Checklist of Fire Safety System for Healthcare

Checklist of Fire Safety System for Healthcare building

Building Name:

Building address:

Building Floor name:

Local Fire Bridged name & Cont nos:

As per National Building Code (NBC) Hospital Buildings, Nursing Homes, Sanatoriums have been categories under Group-C “Institutional Building”.

The Institutional Buildings are having some high risk areas with special problems relates life risk of both ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients. It is therefore necessary to understand the types of hazards associated with the Institutional Buildings vis-à-vis life safety concept.

Life Safety from fire in Hospitals relies on a “Defined – in- Place” principle. Horizontal exits or smoke barriers are required to sub-divide each storey of a Hospital to provide an area of refuge on each floor.

In case of emergency the objectives should be “Keep the fire away from the Patient rather than more the patient away from the fire”

A. Procedure for Calling the Fire Brigade:

a) When calling the Fire Brigade give clear information.

1. Name & Address of the premises where fire has actually broke out.

2. Nearest land mark & name of the access road.

3. Character to the Building and type of occupancy.

4. Nearest water body is available.

5. Telephone No. of the caller & of the particular premises if known.

B. Procedure to be followed for Raising the Alarm:

All occupants/ employees should be aware of how to raise the alarm.

1. Once detector actuated, the on duty staffs will act according to pre-determined plan.

2. The source of alarm must be monitored regularly.

3. Whole premises should be warned through the P.A. system in such a manner that should not generate any panic amongst the occupants.

4. The system should be incorporated to disseminate the information to other emergency support services.

C. Pre-determined area should be identified for refuge or assemble of the occupants (Patient).

D. The assembly or refuge area should have the facility of medical support for patient if needed.

E. The assembly or refuge area must have the access of the emergency vehicles like ambulance or fire service vehicles.

F. Roll call should be taken to ensure that all occupants/ patients are evacuated from the danger zone and the missing person should be notified to the Fire Service and Police Authority.

G. Procedure for Fighting the Fire:

1. In the early stages of a fire it may be possible to successfully contain it or extinguish it with first aid fire fighting equipment.

2. To accomplish this, staff members should be instructed in the use of hand held extinguishers and hose reels.

3. Certain members of staff may be designated as a fire fighting team as part of the emergency procedures & their function would be to assess and "if safe to do so" tackle the fire with the available equipment until the Fire Brigade arrive.

H. Procedure for Assisting the Fire Brigade:

a) When the Fire Brigade arrives they need proper assistance and information as much as possible in order to take the best course of action. The type of information required includes:

1. Exact location of the fire;

2. Type of materials involved in fire;

3. Details of missing persons;

4. Location of nearest fire hydrants;

5. Location of all access doors to the building.

6. Location of any special risks adjoining to the fire location;

7. Keys for access into any locked areas.

RECOMMENDATION OF

MINIMUM ESSENTIAL FIRE SAFETY MEASURES IN INSTITUTIONAL

BUILDINGS

Preventive Measures

1. Good housekeeping in all area, specially stores, kitchen, electrical installation, transformer house and waste disposals etc. should be maintained.

2. No Smoking Zone (while applicable in office, store, depot etc) shall be enforced rigidly.

3. All electrical installations shall be periodically checked & tested by competent electrical

engineers, while all loose electrical wiring if any shall be replaced immediately.

4. Appropriate M.C.B. shall be installed where necessary in the electrical installation as per

Indian Electrical Rules.

5. All old electrical wiring especially in the zone of insignificant and abundant area shall

replace with the new ones.

6. The basement if any should not be used as store room / material dumping / in patient ward or any other purpose which will cause Fire / Smoke.

7. Lift shaft and stair lobby / landing shall be free from any obstacles / obstruction.

8. Use of LPG gas cylinders not more than 320 kg come into a gas bank, to be installed with separate place with barrier and precaution as per IS : 6044.

9. Trained staff in dealing with the fire fighting extinguisher / appliance / Evacuation procedure shall be engaged. Fire fighting drill and evacuation drill should be held on regular basis.

10. Building should come into a modular by making corridors horizontal & vertical exits from the origin of the fire place to a safe area easily and also by incorporating Fire & Smoke Check Door in the lobby approaching to stairways and lift.

11. One senior personal preferably from administration may co-ordinate & look into.

12. On site Emergency / Evacuation plan shall have to be prepared and update at regular

interval.

