UNDERSTANDING THE 6th SCHEDULE

EXTERNAL FIRE SPREAD:

CONTROL OF BUILDING
SEPERATION AND
BOUNDARY DISTANCE

Research By Ar Ridha
AR RIDHA RAZAK
CURRENT POSITION
CHAIRMAN OF ACYA 2019-2020

EDUCATION
• B.Arch RMIT ,BAC Dip Int Arb, & Cert Const Law,
KLRCA Adjudicator , PSMB TTT, SIRIM Trained in ISO
9001, 14001, 18001, QLASSIC, GBI, IATSS FORUM

ASSOSIATION MEMBERS
• LAM, MIID, MIARB, PSMB, IFE ,MGBC, MIP, MCOBA,
MIFA

PROFESSION
• Architect, GBIF, Adjudicator, Trainer, FGDCP
Researcher, Creative community Planner, CIDB FB
Content Writer, Construction Legal Adviser

COMPANIES
• Partner of ABRAZ ARKITEK / ARN CONSULTING/
SEETIZEN LAB
 WORSE SKYSCRAPER FIRE
1900
Asch Building Fire
Year: March 25, 1911
Location: New York City,
USA
Deaths: The fire killed 146
garment workers.
Cause:The fire started on the
top three floors of the 10 floor
Asch Building, now known as
the Brown Building The Fire
Marshal concluded that the
likely cause was the disposal
of an unextinguished match or
cigarette butt in the scrap bin..
Winecoff Hotel Fire
Year: December 7, 1946
Location: Atlanta, USA
Deaths: 119 hotel occupants,
including the hotel’s owners.
The fire was also notable for
the number of victims who
jumped to their deaths
Cause: The fire’s point of
origin was on the third floor in
which a mattress and chair had
been temporarily placed in the
corridor. One theory implies
that a dropped cigarette could
have ignited the mattress or
other combustibles in the
corridor.
Source :
http://www.staylegal.net/10-
worst-skyscraper-fires/
1950
Joelma 25 Storey Building Fire
Year: February 1, 1974
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
Deaths: The death toll estimates 179 to 189
Cause: A short-circuit in a faulty air-
conditioner on the 11th floor ignited the fire
and the large amount of combustible
materials, including paper, plastics, electrical
equipment and wooden walls and furniture,
contributed to the fire spreading rapidly
Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire
(now San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris
Casino)
Year: New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1986
Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Deaths: 98 lives and caused 140 injuries
Cause: Arson was the cause of the fire. The
fire was set by three disgruntled employees of
the hotel who were in the midst of a labor
dispute with the owners of the hotel.
. Location: New York City, USA
Garley Commercial Building
Fire
(16 Storey)
Year: 20th November 1996
Location: Hong Kong, China
Casualties: 41 lives and 81 injuries
Cause: Garley Building was undergoing
internal renovation where welding work was
revealed to be the cause of the blaze.
2000
28 Storey high-rise
apartment block Fire
Year: 15th November 2010
Location: Shanghai, China
Casualties: 58 Death and 70
Injured
Cause: Resulting investigations
discovered the cause of the blaze
was from sparks of welding work
being carried out on the building.
The sparks had ignited scaffolding
surrounding the skyscraper. The
welders were unlicensed.
World Trade Center
Fire
Year: September 11 2001
Casualties: 2,752 people died,
including all 157 passengers and
hijackers and crew aboard the two
air planes.
Cause: Towers of the World
Trade Center in New York City
were hit by jet airliners hijacked by
terrorists. Both towers collapsed
from the damage and fires caused
by the air planes.
 HOW DO FIRE SPREAD INSIDE A BUILDING?

Source : BRE Fire Conference , Richard Chitty, BRE Global

IS THERE POTENTIAL FIRE SPREAD BETWEEN
BUIDING?
 FIRE SPREAD OUTSIDE BUILDING?
The spread of fire from a burning building to an adjoining building can occur in a
number of different ways. It has been found that some ways, or a combination of
ways, are more common and often more hazardous than others.

