Code of practice for fire safety in educational institutions
1997 Edition

Per IS 14435, educational buildings must ensure the following minimum fire resistance durations: external walls and structural supports require a 4-hour fire resistance rating; internal and non-load-bearing partitions must have at least 2 hours; floors should match the 4-hour rating of external walls; false ceilings must comply with IS 1642 standards. Additionally, only Type I construction is permitted for such buildings, basements are prohibited for use as classrooms or assembly halls, and exits must be positioned so that no point on an upper storey is farther than 22.5 meters from the nearest exit. Type IV construction is disallowed to maintain fire safety integrity.

IS 14435 stipulates that internal staircases should be fully enclosed, forming self-contained units with at least one external wall, constructed of non-combustible materials, and free from direct openings into hazardous areas or shafts. They must maintain a minimum headroom of 2.2 meters and provide continuous access from ground to terrace levels. Fire-resistant doors with appropriate ratings are required, especially for buildings 15 meters or taller. External staircases should have straight flights at least 1 meter wide, with tread depths of 200 mm and riser heights not exceeding 190 mm. Entry points to external stairs must open to open spaces or via a draught lobby. Illuminated exit signage and floor identification boards are necessary to facilitate safe evacuation.

The standard advises installation of automatic fire detection and alarm systems conforming to IS 2189, incorporating heat detectors per IS 2175 and smoke detectors per IS 11360. Automatic systems are particularly recommended for buildings with basement areas of 200 square meters or more. Manual electric fire alarm systems are compulsory for buildings exceeding 15 meters in height or having more than two storeys with covered areas greater than 1000 square meters. These systems ensure prompt detection of fire hazards and effective alerting for evacuation.

Emergency lighting must be powered independently of the main lighting supply and activate within 5 seconds, optimally within 1 second, after power failure. It should provide continuous illumination for a minimum of 1.5 hours, using non-flammable fixtures. The lighting must clearly mark escape routes to facilitate safe evacuation and ensure visibility of fire alarm points and firefighting equipment along these paths. These provisions are critical for buildings with basements larger than 200 square meters or heights between 15 and 30 meters.

For educational buildings with basement areas equal to or exceeding 200 square meters, IS 14435 mandates the provision of automatic sprinkler systems and downcomers. Hose reels are required in buildings exceeding two storeys with covered areas over 1000 square meters. Water storage must include an underground static tank with a minimum capacity of 20,000 liters and a terrace tank of at least 20,000 liters. Fire pumps near the underground tank should include one electric and one diesel pump, each capable of delivering 1620 liters per minute. Additionally, a manually operated electric fire alarm system must be installed to ensure adequate fire suppression and water supply capabilities.