Fire hazards can be caused by fuels that ignite easily, defective appliances, or unsafe actions like thawing pipes with torches. The National Fire Protection Association classifies fires into different categories based on the combustible material. Class A fires involve ordinary combustibles like paper and wood. Class B fires involve flammable liquids like gasoline. Class C fires involve live electrical equipment. Class D fires involve combustible metals. Class K fires involve cooking fires. Proper classification of fires determines the appropriate type of fire extinguisher to use. Areas are also classified based on fire hazard as light, ordinary, or extra hazard depending on the quantity and combustibility of materials present. While India has laws and standards for fire safety, there are short

1. Fire Hazard
Any actions, materials, or conditions that might increase the size or severity of a fire
or that might cause a fire to start are called fire hazards.
The hazard might be a fuel that is easy to ignite or a heat source like a defective
appliance. The hazard could be an action like thawing a pipe with a torch or an
omission like failing to have a wood stove chimney cleaned.
Classification of fire
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) categorizes fires by class.
This classification of fire is done based on the combustible material that can possibly
catch fire, accordingly the safeguards against such different types of fires can be
planned.
CLASS A FIRES
Class A fires (designation symbol is a green triangle) involve ordinary combustible
materials like paper, wood and fabrics, rubber. Most of the times, this type of fire is
effectively quenched by water or insulating by other suitable chemical agent
CLASS B FIRES
Class B fires (designation symbol is a red square) mostly involve flammable liquids
(like gasoline, oils, greases, tars, paints etc) and flammable gases. Dry chemicals
and carbon dioxide are typically used to extinguish these fires.
CLASS C FIRES
Class C fires (designation symbol is a blue circle) involve live electrical equipment
like motors, generators and other appliances. For safety reasons, nonconducting
extinguishing agents such as dry chemicals or carbon dioxide are usually used to put
out these fire.
CLASS D FIRES
Class D fires (designation symbol is a yellow decagon) involve combustible metals
such as magnesium, sodium, lithium potassium etc. Sodium carbonate, graphite,
bicarbonate, sodium chloride, and salt-based chemicals extinguish these fires.
CLASS K FIRES
Class K fires are fires in cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media
(vegetable, animal oils or fats).

2. SYMBOLS FOR FIRE CLASSES DESIGNATION
Picture 1 - Symbols used for classification of fire
Fire classification chart
Clearly the classification of a fire depends on 'what is burning'. That will determine
the severity of the fire, heat radiated, reach of the flames, smoke etc.
Type of a fire is also a strong determinant of which type of fire extinguisher should
be used to put out that fire. The following fire classification chart explains different
types of fire extinguishers useful for putting off different types of fire.
Following are the main types of fire extinguishers - depending on which fluid is used
for putting out the fire. The color code (colored ring at the top of the cylinder) will
tell you what type of fire extinguisher you are working with.

3. Classification of hazards
In accordance with NFPA, areas are typically classified as being light (low) hazard,
ordinary (moderate) hazard, or extra (high) hazard.
Light (low) hazard areas are locations where the quantity and combustibility of Class
A combustibles and Class B flammables is low. In these areas, expected fires have
relatively low rates of heat release. Light hazard areas may include offices,
classrooms, meeting rooms etc.
Ordinary (moderate) hazard areas are locations where the quantity and
combustibility of Class A combustible materials and Class B flammables is
moderate. Fires with moderate rates of heat release are expected in these areas.
Ordinary hazard locations could be offices, malls, light manufacturing or research
operations, parking garages, workshops, or maintenance/service areas.
Extra (high) hazard areas are locations where the quantity and combustibility of
Class A combustible material is high or where high amounts of Class B flammables
are present. Quickly developing fires with high rates of heat release are expected.
These locations could be sites for cars repair, aircraft and boat servicing, painting,
dipping, and coating, storage areas (tanks, containers etc).

4. Present Status of Fire Services in India
 Fire services in India come under the 12th
schedule of the Constitution
under the provisions of Article 243W of the Constitution, the
performance of functions listed in the 12th schedule comes under
the domain of municipalities.
o Presently, fire prevention and fire fighting services are
organized by the concerned states, Union Territories (UTs)
and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
 Fire services in some states like Gujarat, Chhattisgarh etc. are under the
respective concerned municipal corporations. In other remaining states,
it is under the department in Home Ministry.
 In view of the shortcomings in the fire services in different states of the
country and the need to upgrade it, the GoI in 1956 formed a Standing
Fire Advisory Committee (SFAC) under the Ministry of Home
Affairs, which was renamed as Standing Fire Advisory Council
(SFAC) in 1980.
o This committee/council has representation from each state
fire service, as well as representation from Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Defence (MoD), Ministry of
Road Transport and Highways (MoT), Ministry of
Communications and Information Technology (MoC) and
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Shortcomings in the Present System
 Lack of unified fire services in some of the states: unified fire services
provide all the necessary guidelines and instruction in fire fighting.
 Proper organisational structure, training and career progression of its
personnel lacking in most of the fire departments in India.
 inadequate modern equipment and their scaling, authorization &
standardization;
 Appropriate and adequate funding is not available, which inhibits
technological progression for fire fighting.
 Unavailability of training institutions is a impinges real-time
environmental understanding.
 Lack of infrastructural facilities – fire stations and accommodation of
personnel etc.
 Vulnerability analysis is mostly not done.