1. Conduction-
through
material heat up

2. Convection- Convection
through thermal
air current

3. Radiation-
through ignition Radiation
from radiation
source
Conduction

Source : BRE Fire Conference , Richard Chitty, BRE Global

Fire Spread between building depend on:

• the size and intensity of the

fire in the building
concerned
• the risk it presents to people
in the other building(s)
• the distance between the
buildings, and
• the fire protection given by
their facing sides

Source : EXTERNAL FIRE SPREAD TO ADJOINING BUILDINGS - A review of fire safety design guidance and related Research by
Emil Carlsson
 THE GREAT LONDON FIRE 1666
TRAGEDY

Started at a baker shop, Extend 4 days, destroyed 373 acres of

the city, including more than 13,000 houses and 84 churches
as well as St Paul’s Cathedral and much of London Bridge

The fire spread rapidly across the city due to the flammable
wood and pitch construction of the houses at this time.

Additionally, the placement of the buildings meant that there

was insufficient building separation and so the fire spread
more quickly from building to building.

After Math
The aftermath of the fire resulted in rules which were
drawn up during the redesign of the city.

It prompted the introduction of controls relating to the way in

which buildings were constructed and laid out, i.e.
• controlled street widths,
• limitations of window sizes and
• external walls constructed of fire resistant construction
e.g. brick and stone.
map, completed in 1677, shows the remains of the city after the Great Fire

Source : LAWRENCE WEBSTER FOREST – Commentary on External Fire Spread | Building Separation Distance Part One -- Prescriptive Guidance
 DURING WORLD WAR

Source : BRE Fire Conference , Richard Chitty, BRE Global

 WHAT RELATED LAW INTRODUCED?
Related laws are made
1. to external wall fire resistance requirement
2. to limit external surface of walls to ignition and to fire spread
3. to limit the extent of openings and other unprotected areas in external walls
to reduce the risk of fire spread by radiation.

Source : EXTERNAL FIRE SPREAD TO ADJOINING BUILDINGS - A review of fire safety design guidance and related Research by Emil Carlsson
 PRESENT TIMES
At the present, there is no internationally accepted method to design against external fire
spread between buildings.

National Building Codes are generally based on:

1. prescriptive provisions and generally no background is given on how the provisions

have been obtained.

2. Where engineering methods can be used, i.e. in a performance based Building Code
environment, the guidance is not globally consistent.

Margaret Law
 WORLD STANDARDS
Country World Reference
Australia Building Code of Australia (BCA 1996)
Canada National Building Code of Canada
England/ Wales Margaret Law Fire research technical paper 5 1963, Gordon Langdon-Thomas and
Margaret Law Fire Note no 8 1966,
Building Standard Scottish Regulation 1963,
Building Regulations 1991, Part B of Schedule 1, BRE Report BR 187 1991 & 2014
New Zealand New Zealand Building Code – Guideline Acceptable Solutions
Sweden Swedish design guide
Ireland Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland Guide - Section B4 External Fire Spread
USA National Building Code (BOCA 1996), the Uniform Building
Code (1994) and the Standard Building Code (1997).
NFPA 80A Recommended Practice for Protection of Buildings from Exterior Fire Exposures.
South Africa SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD
The application of the National Building Regulations
Part T: Fire protection Annex D
Malaysia UBBL Schedule 6
Singapore Chapter 3 STRUCTURAL FIRE PRECAUTIONS APPENDIX ‘B’ TO CL.3.5

Source : EXTERNAL FIRE SPREAD TO ADJOINING BUILDINGS - A review of fire safety design guidance and related
Research by Emil Carlsson
 5 METHODS OF DETERMINING SEPARATION DISTANCES BETWEEN
BUILDINGS & THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE AMOUNT UNPROTECTED AREAS

Calculation method Description

Enclosing rectangles The method determine the boundary distance based on rectangles that enclose unprotected areas
in the façade.
Aggregate notional In this method, a number of points on the relevant boundary are chosen and the amount of
areas unprotected areas that are visible from the point is calculated
Peter Collier This method is presented in Collier (1996) and allows the user to specify the fire intensity depending
on the actual building and its properties.
C.R. Barnett This method by Barnett (1988) can be used in the design process of new buildings and to check
critical situations for existing buildings. The method does not rely on the use of water or the
intervention by the fire brigade and can be linked to the fire resistance rating of the building.
Williams-Leir This method by Williams-Leir presents a way to determine safe separation distances between
buildings where the results always are conservative. The method takes into account for a flame
projection of 3 ft (1 m) out from the windows.
NFPA 80A The scope of NFPA 80A 1996 is to protect combustible material on the outside as well as the inside
of a building exposed to an external fire source. The document is intended as a guide for assurance
of property protection of buildings exposed to an external fire.

