Quick Reference-Fire Fighting (Part-1)

 

Class of Fire

CLASSType of FireType of Fire Extinguisher
Class AFires involving Paper, Wood, Textile, Packing materials and the like.Water, foam, ABC dry power and halocarbons.
Class BFires involving Oil, Petrol, Solvent, Grease, Paints, Celluloid and the like.Foam, dry powder, clean agent and carbon dioxide extinguishers
Class CFires involving Electrical Hazards, Motor Vehicle Gaseous substance under pressure.Dry powder, clean agent and carbon dioxide extinguishers
Class DFires involving Chemicals, Metal and active like

Magnesium ,titanium

Extinguishers with special dry powder for metal tires

 

Area covered by Fire Extinguisher (NBC)

Type of Fire ExtinguishersCoverage (Floor) Area
Water/ Sand Bucket100 sq.mt.
Sprinklers6 sq.mt.
Extinguishers (9 Liter)600 sq.mt.
Heat Detectors16 sq.mt.
Hydrant Riser (Outlet 100 mm dia with landing valve and First aid hose reel)930 sq.mt
Smoke Detectors50 sq.mt.

 

Water Requirement for the Fire Fighting (AS per NBC)

Q = 3000 P
Q = Fire demand in Liters/Minutes
P = Population in Thousands
Note:  The above rate must be maintained at a minimum pressure of 1 to 1.5 kg / cm2 for at least four hours.

 

Water Requirement for Wet Riser/Down Corner System (As per NBC -TABLE 4)

Residential BuildingsU.G. Water Storage Tank StaticTerrace Tank
15 m to 30 m50,000 lts10,000 lts
30 m to 45 m1,00,000 lts20,000 lts
Above 45 m2,00,000 lts40,000 lts

 

Water Requirement for Wet Riser/Down Corner System (As per NBC -TABLE 5)

Business BuildingU.G. Water Storage Tank StaticTerrace Tank
15 m to 30 m100000 lts (50000 lts if covered area in G.F is less than 300sq.m.)20,000 lts
30 m to 45 m20000 lts20,000 lts
Above 45 m250000 lts50,000 lts

 

Classification of fire Pumps (As per IS 15301)

Pump SizeLocation of Pump Installation
450 Liter/MinPumps to be installed on the terrace to feed the Down Comer System.
900 Liter/MinPumps to be installed on the terrace to feed the Down Comer System.
2280 Liter/MinPumps are to be housed in the pump house.
2850 Liter/MinPumps are to be housed in the pump house.
4500 Liter/MinPumps are to be housed in the pump house.
For special risks 6700 Liter/MinPumps are to be housed in the pump house.

 

Suction and Delivery Pipe Sizes (IS 3844)

Pump SizePump LocationSuctionDelivery
450 Liter/minTerrace50 mm50 mm
 900 Liter/minTerrace75 mm50 mm
1400 Liter/minTerrace100 mm100 mm
2280 Liter/minFire Pump150 mm150 mm
2850 Liter/minFire Pump200 mm150 mm
4500 Liter/minFire Pump250 mm200 mm
6700 Liter/minFire Pump250 mm200 mm

 

Different Types of Fire Extinguishers for Different Classes of Fires ( IS 2190 )

Type of ExtinguisherISType of Fires
Class AClass BClass CClass D
water type (gas cartridge)IS 940 , IS 13385SNSNSNS
water type (stored pressure)IS 6234SNSNSNS
mechanical foam type (gas cartridge)IS 10204, IS 13386SSNSNS
mechanical foam type (stored pressure) IS 14951,IS 15397SSNSNS
dry powder type (stored pressure) IS 13849SSSNS
dry powder type (gas cartridge) IS 2171 , IS 10658SSSNS
dry powder type for metal fires IS 11833NSNSNSS
carbon dioxide type IS 2878, IS 8149NSSSNS
clean agent gas type IS 15683SSSNS
halon 1211 typeIS 4862 , IS 11108SSSNS

 

PRESSURE TESTING OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS  ( IS 2190 )

Type of ExtinguisherISTest Interval (Year)Test Pressure (kg/cm2)Pressure Maintained for Min. (kg/cm2)
Water type (gas cartridge)IS 9403352.5
Water type (stored pressure) IS 62343352.5
Water type (gas cartridge)IS 133853352.5
Mechanical foam type (gas cartridge) IS 102043352.5
Mechanical foam type (stored pressure)IS 153973352.5
Mechanical foam type (gas cartridge) IS 133863352.5
Mechanical foam type (gas cartridge) 135 liter IS 149513352.5
Dry powder ( stored pressure)IS l38493352.5
 Carbon dioxideIS 287852502.5
 Clean agentIS 156833352.5
Dry powder (gas cartridge)IS2171, IS106583352.5

 

LIFE OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ( IS 2190)

Type of ExtinguisherLife Time, Year
Water type10
Foam type10
Powder type10
Carbon dioxide15
Clean agent10

 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INSTALLATION OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS  ( IS 2190 )

