Safety measures

1. FIRE SAFETY
MEASURES FOR
SCHOOLS

2. Introduction

3. 3
What Consists a Fire?
FIRE :
It is a chemical chain reaction which
takes place with the evolution of heat
and light.
ESSENTIALS OF FIRE :
»Oxygen
»Heat
»Fuel

4. 4
Oxygen Heat
Fuel
OXYGEN SOURCE HEAT SOURCES
Approx. 16% Required
Normal air contains 21% of oxygen
Some Fuels contains its own
oxygen supply
To Reach Ignition Temp.
Open Flame, the Sun,Hot Surface,
Sparks & Arcs, Friction, Chemical
Action, Elec. Energy,& Gas
Compression
GASES LIQUIDS SOLIDS
Natural Gas, Propane,
Butane,Hydrogen,
Acetylene, CO
Gasoline, Kerosene,
Turpentine, Alcohol,
Paint, Varnish, Olive oil,
Lacquer
Coal, Wood, Paper,
Cloth, Wax, Grease,
Leather, Plastic, Sugar,
Grain, Hay, Cork
FIRE TRIANGLE

5. 5
THE FIRE TETRAHEDRON
Oxidizing
agent
Reducing
Agent
Chemical
Chain
Reaction
Temperature

6. 6
MODES OF SPREAD OF FIRE
• Conduction :
– It occurs only in solids i.e. metallic objects.
• Convection :
– It occurs both in liquids & gases due to
convection current.
• Radiation :
– It neither conduction nor convection. These
are heated rays emanating from the hot
object.

7. 7
PRINCIPLES OF FIRE
EXTINCTION
• Starvation :
– Removal of unburned material from the fire area
• Smothering :
– Cutting off the supply of oxygen from fire area
• Cooling :
– Removal of heat from the burning material/fire
area
• Breaking of Chain Reaction :
– This is a chemical process

8. 8
CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE
(As per IS:2190/1992)
Class A :
»Fire involving solid combustible
materials of organic nature such
wood, paper, rubber, plastic, cloth
which requires cooling effect.
Class B :
»Fire involving inflammable liquids
or liquefiable solids such as petrol,
kerosene, acids, solvent etc.
B
A

9. 9
CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE
(As per IS: 2190/1992)
Class C :
»Fire involving inflammable gases
under pressure including liquefied
gases such as methane, hydrogen,
acetylene, LPG etc.
Class D :
»Fire involving combustible metals,
such as magnesium, zinc, sodium,
aluminum, potassium, radioactive
material etc. When the burning
metals are reactive to water.
C
D

10. 10
EXTINGUISHERS
• One of the most common fire protection
appliances in use today.
• Is excellent to use on incipient fires.
• Can extinguish a small fire in much less
time.
• Be knowledgeable about the different types
of fire extinguishers and their correct use.
• Known as “First aid fire fighting equipment”

11. 11
SUITABLITY OF FIRE
EXTINGUISHERS
CLASS A :
»Water (Gas Cartridge)
»Water (Stored Pressure)
»Dry Chemical
CLASS B:
»Mechanical Foam
»Dry Chemical
»Carbon-di-oxide
A
B

12. 12
SUITABLITY OF FIRE
EXTINGUISHERS
CLASS C:
»Carbon-di-oxide
»Dry Chemical
CLASS D :
»Special Dry Powder
(Ternary Eutectic Chloride)
C
D

13. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
• Minimum width for access roads for fire brigade
vehicle should be 8 meter
• At least two gates of 6 meter width should be
provided for entry to the school compound
• Temporary structure should be avoided for
housing schools
• Public address system should be provided
• School buildings should preferably be restricted
to ground and one upper floor.

14. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS …
• Basement should not be used for classrooms or
laboratories/libraries and assembly halls
• Hazardous laboratory chemicals should be
stored in detached buildings 6 meter away
• Food should not be cooked inside school
buildings. Kitchens if provided should be housed
in detached buildings 6 meter away
• LPG containers shall not be located near
exit/access doors, stairways or areas used as
means of egress.

15. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS …
• LPG containers shall not be stored in
basements
• Adequate vents should be provided to the
outside at both top and bottom in rooms
housing LPG cylinders
• Design, constructions & installation of fuel fired
appliances should be in accordance with
established National Codes
• Metal hoods and chimneys for such kitchen
appliances should be in accordance with
established National Codes.

