4. 4.

INTERNAL APPLIANCES Internal appliances generally consist of hand appliances (first aid appliances) and hose reels. 4.1 HAND APPLIANCES 4.1.1

GENERAL Hand appliances comprise buckets and extinguishers.

4.1.1.1

4.1.1.2 ALL APPLIANCES INCLUDING EXTINGUISHER REFILLS AND FOAM COMPOUND SHALL BE IN CAPACITIES INDICATED IN THE RELEVANT INDIAN STANDARDS SPECIFICATION AND SHALL BEAR ISI CERTIFICATION MARK. (Accessories including extinguisher refills shall also be ISI marked) BUCKETS SHALL BE OF ROUND BOTTOM TYPE. 4.1.1.3 The usefulness of these appliances is limited, as it is entirely dependent upon the presence of persons having knowledge to operate them. Everything depends, however, on the speed with which they are brought into use as they are essentially First-Aid equipment, only meant for attacking small fires in their incipient stages and are not intended to deal with large outbreaks of fires. 4.1.1.4 Since a variety of shapes and/or methods of operation of fire extinguishers can at times lead to confusion and as failure to operate the extinguishers properly in the first instance results in failure to quench the fire, it is recommended that extinguishers installed in any one building or single occupancy be similar in shape and appearance and have the same method of operation as far as possible. 4.1.1.5 It is recommended that an indicator board showing the number of buckets and extinguishers installed in each department be provided over or near the main entrance to the department. This will enable the person in charge of the appliances to ascertain at a glance if any appliances are missing. 4.1.1.6 It is advisable to provide conspicuous location indicators of a suitable type for all extinguishers, particularly those located in large compartments. 4.1.2 SELECTION OF HAND APPLIANCES:

4.1.2.1 Various types of hand appliances are available but all are not equally effective on all kinds of fires. For this reason, the nature of contents of a building, the processes carried out therein and the types of fires, which may occur, shall be taken into consideration while selecting fire appliances. 4.1.2.2 The different types of fires and appliances suitable for use on them are as under Class A Combustibles Fires in Ordinary combustibles (Wood, Vegetable fibres, rubber, plastics, Paper and the likes). Fires in flammable liquids, paints, grease, Hand Appliances Gas expelled Water and Antifreeze type extinguishers and Water Buckets. Chemical guishers of ExtinCarbon

solvents and the likes.

dioxide type and Dry Powder type and Sand Buckets. Chemical Extinguishers of Carbon di oxide and Dry Powder type. Special type of Dry Powder, Extinguishers and sand buckets

Fires in Gaseous substances under pressure and liquefied gases. Fires in reactive chemicals, Active metals and the likes.

N.B - WHERE THE ENERGISED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTS ARE INVOLVED IN A FIRE, THE NON-CONDUCTIVITY OF THE EXTINGUISING MEDIA IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND ONLY EXTINGUISHERS EXPELLING DRY POWDER OR CARBON-DI-OXIDE (WITHOUT METAL HORN) SHOULD BE USED. ONCE THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IS DE-ENERGISED EXTINGUISHERS SUITABLE FOR CLASS A, B AND C, MAY BE USED SAFELY. 4.1.3 REQUIREMENTS OF HAND APPLIANCES -

4.1.3.1 Procedure The minimum number of fire extinguishers needed to protect a property shall be determined as outlined below a) For any property, basic protection shall be appliances suitable for Class A fires, Since Class A fires are of universal character. The number of extinguishers shall be determined according to rule 4.1.3.2.

b) For occupancies where Class B fires are anticipated, a suitable number of appliances determined by rule 4.1.3.2 shall be replaced by appliances as per table under rule 4.1.3.4. c) For occupancies where fires of C & D types are anticipated, the Committee may recommend appropriate extinguishers.