Source : EXTERNAL FIRE SPREAD TO ADJOINING BUILDINGS - A review of fire safety design guidance and related
Research by Emil Carlsson
 MALAYSIA EXTERNAL FIRE SPREAD
MEASURES?

Prescriptive Code
UBBL Sixth Schedule – By-Laws 142-146 seek to
establish a safe separation between buildings from fire risk
standpoint
 WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE USE FOR?

Sche Description USE

dule
5 Designation of purpose groups To define the classification of building

Dimension of buildings and compartments Define the limits of area and volume of building

6 Calculation of permitted limits of unprotected areas To protect the spreading of fire to other building

7 Maximum travel distance Limit of travel distance,

Calculation of occupant load and capacity exits Define occupancy load and capacity exits of building

8 Classification of restriction of spread of flame over Material resistance for wall and ceiling
surface of walls and ceilings
Notional designation of roof constructions Roof resistance

9 Limits of compartments and minimum periods of Structure fire resistance

fire resistance for elements of structure
10 Table of requirements for fire extinguishment, alarm Active guidelines
system and emergency lighting
 WHAT IS THE METHOD OF CONTROL?

External openings can be radiant heat source

Schedule 6th is meant to control:

1. Maximum size of opening in the case of any site
constraint to prevent fire from spreading
2. Distance between building to building
 OBJECTIVE OF 6th SCHEDULE?

1. Objective is to establish a safe distance between

buildings so that radiant heat in the event of a fire does
not represent a source of ignition to neighboring
buildings.

2. External walls serve

• to restrict the outward spread of fire to an adjacent

building.
• protection by resisting fire or radiant heat source from
outside.
THE CONCEPT OF
BUILDING
SEPERATION
 CONCEPT OF SEPERATION

1. In order to control the spread of fire, the building and

its unprotected areas must be plan in such way that it
will comply to the separation distance required in the
UBBL Schedule 6.

2. This is to avoid fire spreading to the next building.

3. In UBBL Schedule 6, various type of boundaries is

define as a rule for the separation of fire risk.

4. By law related are 142, 144,145 & 146

 BY LAW 145- REFERENCE TO 6th SCHEDULE
DETERMINING THE EXTERNAL WALL

145. REFERENCE TO 6TH SCHEDULE

For the purpose of by-law 142 of 146—

(a) any part of a roof shall

-be deemed to be part of an external wall or side of a

building if
-it is pitched to an angle of 70° or more to the
horizontal and
-adjoins a space within the building to which persons
have access not limited to the purposes of maintenance
or repair, and

PART I – GENERAL RULES

(b) any reference to the Sixth Schedule to these By-
laws shall be construed as referring to the provisions
of Part I of the Schedule together with, at the option of
the persons intending to erect the building, either the
provisions of Part II, Part III or Part IV of the
Schedule.
- Permitted limit calculate by using part ii to iv
- And areas excluded in part b(i) to b(iv)
PART II – RULES OF CALCULATION BY REFERENCE TO AN ENCOSING RECTANGLE
- With Table part II ( Table 1 & Table 2)
PART III - RULES CALCULATION BY REFERENCE TO AGREAGATE NOTIONAL AREA
PART IV – RULES FOR CALCULATION IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN BUILDINGS GROUP 1- 3
 BY LAW 146. Relevant Boundary
146. RELEVANT BOUNDARY

If any building is to be erected on land occupied Calculated Distance to satisfy space

Separation through 6th schedule
with any other building, or two or more detached
buildings are to be erected on land in common
occupation and either of those buildings is within

Site boundary

Site boundary
Purpose Group I or III, other than a detached
building which consists only of a garage or of an
open car park, in the application of the provisions Building 1 A B Building 2
of this Part to any external wall of any building to
be erected which faces an external wall of such
other building—

(a) the relevant boundary shall be a notional

boundary passing between those buildings and
such boundary must be capable of being situated Relevant Boundary = Notional boundary
in such a position as to enable the external walls
of those buildings to comply with
the requirements of this Part; and

Equal :
Site boundary

(b) if such other building is an existing building Same purpose group

New Same unprotected area
- it shall be deemed to be (a building to
Existing Building Same fire resistance
be) erected on the site which it occupies,
Building erected on As existing building
- being of the same purpose and
same site
- having the same unprotected areas and
fire resistance as the existing building.
 WHAT ARE THE TYPE OF BOUNDARIES?

