Statutory Information Sheet No.

13
Fire Protection & Prevention Revision 01. dated May 2002 Corporate EHS

Fire is the manifestation of uncontrolled combustion involving combustible materials found

around us as well as a wide range of gases, liquids and solids which are encountered in
industry and commerce. They are commonly carbon based and may be referred to
collectively as fuels. The cause of fires is often a result of human action bringing fuel and
ignition source together. If strategies can be developed to reduce fuel loads, eliminate
ignition source or bringing fuel/ignition, then fire loss and human death and injury can be
reduced. Fire prevention involves change in human behavior through fire safety education.

Applicable Statutes/Salient Features/Provision of the Statutes

The Factories Act, 1948 & Model Rules framed thereunder
Section 38. Precautions in case of fire
Provisions in the Section require:
 All practicable measures to be taken to prevent outbreak of fire and its spread, both
internally and externally.
 Provision of safe means of escape for all persons.
 Provision of necessary equipment and facilities for extinguishing fire.
 Workers to be made familiar with the means of escape and trained in the routine to be
followed in case of fire.
 The Section also empowers the Chief Inspector to prescribe additional measures in
specific cases, if considered necessary.
Model Rule 68. Fire Protection : This rule contains detailed requirements on
 Location of storages, processes, equipment, etc. in segregated buildings.
 Provision of access for fire fighting, fire exits, first-aid and other fire-fighting arrangements,
automatic sprinklers and hydrant systems.
 Protection against lightning, control of spontaneous ignition, prescription of scale of fire
fighting facilities including fire tenders.
 Training of fire fighting personnel and others concerned.
 Organising drill for fire fighting personnel and others to use means of escape.
The Building & Other Construction Workers Act, 1996 & Central Rules 1998
Rule 35. Fire Protection : requires construction site to be provided with fire extinguishing
equipment to fight all kinds of fire and adequate water supply & trained persons to operate
these equipment. Further, this equipment should be properly maintained and inspected at
regular intervals with particulars recorded in a register. Launch or boat for carrying workers
and cranes used for lifting shall have adequate fire extinguishing equipment of suitable type.
Rule 36. Emergency Action Plan : requires employers to have the emergency action plan to
handle emergencies of fire or explosion
The Explosives Act. 1884 and Rules framed thereunder
Gas Cylinders Rules 1981 :
Rule 14. prohibits smoking, or permitting fires or lighting flammable substances or articles in
the proximity of place where cylinders are filled. It also prohibits possession by any person of
matches, fuses or other appliances for producing ignition or explosion in a place where
flammable gases are filled, stored or handled.
Rule 21. Electrical Installations: requires flameproof electrical equipment & fittings in areas
where gas cylinders are filled or stored.

Stationary and Mobile Pressure Vessels Rules 1981 :

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Rule 9. Prohibition of smoking and Rule 27. No Smoking. Provision contained in these two
rules are similar to those in Rule 14 in Gas Cylinders Rules.
Rule 28. Fire Protection : prescribes details of precautions to be observed in areas where
flammable compressed gases are stored in pressure vessels. These include provision and
maintenance of adequate supply of fire-water, hydrant system & monitors, automatic spray
system, etc.
Rule 31. Electrical Apparatus and Installations : prohibits passing of any electrical wire over
the storage vessels, all cables used to be of approved type, mechanically continuous
throughout and effectively earthed. All equipment, etc. shall be of approved / flameproof type
and frames effectively earthed.
The Petroleum Act, 1934 and The Petroleum Rules 1976, framed thereunder
Rule 11. Prohibition on smoking, fires, lights, etc and Rule 84. Prohibition of fires &
smoking on vehicles containing petroleum Class A : Requirements are similar to Gas
Cylinder Rules
Rule 78. Precautions against static charges : Detailed precautions are specified for
loading/unloading a tank vehicle for preventing fires due to static electricity.
Rule 102. To 115. on Electric installation in places where petroleum is refined, blended,
stored, loaded or unloaded contains detailed requirements to prevent fires due to electrical
faults. These cover classification of hazardous areas, type of electric equipment to be used,
earthing & bonding, cathodic protection, certification of electric installation, etc.
Shops & Establishment Acts and Rules made thereunder: Some of the States such as
A.P., Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka have one general provision concerning precautions
against fire.

National Standards

BIS Standards
The Indian Standards on fire safety can be broadly classified into the following categories:
Principles governing calculation of fire loads; classification of fires vis-a-vis extinguishing
agents; General Fire Safety of Buildings; Codes of Practices for fire fighting of certain Industrial
Buildings; Fire fighting equipment/appliances and First-aid fire fighting appliances. These
number over 100 standards
National Building Code : SP :7 contains one exclusive chapter on Fire Safety of Buildings
IS 14489:1998 on Code of Practice on Occupational Safety and Health Audit has devoted
an exclusive audit element on “Fire prevention, protection and fighting systems” containing 19
items (147 to 165) in the questionnaire for auditing.
Tariff Advisory Committee Rules : Publications of TAC cover
 Rules for Fire Alarm System and Rules for Water Spray Systems
 Sprinkler Regulations
 Manual on Fire Engines/Trailer Pumps, Automatic Fire Alarm System and Hydrant
Systems
 State Governments under their respective Regional and Town Planning Acts, have issued
Development Control Rules/Regulations for Metropolitan and other areas. They have
provided among other things, fire protection requirements. For example under
Maharashtra Regional & Town Planning Act of 1966, D.C. Regulations, 1991 for Greater
Bombay have provisions (Rule 43) for fire protection which stipulates that the planning,
design and construction of any building shall be such as to ensure safety from fire. The
requirements further stipulate that the provisions under Part-IV of Fire Protection chapter of
National Building Code shall apply.

