QCVN 06-2010_Eng Version_For Fire Safety

(1)

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

VIETNAMESE CODE 06: 2010/BXD

VIETNAM BUILDING CODE ON FIRE

SAFETY OF BUILDINGS

HA NOI – 2010 HA NOI – 2010

(2)

PREAMBLE

QCVN 06: 2010/BXD prepared by the Institute of Building Technology Science, submitted by QCVN 06: 2010/BXD prepared by the Institute of Building Technology Science, submitted by Department of Technology Science and Environment, issued by the Ministry of Construction Department of Technology Science and Environment, issued by the Ministry of Construction together with Circular No. 07 /2010/TT-BXD dated 28 /07/2010. This Regulation is revised and together with Circular No. 07 /2010/TT-BXD dated 28 /07/2010. This Regulation is revised and replaced Chapter 11, Part III, episode II, Vietnamese Construction Regulation issued together replaced Chapter 11, Part III, episode II, Vietnamese Construction Regulation issued together with Decision No. 439/BXD-CSXD of Minister of Construction on 25/9/1997.

(5)

VIETNAM BUILDING CODE ON FIRE SAFETY OF BUILDINGS

1. GENERAL REGULATIONS

1.1. Scope of application

1.1.1. This regulation prescribes general requirements of fire safety for rooms, houses and construction buildings (hereinafter referred to as building) and it is obligatory to apply it in all phases of new construction, renovation, repair or change of function; it also specifies classification of fire grades for houses, parts of house, rooms, building structures and building materials.

NOTE: The term "Fire Safety for houses, buildings" referred to section A.1 of Annex A.

1.1.2. Section 3, 4 and 5 of this regulation are not applied to building with particular function (production or storage of explosive substances and facilities, oil depots and oil products, natural gas, repository of toxic chemicals, military works, underground of subways, mining projects, ...).

1.1.3. Standards and requirements of fire prevention, fire protection of materials in construction standards must be based on the requirements of this regulation. Along with the application of this regulation, it must also comply with the specific requirements of fire prevention in other documents that are prescribed to each kind of house and building. When there is not standards specified as requirements of this regulation, it is allowed to use specific regulations in the current standards until such regulations are revised, as well as it it allowed to use current standards of foreign countries on the principle of ensuring the requirements of this regulation and the laws of Vietnam in the application of foreign standards on fire protection and application of foreign standards in construction activities in Vietnam.

In current standards related to fire prevention, fire protection for houses and buildings, if there are provisions, technical requirements with level of fire safety lower than the rules and requirements of this regulation, this regulation will be applied.

NOTE: The term "standard document" referred to Section A.11 of Annex A.

1.1.4. The design documentation and technical documentation of houses, structures, components and construction materials must show the technical characteristics of fire as specified in this Regulation.

1.1.5. When design and construction, in addition to meeting this regulation, it must also comply with the provisions in other documents related to fire prevention and other

(6)

requirements for public works such as planning, architecture, structure, water supply systems, electrical systems, electrical equipment, lightning protection, fuel systems, heating, ventilation systems, air conditioning, safe when using glass and avoiding falling, breaking.

1.1.6. For houses without fire prevention & fire protection standards, as well as houses of fire hazard group on the features F 1.3 (1) with a height greater than 75 m (2), houses of fire hazard group on the other features with a height greater than 50 m, houses with over one basement, especially complicated and unusual houses, it must comply with this regulation and also other additional technical requirements and solutions suitable to specific characteristics of fire prevention of theses houses on the basis of current applied standards. Theses requirements and solutions must be approved by authorized Police Department of fire and rescue.

1.1.7. In some particular cases, Ministry of Construction only allow to reduce some requirements of this regulation for specific projects, when a feasibility study is submitted to the Ministry of Construction with additional measures, replacement; and this feasibility study must be appraised and approved by the Police Department of fire fighting and rescue.

1.1.8. When there is a change of function or change of planning and structure of existing house or separate rooms of that house, it must apply this Regulation and current standard documents suitable to these changes.

1.1.9. For individual houses with 06 storeys or less, it is not required to apply this Regulation, but comply with specific guidance which is appropriate to each kind of houses and residential areas.

1.2. Application objects

Agencies, organizations and individuals involved in construction activities of civil and industrial building in Vietnam must obey provisions of this Regulation.

1.3. Definitions

The terms and definitions in this Regulation are set out in Annex A.

