Definition, NBCS 2026 Requirements, Calculation and Design Guidelines
A refuge area in architecture is a designated space within a building where occupants can temporarily gather during an emergency, particularly during fire evacuation. It acts as a staging area within the overall life-safety strategy, allowing occupants to remain protected while evacuation, firefighting or assisted evacuation operations continue.
For architects, a refuge area is not simply an empty balcony or leftover open space. Its location, size, accessibility, connection with the firefighting shaft, signage, ventilation, emergency facilities, drainage, sprinklers and freedom from obstructions must be considered as part of the building’s overall fire and life-safety design.
The regulatory context has also changed. The Bureau of Indian Standards established SP 7:2026, National Building Construction Standards 2026, on 30 April 2026, replacing the earlier SP 7:2016 publication. The Fire and Life Safety provisions are now presented under Part F of NBCS 2026.
However, an important qualification applies: NBCS Part F states that fire safety is primarily implemented through State/UT legislation, building bye-laws and local regulations, and that the NBCS provisions serve as guidance and reference for State Governments and local authorities. Therefore, the applicable development regulations and Fire Department requirements for the specific project must always be checked before finalizing a design.
What Is a Refuge Area in Architecture?
A refuge area is an area within a building intended for temporary use during egress. NBCS 2026 describes it as a staging area protected from the effects of fire and smoke.
In practical architectural terms, it is a planned life-safety space that can provide occupants with an intermediate location during an emergency when immediate evacuation to the exit discharge is not possible or when assisted evacuation is required.
Quick Definition
A refuge area is a designated life-safety space in a building used for temporary occupant staging during emergency evacuation, particularly in high-rise buildings, while providing a protected connection to the building’s fire and evacuation strategy.
It should not be confused with:
- A normal balcony
- A terrace
- A waiting lounge
- A service area
- A fire escape staircase
- A fire lift lobby
- A storage area
- A recreational open space
Its function is specifically connected with fire and life safety.
Why Is a Refuge Area Important?
As building height increases, evacuation becomes more complex. A tall building may contain many occupants distributed across numerous floors, making complete evacuation a process that must be carefully planned.
A refuge strategy can help by providing an intermediate staging location within the evacuation system.
The basic objectives are to:
- Provide temporary occupant staging.
- Support assisted evacuation.
- Provide a designated area away from immediate fire conditions.
- Connect occupants with the firefighting and evacuation system.
- Support occupants who cannot self-evacuate easily.
- Improve coordination between architectural planning and fire-safety systems.
- Provide an identifiable location for emergency management.
NBCS 2026 specifically emphasizes staging and assisted evacuation for people with disabilities, ailments, elderly occupants and others who may face difficulties during self-evacuation.
Refuge Area vs Refuge Space
One of the important improvements in the 2026 provisions is the distinction between a refuge area and a refuge space.
| Aspect | Refuge Area | Refuge Space |
|---|---|---|
| Basic purpose | Temporary occupant staging | Staging and assisted evacuation |
| Typical location | Periphery of designated floor area | Firefighting-shaft lift lobby |
| Main relationship | Building-level refuge provision | Firefighting shaft |
| Evacuation role | Temporary refuge during egress | Supports assisted evacuation |
| Accessibility | Accessible means of egress required | Planned for occupants requiring assistance |
| Fireman’s lift relationship | Connects to firefighting shaft | Located within/associated with firefighting shaft |
| NBCS 2026 | Buildings over 24 m as applicable | Planned within firefighting-shaft strategy |
NBCS 2026 states that refuge spaces can be planned within the lift lobby of the firefighting shaft. The staging provision is to be based on the applicable calculation, including a minimum 12 m² or 5 percent of calculated occupants of the floor served by that firefighting shaft, with a refuge-space allowance of 0.45 m² per person, whichever is higher.
This distinction is particularly useful for architects because a building can have a refuge strategy without treating every intermediate space as a conventional external refuge area.
Refuge Area Requirements Under NBCS 2026
The current national reference is SP 7:2026 — National Building Construction Standards 2026. Part F, Annex D-4.2 addresses refuge spaces and refuge areas in high-rise buildings.
When Is a Refuge Area Required?
NBCS 2026 states that, as an alternative to refuge spaces, refuge areas should be provided in buildings having a height of more than 24 m.
