FIRE PREVENTION MAIN REGULATION AND LIFE SAFETY MEASURES
FIRE PREVENTION MAIN REGULATION AND LIFE SAFETY MEASURES
INTRODUCTION:
Fire pose a major threat to various occupancies in India. Almost every day some fires are reported by media across the country. These fires not only resulted in the loss of many precious life and injuries to many but also inflicted heavy property loss.
During the last two decades there was a vibrant growth in the construction activities in India, especially in high rise buildings. Because of its peculiar nature, fire in residential buildings, in particular, high rise buildings, become more complex and the salvaging operations become more difficult and sometimes even resulting in many deaths and huge property losses. The rapid modernisation of Indian Industry have made the scenario more complex. Awareness towards fire safety had not been quite forthcoming. This article will focus on the overall scenario on the existing fire safety regulations in India and the effectiveness of these regulations for combating the potential fire hazards.
The Community Fire Safety Act of 2013 is a bail that would prevent the Environmental protection Agency from requiring that all new fire hydrants in the United states be lead- free beginning in 2014.
The bill was passed by the United States House Of Representatives during the 113th United States Congress.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL
The Community Fire Safety Act of 2013 would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to exempt fire hydrants from certain prohibitions against the use of lead pipes, solder and flux.
The bill would direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to:1) Consult with and seek the advice of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council on potential changes to federal regulations pertaining to lead; and 2) Request the Council to consider sources of lead throughout drinking water distribution systems, including water during distribution system repairs.
This exemption that would allow fire hydrants to continue under current previous lead guidelines is similar to the one already provided for shower valves.
TOP TIPS FOR FIRE SAFETY
CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARMS
1) Working smoke alarms reduce the chances of dying in a fire by nearly 50 percent. They are a critical first step for staying safe, but in order to be effective, they have to be working properly.
2) For the best protection, install smoke alarms on every level of your home,outside every sleeping area and in each bedroom.
3) Use Daylight Savings Time as a reminder to check your smoke alarms.Replace conventional batteries at least once a year,even if alarms are wired directly into your home's electrical system.
4) Consider installing a smoke alarm that has a 10-year battery.
5) Smoke alarms expire after 10 years. so if your alarm is more than 10 years old, you should install a new one.
CREATE AND PRACTICE A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN
1) Create and practice a home fire escape plan with two ways out of every room.
2) As part of your plan, designate one person to get infants and small children out safely.Have a back-up plan for young children just in case the primary person is overcome by smoke.
3) Smoke is toxic.Teach children to"get low and go" if there is smoke when they ara leaving the home.
4) Practice feeling the door,doorknob and cracks around the door with the back of your hand to see if they are too hot.Help your children practice this step.
5) Choose a place to meet outside that is a safe distance away from your home.
IN AN EMERGENCY,LEAVE HOME IMMEDIATELY
1) In the event of a fire, leave your home immediately.Once you're out of the house,stay out.
2) Wait to call 911 until after you are out of the home.
IF YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT,PULL THE ALARM
1) If there is a fire and you don't hear the building's fire alarm, pull the nearest fire alarm,pull the nearest fire alarm"pull station" on your way out.
2) Know all of your building's fire escape exits and use the stairs to get out.Don't use the elevator.
IF YOU'RE STUCK INSIDE,COVER THE AREAS WHERE SMOKE MIGHT COME IN
1) If you cannot safety escape your home or apartment,keep smoke out of the room by covering vents and cracks around the door,and call 911 or your fire department as quickly as possible.
2) Then signal for help at the window with a light-colored cloth or a flashlight.
KEEP FLAMMABLE MATERIALS IN SAFE AREAS
1) Remember to keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn,and always closely supervise children and pets when the heater is turned on.
2) Make sure you turn space heaters off when you leave the room.
3) If using gasoline-powered devices.store gasoline in a locked location where children cannot access it. keep only small quantities in an approved container that has child safety features.
DON'T OVER PLUG
1) To prevent possible fires,avoid plugging several appliance cords into the same electrical socket.
