Code of practice for fire safety of industrial buildings: Tea factories

IS 4886: Scope Summary

• Scope: Covers specifications and requirements for portable fire extinguishers.
• Purpose: To ensure quality, performance, and safety in fire extinguishing equipment.
• Referenced Standards: Annex A lists related IS codes essential for comprehensive fire safety and extinguisher design, e.g.:
  • IS 940: Portable chemical fire extinguisher (water type)
  • IS 1239 (Parts 1 & 2): Mild steel tubes and fittings
  • IS 2190: Selection, installation, and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers
  • IS 3594: Fire safety of industrial buildings
  • IS 13039: External fire hydrant systems

Key Points:

• The standard ensures conformity through BIS certification and continuous quality checks.
• It is linked with fire safety codes for buildings, materials, and installation practices.
• Users must refer to the latest amendments for up-to-date requirements.

flowchart LR
A[IS 4886 Scope] --> B[Portable Fire Extinguishers]
A --> C[Related IS Codes]
C --> D[IS 940 - Chemical Extinguishers]
C --> E[IS 2190 - Installation & Maintenance]
C --> F[IS 3594 - Industrial Fire Safety]
C --> G[IS 13039 - Fire Hydrant Systems]

This overview helps align fire extinguisher specs with building safety and manufacturing standards.

Referenced Indian Standards in IS 4886 (Clause 2.1, Annex A)

Notes:

• These standards cover fire extinguishers, fire safety of buildings, fire fighting water supply, materials, and construction details relevant to tea factories.
• IS 2190 and IS 940 are critical for portable fire extinguisher specifications.
• IS 9668

IS 4886: Definitions & Key References

• Clause 3.0 defines terms used in the standard, ensuring clarity for fire safety equipment and systems.

• Annex A (Clause 2.1) lists related Indian Standards essential for compliance and detailed design, including:

  IS No.	Title
  940:1989	Portable chemical fire extinguisher, water type (gas pressure)
  1239 (Pt 1 & 2): 1979, 1982	Mild steel tubes and fittings
  2190:1979	Selection, installation, and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers
  3594:1989	Fire safety of industrial buildings: storage and warehousing
  3884:1989	Canned tomato paste (related to packaging safety)
  9668:1980	Provision and maintenance of water supplies for fire fighting
  10204:1982	Portable fire extinguisher mechanical foam type
  11108:1984	Portable fire extinguisher - Halon 1211 type
  12777:1989	Fire safety - Flame spread of products - Classification method
  13039:1991	Provision and maintenance of external fire hydrant system

• Key Notes:

  • Internal hydrant systems per IS 3844:1989.

  • External hydrant systems per IS 13039:1991.

  • Fire extinguisher types and capacities (e.g., BCF 1.2 kg & 5 kg per IS 11108:1984).

Summary:

IS 4886 defines terminology and mandates adherence to a suite of IS codes covering fire extinguishers, hydrant systems, and fire safety in buildings. For detailed design, installation, and maintenance, refer to the listed IS codes in Annex A.

graph LR
A[IS 4886 Definitions] --> B[Fire Extinguishers]
A --> C[Hydrant Systems]
A --> D[Fire Safety in Buildings]
B --> E[IS 940, IS 2190, IS 10204, IS 11108]
C --> F[IS 3844 (Internal

IS 4886: Location and Site Requirements - Key Specifications

1. Site Clearance & Vegetation (Clause 5.2)

• Compound must be clear of growing vegetation.
• Lawns, if any, should be regularly mowed to reduce fire risk.

2. Building Construction (Clause 6.1)

• Must comply with IS 1642:1989 for constructional features.

3. Storage Tank Location & Specifications (Clause 10.2.1)

• Tanks must be made of wrought iron or ungalvanized mild steel, oiltight, and hydraulically tested at 2 kN/m².
• Fill pipe: extends ≥ 2/3 depth, discharges fuel horizontally.
• Outlet centerline ≥ 75 mm above tank bottom.
• Vent pipe:
  • Above ground tanks: extends ≥ 1 m above roof.
  • Square tanks: extends ≥ 3 m above ground.
• Vent pipe end: inverted U-bend with 20 mesh/cm² wire gauze.
• Bund wall: must contain 110% of tank volume for surface tanks.

4. Safety Distances from Railway (Clause 4.2)

• Storage/process buildings ≥ 30 m from coal-fired locomotive railway lines.
• If < 30 m, all openings protected with 20 mesh/cm² wire gauze.
• Surroundings cleared of combustible material for ≥ 15 m.

