Fire Hazards : Safety Measures for Prevention in Commercial Spaces

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, ROORKEECENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN DISASTER MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT

(DM 608)

SUBMITTED BY :Ankita PrasunM.Tech- 1st Year

Man – Made and Biological Hazards

Hazard A situation having potential to harm life, health, property or environment.

What is a Fire Hazard ? Any object, building, plants etc. that could easily catch fire or cause

a fire, thereby endangering life, property, health or environment.

One of the greatest threats to a business.

Can start anywhere

Holds the potential to destroy everything coming in its way.

How does FIRE ignite ?

For Fire, there has to be:

1. Oxygen to sustain combustion2. Heat to raise the material to its ignition temperature3. Fuel or Combustible materials

A combination of all the above creates FIRE

Breaking the above combination prevents FIRE

FUEL TYPE

SOLID LIQUID GASIncreasing Severity

Through combustible materials:• papers, files, etc.• old or waste materials

Unventilated Areas:• UPS or battery rooms• electrical panels or cabinets

Electrical Faults Open flames:

• smoking• pantry• electric device failures

How does FIRE ignite ?

Types of FIRE

1. Multi plugging2. Faulty electrical appliances

UPS Air conditioner Stabilizer Lighting fixtures

3. Overrun of Air-Conditioner PC rooms

4. Improper distribution of electric loads5. Improper Earthing6. Conditions like:

Connected load > Sanctioned load

Electrical Faults

1. Electrical Audit2. AMC of AC and UPS3. Modular Fire Extinguishers in UPS cabin 4. Air conditioners with timer5. Proper Earthing6. Sanction of additional load7. Single main switch for lighting and power8. MCB or ELCB installations9. Installation and maintenance of FIRE Alarm system:

Smoke/ heat detector Fire Alarm panel Hooters

Electrical SafetyMeasures

Branch Inspection Check Points:

• Scale of Fire Extinguishers• Refilling of Fire Extinguishers• Modular Extinguisher in UPS cabin• Fire alarm system• Electrical audit• General wiring• Ventilation and cooling of UPS room

Electrical Safety cont …Measures

Essentials of NBC : Construction

Architectural Safety

Means of Access

Open Space: Street = 12metres (min.) Entrance = 4.5/5 meters (min.)

Fire Lift: Enclosures (2hr ratings) Doors (1.5 hr rating) One per 1200sqm floor area 8 persons/545 kg 1.4sqm lift area Ground to top in 1 minute

Means of Escape

Refugee Area: 15 sqm

Exit Sign and Illumination: 10 Lux

Travel Distance: 30mtr/15mtr

Exit Doorway (width): 1mtr (min.)

Staircase Pressurization

Subdividing business building spaces

Measures

Essentials of NBC : Fire Safety

Architectural SafetyMeasures

Fire Extinguishers Automated Fire Alarms Hydrant System or Hose Heel Hose Box Fire Pump PA System Alternative power source

Lift, stairway, corridors Compartmentation Emergency lighting system Escape Lighting Automatic Sprinkler System

Fire Fighting : New Developments New Indian Specification for portable Fire Extinguishers –

notified by BIS Present ISI numbers of portable extinguishers:

Water Type – IS 940 DCP Type – IS 2171 CO2 Type – IS 2878

IS 15683 is being notified as single IS Code for all types of portable fire extinguishers.

Recommended brands for Fire Extinguishers: Minimax Safex LifeGuard Omex Other certified by BIS

Type Capacity Cost

Water 9.0 ltrs 1500 - 2000

CO2 4.5 kg 4000-5000

DCP 5.0 kg 1500 - 2000

ABC 5.0 kg 2500 - 3500

Modular 5.0 kg 4000 - 5000

Fire Fighting AMC of Fire Fighting Equipment:

Type Maintenance hecking

Water Half-yearly Annually

CO2 Half-yearly Annually

DCP Half-yearly Annually

ABC Half-yearly Biannually

Modular Half-yearly Biannually

Fire Alarm System: Quarterly CheckingModular Type fire Extinguisher (ceiling mounted)

DCP (Dry Chemical Powder) Type fire Extinguisher

THANK YOU !