Code of practice for fire safety of industrial buildings: Cotton ginning and pressing (including cotton seed delivering)factories

IS 2726: Scope & Key Specifications

• Scope: IS 2726 covers fire safety details in building construction, focusing on ventilation, doors, and windows to enhance fire protection.

Key Specifications:

Ventilation & Fire Safety Summary:

flowchart LR
    A[Roof with Corrugated Iron Sheets]
    A --> B[Ventilator Openings]
    B --> C{Size ≤ 1.2m × 0.3m}
    B --> D[Protected by 12.5 mm Aperture Wire Netting]
    B --> E[One ventilator every alternate bay]

This ensures adequate airflow while maintaining fire safety as per IS 2726.

IS 2726 - Definitions & Key Specifications

• Scope: IS 2726 (1988) covers fire safety in cotton ginning, pressing, and delintering factories.
• Definitions (Clause 2.0): Terms related to fire safety, factory layout, and equipment are standardized for uniform interpretation.
• Hydrant Distribution (Clause 12.1.4):
  • Every storage area protected by at least two hydrants within 35 m.
  • At least two hydrants within 15 m of cotton/kapas storage sheds.
  • At least three hydrants within 3 m of pressing, ginning, or delintering houses.
• Rounding Off (Clause 0.3): Final test or calculation results must be rounded per IS 2:1960 rules, maintaining significant figures consistent with specified values.

Important Notes:

• Fire hazards include frictional heat from machines, sparks, oily cotton waste, and faulty electrical equipment.
• Adequate firefighting equipment and careful layout planning are essential.
• Refer IS 2:1960 for rounding rules.

Hydrant Layout Summary Table

If you need formulas or detailed fire load calculations, please specify!

IS 2726: Location and Site Requirements - Key Points

1. Ground Level for Storage (Clause 4.2)

• Areas for goods storage not in open must be raised ≥ 25 cm above general ground level to avoid water logging.

2. Minimum Distances Between Structures (Clause 7.1)

• Maintain ≥ 15 m between:
  • Two buildings
  • Building and open storage
  • Two different open storages
    Exceptions covered in Clauses 7.2 to 7.5.

3. Factory Compound Clearances (Clause 3.2 & 3.3)

• Factories near each other: ≥ 90 m clear distance between compounds.
• Factories from railway sidings/yards: ≥ 275 m.
• Factories from high-tension electrical lines: ≥ 30 m.

Summary Table:

graph LR
A[Factory Compound] -- 90m --> B[Adjacent Factory Compound]
A -- 275m --> C[Railway Sidings/Yards]
A -- 30m --> D[High-Tension Lines]
E[Building] -- 15m --> F[Another Building/Open Storage]
G[Storage Area] -- 25cm --> H[Ground Level]

This ensures safety, fire prevention, and operational efficiency per IS 2726.

IS 2726: Open Storage Areas - Key Specifications

• Elevation:
  Open storage areas must be raised at least 25 cm above the general ground level (Clause 4.2) to prevent water logging and facilitate drainage.

• Separation Distances:
  Minimum 15 m clearance between:

  • Two buildings
  • A building and open storage
  • Two different types of open storage
    (Clause 7.1)

• Doors & Windows (for buildings adjacent to open storage):

  • Door area ≤ 6.25 m², close-fitting
  • Doors protected against mechanical damage (trucks, bales)
  • External openings limited to ventilators/windows only
  • Ventilators ≥ 3 m above ground, protected by 6 mm wired glass in steel frames
  • Firemen’s windows: 6 mm wired glass, steel frame, locked, spaced ≤ 15 m apart, ≤ 7 m from blind corners (Clause 8.3)

• Ventilation:

  • Roof ventilators max size: 1.2 m × 0.3 m
  • At least one ventilator every other bay
  • Protected by metal/wire netting with 12.5 mm apertures (Clause 8.5)

Summary Table

flowchart LR
    A[Open Storage Area] --> B[Raised 25 cm above ground]
    A --> C[15 m clearance from buildings/storage]
    B --> D[Proper drainage]
    C --> E[Fire safety & access]
    F[Building Doors & Windows] --> G[Door ≤ 6.25 m², close-fitting]
    F --> H[Ventilators ≥ 3 m height, 1.

