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IS 10459:1982 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for fire safety of high-rise residential buildings. This standard provides guidelines for fire prevention, life safety, and fire protection for high-rise residential buildings (over 15m in height). It covers requirements for means of egress, fire detection and suppression systems, and smoke control to ensure occupant safety during a fire.
Provided specific fire safety requirements for the design and construction of high-rise residential buildings (superseded by NBC 2016 Part 4).
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! This code is officially withdrawn by BIS. Always refer to the latest version of the National Building Code of India (NBC), Part 4 'Fire and Life Safety' and local fire authority bye-laws for current compliance.
! The 15m height threshold for a building to be classified as 'high-rise' is a fundamental concept from this code that is still widely used in many municipal regulations.
! Although withdrawn, it serves as a historical reference for understanding the evolution of fire safety norms in India for high-rise construction.
fire resistant materialsfire doorsfire extinguisherssprinklershydrants
International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
NFPA 101: 2024National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), USA
HighCurrent
Life Safety Code
Provides comprehensive life safety requirements for various occupancies, including new and existing high-rise apartment buildings.
IBC 2021International Code Council (ICC), USA
HighCurrent
International Building Code
Sets minimum building safety requirements, with specific provisions for high-rise buildings in Chapter 4 covering fire protection and egress.
Approved Document B, Volume 1: 2019 (with 2022 amendments)Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), UK
HighCurrent
Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings
Provides practical guidance on meeting fire safety regulations for dwellings in England, including high-rise apartment blocks ('flats').
NCC 2022Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), Australia
MediumCurrent
National Construction Code Volume One
Details fire safety design and construction requirements for multi-residential buildings (Class 2), including specific high-rise provisions.
Key Differences
≠IS 10459:1982 defines a high-rise building at a much lower threshold (15m or approx. 50ft) compared to the IBC/NFPA 101 standard of 75ft (approx. 23m), triggering high-rise requirements sooner.
≠Automatic sprinkler systems are generally recommended as a 'desirable' measure in IS 10459:1982, whereas modern codes like NFPA 101 and the IBC mandate them throughout new high-rise buildings.
≠IS 10459:1982 has very limited guidance on the fire performance of external wall assemblies and cladding. Post-Grenfell, international codes (e.g., Approved Document B, IBC) have extremely stringent, prescriptive requirements and testing protocols (like NFPA 285) for exterior wall combustibility.
≠While IS 10459 recommends a public address system, modern codes like NFPA 101 and IBC mandate sophisticated, survivable two-way Firefighter's Communication Systems and/or Emergency Voice/Alarm Communication Systems (EVACS) with specific functionalities.
Key Similarities
≈All standards are fundamentally based on the principle of compartmentation, requiring floors, walls, and doors to have specific fire-resistance ratings to contain fire spread.
≈The requirement for a minimum of two independent and remote means of egress (staircases) for high-rise buildings is a common principle across all compared standards to ensure redundant escape routes.
≈All codes emphasize the protection of escape routes, mandating that staircases be enclosed in fire-resistant construction and fitted with fire-rated doors to maintain a safe path of travel.
≈The provision of standpipe systems (called Wet/Dry Risers in IS 10459) for firefighting use by the fire service is a common requirement in all standards for high-rise buildings.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
High-Rise Building Definition Threshold
15 m height
Building with an occupied floor more than 75 feet (22.9 m) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
IBC 2021
Sprinkler System Requirement (New High-Rise Residential)
Recommended, not mandatory for all cases.
Mandatory. An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the building.
NFPA 101: 2024 (Chapter 30.3.5.1)
Staircase Pressurization Requirement
Recommended for buildings of 15m height and above.
Mandatory for interior exit stairways in high-rise buildings (requires smokeproof enclosures).
IBC 2021 (Section 403.5.4)
Fire Resistance of Stair Enclosure
2 hours
2 hours (for buildings greater than 4 stories or 30 feet)
IBC 2021 (Table 601)
Fire Command Centre
A fire control room is recommended at the entrance floor.
A mandatory Fire Command Centre with specified controls, layout, and survivability is required.
IBC 2021 (Section 403.4.6)
Combustibility of External Wall Cladding
No specific regulation on combustibility; focuses on structural fire resistance.
Strictly regulated. Requires non-combustible materials or assemblies that have passed large-scale fire tests (e.g., BS 8414 in UK, NFPA 285 in USA).
Approved Document B, Vol 1 / IBC 2021
Emergency Power for Life Safety Systems
Recommends a separate power source for fire pumps and lifts.
Mandatory standby or emergency power system required, often from an on-site generator, with specific load requirements and protection.
NFPA 101 (references NFPA 110/111)
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
High-rise building definition height15 m or more
Mandatory sprinkler system trigger height60 m
Minimum number of staircases2
Terrace tank static water storage for firefighting20,000 litres
Portable fire extinguisher provisionOne 9-litre extinguisher per 100 m² of floor area
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Clause 3 - General Requirements (Defines High-Rise Building)
Clause 4 - Life Safety (Egress, Staircases, Corridors)
Clause 5 - Fire Protection (Extinguishers, Risers, Sprinklers)