Code of Practice for Fire Safety of Industrial Buildings - Saw Mills and Wood Works

IS 6329 - Scope: Key Specifications & Tables

Scope (Clause 3.0):
Defines the standard's application, rounding rules per IS 2:1960, and classification codes.

1. Maximum Permissible Floor Area (Table 1, Clause 6.2)

• Note: Floor area can be tripled for single-storey and doubled for multi-storey buildings if protected by sprinklers.

2. Fire Fighting Installations (Table 2, Clause 14.2)

IS 6329 - Definitions & Key Specifications

1. Definitions (Clause 3.0)

• The standard applies specific definitions to terms related to fire fighting installations.
• All test or analysis results must be rounded off per IS 2:1960 rules, keeping the same number of significant figures as specified.

2. Rounding Off (IS 2:1960)

• Round off final values to the same decimal places as the standard's specified value.
• Example: If specified value is 2.50, result 2.496 rounds to 2.50.

3. Building Construction & Floor Area (Clause 6.2, Table 1)

• Specifies maximum permissible floor areas based on building type and occupancy.
• Requires dividing large areas with fire-resistant walls extending ≥ 1 m above roof or fire-proof floors.

4. Fire Fighting Installations (Clause 14.2, Table 2)

• Details requirements for:
  • Wet riser and down comer installations
  • Capacity of water storage tanks
  • Fire pump specifications

Example: Table 1 (Summary)

Example: Table 2 (Summary)

For detailed numeric values, refer to IS 6329 Tables 1 & 2 directly.

flowchart TD
    A[Building Type & Occupancy] --> B[Max Floor Area]
    B --> C[Fire Separation Walls ≥ 1m]
    C --> D[Fire Fighting Installations]
    D --> E[Wet Riser / Down Comer]
    D --> F[Water Storage & Fire Pumps]

Summary: IS 6329 defines

IS 6329: Location and Site Requirements – Key Points

1. Setbacks and Spacing

• Minimum distance from compound wall: 6.0 m (Clause 8.5)
• Compound must enclose all buildings and yards, ensuring compliance with spacing norms (Clause 5.2).

2. Ventilation

• Each section/compartment should have independent ventilation to prevent fire spread (Clause 9.1).
• Follow SP 7 (Part VIII/Sec 1) for lighting and ventilation standards.

3. Water Supply for Fire Fighting

• Factory location should have ample water supply for firefighting (Clause 4.4).
• Refer IS 6070 for water supply requirements.

4. Building Construction and Floor Area (Table 1 Summary, Clause 6.2)

• Buildings must comply with construction types and floor area limits to control fire risk.

Summary Diagram: Site Layout Concept

graph TD
    A[Compound Wall] -->|6 m min| B[Building/Storage]
    B --> C[Independent Ventilation]
    B --> D[Water Supply for Fire Fighting]
    E[Separating Walls] -->|≥1m above roof| B

References:

• IS 6329 Clause 4.4, 5.2, 6.2, 8.5, 9.1
• SP 7 (Part VIII/Sec 1)
• IS 6070 (Water Supply)

IS 6329: Compound and Surroundings – Key Specifications

• Minimum distance from compound wall:
  No building or open storage shall be within 6.0 m of the compound wall (Clause 8.5).

• Ventilation:
  Each section/compartment must be independently ventilated to prevent fire spread (Clause 9.1). Follow SP 7 (Part VIII/Sec 1) for lighting and ventilation standards.

• Compound space:
  The compound must be spacious enough to enclose all processing, manufacturing, storage buildings, and yards as per Clause 5.2.

• Combustible materials:
  Compound and storage yards must be free from combustible materials except timber stacking in timber yards (Clause 5.3). Keep surroundings clear of dry grass, weeds, or rank vegetation.

• Heating appliances:
  Ovens/heating appliances for drying/baking should not be in the same compartment as surface treatment unless heated by:
  a) Low pressure hot water
  b) Steam ≤ 0.66 kgf/cm² gauge pressure
  c) Hot air systems (metal ducts)
  d) Electric heaters per Clause 13.7 (Clause 11.6.5)

Summary Table: Compound Requirements

flowchart LR
    A[Compound Wall] -->|≥ 6.0 m| B[Building/Storage]
    B --> C{Section/Compartment}
    C -->|Ventilated| D[Atmosphere]
    B --> E[Heating Appliances]
    E -->|Separate or compliant heating| F[Surface Treatment Room]

This ensures safety, fire prevention, and proper storage conditions as per IS 6329.

IS 6329: Building Construction & Interior Finishes - Key Points

1. Type of Building Construction & Max Floor Area (Clause 6.2, Table 1)

• Note: Max floor area can be tripled for single-storey and doubled for multi-storey if protected by sprinkler systems.

2. Interior Finishes (Clause 6.5)

• Surfaces in wood flour operations must be smooth, flame retardant, and minimize horizontal surfaces to reduce dust accumulation.
• Clean scrapings weekly; use non-flammable cleaning methods.

