General Definition

• Fire and smoke protection refers to a combination of passive and active safety measures designed to prevent fire spread, protect occupants, and ensure safe evacuation during a fire event.
  • These measures include fire-resistant construction (walls, doors, and barriers), automatic fire suppression (sprinklers, alarms, and smoke control), and safe egress systems (exit routes, emergency lighting, and panic hardware).
• Building codes such as the International Building Code (IBC) and Japan’s Building Standard Law (BSL) regulate these protections, with IBC using a performance-based approach and BSL enforcing stricter fireproofing for high-rise structures.
  • These regulations ensure life safety, structural integrity, and property protection, adapting to regional risks like earthquakes and urban density.

Comparison Table

Fire Protection System	IBC Requirements (A-1 Occupancy) & Sections	BSL Requirements (Assembly Use) & Articles
Fire-Resistance of Structural Elements	IBC 601, Table 601, Table 508.4 – Type I & II: 2-3 hours – Type III, IV, V: 1-2 hours based on occupancy size	BSL Articles 2, 27, 35 – Buildings ≥ 3 stories or ≥ 1,000 m² must be fireproof (耐火建築物)
Fire-Resistance of Interior Partitions	IBC 708.1, 508.4 – 1-hour fire partition required between different occupancies and incidental spaces	BSL Article 35 – Fireproof partitions required between large seating areas and corridors
Fire-Resistance of Exterior Walls	IBC Table 602 – 0-10 ft separation: 1-3 hours – 10-30 ft separation: 1 hour	BSL Articles 2, 27 – Fire-resistant exterior walls required in fire prevention districts
Automatic Sprinkler System	IBC 903.2.1.1 – Required if: – Fire area > 12,000 sq. ft. (1,115 m²) – Occupant load > 300 – Located above/below level of exit discharge	BSL Article 17 – Required if: – Floor area > 500 m² – Building height > 31 meters
Smoke Control System	IBC 909 – Required for large assembly spaces	BSL Articles 17, 35 – Smoke control systems required for theaters & halls
Fire Alarm System	IBC 907.2.1 – Required if occupant load > 300	BSL Article 17 – Required in all large assembly buildings
Manual Fire Alarm Pull Stations	IBC 907.2.1 – Required at each level	BSL Article 17 – Required for large-scale buildings
Smoke Exhaust System	IBC 3006 – Required for stages > 1,000 sq. ft.	BSL Article 17 – Required in large theaters & halls
Smoke Exhaust System	IBC 716.2 – Required at exits & corridors	BSL Article 35 – Required in corridors > 20 meters long
Panic Hardware on Exit Doors	IBC 1010.1.10 – Required for doors with occupant load > 50	BSL Article 28 – Required in large theaters & halls
Fire-Resistant Proscenium Curtain	IBC 410.8.2 – Required for stages with > 400 occupants	BSL Article 35 – Required for large theaters
Fire-Retardant Interior Finishes	IBC Table 803.11 – Class A/B materials required	BSL Article 35 – Class A (難燃材料) required for walls and ceilings
Emergency Lighting	IBC 1008.3 – Required for all egress routes	BSL Article 28 – Required in large assembly spaces
High-Rise Assembly Buildings	IBC 403 – > 75 ft (23 m) high requires: – Fire command center – Firefighter elevators – Standby power	BSL Article 35 – > 31 meters must be 耐火建築物 (fireproof) with fire-resistant stairwells

Key Differences

1. Fire-Resistance of Structural & Interior Elements –
   • IBC: Fire rating 1-3 hours, 1-hour partitions required between occupancies; BSL: Fireproofing (耐火建築物) required for buildings ≥ 3 stories or 1,000 m², partitions needed for large seating areas and corridors.
2. Fire-Resistance of Exterior Walls –
   • IBC: Fire rating 1-3 hours based on distance from property line; BSL: Mandatory fire-resistant walls in fire prevention districts.
3. Automatic Sprinkler & Smoke Control Systems –
   • IBC: Sprinklers required for fire areas > 12,000 sq. ft. (1,115 m²) or occupant load > 300, smoke control for large spaces; BSL: Sprinklers mandatory for buildings > 500 m² or height > 31 meters, smoke control required in theaters and halls.
4. Fire Alarm & Smoke Exhaust Systems –
   • IBC: Fire alarms required if occupant load > 300, smoke exhaust required for stages > 1,000 sq. ft.; BSL: Fire alarms mandatory for all large assembly buildings, smoke exhaust required for large theaters and halls.
5. Fire Doors, Panic Hardware & Interior Finishes –
   • IBC: Fire doors required at exits & corridors, panic hardware required for doors with occupant load > 50; BSL: Fire doors required in corridors > 20 meters long, panic hardware in large theaters.
6. Emergency Lighting & High-Rise Fireproofing –
   • IBC: Emergency lighting required for all egress routes, high-rises > 75 ft (23 m) need fire command centers and standby power; BSL: Emergency lighting mandatory for all large assembly spaces, high-rises > 31 meters must be fireproof with fire-resistant stairwells.
7. Fire-Resistant Proscenium Curtain –
   • IBC: Required for stages with > 400 occupants; BSL: Required for large theaters.