Chapter-7 fire protection and fire safety requirements

7.11 BASEMENT
 
As provided in Chapter- 3 and Building Bye-Laws 4.5.5
Model Building-Bye-laws 
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Chapter-7 Fire Protection and Fire Safety Requirements
7.11.1 Requirements 
i) 
The access to the basement shall be either from the main or alternate staircase 
providing access and exit from higher floors. Where the staircase is continue 
the same shall be enclosed type serving as a fire separation from the basement 
floor and higher floors. Open ramps shall be permitted if they are constructed 
within the building line subject to the provision of the (iv).
ii) 
In case of basement for office, sufficient number of exit ways and access ways 
shall be provided with a travel distance not more than 15.0 m. The travel 
distance in case of dead-end shall be 7.5 m.
iii) 
The basement shall be partitioned and in no case compartment shall be more 
than 500 sq m. and less than 50 sq m. area except parking. Each compartment 
shall have ventilation standards as laid down in Bye-Laws separately and 
independently. The partition shall be made in consultation with Chief Fire 
Officer.
iv) The first basement (immediately below ground level) can be used for 
services/parking/other permissible services. Lower basement, if provided, 
shall exclusively be used for car parking only.
v) 
Each basement shall be separately ventilated. Vents with cross-sectional area 
(aggregate) not less than 2.5 percent of the floor area spread evenly round the 
perimeter of the basement shall be provided in the form of grills or breakable 
starboard lights or pavement lights or by way of shafts. Alternatively a system 
of air inlets shall be provided at basement floor level and smoke outlets at 
basement ceiling level. Inlets and extracts may be terminated at ground level 
with starboard or pavement lights as before. But ducts to convey fresh air to 
the basement floor level have to be laid. Starboard and pavement lights should 
be in positions easily accessible to the firemen and clearly marked "SMOKE 
OUTLET" or AIR INLET" with an indication of area served at or near the 
opening.
vi) 
The staircase of basement shall be of enclosed type having fire resistance of 
not less than two hours and shall be situated at the periphery of the basement 
to be entered at ground level only from the open air and in such positions that