1.4. General regulations

1.4.1. For houses, design must include solutions of structure, planning of space and technical of buildings to ensure that when fire occurs:

- Everyone in the house (not dependent on age and health status) can be evacuated to outside into the safe areas (hereinafter referred to outside) before it happens risk of

(7)

life-threatening and health because of the dangerous elements of the fire; - It is possible to safe people;

- Forces and means of fire fighting can reach fire and implement fire fighting measures, rescue of persons and property

- Do not let the fire spread to the adjacent houses, even in the case of a collapsed burning house.

- To limit direct and indirect damages of material, including house and property inside the house, regard to economic correlation between losses and expenses for solutions and technical equipment for fire prevention.

1.4.2. During construction phase, it must ensure:

- To implement in priority measures of fire prevention following design complying with current standards and approved as prescribed;

- To perform requirements of fire prevention and fire fighting for works under construction, auxiliary works and fire prevention regulations during construction and installation according to the Law of current fire protection;

- To equip fire fighting facilities as prescribed and they must be available for use.

- Ability to safe escape and rescue, as well as a protection of property in case of fire in building under construction on site.

1.4.3. During utilization, it must:

- To retain structure, interior of house and availability of fire protection facilities following design requirements and its technical documentations.

- To perform regulations of fire protection under current law;

- Do not allow to change structure or solutions of planning of space and technical of building without approved design as prescribed;

- In case of repair, do not allow to use components and materials that do not meet requirements of current standards and regulations.

For houses with restrictions of fire load, in terms of number of people in the house or any part of house, it must put inside the house a notice of these restrictions at conspicuous places; house management department must establish measures of fire protection and evacuation in case of fire.

1.4.4. When analyzing a risk of fire, it can use scenarios that are calculated based on correlation between parameters: development and spread of dangerous elements of fire, evacuation of people and implement of fire fighting.

2. TECHNICAL CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE

2.1. General regulations

2.1.1. Houses, parts and components of houses, rooms, construction materials, construction structures are classified in terms of fire based on following natures:

(8)

- Fire hazard: nature arising and developing elements of fire hazard; - Fire resistance: nature against effects of the fire and prevention of spread of dangerous elements of the fire.

2.1.2. Classification of fire is sued for establishment of necessary requirements of fire protection of structures, rooms, houses, parts and components of houses depending on their fire resistance and / or their fire hazard.

2.2. Construction materials

2.2.1. In terms of fire safety, construction materials is characterized by fire hazard.

Fire hazard of construction materials is determined by technical characteristics of fire as follows:

Flammability, ignition, spread of fire on surface, ability of arising smoke and toxic.

2.2.2. According to combustibility, construction materials are classified into non-flammable materials and flammable materials. Flammable materials are classified in 4 groups: − Ch1 (slight combustion);

− Ch2 (moderate combustion);

− Ch3 (strong and moderate combustion); − Ch4 (deflagration).

Combustibility and groups of construction materials are determined in Annex B, Item B.2.

For non-flammable materials, it is not specified on fire hazard and other criteria.

2.2.3. According to combustibility, flammable materials are classified in 3 groups: − BC1 (difficult to burn);

− BC2 (medium flammable); − BC3 (strong flammable).

Materials with combustibility are determined in Annex B, Item B.3.

2.2.4. According to spread of fire on surface, flammable materials are classified in 4 groups: − LT1 (non - spreading);

− LT2 (weak spreading); − LT3 (moderate spreading); − LT4 (strong spreading).

(9)

Construction materials with spread of fire on surface are specified for surface materials of roof and floor, including carpet in Annex B, item B.4.

For other construction materials, it is not determined and specified classification of spread of fire on surface.

2.2.5. According to ability of arising smoke, flammable construction materials are classified in 3 groups:

− SK1 (low smoking ability); − SK2 (moderate smoking ability); − SK3 (high smoking ability).

Construction materials classified as smoking ability are determined in Annex B, item B.5.

2.2.6. According to toxicity of flammable products, flammable materials are classified in 4 groups:

− Đ_{T1 (low toxicity);} − Đ_{T2 (moderate toxicity);} − Đ_{T3 (high toxicity);}

− Đ_{T4 (extremely high toxicity).}

Construction materials classified as toxicity of flammable products are determined in Annex B, item B.6.

2.3. Construction structures

2.3.1. Construction structures are characterized by fire resistance and fire hazard.

Fire resistance of a structure is represented by its limit of fire resistance. Fire hazard of a structure is represented by its level of fire danger.