IS 2726 — Key Building Construction Specifications

1. Floor Leveling (Clause 4.2)

• Storage areas must be raised ≥ 25 cm above general ground level to prevent water ingress and contamination.

2. Doors & Windows (Clause 8.3)

• Door area ≤ 6.25 m², close-fitting.
• Doors protected against mechanical damage (e.g., trucks, falling bales).
• External openings limited to ventilators/windows only.
• Ventilators:
  • Height ≥ 3 m from ground.
  • Protected by 6 mm wired glass in steel frames.
• Emergency windows for firemen:
  • 6 mm wired glass in steel frames.
  • Locked normally.
  • Height convenient for firefighting.
  • Spaced ≤ 15 m apart and ≤ 7 m from blind corners.

3. Roofs (Clause 8.4)

• Roofs supported wall-to-wall without intermediate columns.
• For corrugated iron roofs:
  • Insert corrugated asbestos sheets every 6 m along lower edge for fire access.
  • Underside unpainted or painted with non-flammable paint.

4. Construction Type (Clause 5.3)

• Store godowns, engine/transformer houses must be Type II construction as per IS 1642:1988.

Summary Table: Door & Ventilator Specs

flowchart TD
    A[Ground Level] -->|Raise ≥ 25 cm| B[Storage Floor]
    B --> C[Doors ≤ 6.25 m², close-fitting]
    C --> D[Protected from damage]
    B --> E[Ventilators ≥ 3 m height, 6 mm wired glass]
    B --> F[Emergency Windows, locked, spaced ≤ 15 m]
    B --> G[Roof: Wall-to-wall support]
    G --> H[Corr

IS 2726: Separating Walls – Key Points

1. Purpose of Separating Walls (Clauses 6.1 & 6.2)

• Separate bale godowns, kapas godowns, seed godowns, ginned cotton godowns, stores.
• Separate gin or press houses and delintering sections.
• Separate engine/motor rooms and boiler houses from ginning, delintering, pressing sections.

2. Construction Specifications

• Walls should be fire-resistant, robust enough to prevent fire spread.
• Use non-combustible materials (e.g., brick, concrete).
• Thickness and height as per fire safety norms (typically ≥ 230 mm thick masonry).

3. Doors & Windows (Clause 8.3)

• Door area ≤ 6.25 m², close-fitting, protected against mechanical damage.
• No external openings except ventilators and emergency windows.
• Ventilators:
  • Height ≥ 3 m from ground.
  • Protected by 6 mm wired glass in steel frames.
• Emergency windows:
  • 6 mm wired glass in steel frames.
  • Located ≤ 15 m apart and ≤ 7 m from blind corners.
  • Positioned for easy fire-fighting access.

Summary Table

graph TD
    A[Godown/Store] ---|Separating Wall| B[Press House/Delintering Section]
    B ---|Separating Wall| C[Engine/Motor Room]
    B ---|Separating Wall| D[Boiler House]
    E[Doors ≤ 6.25 m²] --> B
    F[Ventilators ≥ 3 m height] --> B
    G[Emergency Windows ≤15 m apart] --> B

Note: Follow IS 1641 and local fire codes for detailed fire resistance ratings and wall

IS 2726 - Storage Requirements and Distances: Key Points

1. Minimum Distances Between Storages (Clause 7.1)

• 15 m minimum distance between:
  • Any two buildings
  • A building and open storage
  • Two different kinds of open storages
• Exceptions provided in Clauses 7.2 to 7.5.

2. Clearance from Walls (Clause 8.1.4)

• Maintain minimum 60 cm clear distance between stacks of fully pressed bales and godown walls.

3. Passage Width Between Stacks (Clause 8.1.3)

• Passages between stacks should be:
  • At least 2 m wide
  • Spaced not more than 10 m apart
• Passages must be cleared of bales by nightfall.

4. Fire Hydrant Distribution (Clause 12.1.4)

• Every storage area should be covered by at least two hydrants within 35 m.
• Near cotton/kapas godowns or sheds, at least two hydrants within 15 m.
• Near pressing, ginning, or delintering houses, at least three hydrants within 3 m.

