MIRROR: G K Bhat
The rules required to be followed is one of the most important aspect in industrial safety point of view. There are many schedules are also enclosed to various rules. These schedules are basically the extended version of the rules in one or other aspects. Basically these schedules or annexures are used to clarify certain points of the rules. Therefore without going through the schedules in detail the study of the rules is incomplete. Related to fire safety, the Karnataka factory rules got two schedules, named as schedule “I” and Schedule ‘D”. In this topic let us study schedule “I”.
Schedule – I :[SeeRule71(10)(c)]Firstaidfirefightingequipments
- 1. Thedifferenttypesof firesandfirstaidfirefightingequipmentssuitableforuseonthem areasunder:
| Classoffire | Suitabletypeof appliances | ||
| A. | Firesin ordinarycombustible (wood,vegetablefibres, paperandthelike) |
ChemicalextinguishersofSoda-acid Gas/expelledwaterandanti-freezetypes, andwaterbuckets |
|
| B. | Firesinflammableliquids, paints,grease,solventsand thelike |
Chemicalextinguishersoffoam,carbon dioxideanddrypowdertypesandsand buckets |
|
| C | Firesingaseoussubstances underpressure | Chemicalextinguishersof carbondioxide anddrypowdertypes | |
| D. | FiresinReactiveChemicals, activemetalsandthelike | Specialtypeofdrypowderextinguishers andsandbuckets | |
| E. | Firesin electricalequipments | Chemicalextinguishersof carbondioxide anddrypowdertypeandsandbuckets |
- 2. ThefollowingprovisionsshallbecompliedwithwhereClass’A’firesareanticipated.
(a) One9-litreswater bucketforevery 100squaremetresoffloorareaorpartthereof andone9-litrewatertype(soda-acid orgaspressure orbucketpump), extinguishershallbeprovidedforevery6bucketsorpartthereofwithaminimum of one extinguisher and two Buckets per compartment of the building.
(b) Theseequipmentsshallbesodistributedovertheentirefloorareasthataperson shallhavetotravelnotmorethan25metres fromanypointtoreachthenearest equipment.
(c) One9-litresbucketforevery100squaremetresoffloorareaorpartthereofand one9-litrewatertype(soda-acid, gaspressureorbucketpump)extinguishershall beprovidedforeverysixbucketsorpartthereof, withaminimumof2 extinguishers and4bucketspercompartmentofthebuilding.Theseequipment shallbesodistributedoftheentirefloorareathatapersonshallhave totravel not morethan15metresfromanypointtoreachthenearestequipment.
(d) Thescaleofequipmentwouldbewhatisprescribedforordinaryhazardand,in addition,suchextraequipment, asintheopinionoftheInspector,arenecessary, havingregardtothespecialnatureof occupancy:
Providedthatinspecialcases,the Inspectormay,aftertakingintoconsiderationthe circumstances,authorisethatthebucketsspecifiedinthissub-paragraphmaybedispensedwith, ifthenumberoftheextinguisnersprovidedisdoublethatwhatisspecified.
- 3. Acceptablereplacementsforwaterbucketsand watertypeextinguishersin occupancies whereClassB,C andD firesareanticipated,areas under:
| Acceptable replacements | Buckets | ofwater | Watertype extinguishers |
| Foronebucket | Forthreebuckets | Foreach9 litres | |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Drysand | Bucket | 3buckets | — |
| Carbondioxide extinguishers | 3Kg. | 9Kg.(Innotlessthan2 extinguishers) | 9Kg. |
| Drypowder extinguishers | 2Kg. | 5Kg.(In oneormore extinguishers) | 5Kg. |
| Foam | 9Litres | 9litres | 9Litres |
- 4. ThefollowingprovisionsshallbecompliedwithwhereclassE firesareanticipated.
(a) For roomscontainingelectricaltransformers, switchgears,motorsand/orother electricalapparatus, drypowderorcarbondioxidetypeextinguishers shallbe providedwithinfifteenm.oftheapparatuswhicharenotlessthan2numbers of2
Kg.each.
(b) Wheremotorsand/orotherelectricalequipmentareinstalledinroomsotherthan thosecontainingsuchequipment, onefiveKg.,drypowderorcarbondioxide extinguishershall beinstalledwithin fifteenm.of suchequipmentin additiontothe requirementsmentionedat Paragraphs3 and4. For thispurpose,the sameextinguishersmaybedeemedtoaffordprotectiontoallapparatuswithinfifteen m.,thereof.
(c) Whereelectricalmotorsareinstalledonplatforms,one2Kg.,drypowderorcarbon dioxidetypeextinguishershallbeprovided onorbeloweachplatform. Incase ora longplatformwithanumberofmotors,oneextinguisher shallbeacceptableas adequateforeverythreemotorson thecommonplatform.Theaboverequirements shallbeinadditiontotherequirementsmentionedinParagraphs3and4.
- 5. Thefirstaidfirefightingequipmentsshallbesodistributedovertheentirefloorareathat apersonhastotravelnotmorethanfifteenm.,toreachthenearestequipment.
- 6. Selectionofsitesfortheinstallationoffirst-aidfirefightingequipmentsshallbeas follows:
(1) While selectingsitesforfirstaidfirefightingequipments,due considerationshallbegiven tothenatureoftherisktobecovered.Theequipments shallbeplacedinconspicuous positionsandshallbereadilyaccessiblefor immediateuse inallparts oftheoccupancy.It shouldalwaysbeborneinmindwhileselectingsitesthatfirst-aidfirefightingequipmentsareintendedonlyforuseonincipientfiresandtheirvaluemaybenegligible ifthefireis notextinguishedorbroughtundercontrolintheearlystages.
(2) Bucketsandextinguishersshallbeplacedatconvenientandeasilyaccessiblelocations eitheronhangersor onstandsinsuchawaythattheirbottomin750mm.abovethefloor level.
- 7. Theoperatinginstructionsoftheextinguishersshallnotbedefaced orobliterated.Incasetheoperatinginstructions areobliterated orhavebecome illegibleduetopassageoftimefresh transfersofthesameshallbeobtainedfromthemanufacture oftheequipmentsandaffixedto theextinguishers.
In our next topic we will discuss schedule “D” of rule 71 related to fire safety .
G K Bhat
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