(1)Processes, equipment, plant, etc. involving serious fire hazard. -(a)All processes involving serious explosion and flash fire hazard shall be located in segregated buildings where the equipment shall be so arranged that only a minimum number of employees are exposed to such hazards at any one time.(b)All industrial processes involving serious fire hazard should be located in building or work place separated from one another by walls of fire resistant construction.(c)Equipment and plant involving serious fire or flash fire hazard shall, wherever possible, be so constructed and installed that in case of fire, they can be easily isolated.(d)Ventilation ducts, pneumatic conveyors and similar equipment, involving a serious fire risk should be provided with flame arresting or automatic fire extinguishing appliances.(e)In all work places having serious fire or flash-fire hazards, passages between machines, installations or piles of material should be at least 90 cm.Fire Prevention(2)Protection against lighting. - Protection from lighting shall be provided for :-(a)buildings in which explosive or highly flammable substances are manufactured, used, handled or stored;(b)storage tanks containing oils, paints or other flammable liquids;(c)grain elevators; and(d)buildings, tall chimneys or stacks where flammable gases, fumes, dust or lint are likely to be present.(3)Explosives. - All explosives shall be handled, transported, stored and used in accordance with the provisions in the Indian Explosives Act, 1884.(4)Precautions against ignition. - Wherever there is danger of fire or explosion from accumulation of flammable or explosive substances in air-(a)all electrical apparatus shall either be excluded from the area of risk or they shall be of such construction and so installed and maintained as to prevent the danger or their being a source of ignition;(b)effective measures shall be adopted for prevention of accumulation of static charges to a dangerous extent;(c)Workers shall wear shoes without iron or steel nails or any other exposed materials of such nature.(d)smoking, lighting or carrying of matches, lighters or smoking materials, ferrous materials which is likely to cause sparks by friction;shall be prohibited;(e)transmission belts with iron fasteners shall not be used; and(f)all other precautions, as are reasonably practicable shall be taken to prevent initiation of ignition from all other possible sources such as open flames, frictional sparks, overheated surfaces of machinery or plants, chemical or physical chemical reaction and radiant heat.(5)Spontaneous ignition. - Where materials are likely to induce spontaneous ignition, care shall be taken to avoid formation of air pocket and to ensure adequate ventilation.(6)Cylinders containing compressed gas. - Cylinders containing compressed gas may only be stored in open if they are protected against excessive variation of temperature, direct rays of sun, or continuous dampness. Such cylinders shall never be stored near highly flammable substances, furnaces or hot processes. The room where such cylinders are stored shall have adequate ventilation.(7)Storage of flammable liquids. - (a) The quantity of flammable liquids in any work room shall be the minimum required for the process or processes carried on in such room. Flammable liquids shall be stored in suitable containers with close fitting covers:Provided that not more than 20 litres of flammable liquids having a flash point of 21°C or less shall be kept or stored in any work room.(b)Flammable liquids shall be stored in closed containers and in limited quantities in well ventilated of fire resistant construction which are isolated from the remainder or the building by fire walls and self closing arc doors.(c)Large quantities of such liquids shall be stored in isolated adequately ventilated building or fire resisting construction or in storage tanks, preferably under-ground and at a distance from any building as required in the petroleum Rules, 1976.(d)Effective steps shall be taken to prevent leakage of such liquids into basements, sumps or drains and to confine any escaping liquids within safe limits.(8)Accumulation of flammable dust, gas, fume or vapour in air or flammable waste material on the floors. - (a) Effective steps shall be taken for removal or prevention of the accumulation in the air of flammable dust, gas, fume or vapour to an extent which is likely to be dangerous.(b)No waste material of a flammable nature shall be permitted to accumulate on the floors and shall be removed at least once in a day or shift, any more often when possible. Such materials shall be placed in suitable metal containers with covers wherever possible.Emergent Fire Exits(9)Fire exits. - (a) In this Rule-(i)"horizontal exit" means an arrangement which allows alternative egres from a floor area to another floor at or near the same level in a adjoining part of the same building with adequate separation; and(ii)"travel distance" means the distance an occupant has to travel to reach an exit.(b)An exit may be door-way, corridor, passageway to an internal or extern? stairway or to a verandah. An exit may also include a horizontal exit leading to adjoining building at the same level.(c)Lifts, escalators and revolving-doors shall not be considered as exits for the purpose of this sub-Rule.(d)In every room of a factory exits sufficient to permit safe escape of the occupants in case of fire or other emergency shall be provided which shall be free of any obstruction.(e)The exits shall be clearly visible and suitably illuminated with suitable arrangement, whatever artificial lighting is to be adopted for this purpose to maintain the required illumination in case of failure of the normal source of electric supply.(f)The exits shall be marked in a language understood by the majority of the workers.