STAY FOCUSED AROUND THE KITCHEN
1) Use common sense in the kitchen.Limit distractions when cooking and don't leave a hot oven or stovetop unattended.
2) Keep anything that can catch fire, such as dish towels or wooden spoons,away from your stovetop.
3) Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency,and make sure you know how it works.You might be surprised that most people don't know how to use one.
INSTALL BARRIERS SUCH AS SAFETY GATES AROUND FIREPLACES,OVENS AND FURNACES
1) Make sure your fireplace is protected by a study screen. Remember that glass screens can take a long time to cool down.
2) If you are using a fireplace or wood stove,make sure you burn only seasoned hardwood such as oak,ash or maple.
3) If small children live in or visit your home.use a safety gate around your fireplace or wood stove.
BLOW OUT CANDLES AND STORE MATCHES OUT OF REACH
1) Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn,and always blow them out when you leave the room or before you go to sleep.
2) Make a habit of placing matches,gasoline and lighters in a safe place,out of children's reach.Avoid novelty lighters or lighters that look like toys.
3) Teach kids never to play with matches and lighters.Make a habit of placing these items up and away from young children.
Fire Safety is the set of practices intended to reduce the destruction caused by fire.Fire safety measures include those that are intended to prevent ignition of an uncontrolled fire,and those that are used to limit the development and effects of a fire after it starts.
Fire Safety measures include those that are planned during the construction of a building or implemented in structures that are alredy standing, and those that are taught to occupants of the building.
Thrats to fire safety are commonly referred to as fire hazards.A fire hazards may include a situation that increases the likelihood of a fire or may impede escape in the event a fire occurs.
Fire Safety is often a component of building safety. Those who inspect buildings for violations of the fire code and go into school to educate children on fire safety topics are fire department members known as fire preventions officers.The chief fire prevention officers.The chief fire prevention officer or chief of fire prevention will normally train newcomers to the fire prevention division and may also conduct inspections or make presentations.
ELEMENTS OF A FIRE SAFETY POLICY
Fire safety policies apply at the construction of a building codes are enacted by local,sub- national, or national governments to ensure such features as adequate fire exits, signage ,and construction details such as fire stops and fire rated doors,windows,and walls.Fire safety is also an objective of electrical codes to prevent overheating of wiring or equipment,and to protect from ignition by electrical faults.
Fire codes regulate such requirements as the maximum occupancy for building such as theatres or restaurants, for exe.. Fire codes may require portable fire extinguishers within a buildings such as theatres or restaurants, for example, Fire codes may require portable fire extinguishers within a building, or may require permanently installed fire detection and suppression equipment such as a fire sprinkler system and a fire alarm system.
Local authorities charged with fire safetly may conduct regular inspection for such items as usable fire exits and proper exit signage, functional fire extinguishers of the correct type in accessible places,and proper storage and handling of flammable materials. Depending on local regulations, a fire inspection may result in a notice of required action, or closing of a building until it can be put into compliance with fire code requirements.
Owners and managers of a building may implement additional fire policies. For exe.. An industrial site may designate and train paricular employees as a fire fighting force. Managers must ensure buildings comply with fire evacuation regulations, and that building features such as spray fireproofing remains undamaged. Fire policies may be in place to ditate training and awarness of occupants and users of the building to avoid obvious mistakes, such as the propping open of fire doors. Buildings, especially fire drills at regular intervals throughout the year.
Some common fire hazards are:
* Kitchen fires from unattended cooking, grease fires/chip pan fires
* Electrical systems that are overloaded, poorly maintained or defective
* Combustible storage areas with insufficient protection
* Candles and other open flames
* Smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, lighters, etc..)
* Equipment that generates heat and utilizes combustible materials
* Flammable solvents placed in enclosed trash cans
* Fireplace chimneys not properly or regularly cleaned
* Cooking appliances- stoves, ovens
* Heating appliances- fireplaces, wood-burning stoves,furnaces, boilers, portable heaters, solid fuels
* Chimneys that concentrate creosote
* Electrical wiring in poor condition
* Leaking/defective batteries
* Personal ignition sources- matches, lighters
* Electronic and electrical equipment
* Exterior cooking equipment-barbecue
4) Consider installing a smoke alarm that has a 10-year battery.
