FAQ'S

It is recommended that a Fire audit of fire extinguishers should be carried out to ensure  adequate provision. Contact Profello Team for Fire Audit. Firefighting Equipment should be provided in accordance with IS: 2190 (Selection and Installation of portable fire extinguishers – Code of practice) and the following information is given for guidance only:

• One 13 A rated extinguisher should be provided per 200 sq. meters of floor area.

• A minimum of two 13 A rated extinguishers should be provided per storey (one is acceptable if the floor area is under 100 sq. metres)

• Additional extinguishers should be provided to cover specific risks such as electrical appliances, flammable liquids etc.

• A user should have to travel no more than 30 metres to reach an extinguisher.

• Extinguishers should be sited in uniform places in premises, preferably on, or close to, escape routes.

• Extinguishers should not be sited so close to the risk that a fire would prevent their use. (I.e. in electricity cupboards).

• Extinguishers should only be used by people who have received sufficient training.

The National Building Code of India (NBC), a comprehensive building Code, is a national instrument providing guidelines for regulating the building construction activities across the country. It serves as a Model Code for adoption by all agencies involved in building construction works be they Public Works Departments, other government construction departments, local bodies or private construction agencies. The Code mainly contains administrative regulations, development control rules and general building requirements; fire safety requirements; stipulations regarding materials, structural design and construction (including safety); and building and plumbing services.

 The Part 4 of the NBC deals with guidelines and provides information on Fire and Life Safety requirements that should be present in a building depending on its occupancy type.

All building needs fire and life safety measures to some extent, especially first aid fire fighting arrangements like installation of fire extinguishers. Presence of first aid fire fighting arrangement helps checking any fire at its initial stage till the fire brigade arrives. However, for some buildings it is mandatory to observe fire and life safety measure. 

As per NBC Part 4, observing fire and life safety measure is mandatory for the following categories of buildings –

• * All residential building above 14.5 meter height
• * All residential occupancy with part commercial usage (irrespective of height)
• * All educational buildings like schools, colleges, universities, Montessori etc.
• * All assembly buildings like cinema halls & theatres, ceremonial houses, clubs, galleries etc.
• * All business buildings like offices
• * All institutional buildings like nursing homes, hospitals, sanatoriums etc.
• * All mercantile buildings like shops, warehouses, departmental stores etc.
• * All industrial buildings
• * All hazardous buildings

For details of occupancy types refer our Resource page.

Observation of fire and life safety measure is irrespective whether a building is proposed or existing. It is mandatory for all buildings falling under the purview of NBC Part 4 needs to observe fire and life safety measure.

Observation of fire and life safety measure is irrespective whether a building is proposed or existing. It is mandatory for all buildings falling under the purview of NBC Part 4 needs to observe fire and life safety measure.

When you apply for a NOC from fire service, the fire prevention department evaluates the fire and life safety measure for your building and recommends you to implement certain fire and life safety installations and allows you Provisional NOC subjected to the condition that you would implement the recommended measures. Hence Provisional NOC is a temporary fire safety certificate issued by the fire service department and is valid for a certain period of time by which you should be prepared with the compliance of the recommendations. along with specific information, that needs to be incorporated into the building, for final NOC to be valid. This would include the following:

The condition of open spaces

 Structural material

 Design of staircases

 Specification of lifts

 Service ducts/ shafts

 Electric power supply

 Wet rise cum down comer

 Fire detection system

 Fire alarm system

 Fire sprinkler system

 Public address system

 Portable fire extinguishers

 Fire safety plan

 Fire officer

 Training.

Once you are ready with the implementation of fire and life safety installation as per recommendation of the fire services, you apply to the fire prevention wing to inspect the implementation. On receiving your application, fire service officials will physically inspect all the installed apparatus to test and certify that they are in line with the recommendations issued by the fire service department and that all installations are working in satisfactory conditions. On satisfactory functioning of all installation and compliance of all recommendation, the fire service department will issue you a Final NOC for occupancy which is valid for 1 year from the date of issue and must renewed every year by applying to the fire service department.

Obtaining the Fire NOC is not enough for minimizing the fire breakouts; apart from this,
you need to install other fire prevention measures in the building.
Various Fire Prevention measure are listed below:
 Separate area for smoking.
 Installment of fire extinguishers.
 Proper supervision of the cooking area and the pantry.
 Non-disturbance in ventilating facilities.
 Maintenance of electric wiring of the building whenever required.
 Installment of the smoke or fire alarms.
 The owner of the building must have the National Building code of India, which
ensures that all contingency measures are successfully installed in the building.

If your building has fire and life safety installation, in all probability, your building has NOC from fire department. However, please note that this NOC for occupancy needs to be renewed every year from the Fire Prevention Wing of fire service department. During the renewal, the fire prevention wing tests and certifies that your installations are in proper working condition. Presence of defunct and non functional fire and life safety installation most probably implies that the NOC for occupancy has not been renewed from the fire department for your building. Check the status of your NOC and Contact Metro Engineering to help you with regularization process. Alternately you can also contact Fire Prevention Wing of your local Fire brigade. 

High inlet gas pressure from the source is regulated and reduced to the level appropriate for the pipes and then delivered to the individual outlets in households. This is done by a pressure regulation system that consists of a cylinder manifold (for small to medium complexes) and underground/ above ground/mounded bulk LPG storage tanks (for huge apartment complexes). Let’s understand a common three-stage pressure control system with an inlet pressure range of 1 bar to 6 bar and outlet pressure range of 110 millibars to 28 millibars.  Cylinders with adaptors and pigtailed pipe are stacked against a wall and attached to the first pressure regulation system. 

 The first pressure gauge is connected to the mainline which has the gas bank’s main controller and runs through a second pressure regulation system. 
 The riser ball valve then takes the regulated gas up to individual apartments which have their own control valve, pressure regulator and a meter (usually at the kitchen entrance or outdoor pantry). 
 A copper pipe connects the set-up to the kitchen and gas is provided via a tap. 
 The cylinder manifold at the centralized bank consists of two arms – operational arm and a stand-by arm. Once the operational arm runs out there is an automatic changeover to ensure uninterrupted supply.

Overpressure and under pressure shut off valves to provide safety and proper burning at the stove 
 24/7 gas supply without the need for dragging, replacing cylinders or placing cylinder replacement orders
 No need to stash the cylinders in the house
 Economic benefit since you save cylinders.
 No need for interaction and transaction with gas agencies or delivery men 

 Enhanced safety owing to the fact that gas pressure is low in pipeline compared to  the volume packed in the cylinder at home

 Adds value to the society as it signifies the transition to an advanced gas distribution system

Keep the cylinder storage facility locked at all times while displaying hazard (highly inflammable) signs around the fenced set-up. It’s important that no one is allowed to smoke or have fireworks near the gas bank enclosure.
 Don’t allow unauthorised access to residents, servicemen, etc.
 Ensure regularly that valves, gauges are at proper measurements so there’s no
over/under pressure and backflow or leakages
 Always keep a good stock of fire extinguishers close to the set-up
 Make sure that gas bank facilities are properly ventilated
 Don’t install wired lighting or allow mobiles inside the gas bank
 Don’t allow children to play or pets to wander off around the gas bank