16. • Such chimneys shall be regularly repaired to
prevents smokes, sparks and gases being
escaped through them
• Vertical shafts/ducts meet for electrical
wiring/drainage pipes etc should be enclosed by
225 mm brick walls and effectively sealed at all
floor levels
• Access openings to such ducts/shafts should be
protected by fire resisting shutters of 1- hour fire
resistance
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS …

17. • All waste materials should be collected at the
end of the day and burnt in an incinerator
fitted with spark arrester kept far away from
school
• All school buildings should be maintained in
good state of repair
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS …

18. EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE
EVACUATION
• At least two separate exit
staircases directly leading to open
space of safety must be available
for every floor
• Emergency escape openings
should be maintained regularly
• Minimum number of exits based
on occupant load, shall be 2 for up
to 500 occupants, 3 for occupant
load between 500-1000 and 4 for
more than 1000 occupants

19. • Exits should be so located that no point in any
floor is more than 22.5 meter from nearest exit
• Door width of assembly halls should be
minimum 2 meter
• Other exit doorway should be of minimum 1.5
meter width
• Egress door shall be side hinged swinging
• Doors shall swing in the direction of egress
• There shall be floor or a landing on each side of
a door at the same elevation
EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE
EVACUATION…

20. • Egress doors should be readily operable from
the egress side without the use of key
• Turnstiles that restrict in one direction only,
should not be placed so as to obstruct means of
egress
• Minimum corridor width shall be 1.5 meter
• Staircases should be continuous from ground
floor to the terrace level. A separate staircase
should lead to basement level. Laboratories
should be located in separate block
EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE
EVACUATION…

21. • Internal exit staircases should be enclosed
with fire resisting walls of at least 9” thickness
with door openings therein protected by 1 hr
fire resistance doors
• Such doors should always be kept open
• Width of staircases shall not be less than 1.5
meter
• Lifts are not to be considered as an acceptable
means of escape.
• Minimum width of treads in such staircases
shall be 300 mm.
EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE
EVACUATION…

22. Treads
Riser
Flight
Landing
Nose
Handrail
DESIGN OF STAIRCASE

23. • Risers of such staircases shall not be more than
150 mm in height
• Number of risers per flight shall be restricted to
15. Height of staircase railings should be
minimum 1 meter
• Gap between verticals in such railings, if any,
should not exceed 200 mm
• For primary schools, above gap should be
reduced to 150 mm
• Lifts should not open into the staircases
EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE
EVACUATION…

24. • No electrical shafts, AC dusts or gas pipes
should pass through staircases
• No combustible material should be used for
decoration/wall paneling in staircases
• All internal stair-cases, lift-lobbies and corridors
should be adequately ventilated and illuminated
• The exit signs with arrow indicating the way to
the escape-route should be provided at a
suitable height from the floor level on the wall
EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE EVACUATION…

25. • Emergency and escape lighting
system should be capable of
continuous operation for a minimum
duration of 1 hr and 30 min
• Ramps used as part of means of
egress shall have running slope
steeper than 1 in 12
• Surface of ramps shall be of slip-
resistant materials
• Minimum width of egress ramps
when provided should not be less
than that of corridors
EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE EVACUATION…

26. RAMP

27. FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPLIANCES
• Portable fire extinguishers
should be provided in all
school buildings and annex
blocks as per BIS: 2190
• Buildings more than 2 storied
in height should be provided
with first aid fighting hose-reels
• Dry risers when provided
should be provided with
approved fire department
connection at ground level

28. • Underground static water storage tank of
at least 50,000 liters capacity should be
available in all school compounds.
• One electric and one diesel engine driven
fire pump should be installed on such fire
water reservoir to supply water to a down -
comer fitted with hydrant outlets and
connected to a 10,000 liters over-head
tank at the terrace level
FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPLIANCES…

29. • Dry riser when provided
should be provided with
a hydrant outlet and a
hose box near each
such hydrant
• Automatic fire alarm
and detection system if
installed, should
conform to BIS:2189
FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPLIANCES…

30. ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION
• Sub-stations housing transformers,
HT/LT circuit breakers should be
housed in separate rooms 6 meter away
• Staircase and corridor lights should be
on separate circuits

31. EVACUATION PROCEDURES
• A regular fire safety and evacuation plan
must be drawn up
• First emergency evacuation drill of each
school year should be conducted within
10 days of beginning of classes
• Outdoor assembly areas should be
located at a safe distance from the school
building being evacuated

32. • Assembly areas should be arranged to keep
each class separate to provide accountability
of all individuals.
• Employees should received training in the
contents of fire safety and evacuation plans
• Each employee should be trained in fire
prevention in the conduct of their assigned
duties.
• Drill should be held at unexpected times to
simulate unusual conditions that occur in
case of a fire.
EVACUATION PROCEDURES…

33. ANY QUESTIONS