1) Gopaldas Bhawan is an 18-story commercial building located in Connaught Place, New Delhi constructed in 1998. 2) The building contains modern fire safety features like sprinklers, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and two exit staircases. 3) It was studied as a case study to evaluate the fire safety of older high-rise buildings in Connaught Place.

1. Emerging Trends in Fire Safety For High Rise Buildings
Shubham Jain(00618001614) Page 78
3.3 GOPALDAS BHAWAN, CONNAUGHT PLACE
Location 28, Barakhamba Road,
. Connaught Place, New Delhi
Type Commercial(Office space)
Architectural Style Modernism
Year Built 1998
Floor count 1B+G+UG+18
Height 80.67m
Parking Ratio 1:1000
Project Area 1 acres
Built up area 23,783 sq.m
Typical Floor area 1,321 sq.m
3.3.1 Criteria for selection of case study
Gopaldas Bhawan is one of the high rise building standing in Connaught Place,
constructed in 1998. The main aim of taking of this building as case study was to
see whether the buildings of Connaught place which is one of the largest
Fig 3.51 View1 of
GopalDas Bhawan
Source - Author
Fig 3.52 View2 of GopalDas
Bhawan
Source - Author

2. Emerging Trends in Fire Safety For High Rise Buildings
Shubham Jain(00618001614) Page 79
financial, commercial and business centres in New Delhi, are fire safe or not,
whether regular maintainence is done in old buildings to keep it fire safe.
3.3.3 Location Map
Fig 3.54 Location Map
(https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Gopal+Das+Bhawan,+Connaught+Lane,+Barakhamba,+New+Delhi,+Delhi+110001/@28.6313675,77.2233257,
18.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x390cfd31331fbf2d:0xf207c06994b82486!8m2!3d28.6314135!4d77.2233158)
Fig 3.53 Side View
Of Building
Source - Author
3.3.2 Introduction
 Situated on Barakhamba road, Gopaldas Bhawan
is a high-rise which has almost become the face of
contemporary architecture in Delhi.
 The tower has a leaf shaped plan which gets
curve and corners.
 The façade is made interesting with the use of
recessed windows.
 This building also has lower floors as having more
floor area as compared to the upper floors. Due to a slender tower plan
the building gets height without flouting the bye laws.
 The building is well equipped with all modern basic amenities like lift,
power back up, Centrally air-conditioned, fire safety, world class
maintenance and security etc.

3. Emerging Trends in Fire Safety For High Rise Buildings
Shubham Jain(00618001614) Page 80
3.3.4 Site Plan
Fig 3.55 Site Plan
Source - Author
3.3.5 Floor Plan
Fig 3.56 Typical Floor Plan
Source - Author

4. Emerging Trends in Fire Safety For High Rise Buildings
Shubham Jain(00618001614) Page 81
3.3.6 Occupant Evacuation
- Escape Staircase
 Two escape staircase provided for occupant‘s
evacuation.
 The staircases are ventilated by windows.
 Staircase Specifications:
Riser 150mm
Tread 300mm
Width of thread 1200mm
- Communication
 The Gopaldas bhawan like any other building is outfitted with an emergency
Public addressal system and fire alarms.
 Public address system can only be used for fire alarm emergency voice
notification, under certain circumstances.
 It provides emergency announcements and direction to occupants in many
types of emergencies in addition to fire emergencies.
 A talk Back unit installed at every staircase landing for communication of
people in the control room
Fig 3.57 Escape Staircase
Source - Author
Fig 3.58 Fire Alarm and
Communication System
Source - Author
Fig 3.59 Talk
Back Unit
(Source - self)
Table 3.4 Escape Staircase
Source - Author

5. Emerging Trends in Fire Safety For High Rise Buildings
Shubham Jain(00618001614) Page 82
- Lift Assistance
 Gopaldas tower contains fire lift , it is designed
to have additional protection, with controls that
enable it to be used under the direct control of
the fire and rescue service in fighting a fire.
 Lift not allowed for evacuation of people
because of the danger that they will become
immobilised.
 1 fire lift provided for the firefighters to operate
in case of fire.
 Distance of escape staircase from deepest point of office i.e escape distance
is 35m.
 Internal corridor 1200-1500mm wide.
Fig 3.60 Signboard
for Evacuation
Source - Author
3.3.7 Fire And Life Safety Plan System
Fig 3.61 Fire and Lift Safety
Plan
Source - Author

6. Emerging Trends in Fire Safety For High Rise Buildings
Shubham Jain(00618001614) Page 83
3.3.8 Fire Fighting Systems
3.3.8(i) Automatic Sprinkler Systems
 Dry pipe fire sprinklers provided for the entire building.
 Automatic sprinklers system with bulb operating temperature of 68 degC are
used in the entire building for which the color of fluid within the bulb is red.
3.3.8(ii) Standpipe System
 Fire hose cabinet’s are provided at every floor level of the building as well as
in car park area.
 Source of water through water tanks & fire pump set.
Fig 3.62 Sprinklers in
basement
Source - Author
Fig 3.63 Sprinklers
in corridor
Source - Author
Fig 3.64 Fire Hose Cabinet
Source - Author

7. Emerging Trends in Fire Safety For High Rise Buildings
Shubham Jain(00618001614) Page 84
3.3.8(iii) Yard- Hydrant System
 Wet type hydrant used on the site.
3.3.8(iv) Fire Extinguishers
 Co2 gas and water type fire extinguishers used in the building.
 Water type fire extinguishers used for class A(combustible materials) fires and
Co2 type fire extinguisher is used for class B(flammable liquids) and for
electrical fires.
Fig 3.66 Hydrant on
Site
Source - Author
Fig 3.65 Location of Hydrants
on Site
Source - Author
Fig 3.67 Water Type
Extinguisher
Source - Author
Fig 3.68 CO2 Type
Extinguisher
Source - Author

8. Emerging Trends in Fire Safety For High Rise Buildings
Shubham Jain(00618001614) Page 85
3.3.9 Fire Detection Systems
Fig 3.69 Smoke
Detector
Source - Author
Fig 3.70 ACP and Glass on exterior façade
Source - Author
 Smoke and heat detectors are used in the
building,which senses smoke and heat
respectively during a fire.
 Smoke detection of ionization type and heat
detector of fixed temperature type used in
the building.
3.3.10 Materials Used
 Aluminium composite panel(ACP) used on the façade along with the
glass.
 Concrete and brick work used for columns and interior walls respectively.