Reference number  
D RS 186-3: 2018 
© RSB 2018 
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
186-3  
 
Second edition  
 
Code practice for fire safety of building  — 
Part 3:  
Fire safety in public buildings  DRS 186-3:2018  
 
 
ii Error! Reference source not found.  
  DRS 186 -3: 201 8 
iii                 ©RS B 2018 All rights reserved  
 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
Standards are subject  to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2018  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, ele ctronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
Tel. +250 252 586103/582945  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  DRS 186 -3: 201 8 
©RSB 2018 All rights reserved                  iv 
 
 Contents  Page  
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................. v 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................ 1 
3 Classification  ................................ ................................ .............................  Error! Bookmark not defined.  
4 General aspects of fire safety  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 1 
5 Management responsibility  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 2 
6 Containment of smoke/fire  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 3 
6.2 Type of  construction  ................................ ................................ ................  Error! Bookmark not defined.  
6.3 Restriction on spread of fire/smoke  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....3 
6.4 Boiler and boiler rooms  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 4 
7 Means of egress  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....4 
7.1 Description  ................................ ................................ ................................  Error! Bookmark not defined.  
7.2 Staircases  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 5 
7.3 Illustration of exits and emergency power  ................................ ................................ .......................... 5 
8 Emergency power supply and lighting  ................................ ...................  Error! Bookmark not defined.  
9 Fire safety/fighting equipments  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 5 
Annex  A (normative)  Written policy for fire safety  ................................ ................................ ......................... 7 
 DRS 186 -3: 201 8 
v                 ©RS B 2018 All rights reserved  
 
 Foreword  
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (R SB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tanda rds 
adopted by Technical committ ees are ratified by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 186-3 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 28, Fire safety . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference w as made to the following standard s: 
1) IS 13716:1993; Fire safety in Hotels – Code of practice  
2) BS 9999:2008; Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings  
The assistance delivered from the above source is hereby acknowl edged with thanks.  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (RS  186-3: 2013) of which has been technically 
revised . 
DRS 186 consists of the following parts, under the general title Fire safety of building  — Code of practice : 
Part 1: General principles of fire grading and classification  
Part 2: Details of construction  
Part 3: Fire safety in public buildings  
Part 4: Selection, installation and maintenance of automatic fire detection and alarm system  
Part 5: Exit requir ements and personal hazard  
 
 
 
 DRS 186 -3: 201 8 
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Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Fire safety  (RBS/TC 28) in the  
preparation of this standard.  
City of Kigali  
College of Science and Technology  
CABLELINE  
Energy Utility Corporation Limited  
ELECTRICOM  
ISCO  
Institute of Engineers Rwanda  
Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees  
Ministry of Infrastructure  
Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA)  
Rwanda Motor Ltd  
Rwanda National Police  
REAL  
Société Rwandaise d’Assurance (SON ARWA)  
SONATUBES  
Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) - Secretariat  DRS 186 -3: 201 8 
vii                 ©RS B 2018 All rights reserved  
 
 DRS 186 -3: 2018  
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 Code of practice for fire safety of building  — Part 3: Fire safety in public 
building  
1 Scope  
This Rwanda Standard covers the fire safety requirements in public buildings . Taking into account that  
absolute fire safety is not attainable in practice, it specifies measures which shall be taken to reduce damage 
to life, a property to a minimum.  
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this documen t. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
DRS 186 -1, Code of practice for  fire safety of building – Part 1: General principles of fire grading and 
classification  
DRS 186 -2, Code of practice for fire safety of building - Part 2: Details of construction  
DRS 186 -4, Code of practice for fire safety of building - Part 4: Selection, installation and maintenance of 
automatic fire detection and a larm system  
DRS 186 -5, Code of practice for fire safety of building - Part 5: Exit requirements and personal hazard  
RS ISO 11602 -1, Fire protection — portable and wheeled fire extinguishers — Part 1: Selection and 
installation  
RS ISO 11602 -2, Fire protecti on — portable and wheeled fire extinguishers — Part 2: Inspection and 
maintenance  
3    Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in RS 186 -1 apply.  
 
