Code of practice for fire safety of industrial buildings: Cotton textile mills
1990 Edition

Fire Safety Code Scope Overview

• Coverage: Specifies requirements for electrical transformers within textile mill environments.
• Terminology: Clauses 3.1 through 3.7 offer definitions, supplemented by SP 45:1988 textile glossary.
• Referenced Standards: Annex A lists related Indian Standards essential for comprehensive understanding.
• Transformer Compliance: Includes drawing frame transformers adhering to IS 1646:1982.
• Lighting Requirements for Firefighting (Clause 12.1):

These measures ensure operational safety and effective fire response.

For detailed design and testing procedures, refer to the full IS 3079 document and associated standards like IS 1646 and SP 45.

Definitions as per IS 3079 (Clause 3.0)

• Scope: Terms defined in Clauses 3.1 through 3.7 of IS 3079, augmented by the textile glossary in SP 45:1988.

• Supporting Standards (Annex A, Clause 2.1):
  The following Indian Standards provide further definitions and practices related to fire safety and equipment:

  IS Number	Title
  908 : 1975	Fire hydrants, stand post type
  1642 : 1988	Fire safety of buildings - construction details
  1644 : 1988	Fire safety of buildings - exit protocols
  1646 : 1982	Fire safety of buildings - electrical systems
  2190 : 1979	Portable fire extinguisher selection and upkeep
  3844 : 1966	Internal hydrants and hose reel installation
  5290 : 1983	Landing valves
  9668 : 1980	Water supply and firefighting
  12459 : 1988	Fire protection for cable runs
  SP 45 : 1988	Textile terminology glossary

• Important Notes:

  • Terminology aligns with textile industry and fire safety contexts.
  • Transformer-related terms fall under IS 1646:1982 (Clause 10.10).
  • The Standard Mark is regulated by BIS as per the BIS Act, 1986.

Diagram: Definition References in IS 3079

graph LR
  IS3079Defs["IS 3079 Definitions (3.1-3.7)"]
  TextileGlossary["SP 45:1988 Textile Glossary"]
  RelatedStandards["Annex A: Related Indian Standards"]
  TransformerStandard["IS 1646:1982 (Transformers)"]

  IS3079Defs --> TextileGlossary
  IS3079Defs --> RelatedStandards
  RelatedStandards --> TransformerStandard

Refer to Clauses 3.1-3.7 and SP 45:1988 for complete definitions.

Site and Compound Design Essentials

• Compound Dimensions (Clause 5.1):
  Must be adequate to house manufacturing, processing, storage, and utility buildings with prescribed minimum clearances according to IS 3079.

• Building Compliance (Clause 6.1):
  Structures should conform to fire-safe construction criteria as per IS 1642:1988.

• Main Entrance (Clause 5.3):

  • Minimum clear width: 6 meters
  • Minimum overhead clearance: 5 meters
  • At least one additional gate of identical size for emergencies
  • Provide a turning circle with a minimum diameter of 9 meters in front for fire vehicles

• Internal Roadways (Clause 13.1.1):

  • Must be navigable by vehicles and kept free of obstructions
  • Minimum vertical clearance: 6 meters for fire appliance access

Summary Table

flowchart LR
  Compound[Compound Area] --> Manuf[Manufacturing Building]
  Compound --> Store[Storage Building]
  Compound --> Util[Utility Building]
  Compound --> Proc[Processing Building]
  Manuf ---|Spacing as per IS 3079| Store
  Store ---|Spacing as per IS 3079| Util
  Util ---|Spacing as per IS 3079| Proc
  Compound --> MainGate[Main Gate (6m x 5m)]
  Compound --> AddGate[Additional Gate (6m x 5m)]
  MainGate --> TurnCircle[Turning Circle (9m diameter)]
  Compound --> Roads[Internal Roads (6m clearance)]

This layout facilitates efficient emergency response, evacuation, and firefighting operations.

Construction Requirements Summary

1. Governing Standard:

• Building construction must comply with fire protection standards outlined in IS 1642:1988.

2. Entrance Specifications (Clause 5.3):

• Width: At least 6 meters
• Height: At least 5 meters
• Emergency Gates: Minimum one additional gate matching main gate dimensions
• Turning Space: Provide a turning circle with a minimum diameter of 9 meters for firefighting vehicles

3. Fire Resistance for Building Types (Clause 6):

• Production areas like spinning, preparatory processes, raising, and singeing require at least Type I fire resistance.
• Utility structures should be constructed to Type II standards.

