This code provides a systematic methodology for evaluating and upgrading fire safety in existing buildings. It establishes criteria for life safety, means of egress, and fire protection systems to bring older structures to an acceptable level of safety.
Offers guidelines for assessing and improving fire safety in existing buildings, including retrofitting and renovation considerations.
Quick Reference Values
Minimum fire resistance for exit staircase enclosure2 hours
Minimum width of staircase for assembly buildings2.0 m
Minimum width of staircase for residential/business buildings1.0 m
Maximum travel distance for unsprinklered educational building22.5 m
Occupant load factor for office areas10 m²/person
Minimum fire resistance for a fire door in a 2-hour rated wall120 min
Key Formulas
Occupant Load = Floor Area / Occupant Load Factor (from Table 2)
Practical Notes
This standard is specifically for retrofitting and conducting fire safety audits of existing buildings, not for the design of new construction, which is governed by the National Building Code (NBC).
The core of this code is the assessment methodology in Clause 5, which provides a scoring system to quantify the level of fire safety and identify areas for improvement.
A key objective is ensuring adequate and safe escape routes (means of egress) for occupants, which often requires significant upgrades in older buildings.