Summary Diagram: Tank Location & Safety Distances

graph TD
    A[Bulk Storage Tank] -->|≥ 15 m| B[Insured Property]
    C[Fully Embedded Tank] -->|≥ 6 m| B
    D[Railway Line (Coal-fired)] -->|≥ 30 m| E[Storage Building]
    E -->|< 30 m| F[Wire Gauze Protection + 15 m Clearance]
    A --> G[Bund Wall: 110% volume containment]

Use these key distances and construction requirements to ensure compliance with IS 4886 for safe storage and site layout.

IS 4886 - Factory Compound & Site Maintenance: Key Points

1. Factory Compound Area (Clause 5.1)

• Must comply with Clause 8.1 (usually specifying minimum area based on factory type & capacity).
• Adequate space for safe operations, movement, and emergency access.

2. Building Construction (Clause 6.1)

• Buildings must conform to IS 1642:1989 (Code for Construction of Industrial Buildings).
• Ensures fire resistance, structural safety, and durability.

3. Vegetation Control (Clause 5.2)

• Compound must be free from growing vegetation.
• Lawns, if any, should be regularly mowed to reduce fire risk and maintain hygiene.

4. Distance from Railway Lines (Clause 4.2)

• Storage/process buildings ≥ 30 m from coal-fired locomotive railway lines.
• If < 30 m, then:
  • External openings protected by 20 mesh/cm² wire gauge.
  • Clear vegetation/combustible material within 15 m radius.

Summary Table:

flowchart LR
    A[Factory Compound] --> B[Area as per Clause 8.1]
    A --> C[Clear of Vegetation]
    C --> D[Lawn Mowed Regularly]
    A --> E[Buildings per IS 1642:1989]
    E --> F[≥30m from Coal Railway]
    F -->|If <30m| G[20 mesh/cm² wire protection]
    G --> H[Clear 15m vegetation zone]

This ensures safety, fire prevention, and operational efficiency in factory site maintenance per IS 4886.

IS 4886:1991 primarily references IS 1642:1989 for building construction features in tea factories, focusing on fire safety.

Key Points on Building Construction (from IS 4886 & IS 1642):

• Clause 6.1 (IS 4886):
  Buildings must comply with IS 1642:1989 for constructional features, ensuring fire-resistant materials and structural safety.

• Clause 5.2 (IS 4886):
  Compound areas must be cleared of vegetation; lawns should be maintained to minimize fire risk.

From IS 1642:1989 (Relevant for Fire Safety in Industrial Buildings)

Typical Fire Safety Construction Formulas:

• Fire Resistance Rating (FRR):
  [ FRR = \text{Time (in hours) a building element can withstand fire} ]

• Minimum Wall Thickness (for fire resistance):
  [ t = k \times \sqrt{FRR} ]
  where k depends on material (e.g., brick, concrete).

Summary Diagram of Fire-Safe Building Layout

graph LR
A[Building] --> B[Fire-Resistant Walls]
A --> C[Non-Combustible Roof]
A --> D[Clear Compound (No Vegetation)]
A --> E[Fire Separation Distance ≥ 6m]

For detailed design, refer to IS 1642:1989 for material specs, wall thickness, and fire resistance ratings.

IS 4886: Fire Safety of Industrial Buildings - Tea Factories (Key Points on Materials & Fire Resistance)

• Materials:

  • Withering houses should be at least Type 3 construction (Clause 6.2.1).
  • Avoid combustible materials like timber racks and hessian. If used, treat chemically to meet Class I flame spread as per IS 12777:1989.

• Fire Extinguishers:

  • Use CO2 squeeze grip type extinguishers (IS 2878).
  • Alternatively, BCF extinguishers of 1.2 kg & 5 kg as per IS 11108:1984.
  • Mechanical foam extinguisher of 9 liters as per IS 10204:1982.

• Fire Hydrants:

  • Internal hydrant system per IS 3844:1989.
  • External hydrant system per IS 13039:1991.

Flame Spread Classification (IS 12777:1989)

Summary Diagram of Fire Safety Elements in Tea Factories

graph LR
A[Withering House] --> B[Material: Type 3 Construction]
B --> C{Combustible Material?}
C -- Yes --> D[Treated to Class I (IS 12777)]
C -- No --> E[No special treatment]
A --> F[Fire Extinguishers]
F --> G[CO2 (IS 2878)]
F --> H[BCF 1.2/5 kg (IS 11108)]
F --> I[Mechanical Foam 9L (IS 10204)]
A --> J[Hydrant Systems]
J --> K[Internal (IS 3844)]
J --> L[External (IS 13039)]

Note: Ensure adequate water supply and private fire protection due to remote locations of tea factories.