2.3.2. Limit of fire resistance of structure is determined by a period of time (in minute) since starting of fire test under standard temperature until an appearance of one or some continuous signs of limit state specified for structure as follows:

− Loss of load capacity (load capacity is symbolic by letter R); − Loss of integrity (integrity is symbolic by letter E);

− Loss of heat insulation capacity (heat insulation capacity is symbolic by letter I)

NOTE: 1) Fire resistance limit of construction structure is determined by fire test according to standards TCXDVN 342: 2005 to TCXDVN 348: 2005(1) or equivalent standards. Fire resistance limit of construction

(10)

structure can be determined by calculation following applied designed fire resistance standard.

2) Required fire resistance limit of structure is specifically prescribed in this Regulation and in technical standards for each type of project. Required fire resistance limit of structure is symbolic by REI, EI, RE or R together with corresponding time index affected by fire in minute. For example: structure with fire resistance limit REI 120 means that structure must retain 3 capacities: load, integrity, heat insulation during period of fire of 120 minutes; structure with fire resistance R60 means that structure must maintain load capacity during 60 minutes, heat insulation capacity and integrity are not required.

3) Construction structure is considered as meeting requirements of fire resistance if it is satisfied one of two following conditions:

a) Composition of structure with specification similar to test of fire resistance; and this test shows fire resistance limit not less than required fire resistance of this structure.

b) Composition of structure with specification suitable to structure mentioned in Annex F; and corresponding nominal fire limit in this Annex is not less than required fire limit of this structure.

2.3.3. According to fire hazard, construction structures are classified in 4 grades: − K0 (non risk of fire);

− K1 (low risk of fire); − K2 (moderate risk of fire); − K3 (fire danger).

NOTE: 1) Level of fire hazard of construction structure is determined by testing according to Vietnam's current standards or equivalent.

2) It is allowed to determine level of fire hazard of structure without testing as follows: + Level K0: if structure is composed of non-flammable material;

+ Level K1: if outer surface of structure is composed of material with specifications of fire less dangerous than Ch1, BC1, SK1;

+ Level K2: if outer surface of structure is composed of material with specifications of fire less dangerous than Ch2, BC2, SK2;

+ Level K3: if outer surface of structure is composed of material with only one of these specifications of fire less dangerous than Ch3, BC3, SK3;

2.4 Fire prevention

2.4.1 The fire prevention is used in order to stop fire and combustion products spread out from combustion chamber or a fire compartment to other ones.

The fire prevention is included fire prevention wall, fire partition, fire slab.

2.4.2 The fire prevention is specified by fire resistant of its parts, including: - Separation (partition, wall, slab …);

- Fixings of separation (frame, bracing …);

- Supports of separation (supported beam, frame, supporting wall…); - Connecting details;

Fire resistance limit in status of none bearing capacity (R) of the Fixings of separation, of Supports of separation and connecting details of them must not be lower than the required fire resistance limit of separation.

Fire hazard of fire prevention part is defined by the fire hazard of separation as well as the connection details and fixings of separation.

(11)

2.4.3 Fire prevention part must be separated according to fire resistance limit of separation as in Table 1. If the fire prevention parts have door, gate, cover, valve, window, curtain (hereby called door and fire valve in general), or if those doors have the separated chamber (called fire chamber), doors, fire valve and fire chamber must be the kinds that have the fire prevention ability in accordance to type of fire prevention part as stipulated in Table 1.

Fire resistance limit of doors and fire valves in fire prevention part is stipulated in Table 2.

Fire resistance limit of parts of fire chamber (partition, slab, door and fire valve) at doors and fire valve in fire prevention part must be accordance to regulations in Table 3.

Fire prevention part Type 1 must be belonged to fire hazard grade K0. In particular cases, it is allowed to use grade K1 in fire prevention parts type 2 to type 4:

Table 1 – Categorization the fire prevention parts

Fire prevention parts

Type of fire stop parts

Fire resistance limit of fire prevention parts, not less than

Type of door and fire valve in fire prevention parts,

not lower than

Type of fire chamber, not lower than Fire prevention wall 1 2 REI 150 REI 60 1 2 1 2 Fire prevention partition 1 2 EI 45 EI 15 2 3 1 2 Fire fighting floor 1 2 3 4 REI 150 REI 60 REI 45 REI 15 1 2 3 4 1 1 1 2

Table 2 – Fire resistance limit of door and fire valve in fire prevention parts

Door and fire valve in fire prevention parts

Type of door and fire valve in fire prevention parts,

Fire resistance limit, not less than

Door, gate, cover, valve 1 2

EI 70 EI 45*

(12)

3 EI 15 Window 1 2 3 E 70 E 45 E15 Curtain 1 EI 70

NOTE: * Fire resistance limit of door in lift opening is allowed to be not less than E 45.