The refuge area is planned to accommodate occupants of two consecutive floors:
- The floor where the refuge is provided
- The floor immediately above it
The calculation uses an allowance of 0.3 m² per person, with an additional wheelchair-space provision of 0.9 m² for every 200 occupants or portion thereof, subject to a minimum refuge area of 15 m², whichever is higher.
Important regulatory note
The 24 m criterion should not be interpreted as a universal approval rule for every project in India.
NBCS Part F itself explains that State Governments and local authorities implement fire-safety measures through applicable legislation, bye-laws and regulations. Therefore, the architect must verify the project’s governing authority and Fire Department requirements.
Where Should a Refuge Area Be Located?
NBCS 2026 specifies that the refuge area should:
- Be located on the periphery of the floor.
- Be open to air on at least one side.
- Be protected with suitable railings.
- Be approachable by an accessible means of egress.
- Connect to the firefighting shaft.
- Avoid forcing occupants to return through the building area from which they travelled to the refuge area.
This means that location should be decided during the early planning stage, rather than added to the building after the floor plan has already been finalized.
At What Levels Should Refuge Areas Be Provided?
For the general refuge-area provision in Annex D-4.2, NBCS 2026 specifies:
- At or immediately above 24 m
- Thereafter at approximately 15 m intervals
The standard uses the wording “at every 15 m or so,” so the exact placement should be coordinated with the floor-to-floor heights, building configuration and applicable authority requirements.
Example
Suppose a building has:
- Ground floor
- 3.2 m typical floor-to-floor height
- Multiple residential floors
- Overall height greater than 24 m
The architect should not simply select every seventh floor by rule of thumb. The actual refuge levels should be coordinated against the vertical height, floor-to-floor dimensions and local approval requirements.
Refuge Area Calculation
The calculation is one of the most important parts of refuge-area planning.
The general NBCS 2026 approach can be represented conceptually as:
Required refuge area = occupant allowance + wheelchair provision, subject to minimum 15 m²
For planning purposes:
Refuge Area = max [0.3 × N + 0.9 × C, 15 m²]
Where:
- N = calculated occupants served by the refuge area
- C = number of wheelchair spaces required based on one space for every 200 occupants or portion thereof
- 15 m² = minimum refuge-area benchmark
The final design should be checked against the exact applicable provision and local authority requirements.
Worked Example of Refuge Area Calculation
Consider an illustrative residential building where the applicable occupant-load calculation gives:
- Floor A = 48 occupants
- Floor B = 48 occupants
- Total occupants served = 96
Step 1 — Calculate occupant area
96 × 0.3 m²
= 28.8 m²
Step 2 — Calculate wheelchair provision
96 occupants fall within one 200-occupant increment.
Therefore:
1 × 0.9 m²
= 0.9 m²
Step 3 — Add the provisions
28.8 + 0.9
= 29.7 m²
Step 4 — Compare with minimum
Calculated requirement = 29.7 m²
Minimum benchmark = 15 m²
Therefore:
Required refuge area = 29.7 m²
In practice, an architect may propose a slightly larger area to accommodate the actual geometry, circulation, railing, access and authority requirements.
Important: This is an illustrative calculation, not a substitute for the project-specific occupant-load calculation or approval requirements.
Occupant Load and Refuge Area
Refuge-area calculation is directly related to occupant load.
The occupant load depends on factors such as:
- Occupancy classification
- Gross floor area
- Intended use
- Occupant-load factor
- Floor configuration
- Applicable regulations
Archi-Monarch already has a separate resource explaining occupant-load calculation, so the new article should link readers to that resource rather than duplicating its entire contents.
For some residential applications, NBCS provisions specifically refer to an occupant-load basis of 12.5 m² gross floor area per person when calculating refuge-area requirements for apartment buildings with balconies above 60 m. This should not be casually generalized to every occupancy; the applicable clause and project occupancy must be checked.
Architectural Planning of a Refuge Area
A refuge area should be considered during the development of the floor plan.
1. Plan It Near the Firefighting Strategy
The refuge area should have a clear relationship with:
- Firefighting shaft
- Fireman’s lift
- Protected staircase
- Firefighting lobby
- Exit route
- Emergency communication system
NBCS 2026 requires the refuge area to connect to the firefighting shaft without requiring occupants to retrace their route through the building spaces through which they travelled to reach the refuge.