3. Fire Fighting Installations (Clause 14.2, Table 2)

• P: Provided, **NP

IS 6329: Separating Walls and Compartmentation – Key Points

1. Separating Walls (Clause 7.1 & 6.2):

• Must comply with IS 1642 (5.1.2) for fire resistance.
• Used to segregate hazardous or fire-prone sections such as timber godowns, woodworking, boiler rooms, varnishing, and oil-based preservative rooms.
• Walls should extend at least 1 m above the roof or be combined with fire-proof floors to ensure compartmentation.

2. Minimum Distance from Compound Wall (Clause 8.5):

• No building or open storage shall be within 6.0 m of the compound wall.

3. Ventilation & Compartmentation (Clause 9.1):

• Each compartment should have independent ventilation to prevent fire spread.
• Lighting and ventilation must adhere to SP 7 (Part VIII/Sec 1).

4. Interior Surface Finish (Clause 6.5):

• Surfaces in wood flour operations must be smooth and flame retardant with minimal horizontal ledges to reduce dust accumulation.

Table 1 (Summary of Construction Type & Max Floor Area)

Summary Diagram of Compartmentation

graph TB
    A[Timber Godown] ---|Separating Wall| B[Woodworking Dept]
    B ---|Separating Wall| C[Boiler House]
    C ---|Separating Wall| D[Varnishing Section]
    E[Compound Wall] --- 6m --- F[Building]
    style A fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style B

IS 6329: Fire Protection Provisions - Key Points

1. Fire Fighting Installations (Clause 14.2 & Table 2)

• P = Provided, NP = Not Provided
• Pump pressure minimum: 0.3 N/mm² (3 kg/cm²) at terrace level.

2. Maximum Floor Area (Clause 6.2 & Table 1)

IS 6329 Ventilation and Lighting - Key Points & Formulas

Ventilation

• Minimum distance from compound wall:
  No building or open storage within 6.0 m of compound wall (Clause 8.5).

• Independent ventilation:
  Each section/compartment should be ventilated independently to prevent fire spread (Clause 9.1).

• Spray painting booths:

  • Ventilation by fan(s) with free discharge to open air, preferably without ducts (Clause 11.6.1).
  • Air velocity at working opening ≥ 30 m/min.
  • Separate fan for each booth; max 3 booths per duct if combined (Clause 11.6.3).
  • Fans interconnected for simultaneous operation if sharing duct.

Lighting

• Dust-tight fixtures:
  Use dust-tight lighting fixtures, switches, and distribution boxes in wood flour making areas (Clause 13.5).

Reference Standard

• Ventilation and lighting provisions should follow SP 7 (Part VIII/Sec 1) for detailed design.

Summary Table

flowchart LR
    Section1[Section/Compartment 1] -->|Ventilated independently| Atmosphere
    Section2[Section/Compartment 2] -->|Ventilated independently| Atmosphere
    SprayBooth1 -->|Fan (≥30 m/min)| OpenAir
    SprayBooth2 -->|Fan (≥30 m/min)| OpenAir
    SprayBooth3 -->|Fan (≥30 m/min)| OpenAir
    SprayBooth1 ---|Fan control interconnected| SprayBooth2
    SprayBooth2 ---|Fan control interconnected| SprayBooth3

For detailed design, consult SP 7 (Part VIII/Sec 1) alongside IS 6329.

IS 6329 - Exit Requirements Summary

Key Exit Specifications (Clauses 10.1 & 1.2)

• Minimum number of exits: Each working room must have at least two exits.
• Exit dimensions:
  • Width ≥ 1.2 m
  • Height ≥ 2.0 m
• Door operation: Doors must open easily from inside (no special tools or keys).

Additional Provisions

• No building/storage within 6 m of compound wall (Clause 8.5).
• Independent ventilation for each compartment to prevent fire spread (Clause 9.1).
• Lighting and ventilation per SP 7 (Part VIII/Sec 1).

Fire Protection Equipment (Clause 14.2)

Refer to Table 2 (IS 6329) for:

• Wet riser & downcomer specs
• Water storage tank capacity
• Fire pump capacity

Typical Exit Door Specification Table (from IS 1644 & IS 6329)

flowchart LR
    A[Working Room] -->|Exit 1| B[Outside]
    A -->|Exit 2| C[Outside]
    B & C --> D[Safe Evacuation]

For detailed fire-fighting equipment specs, consult Table 2 of IS 6329.

IS 6329: Dust and Chip Extraction System for Woodworking

Key Points from Clauses 11.2 & 3.2

• Purpose: Pneumatic system to remove wood chips, dust, and waste from woodworking machines.
• Applicability: Mandatory for all cutting, chipping, planing, sanding machines producing fine particles or shavings.
• Exemption: Factories with ≤ 6 woodworking machines may be exempt.
• Air Cleaning Equipment (Clause 3.1): Required to separate wood dust from air in the extraction system.