Table 3 – Fire resistance limit of parts of fire chamber at door and fire valve in fire prevention parts

Fire resistance limit of parts of fire chamber, not less than Type of fire

chamber

Chamber walls Chamber floors Door and valve of chamber EI 45 REI 45 EI 30 1

2 EI 15 REI 15 EI 15

2.5 Lift and Staircase:

2.5.1 Lift and staircase used for exit are separated into following types: a) Types of staircase:

+ Type 1 – indoor staircase, located in staircase box; + Type 2 – indoor staircase, opened;

+ Type 3 – outdoor staircase, opened; Note: “opened” means not to put in staircase box.

b) Types of normal staircase boxes:

+ L1 – having door openings in every floor (opened or installed glass); + L2 – natural lighting from roof openings (opened or installed glass); c) Types of staircases that not be affected by smoke:

+ N1 – having the entrance to staircase box from each floor by traversing the outdoor clearance of opening walkway (this clearance is usually in loggia or balcony type). The walkway throughout this clearance is not affected by smoke.

+ N2 – having positive air pressure (air pressure in staircase box is higher than outside staircase) in the staircase box in case of combustion.

+ N3 – having the entrance to staircase box from each floor by traversing fire chamber of positive air pressure (the positive air pressure in fire chamber is regular or in case of combustion).

2.5.2 Fire escape that serves for fire fighting and rescue are classified into two following kinds: - P1 – Vertical staircase

(13)

- P2 – Step staircase with the inclination is not over 6:1 (not over 80 o)

2.6 Building, fire chamber, compartment

2.6.1 Building or parts of building that is separated by fire walls – class 1 (called fire chamber) is classified by fire-resistance grade, structural fire hazard grade and usage fire hazard group.

- Fire-resistance grade of building and fire chamber are defined by fire-resistance limit of their construction elements;

- Structural fire hazard grade of building and fire chamber are defined by participation degree of construction elements into the fire development and formation of hazard factors of flame.

- Usage fire hazard group of building and parts of building are defined by the purpose of use and feature of technological procedures that arranged inside them;

2.6.2 Building and fire chambers are classified by fire-resistance grade as Table 4.

Load-bearing parts of building include load-bearing columns and walls, struts, solid partitions; slab parts (beam, bar, plate) participated in the guarantee of general stability and shape non-variation of building in case of combustion.

Load-bearing elements that are not participated in the guarantee of general stability of building must be instructed in specification of building by the designer.

There is no regulation of fire resistance limit for sealed parts of clearance hole (doors, gates, windows, manholes, skylight), except doors, fire valve inside fire prevention parts and in particular cases.

In case of minimum fire resistance limit of required element is R 15 (RE 15, REI 15), it is allowed to use uncoated protection steel structure without depending on its actual fire resistance limit, except the cases when fire resistance limit of load-bearing parts of building according to test result is less than R 8.

In staircase boxes that are not affected by smoke – N1 type, staircase plates and landings are allowed to use with fire resistance R 15 and belongs to the fire hazard grade K0.

Table 4 – Fire resistance grade of building

Fire resistance limit of construction element, not less than Roof component

(without attic floor)

Staircase box Fire resistance grade of building Load-bearing part of building External wall non load-bearing Flooring between floors (include attic floor and floor Roof plate (including Truss, beam, purlin Internal wall of staircase Staircase plates and

(14)

above basement) insulating roof plate) box landings I R 150 E 30 REI 60 RE 30 R 30 REI 150 R 60 II R 120 E 15 REI 45 RE 15 R 15 REI 120 R 60 III R 90 E 15 REI 45 RE 15 R 15 REI 90 R 60 IV R 30 E 15 REI 15 RE 15 R 15 REI 30 R 15

V No regulation

NOTE: 1) Inside the buildings with fire resistance grade I, II, III, the floor and ceiling of the basement, half-basement must be made from non-flammable materials and has fire resistance limit at least 90 minutes. Flooring of 1st floor and top floor must be made from materials with combustibility not less than the Ch1.

