Section 62 in The West Bengal Factories Rules, 1958
62. [ (1) First-aid, fire fighting arrangements. [Substituted by the notification no. 340 L.W./L.W./IR-4/85 dated 2nd April 1986]
(a)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-air fire fighting equipment in this rule.(b)The types of first-aid fire fighting equipment to be provided shall be determined by considering the different types of fire risks which are classified as follows:A."Class A fire"-Fire due to combustible materials such as wood, textiles, paper rubbish and the like:(i)Light hazards-Occupancies like offices, assembly halls, canteens, rest-rooms, ambulance rooms and the like :(ii)"Ordinary hazards"-Occupancies like saw mills, carpentry shop, small timber yards, book binding shops, engineering workshops and the like;(iii)"Extra hazards"-Occupancies like large timber yards, godowns, storing fibrous materials, flour mills, cotton mills, jute mills large wood working factories and the 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 metals and the like.E. "Class E fire" : Fire involving electrical equipment and delicate machinery and the like.](c)[ The number and types of first-aid fire fighting equipment to be provided for" "light hazard" occupancy shall be as per Schedule I appended to this rule. For "Ordinary hazard" or Extra hazard" occupancies equipment as prescribed in sub-rule (2) shall be provided in addition to those as specified in Schedule-I] [Substituted by the W. B. Factories (Amendment) Rules, 1991 dated 27 11.1991]A. Class A fire:(i)Light hazard - There shall be one 9-litre water bucket for every 100 square metres of floor area or part thereof and one 9-litre water type (soda-acid or gas pressure or bucket pump) extinguisher for each 6 buckets or part thereof with a minimum of one extinguisher and two buckets per compartment of the building. These equipments shall be so distributed over the entire floor area that no person is required to travel more than 25 metres from any point to reach the nearest equipment.(ii)Ordinary hazard- There shall be 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) extinguishers for each six buckets or part thereof, with a minimum of 2 extinguishers and 4 buckets per compartment of the building. These equipments shall be so distributed over the entire floor area that no person is required to travel more than 15 metres from any point to reach the nearest equipment.(iii)Extra hazard - The scale of equipment shall 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 cases, the Inspector, after taking into consideration the circumstances, may waive the provision of the buckets prescribed in this sub-clause subject to condition that the number of extinguishers provided is made double than what is prescribed.B. Class B fire : In addition to the requirement as laid down in sub clause A there shall be atleast one sand bucket and one fire extinguisher either foam or carbon dioxide or dry power type per 50 square metres of floor area and these shall be so distributed that no person is required to travel more than 15 metres from any point to reach the nearest equipment.C. Class C fire : There shall be at least one carbon dioxide or dry chemical powder extinguisher near each plant or group of plants.D. Class D fire : There shall be special dry powder chloride based type of extinguisher, or sand buckets on a scale as laid down for class B fire provided that the Inspector may direct a higher-scale of portable equipment depending upon the risk involved.E. Class E fire : There shall be atleast one carbon dioxide or dry powder type extinguisher near each plant or group of plants depending upon the risk involved.(d)All first-aid fire fighting equipment shall conform to the relevant Indian Standards.(e)So far as is reasonably practicable the first-air fire fighting equipment shall all be of similar shape and appearance and shall have the similar method of operation.(f)All first-aid fire fighting equipment '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.(g)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.(h)All other extinguishers shall be charged in accordance with the instruction of the manufacturer.(i)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:-