SITE Legal/ Physical

BOUNDARY boundary of land

A boundary
NOTIONAL presumed to
BOUNDARY exist between
buildings on the
same site

RELEVANT The boundary which Building

the side of the

BOUNDARY building faces which
complies to schedule 6
 EXAMPLE RELEVANT DISTANCE DOES NOT
ENCROACH ANOTHER BUILDING

Notional boundary

Calculated Distance to satisfy space

Separation through 6th schedule

Site boundary
Building 2
Site boundary

Site boundary
B
Building 1 A

Relevant
boundary
from centre of
road
EXAMPLE : RELEVANT DISTANCE ENCROACHES
ANOTHER BUILDING ( UNACCEPTABLE)

When building A unprotected opening design too big

And the relevant boundary has encroach next building.
Building B is at risk of fire.

Building 2

Site boundary
Site boundary

Building 1
 EXAMPLE : RELEVANT DISTANCE ENCROACHES
NOTIONAL BOUNDARY ( UNACCEPTABLE)

When distance set, becomes relevant boundary

and does not encroach the next building

Calculated Distance to satisfy space

Separation through 6th schedule

Building 2

A B
Site boundary

Site boundary
Building 1
 WHY INTERSECTING NOTIONAL BOUNDARY IS UNACCEPTABLE

Source : SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD -The application of the National Building Regulations Part T: Fire protection
 WHY MUST IT BE NOTIONAL BOUNDARY BETWEEN BUILDING?

According to Approve Document B4 UK:

Building should separated from the relevant boundary by at least half the
distance at which the total radiant heat flux received from all unprotected areas in
the external wall would be 12.6 kW/m2.

Assumption based on emitted

radiation from the unprotected areas
in the wall is :

1. 84 kW/m2 for buildings in the

Residential, Office, Assembly
and Recreation purpose groups.
Notional
Boundary
2. 168 kW/m2 for buildings in the
Commercial, Industrial, Storage
or Other non-residential purpose
groups.

3. Distance to the boundary is not

allowed to be less than 1.0 m.

Source : EXTERNAL FIRE SPREAD TO ADJOINING BUILDINGS - A review of fire safety design guidance and related Research by Emil Carlsson
 PERFORMANCE BASE SOFTWARE
Various software in the market such as FireRad, QuickZone and FDS Designer
with FDS Cloud are modules of a single software, Fire Engineering Platform,
which is available at www.fireplatform.eu.

The software can be use to calculate and visualize heat flux on walls.
Each façade has different distance for relevant boundary subject
to size of protected wall & unprotected opening
EACH FAÇADE RELEVANT BOUNDARY SHALL BE DEFINE
FROM THE PLANE OF REFERENCE

Source : BRE Report 1991 - External fire spread: building separation and boundary distances
 EXAMPLE DIFFERENT FORM OF BUILDING TO DETERMINE
IMAGENERY LINE AT RELEVANT BOUNDARY

Section Plane of reference Relevant boundary Plane of reference Relevant boundary

 UNDERSTANDING
UBBL 6th SCHEDULE
6TH SCHEDULE DIVIDED TO 4 PARTS

PART I – GENERAL RULES

- Permitted limit calculate by using part ii to iv
- And areas excluded in part b(i) to b(iv)

PART II – RULES OF CALCULATION BY REFERENCE TO AN

ENCOSING RECTANGLE
- With Table part II ( Table 1 & Table 2)

PART III - RULES CALCULATION BY REFERENCE TO

AGREAGATE NOTIONAL AREA

PART IV – RULES FOR CALCULATION IN RESPECT OF

CERTAIN BUILDINGS GROUP 1- 3
 PART I – GENERAL RULES

1. The permitted limit of unprotected area in any side of the a

building or compartment shall be calculated by reference to the
requirements of PART II, III or IV
PART II
PART III PART IV
WHAT TO SUBMIT TO BOMBA?
 RULES TO
UNPROTECTED AREAS
 WHAT IS UNRPOTECTED AREA?