5) Smoke alarms expire after 10 years. so if your alarm is more than 10 years old, you should install a new one.
CREATE AND PRACTICE A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN
1) Create and practice a home fire escape plan with two ways out of every room.
2) As part of your plan, designate one person to get infants and small children out safely.Have a back-up plan for young children just in case the primary person is overcome by smoke.
3) Smoke is toxic.Teach children to"get low and go" if there is smoke when they ara leaving the home.
4) Practice feeling the door,doorknob and cracks around the door with the back of your hand to see if they are too hot.Help your children practice this step.
5) Choose a place to meet outside that is a safe distance away from your home.
IN AN EMERGENCY,LEAVE HOME IMMEDIATELY
1) In the event of a fire, leave your home immediately.Once you're out of the house,stay out.
2) Wait to call 911 until after you are out of the home.
IF YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT,PULL THE ALARM
1) If there is a fire and you don't hear the building's fire alarm, pull the nearest fire alarm,pull the nearest fire alarm"pull station" on your way out.
2) Know all of your building's fire escape exits and use the stairs to get out.Don't use the elevator.
IF YOU'RE STUCK INSIDE,COVER THE AREAS WHERE SMOKE MIGHT COME IN
1) If you cannot safety escape your home or apartment,keep smoke out of the room by covering vents and cracks around the door,and call 911 or your fire department as quickly as possible.
2) Then signal for help at the window with a light-colored cloth or a flashlight.
KEEP FLAMMABLE MATERIALS IN SAFE AREAS
1) Remember to keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn,and always closely supervise children and pets when the heater is turned on.
2) Make sure you turn space heaters off when you leave the room.
3) If using gasoline-powered devices.store gasoline in a locked location where children cannot access it. keep only small quantities in an approved container that has child safety features.
DON'T OVER PLUG
1) To prevent possible fires,avoid plugging several appliance cords into the same electrical socket.
STAY FOCUSED AROUND THE KITCHEN
1) Use common sense in the kitchen.Limit distractions when cooking and don't leave a hot oven or stovetop unattended.
2) Keep anything that can catch fire, such as dish towels or wooden spoons,away from your stovetop.
3) Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency,and make sure you know how it works.You might be surprised that most people don't know how to use one.
INSTALL BARRIERS SUCH AS SAFETY GATES AROUND FIREPLACES,OVENS AND FURNACES
1) Make sure your fireplace is protected by a study screen. Remember that glass screens can take a long time to cool down.
2) If you are using a fireplace or wood stove,make sure you burn only seasoned hardwood such as oak,ash or maple.
3) If small children live in or visit your home.use a safety gate around your fireplace or wood stove.
BLOW OUT CANDLES AND STORE MATCHES OUT OF REACH
1) Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn,and always blow them out when you leave the room or before you go to sleep.
2) Make a habit of placing matches,gasoline and lighters in a safe place,out of children's reach.Avoid novelty lighters or lighters that look like toys.
3) Teach kids never to play with matches and lighters.Make a habit of placing these items up and away from young children.
Fire Safety is the set of practices intended to reduce the destruction caused by fire.Fire safety measures include those that are intended to prevent ignition of an uncontrolled fire,and those that are used to limit the development and effects of a fire after it starts.
Fire Safety measures include those that are planned during the construction of a building or implemented in structures that are alredy standing, and those that are taught to occupants of the building.
Thrats to fire safety are commonly referred to as fire hazards.A fire hazards may include a situation that increases the likelihood of a fire or may impede escape in the event a fire occurs.
Fire Safety is often a component of building safety. Those who inspect buildings for violations of the fire code and go into school to educate children on fire safety topics are fire department members known as fire preventions officers.The chief fire prevention officers.The chief fire prevention officer or chief of fire prevention will normally train newcomers to the fire prevention division and may also conduct inspections or make presentations.