(g)Fire resisting doors or roller shutters shall be provided at appropriate places along the escape routes to prevent spread of fire and smoke particularly at the entrance of lifts or stairs where funnel of flue effect may be created inducing an upward spread of fire.(h)All exits shall provide continuous means of egress to the exterior of a building or to an exterior open space leading to a street.(i)Exits shall be so located that the travel distance on the floor shall not exceed 30 meters.(j)In case of those factories where high hazard materials are stored or used, the travel distance to the exit shall not exceed 22.5 meters and there shall be at least two ways of escape from every room, however, small except toilet rooms, so located that the points of access thereto are out of or suitably shielded from area of high hazard.(k)Wherever more than one exit is required for any room space or floor exits shall be placed as remote from each other as possible and shall be arranged to provide direct access in separate directions from any point in the area served.(I)The unit of exit width used to measure capacity of any exit shall be 50 cm. A clear width of 25 cm. shall be counted as an additional half unit. Clear width of less than 25 cm. shall not be counted for exit width.(m)Occupants per unit width shall be 50 for stairs and 75 for doors.(n)For determining the exits required the occupant load shall be reckoned on the basis of actual number of occupants within any floor area or 1.0 square meters per person, whichever is more.(o)There shall not be less than two exits serving every floor area above and below the ground floor, and at least one of them shall be an internal enclosed stairway.(p)For every building or structure used for storage only, and every section thereof considered separately, shall have access to at least one exit so arranged and located as to provide a suitable means of escape for any person employed therein, and in any such room wherein more than 10 persons may be normally present at least two separate means of exit shall be available, as remote from each other as practicable.(q)Every storage area shall have access to at least one means of exit which can be readily opened.(r)Every exit doorway shall open into an enclosed stairway, a horizontal exit, on a corridor or passageway providing continuous and protected means of egress.(s)No exit doorway shall be not less than 100 cm. in width. Doorways shall be not less than 200 cm. in height.(t)Exit doorways shall open outwards, that is, away from the room but shall not obstruct the travel along any exit. No door when opened, shall reduce the required width of stairway or landing to less than 90 cm. over head or sliding doors shall not be installed for this purpose.(u)An exit door shall not open immediately upon a flight of stairs. A landing equal to at least the width of the doorway shall be provided in the stairway at each doorway. The level of landing shall be the same as that of the floor which it serves.(v)The exit doorways shall be openable from the side which they serve without the use of a key.(w)Exit corridors and passageways shall be of a width not less than the aggregate required width of exit doorways leading from there in the direction of travel to the exterior.(x)Where stairways discharge through corridors and passageways the height of the corridors and passageways shall not be less than 2.4 meters.(y)Internal stairs shall be constructed of non-combustible materials throughout,(z)Internal stairs shall be constructed as a self contained with at least one side adjacent to an external wall and shall be completely enclosed.(aa)A staircase shall not be arranged around a lift shatt unless the latter is totally enclosed by a material having a fire resistance rating not lower than that of the type of construction of the former.(ab)Hollow combustible construction shall not be permitted.(ac)The minimum width of an internal stair case shall be 100 cm.(ad)The minimum width of treads without nosing shall be 25 cm. for an internal staircase. The treads shall be constructed and maintained in a manner to prevent slipping.(ae)The maximum height of a riser shall be 19 cm. and the number of risers shall be limited to 12 per flight.(af)Hand rails shall be provided with a minimum height of 100 cm. and shall be firmly supported.(ag)The use of spiral staircase shall be limited to low occupant lead and to a building of height of 9 meters, unless they are connected to platforms such as balconies and terraces to allow escapes to pause. A spiral staircase shall be not less than 300 cm. diameter and have adequate head room.(ah)The width of a horizontal exit shall be same as for the exit doorway.(ai)The horizontal exit shall be equipped with at least one fire door of self closing type.(aj)The floor area on the opposite or refuge side of a horizontal exit shall be sufficient to accommodate occupants of the floor area served, allowing not less than 0.3 square meter per person. The refuge area shall be provided with exits adequate to meet the requirements of this sub-rule. At least one of the exits shall lead directly to the exterior or street.(ak)Where there is difference in level between connected areas for horizontal exit, ramps not more than 1 in 8 slope shall be provided. For this purpose steps shall not be used.(al)doors in horizontal exits shall be operable at all times.(am)Ramps with a slope of not more than 1 in 10 may be substituted for the requirements of staircase. For all slopes exceeding 1 in 10 and wherever the use is such as to involve danger of slipping the ramp shall be surfaced with non-slipping material.(an)In any building not provided with automatic fire alarm a manual fire alarm system shall be provided if the total capacity of the building is over 500 persons, or if more than 25 persons are employed above or below the ground floor, except that no manual fire alarm shall be required in one storey buildings where the entire area is undivided and all parts thereof are clearly visible to all occupants.Fire Fighting(10)First-aid fire fighting arrangements. - In every factory there shall be provided and maintained adequate and suitable fire fighting equipment for fighting fires in the early stages, those being referred to as first-aid fire fighting equipment in this Rule.