Is the area of the windows in the wall or skylight in a roof.

The un protected area may be covered by a fire windows,
ordinary glazing or double & triple glazing.
 PART I – GENERAL RULES – 2(a)

2. In calculation the size of un protected area or the permitted limit

compartment areas, the following provisions shall apply:

(a)

Where any part of an external wall is an

unprotected area, only because it has
combustible material attached to it as
cladding,

The area of that unprotected area shall be

deem to be half the area of such cladding.

Total unprotected area = W x H – ½ (W x h1)

Source : Singapore Chapter 3 STRUCTURAL FIRE PRECAUTIONS APPENDIX ‘B’ TO CL.3.5

EXPLAINATION: WHY AREA HALF WHEN COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL?

Combustible clad Non Combustible clad

Combustible materials
– Cavities either Part of system or Created by
delamination.
– Flames can extend 5 to ten times original length
regardless of materials present.

Source : External Fire Spread on High Rise Buildings – Dr Sarah Cowell , BRE Global
 BY LAW 144. Cladding on External wall
Relevant
boundary

X < 1.2m 144 (1) Cladding less than 1.2m eter

from relevant boundary
By law 137, above 30 meter floor
to be compartmentalize
shall have a surface complying with the From 9 meter
requirements for Class O specified in by-law 204.

144(2) . Cladding distance

X > 1.2m 1.2meter or more from
relevant boundary

Cladding more than 18 meters

,have a surface complying with the requirements specified
for Class O in by-law 204

Cladding below 18 metres from ground

except that any part of such cladding below the height of 18
metres from the ground may consist of timber of not less
than 10 millimetres finished thickness or of a material
having a surface which, when tested in accordance with
BSD 476: Part 6: 1968, has an index of performance not
exceeding twenty.
 PART I – GENERAL RULES – 2(b)
2. In calculation the size of un protected area or the permitted limit compartment areas, the
following provisions shall apply:

Unprotected area Unprotected

not exceeding area in external
0.1m² and not wall of
less than 1.5m protected shaft
from other
unprotected area

X Y

Unprotected Unprotected
area or area above
aggregate area 28m of
not exceeding uncompartmen
1m² and not less ted building
than 4m from
other
unprotected area
X Y
Source : Singapore Chapter 3 STRUCTURAL FIRE PRECAUTIONS APPENDIX ‘B’ TO CL.3.5
EXPLAINATION: Unprotected areas which may be disregarded in
assessing the separation distance from the boundary

Disregard
i) No unprotected area

ii) Unprotected area

-opening not more than 0.1
sqm = 0
iv -Aggregate area > 1sqm
v -Distance between > 4meter

iii iii) Protected shaft

i
ii
Must calculate
iv) Unprotected Area> 2sqm

v) Unprotected Area > 3 sqm

DueDue
to compartmentation
to compartmentation
 BY LAW 142. External Wall
(1) If any external wall is carried across the end of a External wall clad shall
separating wall, such external wall and separating wall be bonded together or the
shall be bonded together or the junction of such walls junction of such walls
shall be fire-stopped. shall be fire-stopped

(2) Subject to the provisions relating to small garages and

open car parks,
For small garages and
open car parks,
all side of a building shall comply with any relevant
requirements relating to the permitted limits of unprotected
All side must comply to
areas specified in the Sixth Schedule to these By-laws
Sixth Schedule unless the
building has no
unless the building is so situated that such side might consist
unprotected area.
entirely of any unprotected area.

