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State of Maharashtra - Section

Section 71B in Maharashtra Factories Rules, 1963

71B. [ Fire-fighting apparatus and water supply. [Inserted by G.N. of 5th Sept., 1972]

(1)In every factory there shall be provided and maintained the following fire-fighting equipments:-
(a)Two fire buckets of not less than 9 litres capacity for every 100 square metres of floor area subject to a minimum of four buckets on each floor.
(b)Every bucket provided under this sub-rule shall-
(i)conform to appropriate Indian Standard Specification,
(ii)be kept in a position approved by the Inspector and shall be used for no other purpose than fire extinguishing, and
(iii)at all times be kept full of water but if the principal fire risk arises from inflammable liquid or other substances where water cannot be used, it shall be kept full of clean fine dry sand, stone dust or other inert material:
Provided that, where the Chief Inspector is of the opinion that other adequate fire-fighting apparatus is provided in the factory building or room he may issue a certificate in writing (which he may at his discretion revoke) specifying the extent to which the above requirements are relaxed in respect of that building or room.
(2)In every factory adequate provision of water-supply for fire fighting shall be made and where the amount of water required in litres per minute is 550 litres or more as calculated from the formula mentioned below, power-driven trailer pumps of adequate capacity shall be provided and maintained:-
Water required in litres per minute =| A + B + C + D20
In the above formula -A = 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 metre above ground level andD = the total area in square metres of all floors of buildings other than those of fire-resisting construction provided fire-resisting constructions of various floors is so certified by any Fire Association or Fire Insurance Company: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 firefighting installations approved by any Fire Association or 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 kilometres from an established 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 calculation water supply required under the sub-rule (6)]:
(3)Each trailer pump shall be provided with equipment as per Schedule A. Such equipment shall conform to Indian Standard specifications whenever they exist.
(4)Trailer pumps shall be housed in a separate shed which shall be sited close to a principal source of water supplies in the vicinity of the main risks of the factory.
(5)In factories where the area is such as cannot be reached by manhauling 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 ail times.
(6)Water-supply shall be provided to give flow of water as required under sub-rule (2) for at least 100 minutes. At least 50 percent of this water-supply or 4,50,000 litres which ever is less shall be in the form of static tanks of adequate capacities (not less than 45,000 litres each) distributed round the factory with due regard to the potential fife risks in the factory. (Where piped supply is provided, the size of the main shall not be less than 15 cm. diameter and it shall be capable of supplying minimum of 4,500 litres per minute at a pressure of not less than 7 kg/sq.cm.
(7)
(i)In factories having more than 100 square metres floor area and where fire may occur due to combustible materials other than inflammable liquids, electrical equipment and ignitable metals, soda acid or equivalent type of portable extinguishers at the rate of one for every 500 squ. metres of area spaced at not more than 30 metres apart subject to a minimum of one extinguisher shall be provided in addition one fire buckets required under sub-rule (1).
(ii)In factories where fires may occur due to inflammable liquids or grease or paint, the extinguishers to be provided at the scale laid down in clause (a) shall consist of foam carbon tetrachloride, dry powder, carbon dioxide, chlorobrome methane or other equivalent type, as appropriate. In case of inflammable liquids soluble in water, the extinguishers shall be alcohol type foam.)
(iii)In factories where fires may occur due to electrical equipment, the extinguisher to be provided at the scale laid in clause (i) shall consist of carbon dioxide, dry powder, carbon tetrachloride or equivalent types.
(iv)In factories where fires may occur due to magnesium, aluminium or zinc dust or shavings or other ignitable metals, the use of liquids, carbon dioxide and foam type extinguishers shall be prohibited and an ample supply of clean, fine dry sand, stone dust or other inter material shall be kept ready for segregating such fires.
(v)Every type of portable fire extinguisher shall be kept mounted in a position approved by the Inspector:
Provided that where the Chief Inspector is of the opinion that other adequate fire-fighting apparatus or permanent automatic fire-fighting installations approved by any recognised Fire Association or Fire Insurance Company are provided in the factory building or room, he may issue a certificate in writing (which he may at his discretion revoke) specifying the extent to which the above requirements are relaxed in respect of that building or room.
(8)
(a)Every portable fire extinguisher to be provided under sub- rule (7) shall-
(i)conform to the appropriate Indian Standards Specifications;
(ii)be kept charged ready for use properly mounted in a position approved by the Inspector and accompanied by the maker's printed instructions for its use; and
(iii)be examined, tested or discharged periodically in accordance with the maker's recommendation.
(b)The manager of every factory shall keep and maintain, sufficient number of spare charges for each type of extinguisher provided in the factory with a minimum of 12 spare charges always in stock and readily available.
(9)Each factory shall detail a trained officer who shall be responsible for the proper maintenance and unkeep of all fire- fighting equipments.
(10)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 for 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 that factory from all or any of the provisions of the rules subject to conditions as he may by such order prescribe.