OccupancyType of OccupancyNature of OccupancyClass of
Fire
Typical Examples
Group AResidential buildingsLow HazardCLASS ALodging or rooming, one or two family houses, private dwellings, dormitories, apartment houses, flats, up to 4 star hotels, etc
 Low HazardCLASS CSmall kitchens having LPG connection, electrical heaters, etc
 Medium HazardCLASS AMulti-storied buildings, multi-risk buildings, five star hotels, etc
Group BEducational buildingsLow HazardCLASS ATutorials, vocational training institutes, evening colleges, commercial institutes
 Medium HazardCLASS ASchools, colleges, etc
Group CInstitutional buildingsMedium HazardCLASS AHospitals, sanatoria, homes for aged, orphanage jails, etc
Group DAssembly buildings-D-1High HazardCLASS ATheatres, assembly halls, exhibition halls, museums, restaurants places of worship, club rooms, dance halls, etc, having seating capacity of over 1 00 persons
Assembly buildings-D-2High HazardCLASS ATheatres, assembly halls, exhibitions halls, museums, restaurants, places of worship, club rooms, dance halls, etc, having seating capacity less than 1 000 persons
Assembly buildings-D-3High HazardCLASS ATheatres, assembly halls, exhibition halls, museums, restaurants, places of worship, club rooms, dance halls, etc, but having accommodation for more than 300 persons, but less than 1 000 persons, with no permanent seating arrangement
Assembly buildings-D-4 / D5Low HazardCLASS ATheatres, assembly halls, exhibition halls, museums, restaurants, places of worship, club rooms, dance halls, etc, but having accommodation less than 300 and those not covered under D-l to D-3
Group EBusiness buildings-E-1Special HazardCLASS AOffices, banks, record rooms, archives, libraries, data processing centers, etc
Business buildings-E-2Medium HazardCLASS BLaboratories, research establishment, test houses, etc
Business buildings-E-3Special HazardCLASS AComputer installations
Group FMercantile buildingsMedium HazardCLASS AShops, stores, markets, departmental stores,
underground shopping centers, etc
Group GIndustrial buildingsLow HazardCLASS ASmall industrial units
Medium HazardCLASS ACorrugated carton manufacturing units, paper cane units, packing case manufacturing units, cotton waste manufacturing units
HHCLASS ALarge number yards, saw mills, godowns and warehouses storing combustible materials, cold storages, freight depots, etc
Low HazardCLASS BDemonstration chemical plants, small chemical processing plants, pilot plants, etc
Medium HazardCLASS BWorkshops, painting shops, large kitchens, industrial canteens, generator rooms, heat treatment shops, tread rubber manufacturing units, petrol bunks, tubes and Haps units, etc
High HazardCLASS BPetroleum processing units, chemical plants, industrial alcohol plants, effluent treatment plants, etc
High HazardCLASS CFertilizer plants, petrochemical plants, LPG bottling plants, etc
High HazardCLASS DAll processes involving use of combustible highly flammable materials, reactive metals and alloys, including their storage
Group HStorage buildingsMedium HazardCLASS BFlammable liquid stores, storage in drums and cans in open, paints and varnishes go down
High HazardCLASS BTank farms, chemical and petroleum bulk storage depots, large service stations, truck and marine terminals, underground LDO/furnace oil storage yards, etc
Medium HazardCLASS CLPG distribution godown/office, distribution storage godowns/offices of D, N, H, Argon and other industrial gases
High HazardCLASS CStorage and handling of gas cylinders in bulk, gas plant, gas holders ( Horton), spheres, etc
Group JHazardousBuildings used for storage, handling, manufacture and processing of highly combustible explosive materials. (Risks involved in terms of class of fire and intensity of fire has to be assessed on case to case basis and statutory authorities to be consulted, environmental factors and mutual aid facilities to be taken into account before deciding on the fire extinguisher requirements.)

 

RECOMMENDED  EQUIPMENT TO BE INSTALLED ( IS 2190 )

Class of Fire OccupancyNo of Fire Systems
CLASS ALow HazardOne 9 liter water expelling extinguisher or ABC 5 kg/6 kg fire extinguisher, for every 200 m2 of floor area or part thereof with minimum of two extinguishers per compartment or floor of the building.
Medium HazardTwo 9 liter water expelling extinguishers or ABC 5 kg / 6 kg fire extinguisher, for every 200 m2 with minimum of 4 extinguishers per compartment floor.
Medium HazardProvision as per MH occupancy; in addition to one 50 liter water CO2/25 kg ABC fire extinguisher for every 100 m2 of floor area
Special HazardOne 4.5 kg capacity carbon dioxide or one 2/3 kg capacity clean agent extinguisher for every 100 m2 of floor area or part thereof with minimum of two extinguishers
CLASS BLow HazardOne 9 liter foam extinguisher, mechanical or BC or ABC, 5 kg/6 kg fire extinguisher, for every 200 m2 of floor area or part thereof with minimum of two extinguishers per compartment or floor.
Medium HazardTwo 9 liter foam extinguisher, mechanical type, or 5/6 kg dry powder extinguisher ( or one of each type) for every 200 m2 area with minimum of four extinguisher per compartment
Medium HazardProvision as per MH, and in addition to one 50 liter mechanical foam type extinguisher or 25 kg BC fire extinguisher for every 100 m2 or part thereof one l35 liter foam mechanical extinguisher for every 300 m2 of floor area
CLASS CLow HazardOne 2/3 kg dry powder of clean agent extinguisher for every 20 m2 of floor area
Medium HazardOne 10 kg dry powder extinguisher (stored pressure) or 6.5 kg  carbon dioxide extinguisher or 5 kg clean agent for 100 m2 of floor area or part thereof, with minimum of one extinguishers of the same type for every compartment;
High HazardDry powder extinguisher (stored pressure) of 10 kg or 6.5 kg CO2 extinguisher, or 5 kg clean agent extinguisher for every 100 m2 of floor area or part thereof, subject to a minimum of two extinguishers of same type per room or compartment.
CLASS DHigh HazardOne 10 kg dry powder extinguisher with special dry powder for metal fires for every 100 m2 of floor area or part thereof with minimum of two extinguishers per compartment/room