2. Keep the Area Unobstructed
A refuge area should not become a convenient location for:
- Furniture
- Planters
- Storage cabinets
- Electrical panels
- HVAC equipment
- Plumbing equipment
- Building materials
- Combustible storage
- Maintenance storage
NBCS 2026 specifically states that refuge areas should be kept clear and should not contain combustible products, electrical or mechanical equipment and similar obstructions.
3. Provide Clear Access
The route to the refuge area should be:
- Clearly identifiable
- Accessible
- Free of steps where an accessible route is required
- Connected to the appropriate fire-safety circulation system
- Free from unnecessary changes in direction
The objective is to make the refuge area easy to reach under stressful emergency conditions.
4. Consider Persons with Disabilities
Universal accessibility is especially important in refuge planning.
A person may be:
- A wheelchair user
- An elderly occupant
- Temporarily injured
- Unable to use stairs independently
- Accompanied by another person
- Experiencing reduced mobility during an emergency
NBCS 2026 explicitly connects refuge planning with assisted evacuation and the needs of people with disabilities and other occupants who may require assistance.
Therefore, the architect should consider:
- Step-free access
- Adequate maneuvering space
- Door clearances
- Wheelchair staging
- Clear signage
- Communication
- Relationship with fireman’s lift
- Emergency lighting
Refuge Area and Firefighting Shaft
A refuge area should not be designed independently from the firefighting shaft.
A typical high-rise fire-safety strategy may include:
Occupied Floor → Protected Access → Refuge Area → Firefighting Shaft → Fireman’s Lift / Protected Staircase → Exit Discharge
The firefighting shaft generally brings together the protected staircase, fireman’s lift and protected lobby.
Archi-Monarch already has a separate article on the fire tower/firefighting shaft, making it an important internal-link opportunity.
The current NBCS 2026 provisions specifically state that refuge areas should connect to the firefighting shaft comprising the fireman’s lift, lobby and staircase.
Refuge Area Signage
A refuge area should be clearly identifiable.
NBCS 2026 specifies a prominent sign bearing:
“REFUGE AREA”
at the entrance.
The lettering should have a minimum height of 75 mm, and the signage should also provide information about the location of refuge areas on the floors above and below. Similar signage should be conspicuously located within the refuge area.
Architectural signage should therefore consider:
- High visibility
- Contrast
- Emergency lighting
- Clear lettering
- Directional arrows where appropriate
- International accessibility symbol where applicable
- Visibility from the approach route
Facilities in a Refuge Area
According to NBCS 2026, each refuge area should be ventilated and provided with:
- First-aid box
- Fire extinguishers
- Public-address speaker
- Fireman talk-back facility
- Adequate emergency lighting
- Drinking-water facility
The refuge area should also have appropriate drainage and sprinklers.
Refuge Area Facility Checklist
| Facility | Planning Purpose |
|---|---|
| Emergency lighting | Maintains visibility during power failure |
| Public-address speaker | Emergency communication |
| Fireman talk-back | Communication with emergency personnel |
| First-aid box | Basic emergency assistance |
| Fire extinguisher | Initial fire-response support |
| Drinking water | Occupant support |
| Drainage | Prevents water accumulation |
| Sprinklers | Fire protection |
| Signage | Identification and wayfinding |
Ventilation and Environmental Considerations
Ventilation is important because the refuge area forms part of an emergency life-safety strategy.
The designer should consider:
- Exposure to external air
- Smoke movement
- Building orientation
- Adjacent façade openings
- Potential fire exposure from lower floors
- Weather protection
- Rainwater drainage
- Emergency lighting
- Mechanical services
NBCS 2026 specifically requires refuge areas to be ventilated.
The design should therefore avoid creating a visually open space that is functionally enclosed by unsuitable façade elements.
Structural Design Considerations
A refuge area can have significant structural implications, particularly where it is planned as a cantilevered projection.
The architect and structural engineer should coordinate:
- Cantilever depth
- Slab thickness
- Beam arrangement
- Column positions
- Edge beams
- Railing loads
- Waterproofing
- Drainage
- Deflection
- Fire-resistance requirements
- Connections with the main structural system
A refuge area should never be treated as an architectural projection that can simply be added after the structural design has been completed.
Structural coordination checklist
Before issuing GFC drawings, verify:
- Refuge slab level
- Structural framing
- Cantilever support
- Edge beam requirements
- Railing anchorage
- Waterproofing slope
- Drain outlets
- Fire-stopping details
- Coordination with MEP sleeves
MEP Coordination for Refuge Areas
MEP coordination is frequently overlooked.