2) In the buildings with fire resistance grade IV and V, the floor of basement or half basement must be made from materials with combustibility not less than the Ch1 and has fire resistance limit not less than 45 minutes.

3) In the rooms with the production or storage of flammable liquids, the floor must be non-flammable materials.

4) Walls, wall partition and floor of the lift box and machine room of lift located inside house of any fire resistance grade must be made from non-flammable materials with fire resistance limit not less than 60 minutes. If the lift is located outside, the fire resistance limit of stated parts not less than 30 minutes.

5) Wall, cover of the middle corridor of the house with fire resistance grade I, must be made from non-flammable materials with fire resistance limit at least 30 minutes and the house with fire resistance grade II, III and IV must be made from non-flammable materials or weak combustion (Ch1) with fire resistance limit at least 15 minutes. Particularly, the house with fire resistance grade II of production D, E class, can be covered up the corridor with glass walls.

2.6.3 According to the structural fire hazard, building and fire chambers that are classified by 4 grades S0, S1, S2, S3 as in Table 5 are called the structural fire hazard grade of building. There is no regulation of fire hazard for doors, gates, windows, manholes in cladding structures of building except particular cases.

(15)

Table 5 – Structural fire hazard grade of building

Structural fire hazard grade of construction element, not less than Structural fire hazard grade of building Load-bearing parts – bar form (column, bar, truss, etc…) External wall from outside Wall, partition, floor and roof without attic floor Wall of staircase box and fire prevention parts Staircase plates and landings in staircase box S0 K0 K0 K0 K0 K0 S1 K1 K2 K1 K0 K0 S2 K3 K3 K2 K1 K1 S3 No regulation K1 K3

2.6.4 When applied to actual construction of structures or structural system without defining their fire resistance limit or fire hazard grade based on standard fire resistance tests or based on calculation, it is necessary to carry out the fire resistance test for samples similar to real structure of those parts as requirement of current regulation on fire resistance test.

2.6.5 Building and parts of building (rooms or group of rooms with relevant usages) are classified by usage fire hazard groups depending on the feature of use, the threat level to safety of people in case of happening flame that allow for: age, physical condition, the ability of having persons to sleep, groups of users on the main functions and the number of that group. Categorization of usage fire hazard is stipulated in Table 6.

Building and room used for production or storage are classified by fire and detonating combustion hazard depending on the number and detonating combustion hazardous nature of substances and materials contained inside, allow for feature of productive technological procedure. The classification is stipulated in Annex C.

Production compartments and storage compartments, including laboratories and factories in buildings of group F 1, F 2, F 3 and F 4, will be arranged in group F 5.

Table 6 – Categorization of building based on usage fire hazard

Group Purpose of use Feature of use

(1) (2) (3)

F1 House for living regularly or temporarily (in which living all day and night)

F1.1

Kindergarten, nursery school, function house for senior citizen and handicapped people (not apartment), hospital, block of houses of boarding schools and of schools

Rooms in this building are usually used for both day and night. Group of people which can include a lot of ages and different physical condition. Characteristic of these buildings are included the bedroom.

(16)

for children;

F.1.2

Hotels, hostels, block of houses of nursing establishment and general accommodation, from campsites, motels and nursing homes; F.1.3 House with a lot of flats (Apartments)

F.1.4

House with a separated apartment including houses with semi-detached apartments and each apartment has its own way out.

F2 Mass sport-culture buildings

Main rooms in this building are specified by a large number of visitors stay in the certain time.

F.2.1

Theatres, cinemas, concert halls, clubs, circuses, sport works with stand, libraries and other projects have calculated the number of seats for guests in the closed rooms;

F.2.2

Museums, exhibitions, dance rooms and other similar establishments in the closed rooms;

F.2.3 The establishments are mentioned in Section F.2.1, open to outdoor;

F.2.4 The establishments are mentioned in Section F.2.2, open to outdoor;

F3 Residential service establishments

The rooms of these establishments are specified by a large number of visitors are greater than service staffs.

F.3.1 Sale establishments;

F.3.2 Public catering establishments; F.3.3 Railway Stations;

F.3.4 General practice clinics and emergency;

F.3.5

Rooms for guests of life and public service establishments where the number of seats for guests not be calculated (post office, saving fund, ticket office, a legal advice

(17)

office, notary office, laundry shop, the garment, shoe and clothing repair shop, barber shop, funeral service establishment, religious establishment and similar institutions);

F.3.6

The physical training complexes and sport practice areas without stand; The service rooms; Bathroom;

F4 Schools, designing and science organizations, management agencies.

