PART VII Exit Requirements of Buildings In this Chapter unless the context otherwise requires, -
(a) "exit" means a passage, channel or means of access from any building, storey’s or floor area to a street or other open space of safety and includes a vertical exit or a horizontal exit or an outside exit.
(i) “vertical exit” means an exit used for ascension or descension between two or more levels including stairways smoke proof, ramps, lifts, escalators and fire escapes,
(ii) “horizontal exit” means a protected opening through or around a fire wall or a bridge connecting two buildings,
(iii) outside exit” means an exit from the building to a street or to an open area leading to a street or to an enclosed fire resistive passage leading to a street;
(b) “travel distance” means the distance from the exit of any premises on a floor of a building to a place of safety, be it a vertical exit, a horizontal exit or an outside exit, measured along the line of travel.
Fire protection.- Every building of more than 12.50 meter height and/or having covered area of more than 500 sqm shall be provided with adequate means of exit and all arrangement for protection in case of fire in accordance with the provisions contained in the latest version of National Building Code.
General exit requirements.-
(1) The following general requirements shall apply to exit:-
(a)
(b) (C)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(9)
(h) all exits shall be free from obstructions;
no building shall be altered so as to reduce the number , with or protection of exits to less than what is required under these rules;
exits shall be clearly visible and routes to reach each exit shall be clearly marked;
all exits shall be properly illuminated;
fire-fighting equipments shall, where provided along exits, be suitably located and clearly marked so as not to obstruct the exit way and there shall be clear indication from either side of the exit;
alarm devices shall be installed to ensure prompt evacuation through exits;
all exits shall provide continuous means of access to the exterior of a building or to an exterior open leading to a street or means of access;
exits shall be so arranged that they may be reached without passing through another occupancy unit, except in the case of a building for residential and educational uses.
(2) An exit may be a door-way, corridor, passage way to staircase, ramp or a verandah or terrace which has access to the street or to the roof of a building. An exit may also include a horizontal exit leading to building at the same level.
(3) Lifts and escalators shall not be considered as exits.
(4) All basements shall have a minimum of 2(two) exits.
Explanation — Ramps to the basement shall be considered as exits.
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