FIRE SAFETY

INSTRUCTIOINS
FOR
SCHOOLS
BETTER SAFE THAN
SORRY
Introduction
 What Consists a Fire?

FIRE :
It is a chemical chain reaction which
takes place with the evolution of heat
and light.

ESSENTIALS OF FIRE :
»Oxygen
»Heat
»Fuel
3
OXYGEN SOURCE HEAT SOURCES
To Reach Ignition Temp.
Approx. 16% Required
Open Flame, the Sun,Hot Surface,
Normal air contains 21% of oxygen
Sparks & Arcs, Friction, Chemical
Some Fuels contains its own Action, Elec. Energy,& Gas
oxygen supply Compression

Oxygen Heat

Fuel

GASES LIQUIDS SOLIDS

Natural Gas, Propane, Gasoline, Kerosene, Coal, Wood, Paper,
Butane,Hydrogen, Turpentine, Alcohol, Cloth, Wax, Grease,
Acetylene, CO Paint, Varnish, Olive oil, Leather, Plastic, Sugar,
Lacquer Grain, Hay, Cork

4
FIRE TRIANGLE
 THE FIRE TETRAHEDRON

Temperature
Reducing
Agent

Oxidizing
agent Chemical
Chain
Reaction 5
 MODES OF SPREAD OF FIRE

• Conduction :
– It occurs only in solids i.e. metallic objects.
• Convection :
– It occurs both in liquids & gases due to
convection current.
• Radiation :
– It neither conduction nor convection. These
are heated rays emanating from the hot
object.

6
 PRINCIPLES OF FIRE
EXTINCTION

• Starvation :
– Removal of unburned material from the fire area
• Smothering :
– Cutting off the supply of oxygen from fire area
• Cooling :
– Removal of heat from the burning material/fire
area
• Breaking of Chain Reaction :
– This is a chemical process
7
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE
(As per IS:2190/1992)

Class A :
»Fire involving solid combustible
A materials of organic nature such
wood, paper, rubber, plastic, cloth
which requires cooling effect.
Class B :
»Fire involving inflammable liquids
B or liquefiable solids such as petrol,
kerosene, acids, solvent etc.
8
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE
(As per IS: 2190/1992)
Class C :
»Fire involving inflammable gases
C under pressure including liquefied
gases such as methane, hydrogen,
acetylene, LPG etc.
Class D :
»Fire involving combustible metals,
D such as magnesium, zinc, sodium,
aluminum, potassium, radioactive
material etc. When the burning
metals are reactive to water. 9
 EXTINGUISHERS

• One of the most common fire protection

appliances in use today.
• Is excellent to use on incipient fires.
• Can extinguish a small fire in much less
time.
• Be knowledgeable about the different types
of fire extinguishers and their correct use.
• Known as “First aid fire fighting equipment”

10
 SUITABLITY OF FIRE
EXTINGUISHERS
CLASS A :
»Water (Gas Cartridge)
A »Water (Stored Pressure)
»Dry Chemical
CLASS B:
»Mechanical Foam
B »Dry Chemical
»Carbon-di-oxide

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 SUITABLITY OF FIRE
EXTINGUISHERS
CLASS C:
»Carbon-di-oxide
C »Dry Chemical

CLASS D :
»Special Dry Powder
D (Ternary Eutectic Chloride)

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 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum width for access roads for fire

brigade vehicle should be 8 meter
• At least two gates of 6 meter width should
be provided for entry to the school
compound
• Temporary structure should be avoided for
housing schools
• Public address system should be provided
• School buildings should preferably be
restricted to ground and one upper floor.
 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS …

• Basement should not be used for classrooms

or laboratories/libraries and assembly halls
• Hazardous laboratory chemicals should be
stored in detached buildings 6 meter away
• Food should not be cooked inside school
buildings. Kitchens if provided should be
housed in detached buildings 6 meter away
• LPG containers shall not be located near
exit/access doors, stairways or areas used
as means of egress.
 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS …

• LPG containers shall not be stored in

basements
• Adequate vents should be provided to the
outside at both top and bottom in rooms
housing LPG cylinders
• Design, constructions & installation of fuel
fired appliances should be in accordance
with established National Codes
• Metal hoods and chimneys for such kitchen
appliances should be in accordance with
established National Codes.
 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS …

• Such chimneys shall be regularly repaired to

prevents smokes, sparks and gases being
escaped through them
• Vertical shafts/ducts meet for electrical
wiring/drainage pipes etc should be enclosed
by 225 mm brick walls and effectively sealed
at all floor levels
• Access openings to such ducts/shafts should
be protected by fire resisting shutters of 1-
hour fire resistance
 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS …

• All waste materials should be collected at

the end of the day and burnt in an
incinerator fitted with spark arrester kept
far away from school
• All school buildings should be maintained
in good state of repair
 EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE
EVACUATION
• At least two separate exit
staircases directly leading to open
space of safety must be available
for every floor
• Emergency escape openings
should be maintained regularly
• Minimum number of exits based
on occupant load, shall be 2 for up
to 500 occupants, 3 for occupant
load between 500-1000 and 4 for
more than 1000 occupants
 EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE
EVACUATION…
• Exits should be so located that no point in
any floor is more than 22.5 meter from
nearest exit
• Door width of assembly halls should be
minimum 2 meter
• Other exit doorway should be of minimum
1.5 meter width
• Egress door shall be side hinged swinging
• Doors shall swing in the direction of egress
• There shall be floor or a landing on each
side of a door at the same elevation
 EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE
EVACUATION…

• Egress doors should be readily operable

from the egress side without the use of key
• Turnstiles that restrict in one direction only,
should not be placed so as to obstruct
means of egress
• Minimum corridor width shall be 1.5 meter
• Staircases should be continuous from
ground floor to the terrace level. A separate
staircase should lead to basement level.
Laboratories should be located in separate
block
 EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE
EVACUATION…

• Internal exit staircases should be enclosed

with fire resisting walls of at least 9”
thickness with door openings therein
protected by 1 hr fire resistance doors
• Such doors should always be kept open
• Width of staircases shall not be less than
1.5 meter
• Lifts are not to be considered as an
acceptable means of escape.
• Minimum width of treads in such
staircases shall be 300 mm.
Nose Treads

Handrail Landing
Riser

Flight

DESIGN OF STAIRCASE
 EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE
EVACUATION…

• Risers of such staircases shall not be more

than 150 mm in height
• Number of risers per flight shall be
restricted to 15. Height of staircase railings
should be minimum 1 meter
• Gap between verticals in such railings, if
any, should not exceed 200 mm
• For primary schools, above gap should be
reduced to 150 mm
• Lifts should not open into the staircases
 EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE EVACUATION…

• No electrical shafts, AC dusts or gas pipes

should pass through staircases
• No combustible material should be used for
decoration/wall paneling in staircases
• All internal stair-cases, lift-lobbies and
corridors should be adequately ventilated
and illuminated
• The exit signs with arrow indicating the way
to the escape-route should be provided at a
suitable height from the floor level on the
wall
 EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE EVACUATION…

• Emergency and escape lighting

system should be capable of
continuous operation for a
minimum duration of 1 hr and 30
min
• Ramps used as part of means of
egress shall have running slope
steeper than 1 in 12
• Surface of ramps shall be of slip-
resistant materials
• Minimum width of egress ramps
when provided should not be less
than that of corridors
RAMP
 FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPLIANCES

• Portable fire extinguishers

should be provided in all
school buildings and annex
blocks as per BIS: 2190
• Buildings more than 2
storied in height should be
provided with first aid
fighting hose-reels
• Dry risers when provided
should be provided with
approved fire department
connection at ground level
 FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPLIANCES…

• Underground static water storage tank

of at least 50,000 liters capacity should
be available in all school compounds.
• One electric and one diesel engine
driven fire pump should be installed on
such fire water reservoir to supply
water to a down - comer fitted with
hydrant outlets and connected to a
10,000 liters over-head tank at the
terrace level
 FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPLIANCES…

• Dry riser when

provided should be
provided with a
hydrant outlet and a
hose box near each
such hydrant
• Automatic fire alarm
and detection system
if installed, should
conform to BIS:2189
 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION

• Sub-stations housing transformers,

HT/LT circuit breakers should be
housed in separate rooms 6 meter
away
• Staircase and corridor lights should
be on separate circuits
 EVACUATION PROCEDURES

• A regular fire safety and evacuation

plan must be drawn up
• First emergency evacuation drill of
each school year should be conducted
within 10 days of beginning of classes
• Outdoor assembly areas should be
located at a safe distance from the
school building being evacuated
 EVACUATION PROCEDURES…

• Assembly areas should be arranged to

keep each class separate to provide
accountability of all individuals.
• Employees should received training in the
contents of fire safety and evacuation
plans
• Each employee should be trained in fire
prevention in the conduct of their
assigned duties.
• Drill should be held at unexpected times
to simulate unusual conditions that occur
in case of a fire.
ANY QUESTIONS