(3) Any external wall which constitutes, or is situated within

a distance of 1 metre from any point on the relevant
boundary or is a wall of a building which exceeds 15 meters
in height shall—
132 (3)(b)
be constructed wholly of non-combustible materials apart from any
external cladding which complies which by-law 144 or any internal
Relevant lining which complies with these By-laws; and
boundary
132 (3)(b)
X < 1m 1meter or less from relevant be so constructed as to attain any FRP required by this Part without
boundary assistance from any combustible material permitted by this Part—
Or more than 15 meter height
 BY LAW 142(3)b - Exemptions
Part 142(3)b shall not apply to— 9th Schedule
142(3)b (i) Part 1 Other than single Part 2 single storey
• an external wall of a building which storey building building
is within the limits of size indicated
by the letter "x" in Part 1 of the
Ninth Schedule to these By-laws or

• an external wall of a building which

is not divided into compartments and
is within the limits of size indicated
by the letter "z" in Part 2 of
the Ninth Schedule

• if, in either case, that building does

not exceed 18 metres in height,

142(3)b (ii)
• an external wall of a building or part
of Purpose Group III which consists
of flats or maisonettes if that
building has not more than three
storeys or that part is separated as
described in by-law 135 and does
not exceed 18 metres in height.
 BY LAW 142(3)b- Exemptions
Shall not appy to
142(3)b (i)
an external wall of a building which is within the limits of
size indicated by the letter "x" in Part 1 of the Ninth Schedule
to these By-laws
• Ninth Schedule – Limits of Compartments and
Minimum Periods of Fire Resistance for Elements of
Structure
• Part I – Applies to Bldgs other than Single Storey
Bldgs
• “x” The Items as marked are applicable only to
buildings, not to compartments, except in relation to
Purpose Group III, see also para 3(a) By-law 142 and
para (1) of By-law 147
an external wall of a building which is not divided into
compartments and is within the limits of size indicated by the
letter "z" in Part 2 of the Ninth Schedule
• building does not exceed 18 metres in height,
• Part 2 of Ninth schedule deals with Single Storey
Buildings Only
142(3)b (ii)
an external wall of a building or part of Purpose Group III
which consists of flats or maisonettes if that building has not
more than three storeys or that part is separated as described
in by-law 135 and does not exceed 18 metres in height
Non Application
PG I– Small residential not more than 3 storeys or having 4 storeys but less than 250
sqm
PG III – Other residential not more than 2 storeys and not exceeding 500 sqm
PG IV – Office not exceeding 7.5 metres ht and not exceeding 250 sqm
PG V – Shop not exceeding 7.5 metres height and not exceeding 1150 sqm
PG VI – Factory not exceeding 7.5 metres ht and not exceeding 250 sq
PG VII –Assembly not exceeding 7.5 metres ht and not exceeding 250 sqm
PG VIII – Storage and General not exceeding 7.5 metres height and not exceeding 150
sqm
Purpose Grp I – Small Residential – no limits
Purpose Grp II – Institutional –max flr area 3000 sq m
Purpose Grp III – Other Residential – max flr area 3000 sqm
Purpose Grp IV – Office –max flr area 3000 sq m
Purpose Grp V – Shop –max flr area 2000 sq m
Purpose Grp VI – Factory – max flr area 2000 sq m
Purpose Grp VII - Assembly – max flr area 3000 sq m
Purpose Grp VIII – Storage and general –max flr area 500sq m
Apartments or individual units are compartmented, and therefore risks are contained
when they are below 18m in height (less than 5 storey ht)
 PART II
DEFINING ENCLOSING
RECTANGLE
 WHAT IS ENCLOSING RECTANGLE?

The smallest rectangle in any vertical plane which touches

the side or some part of the side of a building or
compartment
 PART II – RULES FOR CALCULATION BY
REFERENCE OF ENCLOSING RECTANGLE
Condition

Condition must be satisfied for building or

compartment where:

1. Must Refer follow purpose group

2. No point on relevant boundary is either

X
between the relevant plane of reference

3. The side of building/ compartment at a

distance from relevant plane which is less
than the distance in table.
 PART II – RULES FOR CALCULATION BY
REFERENCE OF ENCLOSING RECTANGLE
Definition

Unprotected area Unprotected

Enclosing rectangle
area
= percentage (%)
 DETERMINING PLANE OF REFERENCE

Source : BRE Report 1991 - External fire spread: building separation and boundary distances
 UNDERSTANDING THE TERMS IN TABLE PART II

B width

C A D
D Height
Unprotected
A Percentage (%)