4.1.3.2 One 9-litre water/sand bucket shall be provided for every 100 sq. m of the floor area or part thereof and one 9-litre water type extinguisher shall be provided to six buckets or part thereof with a minimum of one extinguisher and two buckets per compartment of the building. N.B. In the case of Cotton Gin and Press factories, the supply of hand appliances shall be doubled that indicated above. 4.1.3.3 Buckets may be dispensed with for occupancies other than Cotton Gin and Press factories, provided the supply of extinguishers is one- and-a-half times that indicated above in case of Light Hazard Occupancies and double that indicated above in case of other occupancies. Note: For categorisation of occupancies refer rule 7.2 4.1.3.4 Acceptable replacements for water buckets and water type extinguishers in occupancies where Class B fires are anticipated.

Acceptable replacement

WATER BUCKETS For one bucket 1 bucket 03 Kg. For two buckets 3 bucket 09 Kg

Water type Extinguishers For each 9 litre Extinguisher

Dry Sand Carbon-di-Oxide Extinguishers

(IS: 2878)

--09 Kg

Dry Powder Extinguisher

(IS: 2171)

02 Kg

05 Kg

05 Kg

(In one or more extinguishers)

Note- Any combination of the various appliances referred to above may be employed. 4.1.3.5 For electrical equipments, it would be necessary to provide extinguishers as under 4.1.3.5.1 For rooms containing electrical transformers, switchgears, motors and/or electrical apparatus only, not less than two 2 Kg dry powder or carbon dioxide type of extinguishers shall be provided within 15 m of the apparatus. 4.1.3.5.2 Where motors and/or other electrical equipments are installed in rooms other than those containing such equipments only, one 5 Kg dry powder or carbon di oxide extinguisher shall be installed within 15 m of such equipments in addition to the requirement of rules 4.1.3.2 and 4.1.3.4 for this purpose, the same extinguisher may be deemed to afford protection to all apparatus within 15 m thereof. 4.1.3.5.3 Where electrical motors are installed on platforms, one 2 Kg dry powder or carbon di oxide extinguisher shall be provided on or below each platform. In the case of long platform with a number of motors, one extinguisher shall be accepted as adequate for every three motors on the common platform. NB- the above requirement will be in addition to the requirements of rules 4.1.3.2 and 4.1.3.4 4.1.3.6 If in the premises, fires of class C and D are also likely to occur, the appropriate extinguishers and the number of such extinguisher will be decided by the Committee, in view of the special nature of occupancies. 4.1.3.7 Under special conditions, wheeled type of extinguishers may be installed with the prior approval of the Committee. 4.1.3.8 The appliances shall be so distributed over the entire floor area, that a person has to travel not more than 15 m to reach the nearest appliance. Example - The following example will illustrate the method of determining the number of fire extinguishers required to give adequate protection for a given property. Risk: Light Engineering Workshop (Light Hazard).

Area:

315 m x 112 m. i.e. 35,300 sq. m.

Types of Fires:

i)
ii)

Class `A' fire due to normal combustibles. Class `B' fire due to existence of Spray Painting process and storage of flammable liquids.

Number of appliances: i) Basic Protection 353 Buckets and 59 Water type Extinguishers OR 90 Water types Extinguishers, if buckets are dispensed with. ii) iii) For Class B fires 2 Water type Extinguishers are replaced by 2 Dry Powder Extinguishers. For electrical equipments 6 Dry Powder Extinguisher are provided. Thus the final number of Extinguishers is: Water type Dry Powder type Total 4.1.4 88 08 96

Selection of Sites for the Installation of Hand Appliances:

4.1.4.1 When selecting sites for hand appliances due consideration shall be given to the nature of the risk to be covered. Appliances shall be placed in conspicuous position and shall be readily accessible for immediate use in all parts of the occupancy. It should always be borne in mind while selecting sites that hand appliances are intended only for use on incipient fires and their value may be negligible if the fire is not extinguished or brought under control in the early stages. 4.1.4.2 Generally, hand appliances shall be placed as near as possible to exits or staircase landings. Wherever possible, advantage shall be taken of normal routes of escape by placing appliances in positions where they can readily be seen by persons following the natural impulse to get out of danger. It is not advisable to place appliances at the end of rooms remote from exits unless they are necessary to cover a particular hazard there. 4.1.4.3 Buckets shall be placed at convenient and easily accessible locations either on hangers or on stands. In the case of textile mills, it is strongly advised that a bucket be slung at the end of each spinning and roving frame. 4.1.5 Maintenance of Hand Appliances:

4.1.5.1 General 4.1.5.1.1 It is important that hand appliances are always kept in their proper positions and if temporarily removed for repairs, are immediately replaced. In order to ensure this, all concerns shall arrange to provide at least one man, preferably a pump man, whose duty is to see that the fire buckets are filled with water and the extinguishers are in efficient working order and that all appliances are in their correct positions.