5.  Public awareness (DOs & DON’Ts), conduct of regular mock exercises
and evacuation drills are not conducted
 Lack of Uniform fire safety legislation in some of the states.
SFAC Provisions for Setting up Fire Stations
 Response time (3 to 5 minutes in urban areas and 20 minutes in rural
areas);
 The scale of the population to be served; and
 The number of minimum standard equipment that are needed and
manpower required for its operation
o Overall shortage in the country
 Fire stations – 97.54%;
 Fire fighting and rescue vehicles – 80.04%;
 Fire personnel – 96.28%.
Major Laws in India Governing Fire Safety and Governance
 The National Building Code of India, 2016
o Part 4 of the National Building Code (NBC) of India, 2016,
is titled 'Fire and Life Safety'.
 It covers the requirements for fire prevention, life safety
in relation to fire and fire protection of buildings.
 The code specifies occupancy-wise classification,
constructional aspects, egress requirements and
protection features that are necessary to minimise danger
to life and property from fire.
 It specifies the demarcations of fire zones, restrictions on
constructions of buildings in each fire zone,
classifications of buildings based on occupancy, types of
building construction according to fire resistance of the
structural and non-structural components and other
restrictions and requirements necessary to minimise
danger of life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic before the
buildings can be evacuated.
o The code broadly covers the following areas:
 Fire prevention: This covers aspects of fire prevention
pertaining to the design and construction of buildings. It

6. also describes the various types of buildings materials
and their fire rating.
 Life Safety: This covers life safety provisions in the
event of fire and similar emergencies, also addressing
construction and occupancy features that are necessary to
minimise danger to life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic.
 Fire Protection: Covers significant appurtenances
(accessories) and their related components and
guidelines for selecting the correct type of equipment and
installations meant for fire protection of the building,
depending upon the classifications and type of building.
 The guidelines for fire drills and evacuations for high-
rise buildings are also specified in NBC Part 4. It
mandates the appointment of a qualified fire
officer and trained staff for significant land uses.
o The Model Building Byelaws, 2003: Point-specific
responsibility for all fire-related clearance rests with the Chief
Fire Officer. The concerned Development Authority shall
refer the building plans to the Chief Fire Officer for obtaining
clearance in respect of buildings. Any eligible building needs
to undertake necessary approval or the Completion certificate
will not be granted by the competent authority and the
occupancy of the building cannot be administered.
The Problems in the Current Structure
 Cities are undergoing rapid physical changes, much like a chain reaction.
A rising population demands more space to live and work. As a result,
residential and commercial buildings primarily witness expansion and
densification over time.
o Even in this scenario, Firemaster plan are not being
updated or revamped. Moreover, only 30% of the cities in
India has any master plan.
 Many commercial and residential buildings in particular high-rise
buildings, have been found flouting fire safety norms. Many occupiers or
societies do not bother to conduct regular maintenance of the fire
prevention systems installed in their buildings.
o Though Fire Safety Audit is found to be an effective tool for
assessing fire safety standards of an organization or an
occupancy, there are no clear cut provisions in any of the fire
safety legislation in India, regarding the scope, objectives,
methodology and periodicity of a fire safety audit.

7. Way Forward
 Fire Safety Audit should be made mandatory for all over India and the
audit work should be entrusted to Third Party Agencies, who have
expertise in it. It is reasonable to have a fire safety audit in every year in
every occupancy. Above all, the success of fire prevention and fire
protection mainly depend upon the active co-operation from all
personnel in an occupancy.
 Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA) can be focused to
identify potential hazards. A comprehensive fire safety audit can address
the inherent fire hazards associated with the day to day activities in
occupancy and recommend measures to reduce the potential fire hazards.
 13th
Finance commission recommendation on fire safety and
organisation should be implemented. 13th
FC recommendation
 All Municipal Corporations with a population of more than
one million (2001 census) must put in place a fire hazard
response and mitigation plan for their respective jurisdictions
 A portion of the grant allocated by the commission to the
Urban Local Bodies may be spent on the revamping the Fire
services in their jurisdiction. The ULBs may extend financial
support to State Fire Services Department in this effort
 Regular provision for fire safety drill at the residential colonies, schools
and such other institutions/ organisations should be conducted.