Fire Resistance Classification (IS 1642:1988)

Layout Diagram for Gates and Turning Circle

graph LR
  MainGate[Main Gate (6m wide, 5m high)] --> TurnCircle[Turning Circle (9m radius)]
  MainGate --> EmergencyGate[Emergency Gate (6m wide)]

Summary: All buildings must meet the fire resistance criteria of IS 1642, with adequate gate sizes and turning space to facilitate fire safety.

Separating Walls and Fire Compartments Overview

1. Maximum Compartment Size (Clause 6.9)

• The maximum allowed plinth area for any single building or compartment is 2,500 square meters.
• Spinning departments are required to be partitioned into at least two fire compartments.

2. Purpose of Partition Walls (Clauses 7.1 & 7.3)

• To isolate high-risk or fire-prone sections such as cotton storage, willowing, mixing, spinning, dyeing, gas generation, and waste processing.
• Also separates fire pump house, boiler house, transformer house, and electrical generating station.

3. Partitions Between Storage Areas (Clause 7.2)

• Mandatory between:
  • Pressed cotton bale godowns
  • Loose cotton and clean waste godowns
  • Oily waste godowns
  • Oil godowns, which must be standalone buildings
  • Stores containing non-hazardous materials

4. Specifications Summary

Design Considerations

• Partition walls must be constructed of fire-resistant materials extending from foundation through the roof.
• Compartmentalization helps limit fire spread and aids firefighting efforts.
• Refer to IS 1642 and IS 1643 for fire resistance ratings and wall thickness requirements.

flowchart LR
  MillSections[Mill Sections] -->|Separated by| FireWalls[Fire-Resistant Walls]
  FireWalls --> Compartments[Fire Compartments]
  Compartments --> Spinning[Spinning Dept. (≥ 2 Compartments)]
  Compartments --> Storage[Storage Areas]
  Compartments --> FirePump[Fire Pump House]
  Compartments --> Boiler[Boiler House]
  Compartments --> Transformer[Transformer House]
  Compartments --> ElectricGen[Electrical Generating Station]

For detailed fire wall specifications, consult IS 1642 and IS 1643.

Spacing Requirements Between Buildings and Sections

Essential Guidelines:

• Maximum Plinth Area (Clause 6.9):

  • Single buildings or compartments should not exceed 2,500 m².
  • Spinning departments must be subdivided by fire-resistant walls.

• Minimum Separation Distances (Clause 8.5):

  • Fire pump houses, boiler rooms, transformer stations, and electrical generating units need to be situated at least 15 meters away from production and storage buildings.

• Utility Buildings (Clause 6.5):

  • Construction must meet Type II fire resistance as per IS 1642:1988.

• Machinery Clearance (Clause 9.9):

  • Follow spacing rules set by the Factories Act, 1948 and related regulations.

Summary Table:

Visual Representation:

graph LR
  Production[Manufacturing Section] ---|≥ 15 m| FirePump[Fire Pump House]
  Production ---|≥ 15 m| Boiler[Boiler House]
  Production ---|≥ 15 m| Transformer[Transformer House]
  Production ---|≥ 15 m| Generator[Electrical Generating Station]

Note: Always verify local regulations and comply with the Factories Act for machinery and spacing specifics.

Guidelines for Machinery and Operational Safety

IS 3079 refers mainly to external legislation for machinery spacing and safety.

• Machinery Spacing (Clause 9.9): Must adhere to the Factories Act, 1948 and its associated rules, ensuring safe distances to avoid hazards and facilitate maintenance.

• Fire Safety Illumination (Clause 12.1, Table 12): Minimum lighting levels required are:

Additional Safety Practices:

• Maintain adequate spacing between machines, generally between 1.2 to 1.5 meters, for access, ventilation, and emergency escape.
• Employ fire-resistant materials and install automatic detection and suppression mechanisms.
• Conduct hazard assessments (HAZOP), risk analyses, and prepare emergency response plans.

flowchart TD
    FactoryAct[Factories Act, 1948] --> MachineSpacing[Machinery Spacing]
    MachineSpacing --> SafeOps[Safe Operation & Maintenance]
    FactoryAct --> FireSafety[Fire Safety Regulations]
    FireSafety --> Illumination[Minimum Lighting Levels]
    Illumination --> WorkAreas[Work Areas: 150 Lux]
    Illumination --> Warehouses[Warehouses: 50 Lux]
    Illumination --> OpenSpaces[Open Compound: 20 Lux]

Refer to the Factories Act and fire safety standards for detailed machinery safety protocols.

Electrical Installations and Illumination Standards

Lighting Levels (Clause 12.1)

• These values ensure sufficient visibility for firefighting and safe operations.

Emergency Lighting (Clause 12.2)

• Emergency lighting must be installed to provide illumination during power outages, facilitating safe evacuation and firefighting.