The architectural plan should be checked against:
Electrical
- Emergency lighting
- Fire alarm devices
- Public-address speaker
- Fireman talk-back
- Required emergency power connections
Firefighting
- Sprinkler layout
- Fire extinguisher location
- Firefighting shaft
- Fireman’s lift
- Fire hydrant/landing-valve arrangement where applicable
Plumbing
- Drinking-water provision
- Drainage
- Rainwater disposal
- Floor drain where required
HVAC / Mechanical
- Ventilation requirements
- Smoke-control strategy where applicable
- Equipment exclusion zones
The refuge area should not become a location through which unrelated services are casually routed.
Drainage and Waterproofing
Because refuge areas may be exposed to weather, drainage deserves particular attention.
The architect should coordinate:
- Finished-floor slope.
- Drain location.
- Waterproofing upturns.
- Railing base details.
- Rainwater outlet.
- Overflow arrangement where applicable.
- Waterproofing at door thresholds.
- Connection to the rainwater system.
NBCS 2026 specifically requires adequate drainage to maintain efficient stormwater disposal.
Refuge Area and Residential Balconies
Residential apartment buildings require particular attention because balconies can interact with refuge strategies.
NBCS 2026 states that high-rise apartment buildings with apartments having balconies need not be provided with refuge areas in the same manner as apartment buildings without balconies. For apartment buildings above 60 m where balconies are present, if refuge areas are preferred over refuge spaces, the provisions are around the 60 m level and thereafter around every 30 m.
This provision should be interpreted carefully because the final requirement depends on:
- Building height
- Apartment configuration
- Balcony provision
- Occupancy
- Applicable local regulations
- Fire authority approval
Architects should therefore avoid using a blanket rule such as “every high-rise residential building requires a refuge area every X floors.”
Refuge Area and FAR
Refuge areas can have implications for development calculations.
NBCS 2026 notes that refuge area provided in excess of the requirements should be counted towards FAR.
However, FAR/FSI treatment can also depend on local development regulations.
For example, local regulations may establish their own provisions for the permissible area, location and FAR treatment of refuge spaces.
Therefore, the architectural area statement should be checked against the applicable authority’s development regulations, not only the national fire-safety reference.
Refuge Area for Special Occupancies
Refuge requirements should not be copied from a residential project and applied blindly to:
- Hospitals
- Hotels
- Shopping centres
- Assembly buildings
- Educational buildings
- Offices
- Mixed-use buildings
- Industrial buildings
NBCS 2026 contains occupancy-specific requirements. For example, mall-like occupancies involving combinations of assembly, mercantile, cinema and restaurant uses have separate refuge-area provisions.
This is particularly important for mixed-use buildings, where several occupancy classifications can exist within the same development.
Refuge Area in Mixed-Use Buildings
Mixed-use towers require careful fire-safety zoning.
For example, a development may contain:
- Retail podium
- Office floors
- Hotel floors
- Residential floors
- Parking
- Restaurants
- Assembly spaces
Each occupancy can have different occupant loads and fire-safety requirements.
The refuge strategy should therefore be coordinated with:
- Occupancy classification
- Fire compartments
- Evacuation strategy
- Vertical transportation
- Firefighting shafts
- Staircases
- Horizontal exits
- Fire alarm zones
- Smoke-management strategy
The refuge area should be considered as part of the complete evacuation strategy, not as an isolated architectural feature.
Common Refuge Area Design Mistakes
1. Treating the refuge area as a balcony
A normal balcony is not automatically a compliant refuge area.
The space must satisfy the applicable life-safety requirements.
2. Adding it after the floor plan is complete
This can create structural, MEP and circulation problems.
Refuge planning should start during schematic design.
3. Using the area for storage
Storage can obstruct evacuation and compromise the intended function.
4. Providing insufficient area
A nominal 15 m² area should not automatically be assumed to be sufficient. The occupant-load calculation may produce a larger requirement.
5. Ignoring wheelchair users
The current provisions specifically recognize assisted evacuation and wheelchair staging.
6. Forgetting drainage
An exposed refuge area without proper drainage can experience water accumulation.
7. Ignoring firefighting-shaft connectivity
The refuge area must work with the firefighting shaft and not force occupants to retrace a dangerous route.
8. Poor signage
A refuge area that cannot be identified quickly is less useful during an emergency.