ELEMENTS OF A FIRE SAFETY POLICY
Fire safety policies apply at the construction of a building codes are enacted by local,sub- national, or national governments to ensure such features as adequate fire exits, signage ,and construction details such as fire stops and fire rated doors,windows,and walls.Fire safety is also an objective of electrical codes to prevent overheating of wiring or equipment,and to protect from ignition by electrical faults.
Fire codes regulate such requirements as the maximum occupancy for building such as theatres or restaurants, for exe.. Fire codes may require portable fire extinguishers within a buildings such as theatres or restaurants, for example, Fire codes may require portable fire extinguishers within a building, or may require permanently installed fire detection and suppression equipment such as a fire sprinkler system and a fire alarm system.
Local authorities charged with fire safetly may conduct regular inspection for such items as usable fire exits and proper exit signage, functional fire extinguishers of the correct type in accessible places,and proper storage and handling of flammable materials. Depending on local regulations, a fire inspection may result in a notice of required action, or closing of a building until it can be put into compliance with fire code requirements.
Owners and managers of a building may implement additional fire policies. For exe.. An industrial site may designate and train paricular employees as a fire fighting force. Managers must ensure buildings comply with fire evacuation regulations, and that building features such as spray fireproofing remains undamaged. Fire policies may be in place to ditate training and awarness of occupants and users of the building to avoid obvious mistakes, such as the propping open of fire doors. Buildings, especially fire drills at regular intervals throughout the year.
COMMON FIRE HAZARDS
Some common fire hazards are:
* Kitchen fires from unattended cooking, grease fires/chip pan fires
* Electrical systems that are overloaded, poorly maintained or defective
* Combustible storage areas with insufficient protection
* Candles and other open flames
* Smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, lighters, etc..)
* Equipment that generates heat and utilizes combustible materials
* Flammable solvents placed in enclosed trash cans
* Fireplace chimneys not properly or regularly cleaned
* Cooking appliances- stoves, ovens
* Heating appliances- fireplaces, wood-burning stoves,furnaces, boilers, portable heaters, solid fuels
* Chimneys that concentrate creosote
* Electrical wiring in poor condition
* Leaking/defective batteries
* Personal ignition sources- matches, lighters
* Electronic and electrical equipment
* Exterior cooking equipment-barbecue
MAIN REGULATIONS:
Fire services in India came under the Twelfth Schedule of the Constitution of India, under the provisions of Article 243W of the Constitution. The performance of the functions listed in the Twelfth Schedule comes under the domain of Municipalities.
Regular fire services in India was established about 215 years back. The service was first established in Bombay in 1803, followed by Calcutta in 1822, Delhi in 1867 and Madras in 1908. As per the report released by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1997, there were 1754 fire stations with 5149 fire appliances/vehicles and 50,730 fire professionals are functioning PAN India. In addition to above, there were 278 trailer-made fire stations operating exclusively in industrial sectors. According to the Annual Report 2009-10 of Ministry of Home Affairs, in 2009, Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Strengthening of Fire and Emergency Services in the Country has been approved by the Government at an estimated cost of Rs.200 crore during the Eleventh Plan Period. The State Governments will also contribute Rs.40.23 crore as their share. The overall objective of the Scheme is to strengthen fire and emergency service in the country and progressively transform it into Multi-Hazard Response Force capable of acting as first responder in all types of emergency situations. Under the Scheme, additional 277 Advanced Fire Tenders, 1,146 High Pressure Pumps with Water Mist Technology, 573 Quick Response Team Vehicles, and 1,146 Combi Tools for Rescue will be provided at District Headquarter Fire Brigades in the country. To find the actual requirement of firefighting and rescue equipment, the Ministry of Home Affairs, has decided to carry out Fire Risk and Hazard Analysis in the country.
Presently fire prevention and firefighting services are organised by the concerned States and Union Territories. It may be added here that the fire brigades in India remain heterogeneous in character and majority of them continue to remain ill-equipped and differently organised.