Electrical Installations (Clause 10.1)

• Electrical equipment and wiring should conform to IS 1646:1982 to guarantee safety and reliability.

Fire Procedures (Clause 11.6)

• Operators and firefighting teams must follow established emergency procedures strictly during fire events.

Additional Information:

• Illumination level (E) in lux is calculated as:

[ E = \frac{F \times UF \times MF}{A} ]

Where:

• (F) is total luminous flux in lumens
• (UF) is utilization factor
• (MF) is maintenance factor
• (A) is area in square meters

flowchart TD
    ElectricalSystems[Electrical Equipment & Lighting] --> IlluminationLevels[Illumination Levels]
    IlluminationLevels --> WorkAreas[Work Areas: 150 lux]
    IlluminationLevels --> Warehouses[Warehouses: 50 lux]
    IlluminationLevels --> OpenAreas[Open Compound: 20 lux]
    ElectricalSystems --> EmergencyLights[Emergency Lighting System]
    ElectricalSystems --> Compliance[IS 1646 Compliance]
    ElectricalSystems --> FireProcedures[Fire Safety Procedures]

This ensures fire safety and compliance with electrical and lighting requirements in textile mills.

Firefighting Facilities and Protocols Overview

• Portable Extinguishers:
  Follow IS 2190:1979 for selection, placement, and maintenance of handheld fire extinguishers.

• Hydrant Systems:

  • Internal hydrants must comply with IS 3844:1989.
  • External hydrants to meet IS 9668:1980. These standards specify installation, spacing, pressure, and water flow requirements.

• Cable Fire Protection:
  Implement measures as per IS 12459:1988 to safeguard cables from fire damage.

• Operational Guidelines:
  Clause 11.6 mandates documented fire response procedures for all plant operators and firefighting teams.

• Visibility and Access (Clause 13.1.3):
  Firefighting equipment including hydrants and hose boxes must be clearly marked and easily reachable at all times.

Hydrant Spacing Recommendations (IS 3844:1989)

Fire Extinguisher Types (IS 2190:1979)

flowchart LR
  FireDetection --> AlertOperators
  AlertOperators --> ActivateFireTeam
  ActivateFireTeam --> UseHydrantsAndExtinguishers
  UseHydrantsAndExtinguishers --> EvacuateIfNeeded
  EvacuateIfNeeded --> IncidentReporting

Summary: IS 3079 references multiple IS codes for firefighting equipment standards. Ensure all systems are accessible and meet regulatory criteria.

Illumination Norms in Textile Mills

Minimum Lighting Levels (Clause 12.1)

Additional Requirements

• Emergency Lighting (Clause 12.2): Ensure provision of lighting during power outages or emergencies to support safe evacuation.

• Luminaire Protection (Clause 10.4): Use dust-tight lamp enclosures in dusty zones such as willowing, lap breaking, mixing, blowing, raising rooms, and wet areas to prevent electrical faults.

Operational Notes

• Maintain lighting levels consistently for effective firefighting and operational safety.
• Regularly test and maintain emergency lighting systems.
• Utilize appropriate fittings to extend equipment lifespan and ensure safety in dusty environments.

flowchart LR
  PowerSource --> NormalLighting
  PowerSource --> EmergencyLighting
  EmergencyLighting --> BatteryBackup
  BatteryBackup --> EmergencyLamps
  NormalLighting --> WorkAreas[Work Areas (150 Lux)]
  NormalLighting --> Warehouses[Warehouses (50 Lux)]
  NormalLighting --> OpenAreas[Open Compound (20 Lux)]

These standards assure conformance with IS 3079 illumination mandates.

General Safety Guidelines per IS 3079

• Emergency Lighting (Clause 12.2): Install emergency lighting to enable safe exit during power failures.

• Protection for Heavy Cables (Clause 10.13.5): Follow IS 12459:1988 for mechanical protection and proper installation methods.

• Firefighting Protocols (Clause 11.6): Operators and firefighting personnel must adhere to established procedures during fire emergencies.

• Material Storage Safety (Clause 13.2.1): Store materials and chemicals in godowns in compliance with applicable IS codes and statutory rules; for new chemicals, use manufacturer safety data.

Additional Remarks:

• Emergency lighting should provide at least 1 lux illumination at floor level along escape routes.
• Heavy cables must be shielded using conduits, trays, or protective coverings to prevent damage.

flowchart TD
  PowerOutage --> EmergencyLightsOn
  EmergencyLightsOn --> SafeEvacuation
  FireDetected --> OperatorResponse
  OperatorResponse --> FireTeamAction
  FireTeamAction --> FireControlled

Consult IS 12459:1988 for detailed cable protection techniques.