Fire Safety and Structural Design for Industrial Buildings

Fire safety in industrial buildings is usually discussed in terms of alarms, extinguishers and exits — all essential. But the structure plays an equally important role: it must stay standing long enough for people to escape and for fire-fighters to operate safely. In Bangladesh, the Tazreen Fashions fire of 2012 remains a painful reminder of what is at stake.

Fire resistance of the structure

Building codes, including BNBC 2020, set required fire-resistance ratings for structural elements based on the building's occupancy, height and size. A rating is the time an element can continue to carry its load in a standard fire test.

Concrete

Reinforced concrete has good inherent fire resistance. Its performance depends mainly on member size and the concrete cover protecting the reinforcement — another reason cover blocks and site QC matter.

Steel

Structural steel loses strength as it heats, so steel members may need protection to reach longer ratings. Options include intumescent coatings, sprayed fire-resistive materials, and board encasement. Many single-storey steel sheds can be designed so that the required rating is modest, but this must be confirmed for each building.

Compartmentation

Dividing large buildings into fire compartments with fire-rated walls and doors limits how far a fire can spread. Compartment walls must be structurally stable in a fire, run to the roof, and have properly sealed service penetrations.

Means of escape

• Enough exits, distributed so that travel distances stay within code limits
• Protected, enclosed staircases in multi-storey buildings
• Exit doors that open in the direction of escape and are never locked during working hours
• Clear, unobstructed routes — storage must never block corridors or stairs

Coordination with MEP

Sprinkler pipework, fire pumps, hydrant mains and water tanks impose loads on the structure. Rooftop tanks are heavy, and must be included in the structural design — not added later.

Electrical safety

Many factory fires begin with electrical faults. Correctly sized cables, protected distribution boards, regular thermographic inspection and good housekeeping around panels prevent ignition in the first place.

Existing buildings

When assessing an existing factory, fire and structural safety should be considered together. Strengthening works — such as steel jacketing or CFRP — may need their own fire protection where ratings apply, and new openings or stairs must respect the structural system.

Fire engineering is a specialist field and must comply with BNBC 2020 and the requirements of the fire service authority. Our structural designs are coordinated with fire safety specialists from the outset. Book a consultation to discuss your project.