4.1.5.1.2 It is recommended that in case the paint of any hand appliance gets chipped off or gets faded; it shall be repainted to prevent it from rust and corrosion. 4.1.5.2 Buckets: 4.1.5.2.1 Fire buckets shall not be used for any purpose other than that for which they are intended, and shall always be kept full of water/sand. 4.1.5.2.2 To prevent breeding of mosquitoes and to comply with rules of local bodies, the water in fire buckets shall be refilled every week and treated with sapon creosote or phenyl in suitable quantities to just discolour the water. 4.1.5.2.3 All buckets shall be refilled with clean water or sand, as the case may be, immediately after use. 4.1.5.2.4 Spare buckets to the extent of 10 % of the total number installed on the premises, subject to a maximum of 50, shall always be kept in store. 4.1.5.3 Extinguishers: 4.1.5.3.1 Spare charges to the extent of 10 % of the total number of extinguishers installed, with a minimum of two shall always be kept in stock for each type of extinguisher and be readily available. 4.1.5.3.2 Once a week, the extinguisher shall be checked to ensure that all movable parts are working properly, that the plunger is in fully extended position, that the nozzle is not obstructed in any way and that there is no leakage of the extinguishing medium from the glands and nozzles. The extinguishers shall be cleaned superficially and the brass parts polished. The nozzle outlet and vent holes in the threaded portion of the cap shall be checked for clogging. 4.1.5.3.3 Once a month, extinguishers of the Carbon Dioxide type shall be weighed. If the weight recorded for any extinguisher is less than 90 % of the weight of the fully charged extinguisher as marked on the body, the extinguisher shall be sent for recharging. 4.1.5.3.4 Half the total number of water type of extinguishers and one-fifth of the total number of Dry Powder Extinguishers installed in the premises shall be subjected to an operation test annually. Advantage shall be taken of this test to impart training in the use of extinguishers, to the staff employed on the premises where the extinguishers are located. N.B. Extinguishers, which have been used in a fire during a period of six months preceding the tests, need not be taken for testing. 4.1.5.3.5 Extinguishers installed in the premises shall be subjected to a hydraulic test as specified in IS: 2190 and at such intervals as laid down therein. Extinguishers found leaking or distorted shall be rejected. Under no circumstances shall such extinguishers be welded and reused. N.B. The hydraulic test shall be certified by the manufacturer(s) of the appliance(s) or the factory Chief Engineer or the Factory Fire OR SAFETY OFFICER or the service contractors. 4.1.5.3.6 A record of the operation and hydraulic tests shall be maintained, which shall be open to examination by the Committees inspection staff.

4.1.5.3.7 The operating instructions of the extinguishers shall not be defaced or obliterated. In case the operating instructions are obliterated or have become illegible due to passage of time, fresh transfers of the same shall be obtained from the manufacturers of the appliances and affixed to the extinguishers. 4.2 Small Bore Hose Reels: (This sort of protection is not deemed suitable for buildings/compartments containing electrical apparatus only or in respect of buildings/ compartments in which flammable liquids are stored and/or used) 4.2.1 HOSE REELS SHALL NORMALLY BE CONNECTED TO THE GENERAL WATER SUPPLY PIPELINES OF THE PLANT/PREMISES. The number and distribution of hose reels shall be such that the whole of each floor is protected and that no part of the floor is more than 6 m. distant from a hose nozzle when the hose is fully extended. The hose reel shall be such as will enable not less than 22.5 litres of water to be discharged per minute through a nozzle of not more than 6.35 mm. internal diameter. Hose shall be of reinforced rubber not less than 19 mm. and not more than 32 mm. internal diameter. Hose lengths shall not exceed 36.50 m.

4.2.2

4.2.3

4.2.4 4.2.5

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