What is a refuge area and it's norms for a high rise building?

What is a Refuge Area?

What are the norms related to the refuge area in a high rise building?

• It has been made mandatory to check that the area has been kept as per the approved map before the completion certificate is issued to any high rise building or skyscraper.
• As per the National Building Code, it is mandatory for the builders to keep a dedicated refuge area at every seventh floor of the building. First dedicated refuge area can be after the first 24 metres of the building and after that every seventh floor must have a refuge area.
• According to the code, the refuge area must be up to 4% of the habitable area it serves. The calculated refuge area is not included in the Floor Space Index (FSI). In case the refuge area is more than 4%, then the area exceeding the limit will be calculated in FSI.
• In case the building has more than 24 storeys or its height is more than 70 metres, an alternate refuge area can be provided as reinforced concrete cantilever projections at the mid landing level of the staircase. Such refuge areas must be at least 3 metres wide and their area for residential buildings must be at least 10 sq metres and for commercial buildings the area of refuge area must be 15 sq metres.
• A clear passage to the refuge area must be constructed, which must be painted with a luminous paint and signs must be mentioned adequately.
• It should be noted that staircase or elevators must not open in the refuge areas. This space should be kept exclusively as the temporary shelter in case of fire or any such emergency.
• The refuge area must be accessible for the residents easily in case of emergency. So, its door must remain unlocked always.
• This area must be kept for the sole purpose of emergency use. In no case, it should be used for any temporary or permanent activity.

As far as I am aware of the latest developments regarding refuge areas, I can tell you what is refuge floor and all the recent news related to it. According to the National Building Code (NBC), every elevated structure or high-rise building should have a committed refuge area on each seventh floor of the structure. The first shelter area must be located after the initial 24 m (in height) and from that point onward, on every seventh floor. A structure's terrace floor is likewise considered a refuge area.

Whether it is a commercial or a residential structure, in the event that it is an elevated or high-rise structure, it should have a refuge area. As per NBC, structures with nine or more floors are viewed as high-rise structures.

What is meant by refuge area in building?

A refuge area in a high-rise structure is intended to help individuals in the event of a fire or another crisis, particularly when individuals can't leave the structure. In the event when evacuation is impossible and the residents of the building need accommodation, the inhabitants of the structure can stand by in the refuge area until help shows up.

This is the meaning of refuge area in a building.

I recently bought an apartment in Mumbai. During my house hunt, I was introduced to the term, “refuge area.” To ensure that structures adhere to a uniform safety code, the government has made it essential for all real estate developers to abide by building bye-laws. The ordinances stipulate that every high-rise structure must have a clearly marked area where people can hide in case of emergency. This region is known as a refuge area. There are a few refuge area rules in Maharashtra, followed by the builders.

I’d like to elaborate a bit on your query, what is refuge area in a building?

What is refuge area in high rise building?

In high-rise buildings, there is a designated area called the refuge area where occupants can seek safety in the event of a fire or other emergency. Every 24 metres, or every seven floors, a refuge area must be constructed. 

I hope this suffices your query about the refuge flat meaning.

After going through the above-mentioned answers, you must be aware of the rules of refuge area. However, I’d like to list a few rules;

• The only time the stairwell or lift in the refuge area would be used is in an emergency.

• A builder must provide a refuge area in a high-rise building on every seventh floor or 24 meters.

• Community meetings should not take place in the refuge area.

• Only in an emergency should one enter the refuge area of a high-rise building.

• Society must clean a building's refuge space at least once each week.

Can refuge area be used for party?

Birthday parties, events like setting up table tennis or carom games, or even yoga lessons are not permitted to be held in the refuge zones. The refuge space should always be left empty (24/7) so that it can be used in an emergency. Cleaning the building's refuge area at least once every seven days must be assumed by the responsible society.

I’d like to conclude my answer here about the refuge area rules in Maharashtra. I hope this helps:)

Read More:

The refuge area in apartment is an area that must be kept and used in case of an emergency like fire break out, theft or more. Such spaces should not be used by any dwellers at all. As per the National Building Code, the refuge area must be on every seventh floor. In many buildings, the terrace floor area is considered a refuge area. If you are buying an apartment anywhere, be sure the building has a refuge area. Let me share what I know about the refuge floor height. Also, get to know how can an apartment on the refuge floor benefit you.

What is refuge area in building as per NBC?

The National Building Code has mentioned where the refuge area must be built and why. They simply term the area as a space where people can take shelter in case of a dire emergency. No one can use this space at any cost. This space should always be empty and should never be allocated to someone. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a flat on refuge floor in high rise buildings?

There are a number of pros and cons of having an apartment on refuge floor and they are:

• You will be the first one to save yourself and take shelter if there is any fire break or other serious issue

• People do use that space for their own use 

• Since refugee areas are open, you will enjoy good ventilation

• You will get direct rain and sunlight which can be irritating at times

• Other people can use the space for carrying out their works so your privacy can get hindered

• This area is not well maintained so you might face seepage of water problems as well

What are the refuge area guidelines?

There are some refuge area rules like

• The refuge area must be limited to a maximum of 4% of the liveable area

• It should be there after the first 24 meters of the building and after every 7th floor

• The area should be free from floor space index

I hope you have understood now what should be the refuge floor height.

At times of crisis, it becomes quite impossible to use the stairs since the sudden rush can cause panic, and people can stumble or get seriously injured. I live with my aged parents so I know how tough it is to make them move swiftly from one place to another. Now during a crisis or fire breakout or some other issues, have you thought about how to escape the danger without getting harmed especially in a high-rise building since you might not be able to come out of the apartment so easily within a short time. Thus a refuge floor has been constructed there. Do you know the refuge floor meaning? If not, let me make you clear about it.

A refuge area is an area that is reserved until and unless there is a serious emergency in a building, like in case of a fire breaking out and others. In that case, the dwellers can take shelter here for a short time.

The rules and regulations change quite often to ensure the utmost safety of the dwellers. The above answers are accurate enough. Apart from these, some more regulations are,

• Cleaning of this place weekly at least is mandatory

• Usage of the luminous board to indicate the direction of the refuge area is compulsory

• The passage to the refuge area must be lit enough 

These are just some add-ups to the above-mentioned points. Always remember that refuge areas are saviour so when you are going to buy an apartment, do check whether the building has a refuge area or not.

I hope you now understand

refuge floor meaning clearly.

Read More:

Government has made it mandatory that developers need to provide a refuge area in the buildings.

 As per laws, every high-rise building must have a demarcated space, where people can take shelter in case of an emergency. Let us understand r

efuge area meaning

• Refuge area meaning in Marathi: आश्रय क्षेत्र

• Refuge area meaning in Hindi: शरण क्षेत्र

According to the National Building Code

Refuge area in the building should be there after every seventh floor. These refuge areas can be used by the residents in case of emergence. Before the construction of skyscraper buildings the developer needs to provide the refuge area in the project plan.

• The door should never be locked as this area is for emergency purposes.

• The refuge area cannot be used for any other purpose by the residents of the buildings.

• Refugee area can not be used for

  birthday parties or other event carry out like yoga class , Indoor game like Table tennis, carrom room etc.

• The building above 9 floors should have refuge area for both residential and commercial properties especially in Mumbai City.

• The refuge area should be placed after the first 24 meters of the building  and after every seven floor builder should provide refuge area. 

• Refuge area will be restricted to  just 4% of the habitable area and that area will be free from floor space index. 

• Ther BMC has sanctioned a refuge area of 550 square feet.

• The high rise building utp 30 metres from the gound the terrace area of those building will be treated as refuge area. 

This is all about refuge area in buildings