(11)The types of first aid fire fighting equipment to be provided shall be determined by considering the different types of fire risk which are classified as follows:-(a)"Class A fire". - (a) Fire due to combustible materials such as wood, textiles, paper, rubbish and the like-(i)"Light hazard". - Occupancies like offices, assembly halls, canteens, restrooms, ambulance room and the like;(ii)"Ordinary hazard."-Occupancies like saw mills, carpentary shop, small timber yards, book binding shops engineering workshop and the like;(iii)"Extra Hazard". - Occupancies like large timber yards godowns storing fibrous materials, flour mills, cotton mills, jute mills, large wood working factories and like;(b)Class B fire. - Fire in flammable liquids like oil, petroleum products, solvents, grease, paint, etc.(c)Class C fire. - Fire arising out of gaseous substances.(d)Class D fire. - Fire from reactive chemicals, active materials and the like;(e)Class E fire. - Fire involving electrical equipment and delicate machinery and the like;(12)The number and types of first-aid fire fighting equipment to be provided shall be as per the following scale :-(a)Class A fire -(i)Light hazard. - One 9 litre water bucket for every 100 square metres of floor area or part thereof and 9 litre water type (soda), acid or gas pressure or bucket pump extinguisher shall be provided for each 6 buckets or part thereof with a minimum of the extinguisher and two buckets per compartment of the building. These equipments shall be as distributed over the entire area that a person have to travel not more than 25 metres from any point to reach the nearest equipment.(ii)Ordinary hazard. - One 9 litre water bucket for every 100 square metres of floor area or part thereof and one 9 litre water type (soda), acid gas pressure or bucket pump) extinguisher minimum of 2 extinguisher and 4 buckets per compartment of the building. The equipment shall be so distributed over the entire floor area that a person shall have to travel not more than 15 metre from any point to reach the nearest equipment.(iii)Extra hazard. - The scale of equipment would be what is prescribed for ordinary hazard and in addition such extra equipment as in the opinion of the Inspector are necessary, having regard to the special nature of occupancy:Provided that in special case, the Inspector, after taking into consideration the circumstances, authorise that the buckets prescribed in this clause may be dispensed with, provided the number of the extinguishers provided is double than that is prescribed.(b)Class B fire. - There shall be at least one fire extinguisher either foam type or carbon dioxide or dry powder per 50 square metres of floor area and shall be so distributed that no person is required to travel more than 15 metres from any point to reach the nearest equipment. In addition to the requirement of extinguishers specified here, requirements as laid down in clause (a) shall also be provided.(c)Class C fire. - Carbon dioxide or dry chemical powder extinguishers shall be provided near each plant or group of plants.(d)Class D fire. - Special dry power (chloride based) type of extinguishers, or sand buckets shall be provided on a scale as laid down for class B fire. The Inspector may require a higher scale of portable equipment to be provided depending upon the risk involved.(e)Class E fire. - Carbon dioxide or dry powder type extinguishers shall be provided near each plant or group of plants depending upon the risk involved.(13)The first-aid fighting equipment shall confirm to the relevant Indian Standards.(14)As far as possible the first-aid fire fighting equipment shall be similar in shape and appearance and shall have the same method of operation.(15)All first-aid fire fighting equipments shall be placed in a conspicuous position and shall be readily and easily accessible for immediate use. Generally, these equipments shall be placed as near as possible to the exits or stair landing or normal routes of escape.(16)All water buckets and bucket pump type extinguishers shall be filled with clean water. All sand buckets shall be filled with clean, dry and fine sand.(17)All other extinguishers shall be charged appropriately in accordance with the instruction of the manufacture.(18)Each first-aid fire fighting equipment shall be allotted a serial number by which it shall be referred to in the records. The following details shall be painted with white paint on the body of each equipment:-(i)Serial number;(ii)Date of last refilling; and(iii)Date of last inspection.(19)First-aid fire fighting equipment shall be placed on platform or in Cabinets in such a way that their bottom is 750 mm. above the floor level. Fire buckets shall be placed on hooks attached at a suitable stand or wall in such a way that their bottom is 750 mm. above the floor level. Such equipment if placed out side the building, shall be under sheds or covers.(20)All extinguishers shall be thoroughly cleaned and re-charged immediately after discharged sufficient refill material shall be kept readily available for this purpose at all times.(21)All first-aid fire fighting equipment shall be subject to routine maintenance, inspection, and testing to be carried out by properly trained persons. Periodicity of the routine maintenance, inspection and test shall confirm to the relevant Indian Standards. Records in respect of Inspection, maintenance and testing of all first-aid fire fighting equipment shall be maintained in a bound register and shall be produced for inspection on demand.