Summary Table

flowchart LR
    A[Storage Area] -->|15 m| B[Other Building/Storage]
    C[Stack of Bales] -->|0.6 m clearance| D[Godown Wall]
    E[Stacks] -->|2 m wide passage| F[Passage]
    G[Storage Area] -->|2 hydrants within 35 m| H[Hydrants]
    I[Cotton Godown] -->|2 hydrants

IS 2726: Key Points on Godown and Roof Design

Roof Design (Clause 8.4)

• Roofs must span wall-to-wall without intermediate columns.
• For corrugated iron sheet roofs, insert corrugated asbestos sheets every 6 m along the lower edge for fire-fighting access.
• Underside of roofs should be unpainted or painted with non-flammable paint.

Godown Floor Design (Clause 8.2)

• Floor level must be at least 0.75 m above ground.
• Floor slope towards door sills: 1 in 100 (1%).

Storage Capacity & Stacking (Clause 8.1.2)

• Max capacity:
  • 2,000 fully pressed cotton bales, or
  • Equivalent of 500 fully pressed bales for ginned/unginned cotton or linters.
• Max stacking height:
  • 4 m (approx. 8 bales) or
  • At least 1 m below roof/ceiling, whichever is less.
• Mark a 15 cm wide color band inside walls at max stacking height as a stacking guide.

Construction Type (Clause 5.2)

• Use Type I Construction as per IS 1642-1988 for cotton seed, kapas, ginned cotton godowns.

Summary Table:

flowchart LR
    A[Godown Floor] -->|0.75 m above ground| B[Floor Slope: 1 in 100]
    B --> C[Wall-to-Wall Roof]
    C --> D[Corrugated Iron Roof]
    D

IS 2726 – Machinery Installation & Safety in Cotton Ginning & Pressing

Key Specifications from IS 2726 (Fire Safety Code):

• Clause 9.2: Machinery Arrangement

  • Install machinery to prevent access of kapas, cotton, or cotton seeds to moving parts.
  • Avoid accumulation of combustible cotton material near high-speed or friction-prone parts.

• Clause 8.5: Ventilation

  • Provide ventilators in corrugated iron roofs.
  • Max size: 1.2 m × 0.3 m.
  • At least one ventilator every alternate bay.
  • Ventilators protected by expanded metal or wire netting with 12.5 mm aperture.

Fire Safety Considerations:

• Fires often start due to:

  • Frictional heat from high-speed machines.
  • Sparks from foreign materials.
  • Spontaneous heating of oily cotton waste.
  • Poor housekeeping and faulty electrical equipment.

• Layout & Storage:

  • Separate storage for kapas, cotton seeds, waste cotton, and pressed bales.
  • Maintain clear access for firefighting.

Summary Table: Ventilation Openings

Safety Installation Checklist

• Machinery guards to prevent cotton ingress.
• Adequate ventilation with protected openings.
• Firefighting equipment accessible.
• Proper housekeeping to avoid cotton dust accumulation.
• Electrical equipment maintained to avoid sparks.

flowchart LR
    A[Raw Cotton] --> B[Machinery]
    B --> C{Moving Parts}
    C -->|Prevent Cotton Access| D[Guards & Covers]
    D --> E[Safe Operation]
    B --> F[Ventilation]
    F --> G[Protected Openings]
    E & G --> H[Reduced Fire Risk]

Note: Ensure compliance with IS 2-1960 for rounding off numerical values in reports.

IS 2726: Electrical Installations Key Points

• Reference Standard:
  Electrical installations must comply with IS 1646:1982 (Code of Practice for Fire Safety of Buildings - Electrical Installations).

• Switchgear:

  • Must be dust-tight in ginning, pressing, delintering rooms, and godowns (Clause 10.1.4).

• Gins:

  • Should have efficient stripping arrangements (Clause 9.5).

• Fire Hydrants Distribution (Clause 12.1.4):

  • Every storage area protected by ≥ 2 hydrants, max 35 m apart.
  • At least 2 hydrants within 15 m of cotton/kapas godowns or sheds.
  • At least 3 hydrants within 3 m of pressing, ginning, or delintering houses.

