit = 100 pax per unit
260/ 100 = 2.6
2.6 x 0.55m = 1.43m width
door D

Lobby C
7th Schedule : Maximum Travel Distance

9
6 60 UBBL 1984
provisions
shown in RED
10
10 45
0 30 45
60
30 45

45
22.5

0 61

NR NR NR
NR 22.5 30
30 45
NR
NR 22.5 22.5
7th Schedule : Occupant Load and capacity of exits

UBBL 1984
22 provisions
shown in RED
100 60 60 60 45

------OFFICE

------SHOP
PASSIVE
CONTAINMENT
 Compartmentation

• To contain the spread of fire from point of origin

• To limit the potential size of the fire
• To separate areas of different levels of hazard
• To separate areas for safe exit, evacuation or refuge
• To limit threat to the structural integrity of the building
• To allow sufficient time for safe evacuation, active extinguishment of
fire and rescue.
Accepted assumption in designing for safe evacuation:

“Only one fire at one location at a time”

Primary objective of compartmentation:

“To contain the one fire within

the one location at all times”
 Contributing factors to potential fire load :
CONTENTS OF THE BUILDING
• Fittings and furnishings………..
• ……………..including the building itself
• Furniture and equipment
• Consumables
• Storage items
• Presence of hazardous materials
• Presence (or absence) of human occupants
These factors lead to the
designation of purpose groups in the
5th Schedule, UBBL, …….

……and to the prescriptions of UBBL

6 Schedule
th

8th Schedule
9th Schedule
UBBL 6 TH
SCHEDULE

• UBBL 142, 145 Construction and protection of external walls

UBBL 8 TH
SCHEDULE

• UBBL 204 to 207

• Flame spread over surfaces of walls and ceilings
UBBL 9 TH
SCHEDULE

• Minimum periods of Fire

Resistance for
Elements of Structure.
• UBBL 213 : every element of structure to have FRP
no less than as specified in 9th Schedule
ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE
FOR APPLICATION OF FRP

• Structural frame, beams and columns (excluding roof structures)

• Floor (except the lowest floor)
• Compartment floor
• External wall
• Separating wall ( including party wall )
• Compartment wall
• Protected shaft : structure and enclosure
• Load bearing wall
• gallery
 SEPARATING WALL : TERRACE HOUSES

•Constructional function : Party Wall UBBL 86

•Fire safety function : Separating wall to be Compartment Wall UBBL 138(c)
•Check compartment size
•Check Fire Resistance Period of elements of structure

•UBBL 214 : External Wall and Separating Wall minimum FRP

COMPARTMENTS, ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE AND FRP

Service
138(c) : floor and walls separating purpose group
apts
215(1) : reference to elements of structure,
by building, or by compartments
215(2) : reference to height, by building only
138(d) : floor separating basements

137 : floor to floor compartment for buildings

Offices
> 30m height
138(b) : floor and walls separating flats

Cineplex
Shops

Carpark
COMPARTMENTS, ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE AND FRP

Basement compartment volume limit 42,000m3

Separation of vertical ‘shaft’

Compartment D Compartment A

Compartment B

Compartment C
EXTERNAL WALL BARRIERS
UBBL 149

900mm vertical or
750mm horizontal barrier
COMPARTMENTS, ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE AND FRP
Atrium Space (NFPA 101)
COMPARTMENTS, ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE AND FRP
Atrium Space (NFPA 101)

• Minimum dimension of 6m and minimum area of 95m

• Required exits to be separated from atrium volume
• Atrium construction and usage to be of hazard level no higher
than ‘ordinary’
• Entire building to have automatic sprinklers
• Designed for smoke exhaust and smoke control
• Atrium volume to be separated from adjacent occupancy, or to
be engineered such that the adjacent occupancies are not at risk
from a fire originating from the atrium
COMPARTMENTS, ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE AND FRP
Atrium Space (NFPA 101)

UBBL 251
Smoke venting for
Safe exit
Compartmentation of large volumes
Compartmentation of large volumes
Protection of penetrations through compartments and elements

•UBBL 141 : Separating walls

• Diameter of combustible pipe < 25mm

• Diameter of non-combustible pipe <150mm
• No flue pipes allowed
• Doors to have equal or greater FRP as with the element

UBBL 148 : Compartment floor and walls

• Opening for protected shaft

• Ventilation duct with fire damper
• Encased ducts to have FRP no less than half of the element
Protection of penetrations through compartments and elements

UBBL 150 : Protected Shafts

• for pipes, ducts, sanitary facilities, staircase, lift

UBBL 156 : Ventilating Duct in Protected Shaft

• To have automatic Fire Dampers at ‘appropriate’

intervals
 Required FRP
Max 25mm (/)

Max 150mm (/)

Half of required FRP

Required FRP
ACTIVE SYSTEM
ACTIVE SYSTEMS FOR…..