Rooms in these buildings are used for the certain times in a day, there is fixed group of people inside rooms, acquainted with condition in place with defined age and physical condition. F.4.1 High schools, training institutions outside

the high schools, professional schools, vocational schools;

F.4.2 Universities, colleges, professional improvement training schools;

F.4.3 Establishments of management agencies, designing organizations, information and publishing house organizations, scientific research organizations, banks, agencies and offices;

F.4.4 Stations (teams) of fire fighting and rescue salvage.

F5 Buildings, works, rooms used for production or warehouse.

These rooms are specified by the presence of group of people that work fixedly, include working all day and night.

F.5.1 Buildings and production works, production and testing compartments, workshop;

F.5.2 Buildings and warehouse works, car parking without technical service and repair, book store, storage, and storage rooms;

(18)

3. ENSURING THE SAFETY FOR PEOPLE

3.1. General regulation

3.1.1. The requirements of this section in order to ensure: - Timely and unobstructed escape for people.

- Rescuing the people to be effected by the hazardous factors of fire.

- Protecting people on the way to escape, avoiding the people to be effected by the hazardous factors of flame.

3.1.2. Escape is the organized self-moved process of people to go out from the rooms, where the hazardous factors of flame may impact on them. Escape is also the lost self-control movement of group who is less likely to mobilize and carried out by the service staffs. Escape is executed on the exit routes through by the escape exits.

3.1.3. Rescue is the compelled movement of people to go out when they are affected by the hazardous factors or when appearing the direct hazard of these effects. Rescue is executed self-control with the supporting of the fire fighting forces or the staffs are trained professionally, including the use of the rescue means, escape through by the exits and the emergency exits.

3.1.4. The people protection on the escape routes must be ensured by a combination of the space planning solutions, facilities, structures, engineering technique and organization. Escape routes within the room must ensure the safe escape through the escape exit from that room without allowing for the smoke protection and fire-fighting means in this room. Outside the room, we must allow for the protection of the escape routes from the safe escape conditions for people that is mentioned to the usage fire hazard of the rooms on the way out to escape, number of people escape, fire resistance grade and structural fire hazard grade of the building, number of exits from a floor and escape from the entire house.

Inside the room and on the escape route outside the room, it must limit the fire hazard of construction materials of the structure surface layers (finishing layer and facing) depending on the usage re hazard of the room and house, allow for the other solutions for the protection of the escape routes.

3.1.5. When arranging the escape routes from the room and the house, it is not allowed for the methods and means to rescue, as well as the exits do not meet the requirement of the escape exit as specified in Section 3.2.1.

(19)

3.1.6. Do not allow to arrange the rooms belong to class A or class B of group F 5 below the rooms which have presence of more than 50 people at the same time, as well as in the basement or half-basement.

Do not allow to arrange the room belong to group F 1.1, F 1.2 and F 1.3 in the basement or half-basement.

NOTE: 1) Basement is the floor which over the half of its height is under the ground level of the construction according to the approved Urbanism planning.

2) Half-basement is the floor which the half of its height is upper or horizontal the ground level of the construction according to the approved Urbanism planning.

3.1.7. To ensure the safe escape, it must discover the fire and fire alarm in time. Building and parts of building must be equipped with the fire alarm systems according to the current regulations.

NOTE: The basis requirements about the fire alarm system arrangement are stipulated in TCVN 3890: 2009.

3.1.8. To protect the escape for people, the escape routes of the house or the part of the house must be protected against the penetration of smoke.

NOTE: The basis requirements about the smoke protection of the house are stipulated in Annex D.

3.1.9. The effect of measures to ensure the safety for people while fire can be assessed by calculation.

3.2. The escape exit and emergency exit

3.2.1. The exits are considered the escape exits (also called the escape routes) if:

a) To be connected from the rooms of 1st floor to go out according to one of following methods:

- To go out directly; - To corridor;

- To entrance (or waiting room); - To staircase;

- To corridor and entrance (or waiting room); - To corridor and staircase;

b) Starting from rooms of any levels, except level 1, into one of the following places: - Directly to the walking staircase or the walking staircase class 3;

- Into corridor or directly to the walking staircase cage or walking staircase class 3;

(20)

c) Leading to the adjacent room (Except room of group F5 class A or B) on the same level from which there are exits as shown at a) and b). Exits into room class A or B are considered to be emergency exits if they start from technical local without place for frequently working people but which is only used to serve rooms of class A or B as said above.