9. Routing unrelated services through it
Mechanical and electrical equipment can reduce usable refuge space and create obstructions.
10. Using outdated NBC 2016 information without checking current requirements
This is particularly important in 2026 because BIS has established SP 7:2026 — National Building Construction Standards 2026.
Practical Refuge Area Planning Checklist for Architects
Before finalizing the architectural drawing, check:
Planning
- Applicable building regulations identified
- Occupancy classification confirmed
- Building height confirmed
- Refuge strategy established
- Refuge level identified
- Required refuge area calculated
Access
- Accessible route provided
- Connection to firefighting shaft checked
- Fireman’s lift relationship coordinated
- Staircase connection checked
- No unnecessary dead ends
Area
- Occupant load verified
- 0.3 m²/person requirement checked where applicable
- Wheelchair provision checked
- Minimum 15 m² benchmark checked
- Local authority requirement checked
Safety
- Area kept clear
- No combustible storage
- Emergency lighting provided
- Signage provided
- Fire extinguisher provided
- Sprinkler provision coordinated
- Communication systems coordinated
Services
- Drainage provided
- Waterproofing coordinated
- Electrical services coordinated
- Fire alarm coordinated
- PA system coordinated
- Fireman talk-back coordinated
Structural
- Slab/beam design coordinated
- Cantilever checked where applicable
- Railing anchorage coordinated
- Waterproofing and structural details coordinated
Refuge Area vs Normal Open Space
| Feature | Refuge Area | Normal Open Space |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Life safety | General building/site use |
| Emergency function | Yes | Not necessarily |
| Fire-safety requirements | Yes | Depends on space |
| Occupant calculation | Applicable | Usually not |
| Signage | Required as applicable | Generally no |
| Firefighting connection | Required as applicable | No |
| Storage | Not permitted | Depends on use |
| Accessibility | Important | Depends on use |
| Sprinklers | Required under NBCS provision | Depends on building/fire strategy |
| Emergency communication | Required | Not normally |
| Drainage | Required | General drainage provisions |
Is a Refuge Area the Same as a Refuge Floor?
No.
A refuge area is a designated portion of a building floor used for temporary occupant staging.
A refuge floor generally refers to a larger floor-level arrangement where significant refuge and/or fire-safety functions are concentrated.
The terminology can also vary between regulations and project documents. Therefore, architects should use the terminology adopted by the applicable authority and approval documents.
Is a Refuge Area an Exit?
A refuge area is not the same thing as an exit staircase or exit discharge.
It is part of the overall life-safety and egress strategy.
The occupant may move:
Occupied Space → Egress Route → Refuge Area/Space → Assisted Evacuation or Protected Exit Route → Exit Discharge
The exact strategy depends on the building design and applicable fire-safety provisions.
Architectural Design Principles for an Effective Refuge Area
A well-planned refuge area should follow several fundamental architectural principles:
1. Visibility
Occupants should be able to identify the space easily.
2. Accessibility
The space should be usable by people with different mobility requirements.
3. Connectivity
The refuge area must connect logically with the fire-safety circulation system.
4. Protection
Materials, enclosure conditions and building services should support the fire-safety strategy.
5. Simplicity
Emergency circulation should be easy to understand.
6. Clear Space
The required refuge area should remain available for its intended emergency function.
7. Coordination
Architecture, structure, fire protection and MEP services must be developed together.
Conclusion
A refuge area in architecture is an important component of high-rise fire and life-safety planning. It provides a designated location for temporary occupant staging and supports assisted evacuation as part of a broader emergency strategy.
The current Indian national reference is SP 7:2026 — National Building Construction Standards 2026, whose Part F addresses fire and life safety. Under Annex D-4.2, refuge areas are an alternative to refuge spaces and are intended for buildings over 24 m, subject to the applicable provisions. The general calculation considers occupants of two consecutive floors, an allowance of 0.3 m² per person, wheelchair provision and a minimum 15 m² benchmark.
For architects, the most important lesson is that a refuge area should not be treated as leftover balcony space. It should be integrated with the building’s evacuation strategy, firefighting shaft, accessibility provisions, structural system, fire protection, emergency communication, drainage and MEP coordination.
Finally, NBCS 2026 itself states that State/UT governments and local authorities implement fire-safety requirements through their applicable laws, regulations and building bye-laws. Therefore, the architect should always verify the requirements of the relevant authority and Fire Department before using the national standard as the basis for a building approval.