Fire extinguishing equipment laws for buildings

Fire Equipment Regulations by Building Type, and How PAF-222 Fits

Fitting fire extinguishers and fire protection systems in a building is not simply a matter of choosing a suitable cylinder. It runs into building control law, the type of building, its area, its height, how many floors it has, and what it is used for.

Thailand has laws and requirements covering fire protection for several classes of building, and the detail differs with the character of each one.

What laws cover fire equipment in buildings?

One of the key laws for buildings generally is Ministerial Regulation No. 39 (B.E. 2537), issued under the Building Control Act B.E. 2522.

It requires fire protection measures in a long list of building types:

• Row rooms

• Shophouses

• Row houses

• Semi-detached houses

• Buildings used for public assembly

• Theaters

• Assembly halls

• Hotels

• Medical facilities

• Educational institutions

• Libraries

• Indoor sports venues

• Markets

• Department stores

• Shopping centers

• Service establishments

• Airports

• Car parks

• Mass transit stations

• Piers

• Restaurants

• Offices

• Government offices

• Factories

• Commercial buildings

• Multi-unit residential buildings

• Dormitories

• Other buildings of three storeys or more, under the conditions the law sets

So it is a mistake to treat fire extinguishers as a factory matter. The question runs from office buildings and residential blocks through hotels and commercial buildings to industrial plants.

1. Row rooms, shophouses, row houses and semi-detached houses up to two storeys

For these building types up to two storeys, Ministerial Regulation No. 39 requires portable fire extinguishers of the type and size set out in its schedule, at one unit per dwelling unit.

A fire alarm system is also required, at least one per dwelling unit.

2. Row rooms, shophouses, row houses and semi-detached houses over two storeys

For the same building types above two storeys, the criteria tighten.

The regulation requires portable extinguishers suited to the class of material present on each floor, at one unit per 1,000 square metres of building area, at intervals of no more than 45 metres, and not fewer than one per floor.

A fire alarm system is required on every floor and in every dwelling unit.

PAF-222 in buildings of this kind

PAF-222 is worth considering as an addition for areas holding electronic or otherwise critical equipment:

• Control rooms

• Network rooms

• Control cabinets

• Electrical cabinets

• Server rooms

3. Buildings used for public assembly

Ministerial Regulation No. 39 covers a number of building types that function as places of public assembly:

• Hotels

• Hospitals and medical facilities

• Schools

• Department stores

• Shopping centers

• Markets

• Car parks

• Restaurants

• Offices

• Government premises

• Factories

• Commercial buildings

• Mass transit stations, among others

For this group, fire protection design should not stop at portable extinguishers. The alarm system, the escape routes, the suppression system and how the building is actually used all have to be weighed together. See Clean Agent Fire Suppression Systems and Different Types of Clean Agent Fire Suppression Systems.

4. Buildings with a combined floor area over 2,000 square metres

Another point worth attention: for buildings other than the types listed in clause 3, paragraph one, where the combined area of all floors in a single building exceeds 2,000 square metres, a fire alarm system is required on every floor, under the conditions set out in the regulation.

A fire alarm system has to include at least:

• An automatic detection system

• A manual call system

• Alarm devices capable of alerting everyone in the building so they can escape

So a fire protection system is best understood as running from detection through to response, rather than as a set of cylinders on the wall.

5. High-rise and extra-large buildings

High-rise and extra-large buildings carry additional requirements under Ministerial Regulation No. 33 (B.E. 2535), which deals with fire protection for these classes of building.

They have to be fitted with portable extinguishers of a type and size suited to the class of material on each floor, at one unit per 1,000 square metres, at intervals of no more than 45 metres, and not fewer than one per floor. Each portable extinguisher has to hold no less than 4 kilograms of agent.

6. Why buildings holding electronic equipment should consider a clean agent

Modern buildings hold far more electronic equipment than they used to:

• Servers

• Network equipment

• UPS units

• Control systems

• PLCs

• Electrical cabinets

• MDBs

• Power electronics

• Building management systems

In these areas, the choice of agent should also take account of what happens after the fire is out.