IS 4886: Separation Distances and Layout - Key Points

1. Separation Walls (Clause 7.1)

• Separate critical sections with fire-resistant walls:
  • Furnace of directly fired driers
  • Tea-chest fabricating rooms
  • Boiler house and stores of directly heated driers
  • Engine house
  • Transformer room:
    • Located at building periphery or separate building
    • Entrance with rolling shutter & raised sill ≥ 15 cm
  • Sub-station separated from transformer by 4-hour fire rating wall (IS 1642:1989) without doors
  • Natural gas metering rooms

2. Minimum Distances (Clause 4.2 & 8.1)

• External openings near coal railway must have 20 mesh/cm² wire gauge protection.

3. Floor Area Limitation (Clause 6.6.1)

• Withering house with combustible racks: max floor area ≤ 2000 m²

Summary Table:

graph LR
A[Factory Sections] -->|Separated by| B[Fire-resistant Walls]
B --> C[Furnace]
B --> D[Boiler House]
B --> E[Engine House]
B --> F[Transformer Room]
F --> G[4-hour fire rating wall]
A --> H[Minimum Distances]
H --> I[≥ 30 m from coal railway]
H --> J[≥ 15 m vegetation-free zone]
H --> K[≥ 6 m godown to factory]

This ensures

IS 4886: Fuel Supply and Burner Installations – Key Points

Fuel Supply (Clauses 9.1.5, 9.1.6, 9.2.1)

• Fuel line must include an efficient filter to remove impurities before reaching the burner.
• Pressurized fuel lines require safety measures (e.g., pressure relief valves, shut-off valves).
• Automatic fuel cut-off must activate if air flow to burner stops, preventing unsafe fuel accumulation.
• Fuel supply remains cut off after air flow resumes until burners are manually re-lit.
• Natural gas supply must come from a recognized gas undertaking with guaranteed calorific value and pressure.

Burner Installation (Clause 9.2.11)

• Burners, igniters, safety controls, and ventilation must be approved types meeting safety and performance standards.

Typical Safety Control Logic (simplified):

flowchart TD
    A[Air Flow Sensor] -->|No Air Flow| B[Fuel Supply Shut-off Valve]
    B --> C[Fuel Supply Cut-off]
    C --> D[Burner Re-light Required]
    A -->|Air Flow Present| E[Burner Operation]

Summary Table: Fuel Supply Safety Features

Ensure compliance with these clauses for safe, reliable fuel supply and burner operation per IS 4886.

IS 4886: Storage Arrangements - Key Specifications & Formulas

Storage Tank Placement (Clause 10.2.1)

• Distance from insured property:
  • Above ground tanks: ≥ 15 m
  • Fully/semi-embedded tanks: ≥ 6 m

Tank Construction & Testing

• Material: Wrought iron or ungalvanized mild steel.
• Hydraulic test pressure: 2 kN/m² (internal pressure).
• Manholes/inspection covers: Bolted, oiltight, reinforced, and welded/riveted.
• Fill pipe: Screwed cap, extends ≥ 2/3 depth of tank, discharges horizontally.
• Outlet centerline: ≥ 75 mm above tank bottom.
• Sludge removal: Provided at lowest point with gland-packed plug cock/gate valve.
• Vent pipe:
  • Above ground tanks: Extends ≥ 1 m above roof.
  • Square tanks: Extends ≥ 3 m above ground.
  • Vent opening: Inverted 'U' bend with 20 mesh/cm² wire gauze.

Valves & Safety

• Stop valve on outlet/suction pipe near tank (except hand pump filling).
• Anti-syphon valve on supply pipe to prevent unintended flow.
• Electrical continuity & earthing mandatory.

Fuel Level Indicators

• Preferred: Hydrostatic gauges.
• Alternatives: Dip rods (open tanks), float gauges with glanded cords.
• Gauge glasses: Not allowed.

Bund Wall (Clause 10.2.1 j)

• Required for surface tanks.
• Capacity: Contain 110% of tank volume.
• No bund wall for underground tanks, but protection against damage mandatory.

Reference Table: Minimum Distances & Dimensions

IS 4886: Electrical Installations — Key Points & Specifications

• Reference Standard:
  Electrical installations must comply with IS 1646:1978 (Specification for electrical wiring).