The National Building Code (NBC), which is the basic model code in India on matters relating to building construction and fire safety. Fire prevention and fire protection is a state subject. The primary responsibility for fire prevention and fire protection lies primarily with State Governments. The rules for fire prevention and fire protection are laid in the form of State Regulations or Municipal By-Laws.
National Building Code:
The National Building Code is published by Bureau of Indian Standards. The first edition of the NBC was published in 1970. This edition was revised in 1983, 1987 and 1997. The second edition of the NBC was published in 2005. The third edition of the NBC was published in 2016, incorporating the latest developments in the construction activities in the country.
The main objective of NBC is to specify measures that will provide that degree of safety from fire, which is practical and can be reasonably achieved. The Code insists upon compliance with minimum standards of fire safety necessary for building occupants and users. For ensuring compliance of fire protection equipment/installations to the laid down quality requirements, it is desirable to use such equipment/installation duly certified under the BIS Certification Marks Scheme.
The NBC classify the buildings into the following 9 groups:
These groups have been subdivided into various categories. The NBC also deals with three types of fire zones and four types of constructions.
The Part 4 (Fire and Life Safety) of NBC, which contain the fire safety norms through detailed provisions on fire prevention, life safety and fire protection. The fire protection, which not only deals with fire prevention and fire protection but also gives guidance by specifying the standards for construction, plumbing, electrical installations including wiring, lighting, ventilation, heating and air conditioning, safety sanitation, active and passive fire protection systems, etc. It mentions the restrictions of buildings in each fire zone, classification of buildings based on occupancy, the demarcation of fire zones, limitations of height, types of building construction according to fire resistance of the structural and non-structural components and other restrictions and requirements necessary to minimise danger to life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic before the building can be evacuated.
The Code recognizes that safety of life is more than a matter of means of egress and accordingly deals with various matters which are considered essential to the safety of life. The Code therefore covers provisions relating to means of egress covering various components thereof namely exit access, exit and exit discharge. It also covers provisions relating to fire protection of various occupancies through portable and fixed firefighting installations.
COMPLIANCE:
Many commercial and residential buildings in particular high-rise buildings, have been found flouting fire safety norms. Many occupiers or societies do not bother to conduct regular maintenance of the fire prevention systems installed in their buildings.
Though Fire Safety Audit is found to be an effective tool for assessing fire safety standards of an organization or an occupancy, there is no clear cut provisions in any of the fire safety legislations in India, regarding the scope, objectives, methodology and periodicity of a fire safety audit. However, the NBC 2016, recommends for periodical fire safety inspection by the key personnel of the occupants of the building to ensure fire safety standards.
As far as industrial buildings, are concerned, the statutory authorities like State Factory Inspectorate, insist for fire safety audit by external agencies, depending on the type of activity and the nature of the materials handled in the building.
Readers would like to know the provisions provided in the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Rules, 2009, framed under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006. These rules made it mandatory for building owners and residents to conduct half-yearly fire safety audits and submit the report to the fire department. No doubt, it is a good measure and other states too, can follow this. However, entrusting the responsibility of conducting the fire safety audit to the ‘Licensed Agencies’, has created some confusions, because the same agency has also been entrusted with the work of (i) installations of firefighting systems in an occupancy with a certification under Form ‘A’ and (ii) carry out the maintenance of firefighting systems and issue half-yearly certificate under Form ‘B’ in every January & July.
In practice, Form ‘B’ certification is regarded as Safety Audit, which is not at all a right thinking. Perhaps, this arrangement has resulted in diluting the scope and methodology of the audit itself. Moreover, entrusting the audit work to the same ‘Licensed Agencies’, who had either installed or carried out the maintenance work of firefighting systems in an occupancy, is not at all justified. It is also doubtful whether the so called ‘Licensed Agencies’ have the required calibre / expertise in conducting an effective fire safety audit. So in effect, it seems that the fire safety audit has become a mere ritual.
CONCLUSION:
Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA) can be focused to identify potential hazards. A comprehensive fire safety audit can address the inherent fire hazards associated with the day to day activities in an occupancy and recommend measures to reduce the potential fire hazards.