4 Aspects of f ire safety  
Fire safety should be achieved by consi dering the following five aspects:  
a) management responsibility ; 
b) containment of smoke or fire ;  
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 c) provision of safety escape routes ; 
d) emergency power and lighting; and  
e) provision of fire safety or fighting equipment . 
5 Accessibility to the public building and evacua tion 
5.1 The requirements of width and hardness of approach roads to provide access to fire engines, open 
spaces, parking distance from roads shall be in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Rwanda 
Building Code .  
5.2 The exit and doors requireme nts for accessibility should be done in compliance with requirements of 
Rwanda Building Code  
5.2 The evacuation planning requirements including evacuation /escape routes, location of evacuation plans 
and signs should be in compliance with Rwanda Building Co de 
6 Management responsibility  
5.1 Building  Management shal l ensure compliance of fire safety requirements according to  the Rwanda 
Building Code and regulations  
5.2 Building  Management shall issue a written statement of i ts policy regarding fire safety and fire loss 
control to its employees as well as its guests (see Annex A) . 
5.3 Building Management shall provide  communication means  for portraying information of various fire 
precautions including but not limited to , use of gas mask, location of fire escape  routes  and assembly 
points evacuation plan, to the occupants at regular intervals.  
5.4 For  building s,with  number of occupants  exceeds 100, Building management shall appoint a permanent 
fire warden officer  in charge  of, on behalf of the building  management  ensuring compliance to the  standard. . 
5.5 A fire control room shall be established on ground floor near the main entran ce in accordance with RS 
186-4. 
5.6 All users  should be trained on on fire fighting and use fire  fighting equipment.  
5.7 For hotel p erma nently posted instructions shall be mounted in guest rooms at the inner side of entrance 
door, or any other prominent location. The instructions shall contain floor map showing the location of the 
room in question, escape routes to staircases and clear ins tructions what the guests should do in an 
emergency.  
5.8 Fire safety i nstruction s shall be updated following any modifications in the premises  to ensure 
compliance with relevant clauses of the Rwanda building code and  regulations . 
5.11 Management shall ensure that escape routes are  not blocked, fire doors are kept in closed position  and 
ragsare kept away from flammable products. . DRS 186 -3: 2018  
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 5.12 Management shall ensure  preventive inspection, testing and maintenance of all fire protection and fire 
fighting  systems, ma chinery  and  equipments  at least every six months. . 
5.13 Management shall keep certificate s of maintenance for Fire protection and fire fighting system.  
5.14  There shall be instituted a “Hot Work” permit system and “Work” permit system for outside  contra ctors to 
work inside the building . Such permits shall be requested by the building management on behalf of the 
contractor and issued  in accordance with relevant regulations.  
5.14 Management shall ensure that furnishing and decoration materials used on esca pe routes shall have 
Class I  flame spread rating and shall not generate toxic and asphyxiating gases on burning furniture, 
furnishings and decoration on escape routes shall not be attached or erected so as to:  
a) obstruct access to an exit from any room;  
b) obstruct the use of an escape route;  
c) render invisible or inaccessible notices, signs, communication equipment or extinguishing equipment;  
d) obstruct the movement of the door;  
e) mirrors/reflecting surfaces or hangings shall not be used on any escape route, which ma y create 
confusion in the minds of people;  
f) floor and stair coverings, where used shall be firmly fastened so that slipping, tripping or falling of 
escaping people is avoided; and  
g) floor surface  occupancy of the room /office  shall at least leave 30 % for free  movement.  
Note  stores are not covered  
7 Containment of smoke/ fire 
Containment of smoke/fire shall be achieved by fire resistive construction and compartmentation.  
7.1      Restriction on spread of fire/smoke  
6.3.1  Wall panels, draperies, furniture and décor sha ll be such that the flame spread rating shall conform to 
Class I according to relevant standards  
6.3.2  Lits and enclosure, inspection doors, windows, basements and vertical shafts/ducts for installing 
drainage pipes, plumbing, wiring and cabling  shall comp ly with RS 186 -2 
. 
6.3.5  Kitchen rooms, laundry, linen stores, furniture storage rooms shall be of fire resisting construction, and 
shall be provide with one hour fire resisting self -closing doors.   
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 6.3.6  Transformer bays High Transformer (H.T.)  and Low Tra nsformer ( L.T.) supply rooms, air -conditioning 
plant systems and boiler rooms shall be in separate fire resisting rooms and shall conform to RS 186 -2 and 
Rwanda  Building Code and other related regulations  
6.3.7  Special hazards due to L iquid Petroleum Gas shall be in ac cordance with the provisions of RS 135 -2, 
Rwanda Building Code and relevant regulations . 
6.3.8  Air conditioning system shall conform to RS 186 -2 and it  shall be further linked with the fire detection 
system to automatically cut off, the respec tive floor air handling unit in case of a fire. Also there shall be 
adequate arrangements of smoke/fire venting and enclosure of service ducts   
6.3.9  Air-conditioning system, if not properly designed may spread fire and smoke very rapidly throughout 
the fl oors, and vertically from floor to floor. As far as possible ‘ Direct Expansion’  system shall not be used.  
6.3.10  Particular attention shall be given to cross -link the A.C. system with smoke detection system 
conforming to RS 186 -4 and  sprinkler systems, to switch off the system when either smoke detector or 
sprinklers operate . 
6.3.12 Fire dampers play positive role in stopping spread of smoke and fire, and shall be installed conforming 
to RS 186 -2. 
6.3.13  All electrical equipment including cables, light fitt ings, gauges, etc shall be in conformity with relevant 
Rwanda  Standards  and regulations . 
7.2 Boiler and boiler r ooms  
Only approved boiler conforming to National, regional or International Standards and meeting the provision of 
relevant national law shall be in stalled.  
8 Means of egress  
7.1.1  A means of egress is a continuous and unobstructed way of exit travel from any point in the building  to 
a public way, and consists of three separate and distinct points as given below:  
a) exit access,  
b) exit, and  
c) exit discharge.  
7.1.2 A means of egress comprises the vertical and horizontal travel, and shall include  intervening rooms, 
space doorways, hallways, corridors, passageways, balconies, ramps, stairs,  enclosures, lobbies horizontal 
exits, courts and yards.  
7.1.3  Exit requir ements in buildings shall fully comply with the provisions laid down in RS 186-5. However, 
width of corridors and passageways, leading to exit stairways shall not be  less than 2 m. Floors on which 
dance halls, banquet halls, are located, the width of corri dors leading to exit from such area shall not be less 
than 2.5 m for banquets or dance hall having  occupants  of more than 50 persons , and 2.2 m for such halls 
accommodating less than 50 persons.  DRS 186 -3: 2018  
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 7.1.4  Basements shall not be used for banquet halls or dance halls, unless one entire side of  such 
basement opens up directly to the open and also such halls including entire basement is fully  sprinkled.  
8.1 Staircases  
All provisions of  RS 186 -5 shall be followed in deciding the number and location of staircases in a building . 
8.2 Illustration of exits and emergency p ower  
7.3.1 Illumination of exits shall be provided by means of emergency power supply  derived from self-
contained emergency light  or diesel generator  
7.3.2 The floors of exits shall be illuminated at all points including turning points, intersection of corridors 
and passage ways, staircases, landings, and discharges exit at ground level. The intensity of lighting 
throughout shall not be less than 10 lux measured at floor level.  
7.3.3 Lights recessed in the walls and floors at shall be fixed at  30 cm from the floor level.  
7.3.4 Illumination lights shall be installed such that  failure of bulb or connections will not leave any area in 
total darkness.  
7.3.5  A stand -by power supply shall be provided in a building  to cater for emergency in the event of failure of 
normal po wer supply s uch stand -by power supply shall be independent and through a generator/generators of 
adequate capacity to meet the following minimum requirements:  
a) emergency illumination of all corridors, s taircases, basements and exist signage, etc;  
b) fire lifts;  
c) mechanical ventilation for basements or in case of centrally air conditioned building;  
d) fire water pump (however, if a stand -by diesel pump is provided, this may be exempted); and  
e) other emergency auto matic systems for fire  fighting.  
 