Typical Electrical Installation Guidelines (from IS 1646 & general practice):

Hydrant Layout Diagram (Conceptual):

graph LR
  A[Storage Area] -->|≤35m| B[Hydrant 1]
  A -->|≤35m| C[Hydrant 2]
  D[Godown/Shed] -->|≤15m| B
  D -->|≤15m| C
  E[Gin/Press House] -->|≤3m| F[Hydrant 3]
  E -->|≤3m| G[Hydrant 4]
  E -->|≤3m| H[Hydrant 5]

Summary: Ensure electrical installations follow IS 1646, use dust-tight switchgear in dusty areas, provide proper conduit protection, and maintain mandated hydrant spacing for fire safety.

IS 2726 - Illumination Requirements Summary

Key Specifications (Clause 11.1)

• Minimum Illumination Level:
  • 100 lux in ginning, delintering, and pressing sections.
• Illumination must be adequate for effective fire fighting.

Related Electrical Equipment (Clause 10.1.2 & 10.1.4)

• All lighting fittings and switchgear in these areas must be dust-tight to prevent fire hazards.

Practical Notes:

• Lux is the SI unit for illumination, defined as lumens per square meter.
• 100 lux is a moderate lighting level, suitable for operational safety and visibility in industrial sections.

Quick Reference Table:

flowchart LR
    A[Factory Sections] --> B[Ginning, Delintering, Pressing]
    B --> C[Illumination: 100 lux]
    B --> D[Lighting & Switchgear: Dust-tight]
    C --> E[Effective Fire Fighting]

Summary: Ensure minimum 100 lux illumination with dust-tight electrical fittings for safety and compliance in cotton processing areas.

IS 2726: Fire-Fighting Equipment & Systems – Key Points

Hydrant Distribution (Clause 12.1.4)

• Hydrant spacing: Every storage area covered by at least two hydrants within 35 m.
• Near cotton or kapas godowns/sheds: at least two hydrants within 15 m.
• Near pressing, ginning, delintering houses: at least three hydrants within 3 m.

Illumination for Fire Safety (Clause 11.1)

• Minimum illumination for ginning, delintering, pressing sections: 100 lux.

Fire Warning System (Clause 12.2)

• Audible warning system mandatory throughout factory and compound.
• Warning appliances must be fire-red (IS:5-1978, Shade No. 536) and conspicuously located.

Related Specifications

Summary Diagram: Hydrant Placement

graph LR
A[Storage Area] -->|≤35m| B(Hydrant 1)
A -->|≤35m| C(Hydrant 2)
D[Godown/Shed] -->|≤15m| E(Hydrant 3)
D -->|≤15m| F(Hydrant 4)
G[Pressing/Ginning House] -->|≤3m| H(Hydrant 5)
G -->|≤3m| I(Hydrant 6)
G -->|≤3m| J(Hydrant 7)

Ensure compliance with IS 2726 clauses and referenced IS codes for effective fire safety in cotton ginning and pressing factories.

IS 2726: Housekeeping and Maintenance Key Points

Fire Warning System (Clause 12.2)

• Factory must have a clearly audible fire warning system covering entire factory and compound.
• Warning appliances must be:
  • Located in conspicuous places.
  • Painted fire-red (IS:5-1978, Shade No. 536).

Housekeeping (Clause 13)

• Cleaning Frequency:
  • Sweepings removed before nightfall.
  • Seed alleys cleaned every 4 hours during operation.
  • Machinery, walls, floors, roofs, platforms cleaned at least once a week.
• Maintenance:
  • Buildings, machinery, electrical wiring, and equipment must be kept in sound condition at all times.
• Fire Safety:
  • Fire safety requirements and orders must be prominently displayed at conspicuous locations.

Related Specifications (for fire safety equipment)

• Galvanized mild steel fire bucket.
• Portable dry powder fire extinguishers.
• Unlined flax canvas hose for firefighting.
• Paint color standards for fire equipment.

Summary Table: Cleaning & Maintenance

This ensures factory safety, cleanliness, and compliance with IS 2726 standards.