3.2.2. Exits from the basement and half-basement are emergency exits when they lead directly outside and are separate from the common walking staircase of the building.

It is allowable to arrange:

− The emergency exits from the basement through common walking staircase cages which have private walk way to outside separated from the remainder of the walking staircase by using fire-rated solid partition class 1;

− The emergency exits from the basement and half-basement which have rooms of class C, D, E, going into rooms of class C4, D and E and going into the hall on level 1 of the group F5 when satisfying the requests of 4.24;

− Emergency exits from the waiting room, locker-room, smoking room and sanitary rooms on the basement or half-basement of building group F2, F3, and F4 going into the hall of level 1 through private walking staircase class 2;

− Intermediate space, including double intermediate space on the direct exit way from the house, from the basement and half-basement.

3.2.3. Exits are not considered as emergency exits if at these exits entrance doors or gates having sliding or folded up wings, rolling shutter, rotating shutter are installed.

Doors having outside opening wings (Hinged doors) as listed above are considered as emergency exits.

3.2.4.The quantity and width of emergency exits from rooms, levels and houses are calculated accordingly to the max number of exit people which could get through of them and the permitted limit distance from the farthest point which may have people (Activities, working place) to the nearest emergency exit.

NOTE: 1) The max number of exit people from various spaces of the building or building part is calculated accordingly to the appendix G, article G.3;

2) Apart from common requests as shown in this Code, the quantity and emergency exit width are shown in the Technical Code applied for each class of construction. Appendix G shows some regulations for some popular groups of houses.

Parts of houses which are in risk of fire according to various functions and separated by fire-stopping components have to have private emergency exits.

3.2.5. The following rooms have to have not fewer than 2 emergency exits: − Rooms of group F 1.1 having at the same time over 10 people;

(21)

− Rooms in the basement and half basement having at the same time over 15 people; except rooms in the basement and half basement having from 6 to 15 people at the same time, then one of two exits has to respect requests shown in 3.2.13d;

− Rooms having at the same time over 50 people;

− Rooms of group F5 class A or B having people working in the most crowded shift over 5 people, class C – over 25 people or having a surface over 1.000 m2;

− Open working platform or platforms used for maintenance staffs in rooms belonging to class F5 having a surface over 100 m2 – To rooms belonging to class A and B or having a surface over 400 m2 – To rooms belonging to other classes.

Rooms of group F1.3 (Apartment) arranged on both floors (2 levels – which are usually called 2-storey apartment), when the higher storey height is over 18m then it is asked to have emergency exits for each storey.

3.2.6. Storeys belonging to following groups have to have not fewer than 2 emergency exits: − F 1.1; F 1.2; F 2.1; F 2.2; F 3; F 4;

− F 1.3 when the total surface of apartments on one storey is over 500 m2 (To single house this surface is that of one storey of the single house). In case the total surface is less than 500 m2 and when there is only 1 emergency exit from each level, then with each apartment at the height of over 15m, apart from the emergency exit it is asked to have an urgent exit following 3.2.13;

− F 5, class A or B when the number of people working in the most crowded shift is over 5 people, class C when the number of people working in the most crowded shift is over 25 people.

Basement and half basement have to have nor fewer than 2 emergency exits when the surface is over 300 m2 or when there are 25 people present at the same time.

In houses having height not higher than 15m, it is allowable to have one emergency exit from each floor (Or from one part of the floor separated from other parts of the floor by fire-stopping components) which has fire risk according to function F 1.2, F 3, F 4.3 having surface over 300 m2, with the number of people not over 20 people and when the emergency exit entering into the walking staircase which has fire-rated door of class 2 (Table 2).

3.2.7. The number of emergency exits from one level is not fewer than 2 of this level has rooms whose request on the number of emergency exits is not fewer than 2.

The number of emergency exits of a house is not fewer than the number of emergency exits from any levels of that house.

3.2.8 When there are 2 emergency exits or over, they have to be distributed (Except exit way from corridors into smoke uncontaminated walking staircase). Min distance L(m)

(22)

between farthest emergency exits (This one to another) is calculated accordingly to the formula:

- For exit way from rooms: L ≥_1,50

- For exit way from corridors: L ≥_0,33 In which:

P – Room perimeter, m;

n – Number of emergency exit; D – Corridor length, m.