9 Fire safety/ fighting equipments  
All buildings irrespective of height shall have fire detection and suppression systems as given below:  
a) internal hydrant system/hydrant and sprinkler system in accordance with relevant standa rd; 
b) automatic detection -cum-alarm system in accordance with RS 186 -4; 
c) automatic emulsifier / halon system ;  
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 d) portable fire extinguisher in accordance with RS ISO 11602 -1 and RS ISO 11602 -2; 
e) Efficient public address system to couple with  fire alarm or independ ent of fire alarm system; and  
f) In kitchen hoods and ducts, for fire protection automatic and manual  CO2/Dry powder extinguisher shall 
be installed and maintained in accordance with RS ISO 11602 -1. 
Note: Condition for application of Sprinkler system shall be  determined according to Rwanda Building code  
 DRS 186 -3: 2018  
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 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Written policy for fire safety  
Fire safety policy  
We recognize that a major fire could have a devastating effect on our business, Team Members and 
guests. Fire Safety is, therefore, of paramount  importance and, as a minimum, we aim to comply 
with legislative requirements and relevant Rwanda  Standards relating to Fire Safety.  
We are committed to taking all reasonable steps to protect our Team Members, guests, visitors and 
those in the vicinity of our premises from the effects of fire. In doing so we will concentrate on fire 
prevention measures designed to eliminate or reduce fire hazards in our premises, thereby reducing 
the likelihood of a fire occurring.  
The likelihood of fire can, however, never  be totally removed. We will, therefore, also ensure that we 
have suitable fire protection measures in place, to afford the occupants of our buildings sufficient 
time to safely evacuate the premises in the event of a fire.  
We will take all practical steps to ensure that our Management Teams are provided with the 
necessary support to effectively manage Fire Safety in the premises under their control. We will also 
provide the assistance and training necessary for all Team Members to competently fulfill their Fire 
Safety duties and responsibilities.  
By means of the above measures, we will endeavor to ensure the fire hazards in our premises are 
no greater than would normally be expected and that the risks to life from fire are reduced to a 
tolerable level.  
In re turn we expect all Team Members to contribute and comply with our Fire Safety procedures. 
You must ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that you take care of your own safety, your 
colleagues’ safety and that of anyone affected by what you do or fail t o do at work. In addition, you 
must not interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of Fire Safety.  
The responsibility for implementing the Fire Safety Policy lies with all Directors, Managers and Team 
Members. We expect them to plan and or ganize safe systems of work, maintain records and 
regularly review Fire Safety performance. These actions will enable us to reduce the likelihood of a 
fire occurring and minimize the effects in the event that one does.   
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 RS 186 -3: 2013  
ICS 13.220.40  
 
 
©RBS 2013  All right s reserved