• EVACUATION and FIRST AID

– Detection and Alarm
– Communication
– Smoke control
– Portable fire extinguishers
 Available Safe Egress Time ASET

Untenable condition
detection

Temperature / size
alarm

movement
Total
evacuation
Time
ignition

Factor of safety:

Required Safe Egress Time RSET

RSET < 0.75 ASET
10th Schedule
A. Hose Reel System
B. Sprinkler System
C. Gaseous Extinquishing System
D. Pressurized Fire Hydrant

1. Manual Electric Fire Alarm

2. Automatic Fire Detector System
3. Centralised Monitoring System
4. Public Address System
5. Fire Command Center
A. Hose Reel System
B. Sprinkler System
C. Gaseous Extinquishing System
D. Pressurized Fire Hydrant

1. Manual Electric Fire Alarm

2. Automatic Fire Detector System
3. Centralised Monitoring System
4. Public Address System
5. Fire Command Center
A. Hose Reel System
B. Sprinkler System
C. Gaseous Extinquishing System
D. Pressurized Fire Hydrant

1. Manual Electric Fire Alarm

2. Automatic Fire Detector System
3. Centralised Monitoring System
4. Public Address System
5. Fire Command Center
A. Hose Reel System
B. Sprinkler System
C. Gaseous Extinquishing System
D. Pressurized Fire Hydrant

1. Manual Electric Fire Alarm

2. Automatic Fire Detector System
3. Centralised Monitoring System
4. Public Address System
5. Fire Command Center
A. Hose Reel System
B. Sprinkler System
C. Gaseous Extinquishing System
D. Pressurized Fire Hydrant

1. Manual Electric Fire Alarm

2. Automatic Fire Detector System
3. Centralised Monitoring System
4. Public Address System
5. Fire Command Center
A. Hose Reel System
B. Sprinkler System
C. Gaseous Extinquishing System
D. Pressurized Fire Hydrant

1. Manual Electric Fire Alarm

2. Automatic Fire Detector System
3. Centralised Monitoring System
4. Public Address System
5. Fire Command Center
A. Hose Reel System
B. Sprinkler System
C. Gaseous Extinquishing System
D. Pressurized Fire Hydrant

1. Manual Electric Fire Alarm

2. Automatic Fire Detector System
3. Centralised Monitoring System
4. Public Address System
5. Fire Command Center
A. Hose Reel System
B. Sprinkler System
C. Gaseous Extinquishing System
D. Pressurized Fire Hydrant

1. Manual Electric Fire Alarm

2. Automatic Fire Detector System
3. Centralised Monitoring System
4. Public Address System
5. Fire Command Center
A. Hose Reel System
B. Sprinkler System
C. Gaseous Extinquishing System
D. Pressurized Fire Hydrant

1. Manual Electric Fire Alarm

2. Automatic Fire Detector System
3. Centralised Monitoring System
4. Public Address System
5. Fire Command Center
DETECTION

• Very early detection

• Early detection

• Manual detection
ALARM
• Automatic

• Pre alarm

• Local / manual
FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM

System objective are:

• To detect outbreak of fire and warn occupants
• To activate fire safety systems
• To inform Fire Brigade
• To monitor fire safety equipment
 RELEVANT BY-LAWS

Under UBBL 237, fire alarm systems are required

for buildings defined under the 10th Schedule

Under UBBL 238, a fire command center is

required for all buildings above 30.5 meters or
exceeding 9,290 sq. meters in gross area.
 HEAT …..OR SMOKE?

• Smoke detectors for electrical rooms and store rooms.

