Code of practice for fire safety of industrial buildings: General storage and warehousing including cold storage
1991 Edition

IS 3594 specifies the following minimum separation distances for godowns: a minimum gap of 12 meters between any two facing godowns. If the distance surpasses 15 meters, one wall should be a solid separating wall without openings, and any openings must be safeguarded using fire check doors, wired glass, or both, accompanied by a drencher system. Outdoor storage must maintain a clearance of at least 15 meters from the warehouse unless fire-resistant doors, shutters, or drencher systems protect all openings facing the storage area. Additionally, roadways adjacent to godowns should be no less than 5 meters wide to allow fire engine access.

To mitigate fire hazards, hazardous and extra-hazardous substances should ideally be stored in single-storey structures, with a maximum of two storeys allowed. These materials must be segregated from each other and from non-hazardous items to prevent fire spread. Prior to storage, the fire risk characteristics of materials should be identified; if unknown, they should be treated as hazardous and appropriately separated. Special categories like gases, acids, and flammable liquids require additional safety considerations beyond this standard.

For warehouses, IS 3594 mandates automatic fire alarm systems conforming to IS 2189:1988 unless the facility is protected by automatic sprinklers. For expansive open areas lacking sprinklers, a well-planned manual fire alarm system is acceptable. Storage compartments not exceeding 750 m³ require automatic fire alarms, while those over 750 m³ must have both automatic sprinklers and alarms. These provisions ensure prompt fire detection, especially vital for warehouses often unattended during off-hours.

Automatic sprinkler systems are mandatory for storage buildings with a floor area exceeding 750 m². For smaller facilities under this threshold, sprinkler installation is not compulsory, but a well-designed automatic fire alarm system as per IS 2189:1988 should be present. Additionally, adequate water supply arrangements with fire hydrants and static tanks are required for larger storage areas, and outdoor storage near warehouses must have fire protection measures like drencher systems or fire-resistant doors.

Cold storage warehouses pose unique fire risks due to combustible insulation materials and low temperatures. IS 3594 recommends limiting compartment sizes to a maximum of 750 m² without sprinklers, expandable to 2250 m² if sprinklers are installed. Fire-resistant construction and compartmentation are essential. Early fire detection and automatic alarm systems are critical given low occupancy during off-hours. Large or high-value cold storage facilities may require a dedicated fire brigade, and all firefighting equipment locations must be clearly indicated on site plans and at entrances.