In India, although there are many rules and regulations, codes and standards related to fire safety, these are seldom followed. Laxity in following fire safety measures caused many major fires in various occupancies and some of them even resulted in catastrophes. It was observed that most skyscrapers in Mumbai continue to overlook the fire safety norms compliance certificate. Several prominent high rises in New Delhi are at a high risk of turning into fire traps. Most high rises in and around Connaught Place don’t have fire safety certificates. About 90% buildings in Chennai are fire traps.
If you want to reduce the fire incidents in the country, Fire Safety Audit should be made mandatory for all over India and the audit work should be entrusted to Third Party Agencies, who have expertise in it. It is reasonable to have a fire safety audit in every year in every occupancy. Above all, the success of fire prevention and fire protection mainly depend upon the active co-operation from all personnel in an occupancy. Remember, prevention is better than cure.
AUTHOR BY: Kansara Maitry Ketankumar
COMPLIANCE:
Many commercial and residential buildings in particular high-rise buildings, have been found flouting fire safety norms. Many occupiers or societies do not bother to conduct regular maintenance of the fire prevention systems installed in their buildings.
Though Fire Safety Audit is found to be an effective tool for assessing fire safety standards of an organization or an occupancy, there is no clear cut provisions in any of the fire safety legislations in India, regarding the scope, objectives, methodology and periodicity of a fire safety audit. However, the NBC 2016, recommends for periodical fire safety inspection by the key personnel of the occupants of the building to ensure fire safety standards.
As far as industrial buildings, are concerned, the statutory authorities like State Factory Inspectorate, insist for fire safety audit by external agencies, depending on the type of activity and the nature of the materials handled in the building.
Readers would like to know the provisions provided in the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Rules, 2009, framed under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006. These rules made it mandatory for building owners and residents to conduct half-yearly fire safety audits and submit the report to the fire department. No doubt, it is a good measure and other states too, can follow this. However, entrusting the responsibility of conducting the fire safety audit to the ‘Licensed Agencies’, has created some confusions, because the same agency has also been entrusted with the work of (i) installations of firefighting systems in an occupancy with a certification under Form ‘A’ and (ii) carry out the maintenance of firefighting systems and issue half-yearly certificate under Form ‘B’ in every January & July.
In practice, Form ‘B’ certification is regarded as Safety Audit, which is not at all a right thinking. Perhaps, this arrangement has resulted in diluting the scope and methodology of the audit itself. Moreover, entrusting the audit work to the same ‘Licensed Agencies’, who had either installed or carried out the maintenance work of firefighting systems in an occupancy, is not at all justified. It is also doubtful whether the so called ‘Licensed Agencies’ have the required calibre / expertise in conducting an effective fire safety audit. So in effect, it seems that the fire safety audit has become a mere ritual.
CONCLUSION:
Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA) can be focused to identify potential hazards. A comprehensive fire safety audit can address the inherent fire hazards associated with the day to day activities in an occupancy and recommend measures to reduce the potential fire hazards.
In India, although there are many rules and regulations, codes and standards related to fire safety, these are seldom followed. Laxity in following fire safety measures caused many major fires in various occupancies and some of them even resulted in catastrophes. It was observed that most skyscrapers in Mumbai continue to overlook the fire safety norms compliance certificate. Several prominent high rises in New Delhi are at a high risk of turning into fire traps. Most high rises in and around Connaught Place don’t have fire safety certificates. About 90% buildings in Chennai are fire traps.
If you want to reduce the fire incidents in the country, Fire Safety Audit should be made mandatory for all over India and the audit work should be entrusted to Third Party Agencies, who have expertise in it. It is reasonable to have a fire safety audit in every year in every occupancy. Above all, the success of fire prevention and fire protection mainly depend upon the active co-operation from all personnel in an occupancy. Remember, prevention is better than cure.
AUTHOR BY: Kansara Maitry Ketankumar
AUTHOR BY: Kansara Maitry Ketankumar
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