• Heat detectors for general areas.
• Smoke detectors for areas where rapid heat development
is normal for the function of the space, or where
combustibles may burn with high release of smoke
• Heat detectors for areas where smoke may be a common
presence in the space, or where combustibles may burn
rapidly and efficiently
 VOICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• To guide the occupants in an orderly manner during

evacuation upon detection of fire.

• For the firemen to communicate with one another

during fire fighting operations.
 RELEVANT BY-LAW

Under UBBL 239, two voice communication system

is required for all large buildings and high rise
buildings and they are:

• Public address system, and

• Fire brigade intercommunication system

 PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Intended for use by the occupants during the early

stages of the fire

Under UBBL 227, portable fire extinguishers are

required for first aid use.
 SMOKE CONTROL
TYPES

• Pressurization system to prevent entry of smoke by

pressurizing the compartment with air.
• Space depressurization system to prevent the spread
of smoke by extraction.
• Smoke dilution system to remove the smoke by
extraction and make-up of air.
 PRESSURIZATION SYSTEMS

Typical application are in protected shafts and

corridors.

• Air is actively supplied into the compartment to be

protected to maintain a positive pressure relative to
the adjacent compartments.
 DEPRESSURIZATION SYSTEMS

Typical application are multi-storey office buildings.

• Floor on fire is maintained under negative pressure

by extracting the smoke laden air.

• Immediate floors above and below are maintained at

positive pressure by supplying air to these floors.
 DILUTION SYSTEMS

Typical application are basement car parks and

shopping complexes.

• Smoke is extracted from zone on fire.

• Make-up air is provided to zones adjacent to area on

fire.
 HOSE REELS

Intended for the occupants to use during early stages

of the fire
 LOCATION AND SPACING

• Near exit and staircase doors

• All spaces to be within 36 meters of a hose reel.

• No restriction on location of hose reel pumps and

tanks.
 SPRINKLER SYSTEM

Intended to detect and extinguish a fire and warn the

occupants to evacuate.

Under UBBL 226, automatic sprinkler systems are

required for storage and other types of occupancies
where automatic extinguishing system is necessary.
FIRE FIGHTING
AND RESCUE
 Protection of stairs and lobbies

UBBL
• 196, 197 - smoke lobbies, protected lobbies
• 198, 199, 200, 201 – ventilation of stairs
• 229 – fire fighting lobbies
PROTECTION OF STAIRS AND LOBBIES

• Protected Lobby : protected

lobby separated or isolated
from fire and smoke infiltration
• Smoke Lobby : a
protected lobby primarily to isolate
staircases from smoke infiltration
• ventilated lobby : protected/smoke
lobby by means of
natural ventilation from outside
• Fire Fighting Access Lobby : a protected lobby designed
for fire fighting access
 RELEVANT BY-LAWS

Under UBBL clauses 196 and 197 requires fire

fighting access lobbies and smoke lobbies to be
pressurized if natural ventilation cannot be provided.

Under UBBL clauses 200, 201 and 202 requires

escape staircases to be pressurized if natural
ventilation cannot be provided.
 RELEVANT BY-LAWS

Under UBBL 225, every building shall be provided with at least one fire
hydrant.
 EMERGENCY POWER SUPPLY

Intended to provide emergency power to operate all

fire safety systems.

Under UBBL 253, emergency power is to be

provided for fire pumps, fire lifts, fire alarm, smoke
control, emergency lighting, voice communication,
firemen intercom, etc.
 SOURCES OF EMERGENCY POWER

• Standby electrical generator with changeover switch

activated upon power failure;

• Battery banks with charger to maintain them in

charged condition.
 Fire Fighting Access Lobbies

Maximum 90m
Hydrant to Hydrant
Hydrant
Emergency Power
Generators

Fire Pumps A
OMB
B N
ERA LUA
Breeching Inlets T A
J EN N L
UAN GKA
L N
LA OSO
K
Maximum 30m
Hydrant Hydrant to Breeching Inlet
External source of water
•Hydrants
•Lakes, Ponds, Pools, rivers

•Fire Tenders

Internal Systems
Fire Fighting Appliance Breaching Inlet
• Sprinklers
on ‘Access Way’ • Sprinklers
• Hose reels
• Risers
• Dry/Wet Risers
THANK YOU