B
C
Distance in
metres relevant
C
boundary

Relevant boundary

Terms to understand Example above

A. Enclosing rectangle Height  The height of enclosing rectangle 6m
B. Width of enclosing rectangle  The width of enclosing rectangle 12m
C. Distance in metres relevant boundary for 5.5m
D. unprotected percentage not exceeding 50 percent
EFFECT OF COMPARTMENTATION ON DISTANCE FROM BOUNDARY

Source : BRE Report 1991 -

External fire spread:
building separation and
boundary distances
VISUALISING MAXIMIZE RELEVANT BOUNDARY FOR ENCLOSING RECTANGLE
27meter X width (3meter to no limit) @ 100% unprotected Opening

3m
6m 100% unprotected
9m opening

20m
Plane of
30m reference

40m Relevant/
Notional
50m Boundary line
10m
60m

70m
19m
80m

90m
100m
26.5m
110m
120m

29.5m

Height
= 27m

35.0m
 PART III
AGREGATE
NOTIONAL AREA
 WHAT IS AGGREGATE NOTIONAL AREA?

The Aggregate of the areas of any unprotected areas in the

side of a building or compartments and such area is
multiplied by a dedicated factor define by the distance
from the relevant boundary.

= X
Factor
Areas of unprotected Area (base on distance from relevant
(On side building or compartment) boundary/ vertical datum)
 PART III – RULES OF CALCULATION BY
REFERENCE AGGREGATE NOTIONAL AREA
Condition
Definition
Exclusion
 WHAT IS THIS PART III ALL ABOUT?

Another method to calculate

compliance of unprotected area
Condition

Condition
1. Purpose Grp I,II,III,VII < 210sqm
2. Purpose Grp V,VI,VIII < 90 sqm
3. Rules of calculation:
• Reference to any one of the series of the
vertical data ( vertical line on Relevant
boundary)
• Measured at interval 3 meter from one another
Along relevant boundary
Definition
Exclusion

Relevant boundary
3 meter interval
 WHAT IS THIS PART III ALL ABOUT?

Aggregate notional Area

Areas of Factor
unprotected Area (base on Aggregate
(On side building X distance from = Notional Area
or compartment) relevant
boundary/
vertical datum)

• Vertical Datum
Definition

Datum line
Building A Building B

A B

• Relevant boundary

3 meter interval
 PART II – RULES OF CALCULATION BY
REFERENCE AGGREGATE NOTIONAL AREA
SIMPLIFICATION
HISTORY OF THIS METHOD
UBBL SCHEDULE 6 PART III
The method is derived from work performed by Margarette
Law (1963) and is incorporated in the Approved Document
B2/3/4 (HMSO, 1985).

THE PROTRACTED METHOD TO

DETERMINE FACTOR

Areas of Factor
unprotected Area (base on Aggregate
(On side building X distance from = Notional Area
or compartment) relevant
boundary/
vertical datum)

1. 210sqm for Purpose Grp

Aggregate
Notional Area < 2.
I,II,III,VII
90sqm for Purpose Grp
V,VI,VIII
 WHAT IS THIS PART III ALL ABOUT?

Exclusion of unprotected area in side of building r

compartment

(a) Screen by wall

Exclusion

(b) When building side distance to

relevant boundary is more than
50meters.

(c) Facing
away from
vertical datum

or an angle not
exceeding 10
degrees.
 PART IV
CERTAIN BUILDING
LESS THAN 3 STOREY
PART IV – RULES FOR CALCULATION IN RESPECT
OF CERTAIN BUILDINGS GROUP 1- 3

IV

PART IV

Table IV : for calculation of building not more than 3 storey

and sides does not exceed 24 meters in length

1. If distance of building is 1 meter within a 24 meter

length = Unprotected area allowed is 5.6 sqm
2. If distance of building is 2.5 meter within a 24
meter length = Unprotected area allowed is 15
sqm
3. If distance above 5 meters : Unprotected area
allowed is up to the whole wall

IS THIS CORRECT?
UNDERSTANDING THE 6th SCHEDULE

EXTERNAL FIRE SPREAD:

CONTROL OF BUILDING
SEPERATION AND
BOUNDARY DISTANCE

Research By Ar Ridha