If in the room, on the level or in the house which has 2 emergency exits or over, then in calculation regarding to exit capacity of exit ways it is need to assume that the fire stops people using those exit ways. The remaining exit ways have to make sure a safe emergency exit for all people in rooms, on the level or in that house.

3.2.9 Clear height of emergency exit must not smaller than 1,9m , clear width will not be smaller than :

+ 1,2 m – from rooms belonging to group F 1.1 when exit people is over than 15 people, from rooms and houses belonging to fire risk group of other function which have exit people over 50 people , except group F 1.3;

+ 0,8m – For all other cases.

The external doors width of the walking staircase as well as all doors from the walking staircase into hall will not smaller than the calculation value or the width value of stairs slab specified in 3.4.1.

In all cases, when deciding the width of an emergency exit it is asked to take into account of the geometry shape of the exit way through door or door opening in order not to disturb the movement of stretcher on which there is man.

3.2.10 Doors of emergency exits and other doors on the exit way have to open along the exit flux from inside to outside.

There is no regulation on opening direction for: a) Rooms belonging to group F1.3 and 1.4;

b) Rooms containing at the same time not over 15 people, except rooms of class A or B; c) Storages having surface not over than 200 m2 and there is no place for people

working frequently; d) Sanitary rooms;

e) Exit way leading to standing of walking staircase class 3.

3.2.11 Doors of emergency exits from level corridors, common space, waiting room, hall and walking staircase chamber must not equipped with locks so that they could be easily

(23)

open from inside without key. In building having height over 15m, door wings as said above, except apartment doors, have to be solid or in temper glazing.

For staircase chambers, entrance doors have to be equipped with door closers and door gaps have to be well sealed .Door inside walking staircase chamber, which are directly open to the outside, are not in need of door closers and it is no need to well door gaps. Doors of emergency exits from rooms or corridors have to be anti- enforced smoke, they have to be solid doors and equipped with door closers and doors gaps have to be well sealed. These doors which may be open for service, then they have to be equipped with door closers in prevention of fire.

3.2.12 Exits which do not satisfy requests applied for emergency exits could be considered as urgent exits in order to increase safety level for people in case of fire. Urgent exits are not taken into account of emergency exit in case of fire.

3.2.13 Apart from cases as shown in 3.2.12, urgent exits also includes:

a) Exits to balcony or loggia, where there is solid wall whose width is not smaller 1.2m from the balcony edge ( Loggia) to window ( Or glazing door) or not smaller than 1.6m between glazing panels opening to balcony (( Loggia);

b) Exits leading to an intermediate open walk way( Crossing Bridge ) and then to an adjacent single house belonging to group F1.3 or to an adjacent fire compartment .This intermediate walk way has to be not smaller 0.6 m in width;

c) Exits to balcony or loggia, where there is an outside staircase connecting balconies or Loggias of each level;

d) Exits to outside directly from rooms which have finish floor level not smaller than -4.5m and not bigger than 5.0m through windows or doors having size not smaller than 0.75m x 1.5m, also through trap doors having size not smaller than 0.6m x 0.8m; In that case at these exits there have to be ladders, slope of these ladders are not specified;

e) Exits outside house roof which have fire rate of I, II and III belonging to SO and SI through windows, doors or trap doors with dimension and ladders specified in article d).

3.2.14 In technical levels it is allowable to arrange emergency exits with their heights not smaller than 1.8m;

From technical levels in which they are only used for construction technical networks (Piping, wirings,..) it is allowable to arrange urgent exits through doors with dimension not smaller than 0.75m x 1.5m or through trap doors with dimension not smaller than 0.6m x 0.8m but no need to arrange emergency exits.

When the technical levels have their surface up to 300m2 it is allowable to arrange one exit, and with each next surface which is smaller than 2.000m2 then it is asked to arrange not fewer than one exit.

In underground technical levels these exits have to be separated from other exits of the building and directly led to the outside.

QCVN 06-2010_Eng Version_For Fire Safety

VIETNAMESE CODE 06: 2010/BXD

VIETNAMESE CODE 06: 2010/BXD

VIETNAM BUILDING CODE ON FIRE

VIETNAM BUILDING CODE ON FIRE

SAFETY OF BUILDINGS

SAFETY OF BUILDINGS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREAMBLE

PREAMBLE

VIETNAM BUILDING CODE ON FIRE SAFETY OF BUILDINGS

1. GENERAL REGULATIONS

2. TECHNICAL CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE

3. ENSURING THE SAFETY FOR PEOPLE