Some agents leave residue behind, which creates a cleaning burden and can affect the equipment. See Residue-Free Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers and What is Non-Conductive (Dielectric)?

7. PAF-222 and the clean agent approach

PAF-222 (FK-5-1-12) can be put forward as a clean agent fire suppression option for areas designed to suit that kind of system.

The points worth making about it:

• It is a clean agent.

• It leaves no residue the way dry chemical powder does.

• It suits consideration for protecting electronic equipment in appropriate areas.

• It can be designed into a suppression system for an enclosed space.

• It connects to detection and control systems, according to the design.

• It suits work where limiting the damage after a discharge matters.

Why is PAF-222 worth a look for critical areas?

A modern building is not only offices and residential space. It holds critical equipment, and a fire there can hit the business hard.

For example:

• Data centers

• Server rooms

• Network rooms

• Control rooms

• Electrical rooms

• UPS rooms

• MDBs

• Control cabinets

• CNC cabinets

• Inverter rooms

These areas deserve fire protection matched to the equipment and to how much the system matters.

PAF-222 is one option for spaces of this kind, particularly enclosed spaces where a clean agent system can be designed properly. For guidance specific to these rooms, see Fire Extinguishers for Data Centers / Server Rooms / Electrical Rooms and Fire Suppression Systems for Electrical Cabinets / MDB / Control Panels.

What to read next

• What is PAF-222?
  PAF GLOBAL's clean agent products and where they are used in practice.

• What Certifications Does PAF-222 Have?
  The certificates and test reports to check when a project or an inspection asks for them.

• Different Types of Clean Agent Fire Suppression Systems
  Piped, cabinet, detection tube and localized automatic systems, and which suits which space.

• Fire Suppression Systems for Electrical Cabinets / MDB / Control Panels
  For localized protection around power distribution boards and control panels.

• Fire Extinguishing Equipment in Thailand
  An overview of the products and solutions available from PAF GLOBAL.

• PAF GLOBAL: Fire Protection Equipment Supplier in Thailand for B2B
  For organizations looking for a supplier and consultant on a project.

• Choosing Fire Protection Equipment to Suit Your Area and Risk
  Matching equipment to each zone, from general office space to electrical rooms and factory floors.

• Elements of Fire
  Fuel, heat, oxygen and the chain reaction, and how each one shapes the choice of agent.

• What is Halon?
  For older buildings that may still hold a Halon system, and what replacing it involves.

• Contact for Consultation
  To have the PAF GLOBAL team assess a building or a project.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Does every type of building need fire extinguishers?

The requirements differ with the type and character of the building. Ministerial Regulation No. 39 covers a wide range of building types and sets different fire protection measures for each.

2. Does an office building need fire extinguishers?

Offices fall within the building types Ministerial Regulation No. 39 addresses, and the requirements have to be worked out against the character of the building, its area, and the relevant conditions.

3. Does a high-rise building need an automatic suppression system?

High-rise and extra-large buildings carry additional fire protection requirements. The regulation and the reference material point to automatic suppression systems, sprinklers or others capable of operating on their own and covering the area specified.

4. Can PAF-222 replace the extinguishers the law requires?

As a general matter, using PAF-222 means checking whether the system meets the requirements applying to that building. It should be used as a system suited to the area it was designed for.

5. What types of building does PAF-222 suit?

Areas that suit a clean agent: server rooms, data centers, control rooms, electrical rooms, and spaces holding electronic equipment.

6. Can a factory building use PAF-222?

It can be considered for suitable areas: control rooms, electrical cabinets, control cabinets, or spaces holding electronic equipment.

7. How high off the floor should an extinguisher be mounted?

Under the criteria referenced in Ministerial Regulation No. 39, the top of the extinguisher has to sit no more than 1.50 metres above floor level, in a position where it can be seen, its instructions read, and the unit taken and used easily.

8. Does a large building need a fire alarm?

Ministerial Regulation No. 39 sets fire alarm requirements for several building types, with conditions that differ by type and area. Some classes of building with a combined floor area over 2,000 square metres, for instance, need a fire alarm system on every floor.