Article 54(2) of the Turkish Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings (BYKHY) requires a boiler room to be separated from the other parts of the building by elements with at least 120 minutes fire resistance and to be located in a central position and as a single whole; a building expansion joint may not pass through the boiler room. Article 54(3) requires fresh air and exhaust air shafts, and Article 54(4) requires the door to open into a common lobby or corridor.
Provisions of Article 54
| Paragraph | Provision |
|---|---|
| 54(1) | Boiler rooms comply with the relevant Turkish Standards |
| 54(2) | Separated from the other parts by elements with at least 120 minutes fire resistance; in a central position and as a single whole; no building expansion joint may pass through the boiler room |
| 54(3) | Fresh air and exhaust air shafts are built in addition to the flues |
| 54(4) | The door may not open directly onto an escape stair or general-use stairs; it opens into a common lobby or corridor |
| 54(5) | At least one door in boiler rooms with a thermal capacity between 50 kW and 350 kW; at least 2 exit doors in boiler rooms with a floor area over 100 m² or a thermal capacity over 350 kW. The doors are placed as far as possible in opposite directions; they have at least 90 minutes fire resistance, are smoke-tight and self-closing |
| 54(6) | Measures are taken to prevent liquid fuel spilling onto the floor; a channel system that can be easily drained is provided for spilled fuel |
| 54(7) | In a liquid-fuel boiler room, a concrete sump of at least 0.25 m³ is built; liquid fuel run-off is passed through a fuel separator before entering the sump |
| 54(8) | At least 1 multi-purpose dry chemical powder fire extinguisher of 6 kg; in large boiler rooms also at least 1 hose cabinet |
Article 24(2) also lists the boiler room among the enclosed spaces with a fire hazard whose walls and floors must have the properties of compartment walls. In boiler rooms using natural gas or LPG, Article 55 also applies: the meters are placed outside the boiler room, the main gas shut-off valve and the main electrical panel are outside the boiler room in an easily accessible place, and gas detectors must be used.
Common breaches
| Breach | Basis |
|---|---|
| Expansion joint passing through the boiler room | Article 54(2) |
| Separating element with lower resistance instead of 120 minutes | Article 54(2) |
| Fresh air and exhaust air shafts not built | Article 54(3) |
| Door opening directly onto an escape stair or general stair | Article 54(4) |
| Boiler room not central and not a single whole | Article 54(2) |
Field note
The expansion joint breach originates in the architectural design: the boiler room is placed on the line of the joint between two blocks and the mechanical design does not notice it. The solution is to move the boiler room away from the joint line or to terminate the joint at the boiler room wall; both must be decided together with the structural design.
Checklist
- Are the separating elements at least 120 minutes (Article 54(2))?
- Does no expansion joint pass through the boiler room (Article 54(2))?
- Are there fresh air and exhaust air shafts (Article 54(3))?
- Does the door open into a common lobby or corridor (Article 54(4))?
- Has the number of doors been checked against the thermal capacity and floor area; are the doors 90-minute rated, smoke-tight and self-closing (Article 54(5))?
- Is there a 6 kg dry chemical powder extinguisher in the boiler room; is there a hose cabinet in a large boiler room (Article 54(8))?
FAQ
How many minutes of fire resistance must a boiler room have?
Under BYKHY Article 54(2), a boiler room is located in a central position and as a single whole, separated from the other parts of the building by elements with at least 120 minutes fire resistance. A building expansion joint may not pass through the boiler room.
Where may a boiler room door open?
Under Article 54(4), a boiler room door may not open directly onto an escape stair or general-use stairs; it must always open into a common lobby or corridor.
Which shafts are mandatory in a boiler room?
Under Article 54(3), boiler rooms must have fresh air and exhaust air shafts in addition to the flues.
References
- Turkish Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings (BYKHY), Official Gazette 19.12.2007/26735 and amendments; Articles 24, 54, 55. mevzuat.gov.tr
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Download MEP Calc on the App StoreSources are listed in the References section at the end of the article. Quotations from the regulation are unofficial English translations of the Turkish text. This article is for general information; for article numbers, thresholds and exemptions, the current regulation and standard texts published in the Official Gazette govern, and design must be carried out by an authorised engineer.