• Wiring Requirements (Clause 11.3):

  • Use screwed steel conduits or
  • Mineral insulated copper/aluminium sheathed cables for power and lighting wiring in process/storage buildings.

• Equipment (Clause 11.2):

  • Use totally enclosed, metal-clad, adequately rated equipment wherever practicable.

• Earthing & Continuity (Clause 10.2.2.j):

  • Tanks and fittings must ensure electrical continuity and be efficiently earthed to prevent static hazards.

Summary Table: Wiring Types for Industrial Buildings

Important Tank Electrical Safety Measures (Clause 10.2.2):

• Ensure earthing continuity of tanks and fittings.
• Use anti-syphon valves and vent pipes positioned away from openings.
• Overflow pipes sized ≥ 1.5 × inflow pipe cross-section, no stop valves on overflow.

flowchart LR
    A[Power & Lighting Wiring] --> B[Screwed Steel Conduits]
    A --> C[Mineral Insulated Cables]
    D[Equipment] --> E[Totally Enclosed, Metal Clad]
    F[Tanks & Fittings] --> G[Electrical Continuity & Earthing]

For detailed electrical design, refer to IS 1646:1978 alongside IS 4886.

IS 4886 Fire Fighting Arrangements: Key Specifications

1. Water for Fire Fighting

• Adequate water supply must be ensured for factories and withering houses.
• Refer IS 9668 : 1980 for detailed water requirements and storage.

2. Portable Fire Extinguishers

• Must comply with IS 2190 : 1979.
• Types recommended:
  • Water Gas Pressure Type: 9 liters (IS 940 : 1989)
  • CO2 Squeeze Grip Type (substituted for BCF): 1.2 kg and 5 kg (IS 2878)
  • Mechanical Foam Extinguisher: 9 liters (IS 10204 : 1982)

3. Hydrant Systems

• Internal Hydrant: As per IS 3844 : 1989
• External Hydrant: As per IS 13039 : 1991

4. Safety Notes

• Lamp fittings near withering houses and within 6m of tea driers must be dust-tight (Clause 11.6).

Summary Table of Extinguishers

flowchart TD
    A[Factories & Withering Houses] --> B[Water Supply (IS 9668)]
    A --> C[Portable Fire Extinguishers (IS 2190)]
    C --> D[Water Gas Pressure (9L)]
    C --> E[CO2 Squeeze Grip (1.2 & 5 kg)]
    C --> F[Mechanical Foam (9L)]
    A --> G[Internal Hydrant System (IS 3844)]
    A --> H[External Hydrant System (IS 13039)]
    A --> I[Lamp Fittings Dust Tight (Clause 11.6)]

Ensure compliance with these IS codes and maintain regular inspections to mitigate fire hazards in tea factories.

IS 4886: General Safety Provisions - Key Points

1. Fire Extinguishers:

• CO2 squeeze grip type extinguishers as per IS 2878 are recommended (replacing BCF 1.2 kg & 5 kg per IS 11108:1984).
• Mechanical foam extinguisher of 9 liters capacity as per IS 10204:1982.

2. Hydrant Systems:

• Internal hydrant system: Must comply with IS 3844:1989.
• External hydrant system: Must comply with IS 13039:1991.

3. Fire Safety Design Considerations:

• Use non-combustible materials or fire-retardant treatment for wooden racks and hessian.
• Ensure adequate water supply for firefighting, considering remote locations.
• Install private fire protection systems due to possible lack of public fire services.

Summary Table: Fire Extinguisher Types

Hydrant System Compliance

flowchart LR
    A[Fire Safety System] --> B[Internal Hydrant System]
    A --> C[External Hydrant System]
    B -->|IS 3844:1989| D[Design & Installation]
    C -->|IS 13039:1991| E[Design & Installation]

Note: These provisions supplement statutory requirements like the Indian Factories Act (1948) and Petroleum Rules (1976).

IS 4886:1991 - List of Referenced Indian Standards (Annex A, Clause 2.1)

This clause lists essential Indian Standards that complement IS 4886 for fire safety and related materials:

Key Notes:

• These standards cover fire extinguishers, steel tubulars, fire safety codes for buildings, industrial storage, water supplies, and fire hydrant systems.
• Use of the Standard Mark ensures compliance with BIS quality and inspection systems.
• Periodic revisions and amendments are issued to keep standards updated.

For detailed application, refer to the individual IS codes listed above.

flowchart LR
    IS