(22)Other fire fighting arrangement. - (a) In every factory, adequate provision of water supply for fire-fighting shall be made and where the amount of water required in litre per minute, as calculated from the formula A + B + C + D divided by 20 is 550 or more power driven trailer pumps of adequate capacity to meet the requirement of water as calculated above shall be provided and maintained.In the above formulaA = The total area in square metres of all floors including galleries in all buildings of the factory;B = The total area in square metres of all floors and galleries including open spaces in which combustible materials are handled or stored;C = The total area in square metres of all floors over 15 metres above ground level; andD = The total area in square metres of all floors of all building other than those of fire resisting construction:Provided that in areas where the fire risk involved does not require use of water, such areas under B, C, or D may, for the purpose of calculation, be halved :Provided further that where the areas under B, C, or D are protected by permanent automatic fire-fighting installations approved by any fire association on fire insurance company such areas may, for the purpose of calculation, be halved:Provided also that where the factory is situated at not more than 3 kilometers from an establishment of city or town fire service, the pumping capacity based on the amount of water arrived at by the formula above may be reduced by 25 per cent, but no account shall be taken of this reduction in calculating water supply required under clause (a)(b)(i)Each trailer pump shall be provided with equipment as per schedule appended to this Rule.(ii)In addition to the equipments specified in the said schedule each trailer pump shall be provided with adequate breathing apparatus.(iii)The Chief Inspector may by an order in writing direct the occupier and/or Manager of a factory to provide such additional equipments and breathing apparatus and of such type as he may consider necessary in consideration of the nature and degree of hazards.(iv)The equipment specified in this sub-rule shall conform to such Indian Standards specification as may be in existence.(c)Trailer pumps shall be housed in a separate shed or sheds which shall be sited close to a principal source of water supplies in the vicinity of the main risks of the factory.(d)In factories where the area is such as cannot be reached by men hauling of trailer pumps within reasonable time, vehicles with towing attachment shall be provided at the scale of one for every four trailer pumps with a minimum of one such vehicle kept available at all times.(e)Water supply shall be provided to give flow of water as required under clause (a) for at least 100 minutes. At least 50 per cent of this water-supply for 4,50,000 litres whichever is less, shall be in the form of static tanks of adequate capacities (not less than 4,50,000 litres each) distributed round the factory with due regard to the potential fire risk in the factory (which piped supply is provided, the size of the main shall not be less than 15 centimeters diameter and it shall be supplying a minimum of 4,500 litres per minute at a pressure of not less than 7 kilograms per square centimeter.(f)All trailer pumps including the equipment provided with them and vehicles for towing them shall be maintained in good condition and subjected to periodical inspection and testing as required.(23)Personnel in charge of equipment and for fire-fighting, fire drills, etc. - (a) The first aid and other fire-fighting equipment to be provided as required shall be in charge of a trained responsible person :Provided that in factories where power driven trailer pumps, fire engine or similar devices are provided or are required to t?e provided under these Rules, adequate number of wholetime suitable and adequately trained persons shall be employed throughout the day and night and on all days whether working day or a holiday, who shall be responsible for the maintenance, upkeep and operation of these machines and vehicles. In such factories there shall be a Senior Fire Officer who shall be in overall charge of fire-fighting, arrangement and operations and who shall be responsible for training the workers in the use of fire extinguishers and other fire-fighting equipments.(b)Sufficient number of persons shall be trained in the proper handling of fire fighting equipments and their use against the types of fire for which they are intended, to ensure that adequate number of persons are available for fire-fighting both by means of first-aid fire fighting equipment and others. Wherever vehicles with towing attachment are to be provided as required in clause (d) of sub-rule 22 sufficient number of persons shall be trained in driving where the need arises. Those vehicles to ensure that trained persons are available for driving them.(c)Fire fighting drills shall be held at least once in every 3 months, and records in respect of such periodical drills shall be maintained in a bound register and shall be produced for inspection on demand.(24)Automatic sprinklers and fire hydrants shall be in addition and not in substitution of the requirement in sub-rules (10) and (22).(25)Access for fire-fighting buildings and plants shall be so laid out and roads, passageways etc. so maintained as to permit unobstructed access for firefighting.(26)If the Chief Inspector is satisfied in respect of any factory or any part of the factory that owing to the exceptional circumstances such as inadequacy of water-supply or infrequency of the manufacturing process or for any other reason to be recorded in writing all or any of the requirements of the Rules are impracticable or not necessary for the protection of workers, he may by order in writing (which he may at his discretion revoke) exempt such factory or part of the factory from all or any of the provisions of the Rules subject to conditions as he may by such order prescribe.]