Essential Specifications & Design Considerations

Typical System Components

• Hoods and Collectors near machines
• Duct Network sized for required velocity
• Air Cleaning Equipment to capture dust
• Fans/Blowers to maintain airflow

Diagram: Basic Dust Extraction System Flow

flowchart LR
    A[Woodworking Machine] --> B[Hood/Collector]
    B --> C[Duct Network]
    C --> D[Air Cleaning Equipment]
    D --> E[Fan/Blower]
    E --> F[Exhaust or Filtered Air Return]

Summary: IS 6329 mandates a properly designed pneumatic dust and chip extraction system with adequate air velocity, dust collectors, and air cleaning equipment to maintain a safe and clean woodworking environment.

IS 6329: Storage of Materials - Key Specifications

1. Storage of Materials (Clause 12.1 & 12.2)

• Non-timber materials: Storage must comply with IS 3594.
• Timber storage in open yards:
  • Follow conditions in Clause 12.2 and Note 2 under Clause 8.3.
  • Timber storage or processing buildings should be single-storeyed.
  • Maximum ceiling height per storey: 8.0 m.
  • Maximum building height: 12.5 m above ground level.

2. Building Floor Area Limits (Clause 6.2, Table 1)

• Note: Floor areas can be tripled for single-storey and doubled for multi-storey buildings if sprinkler systems are installed.

3. Fire Fighting Installations (Clause 14.2, Table 2)

IS 6329: Electrical Installations and Equipment – Key Points

1. General Compliance

• Electrical installations must conform to IS 1646 (Specification for electrical wiring).

2. Electrical Wiring Specifications (Clause 13.4)

• Lighting wiring: Enclosed in screwed steel conduits.
• Power wiring: Enclosed in either:
  • Screwed steel conduits, or
  • Mineral insulated copper sheathed (MICS) cables.

3. Fire Safety Distances for Stacks (Clause 22.50)

• Clear space between stacks: 22.5 m (standard).
• If space is limited (e.g., big cities):
  • Minimum 10 m spacing recommended.
  • If <10 m, restrict stacking to:
    • Max timber quantity: 500 tonnes.
    • Max stacking height: 3 m.
  • Provide fire-break walls at least 4 m high.

4. Wet Riser, Down Comer & Water Storage (Clause 14.2)

• Capacities and requirements for fire pumps, tanks, and risers are specified in Table 2 (refer IS 6329 Table 2 for detailed capacities based on building size and hazard).

Summary Table: Electrical Wiring Types

Fire Safety Stack Spacing Diagram

graph LR
A[Stack 1] ---|22.5 m| B[Stack 2]
A ---|10 m (min)| C[Stack 3]
C ---|Fire-break wall 4m high| D[Stack 4 (limited height & qty)]

For detailed design, consult IS 1646 for wiring and IS 6329 Table 2 for fire protection system capacities.

IS 6329: Fire Fighting Facilities Key Points

1. Applicable Standards

• Fire fighting arrangements must comply with IS 1648 (Fire Protection in Factories) and IS 2190 (Fire Hose Reels and Hose).

2. Fire Fighting Installations (Clause 14.2, Table 2)

*P = Provided, NP = Not Provided

3. Construction & Floor Area (Clause 6.2, Table 1)

• Maximum permissible floor area depends on occupancy and construction type.
• Sprinkler protection allows tripling (single storey) or doubling (multi-storey) of floor area limits.

4. Water Supply & Location (Clause 4.4)

• Factories should be located where ample water supply for firefighting is available (see IS 6070).

Summary Diagram: Fire Fighting System Components

graph TD
  A[Water Source

IS 6329 Key Points on Spray Painting, Varnishing & Polishing Operations

1. Maximum Floor Area (Clause 6.2, Table 1)

• Note: Floor area can be tripled for single-storey and doubled for multi-storey buildings with sprinkler protection.

2. Fire Safety & Cleanliness (Clauses 11.6, 15.9, 15.12)

• Strict cleanliness is mandatory, especially with nitrocellulose solutions due to flammability.
• Spray booths for nitrocellulose finishes must be cleaned before switching to vegetable oil paints/varnishes.
• Scrapings and residues must be collected in metal containers, wetted, and removed regularly (at least weekly).
• Use non-flammable liquids for cleaning brushes and scrapers.

3. Fire Fighting Installations (Clause 14.2, Table 2)

• For plot area > 1,000 m², mandatory installations include:
  • Hose reel, wet riser, down comer, yard hydrant
  • Automatic sprinkler system
  • Manual electric fire alarm
  • Automatic detection & alarm system
• Water storage tanks and pumps sized as per IS 3844 and fire load:
  • Example: For large plots, fire pumps capacity ~2,850 l/min electric & diesel pumps.

4. References for Detailed Safety & Installation

• IS 1641, 1642, 1646, 1648, 2189, 2190, 3594, 6070, SP 7 (Part VIII/Sec 1) for fire safety, detection, and firefighting equipment standards.

Summary Diagram: Spray Painting Safety Workflow

flowchart TD
    A[Spray Painting Booth] --> B[Use Nitrocellulose Solutions?]
    B -- Yes --> C[Strict Cleanliness + Weekly Cleaning]
    B -- No --> D[