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ITC EHS Guidelines has elaborate guidelines covering Fire Risk categorisation as high,
medium and low; Fire Extinguishing equipment, location indication of fire fighting facilities,
Automatic fire detection and alarm systems, maintenance of equipment, fire exits and
emergency doors, fire compartmentalisation, storage of flammable and explosive material, fire
fighting training and drills, security systems and inter company co-ordination and Fire &
Explosion Emergency planning.

Management Responsibilities

Management should ensure that :

 Means of escape provided in pursuance of statutory requirements and codes of practices
are maintained properly and kept free of obstructions;
 All processes, operations and substances having a potential fire hazard are identified, fire
risks assessed and measures for fire prevention are taken in accordance with
requirements/standards/codes of practices;
 Personnel in charge of fire fighting and handling of fire emergencies are given adequate
training and drilled into practices in conformity with requirements;
 Periodical on-site fire emergency drills are conducted;
 All fire safety devices/appliances/extinguishing agents conform to stringent quality and
reliability standards and that they are periodically inspected, maintained and
renewed/refilled wherever necessary;
 All causes of out-breaks of fire are investigated. In the light of investigation, measures for
prevention, protection, maintenance and training of personnel are upgraded in the light of
investigation.

International Standards

Health & Safety at Work Act, 1974 of U.K

Section 78 of this Act validates the application of Fire Precaution Act 1971 with amendments
as indicated therein. Further, the Fire Certificates (Special Premises) Regulations, 1976 and
the Fire Precautions Act, 1971 (Modifications) Regulations 1976 are relevant statutory
requirements on this subject. The salient features of the Fire Precautions Act, 1971 are
Premises for which fire certificates are required; Fire Certificates; Premises involving
excessive risk to persons in case of fire, building and other regulations about fire precautions
and consultation between fire and other authorities.
Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA), 1970 of USA
OSHA has devoted a whole sub-part L for Fire Protection. Regulation (CFR) 1910 : 155 to
165 with Appendices A to E cover all relevant aspects. Details of several ANSI/NFPA
Standards on Fire prevention/protection and appliances are given in the form of a table with
cross references to the concerned Federal regulations from 1910 : 156 to 165 in Appendix B.

ILO’s - Occupational Safety & Health- Vol. II Section 41 deals elaborately with basic
concepts of fire, sources of fire hazards, fire prevention measures, passive fire protection
measures, active fire protection measures and organising for fire protection.
ILO’s - Publication “Modular Check-lists – Guidance and Master Contents” : Checklist
No.1 in Sub-part 1.2 contains 21 check points on means of escape and 16 on fire
extinguishing, alarm system and fire drills.

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(to be included if needed)

Rule 11 on Prohibition on smoking, fires, lights etc. prohibits smoking, allowing matches,
lights open flames or substances capable of causing ignition of petroleum products at any
time where petroleum is refined, stored, handled or transported in a vehicle, carriage or
vessel.

Rule 31 prohibits smoking or carrying matches, lights or other appliances that can cause
ignition or explosion while loading or unloading or transporting petroleum.

Rule 47 & 48 deals with prohibition of smoking or carrying fire and lights, loading and
unloading or carrying or transporting petroleum by water. The proviso to this rule permits use
of appliances like, clamps, cooker, electrical appliances capable if they are constructed and
maintained in such a manner is or not capable of causing ignition. However, loading and
unloading petroleum from a ship needs to be done in conditions provided by the conservator
or in accordance with Llyods or from a ship surveyor provided by the Central Government.

Rule 48 requires fire electrical appliances to be ready for minimum use while unloading or
loading of petroleum.

Rule 56 & 57 prohibits use of fire, lights and smoking on any part of the vessel, transporting
petroleum coastwise.

Rule 171 & 173 deals with prohibition of fire, open flames, smoking
And in carrying out of hot work under permit and measures for fire control.

Rule 175 requires adequate provision to remove the accumulation of

Gas Cylinder Rules : Rule 14 on Prohibition of smoking, fires, lights and dangerous
substances prohibits smoking or permitting fires, lighting and dangerous flammable
substances capable of causing spontaneous ignition in the proximity of place where cylinders
are filled. Similar requirements prohibits possession of matches, fuses or other appliances for
producing ignition or explosion in a place where flammable gases are filled, stored or
handled.

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