13. Fire Notice, Fire order, Exit sign, Floor Nos. shall be displayed at conspicuous places as per requirements of NBC Part IV 2016.

14. Arrangement should be made for proper checking, testing and maintenance of all fire

protection and detection system to keep them in properly working condition at all the time.

15. Electrical Safety Audit should be carried out at regular interval as per Indian Electrical Rules.

Protective Measures

1. Water Reservoir exclusively for fire fighting shall be made available as prescribed in National Building Code (NBC) Part IV 2016.

2. Replenishment of the reservoir may be incorporated with deep tube well with auto facility.

3. Fire Hydrant Ring main with Yard Hydrant & Wet Riser system with landing valve shall be installed as per NBC Part IV & IS: 3844.

4. Hose Box containing two nos. 15 M long Hose & 1 No. Branch Pipe with Nozzle to be

installed near each Yard Hydrant & Landing Valve.

5. First-Aid Hose Reel 40 M long to be provided near each landing valve tapped off from the Wet Riser.

6. Sprinkler system to be provided for all the floors & other places / areas as applicable as per NBC Code.

7. Fire fighting extinguisher should be provided within the building as per IS: 2190 and person having work station in that area should be trained to use the same if required initially in case of emergency.

8. The main Fire Pump and one stand by pump of capacity minimum 2280 LPM and head of the pump will be such that 3.5 Kg/cm2 pressure is available at the furthest/highest landing valve, to be installed. Auto start facility should be incorporated in fire pump. Accordingly, Jockey Pump of Capacity 180 LPM shall also be installed.

9. The Stand by pump of equal capacity must be available on alternate sources of

supply, preferably diesel operating pump.

10. Fire Detection & Alarm System for the entire Building shall be provided as per IS: 2185

11. Public Address System with Two way communication System

12. Emergency power supply shall be provided to the following equipment and system.

A. Illumination of means of escape route.

B. Fire Alarm Panel & P.A. Console.

C. Fire Pumps

D. Fire Lift

E. Bore Well

Fire Command Structure:-

1. Chief Executive Officer or Head of the Organization will act as the commanding officer during emergency.

2. The commanding Officer has the primary responsibility to recognize hazards and prepare the fire order and fire operation plan & get them promulgated.

3. To supervise the regular training to the hospital staff (non-medical & medical) of the hospitals and keep them informed about the fire emergency evacuation plan.

4. Medical Superintendent will act as a occupant/patient evacuation supervisor and formulate the emergency evacuation plan and impart training to all the staffs (medical & non-medical) regarding the emergency evacuation procedure.

5. Floor managers/Matrons/floor supervisor will assist the evacuation supervisor in evacuation process.

6. The Chief Engineer/ Maintenance Engineer will act as a head of the fire fighting team and his responsibility to maintain all the fixed fire fighting installation system and constitute the fire fighting team. He should also impart the training about the operation and maintenance of fire fighting installation and conduct training at regular intervals.

ACTION BY SECURITY / DESIGNATED FIRE FIGHTING STAFF

A) INFORM THE FIRE BRIGADE THROUGH ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PHONE NUMBERS:

                                    XXX XXXX XXXX

                                    YYY YYYY YYYY

B) ALERT THE OCCUPANTS BY USING PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM & GIVE THEM PROPER GUIDANCE FOR SAFE EVACUATION FROM THE BUILDING.

C) OPERATE THE GROUNDING SWITCH TO BRING FIRE ELEVATOR TO GROUND FLOOR LEVEL.

D) EVACUATE THE OCCUPANTS BY USING FIRE EXITS AND EMERGENCY EXITS ONLY AND ASSEMBLE THEM IN A SAFE PLACE.

E) SWITCH OFF THE POWER SUPPLY OF THE BUILDING EXCEPTING EMERGENCY LIGHT / FIRE LIFT / FIRE ALARM PANEL, PA & TALKBACK PANELS.

F) FIGHT THE FIRE USING NEAREST SUITABLE EXTINGUISHER OR WATER FROM NEAREST HOSE REEL / HYDRANT POINT DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF FIRE.

G) GUIDE THE FIRE FORCE, ON THEIR ARRIVAL TO THE SEAT OF FIRE.

H) INCASE OF CAUSALITIES, CALL AMBULANCE OR MOBILE TRAUMA CARE UNIT.

I) ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PHYSICALLY CONSTRAINED, UNCONSCIOUS, DISABLE AND WOMAN ARE EVACUATED.

Weekly Fire Checklist:

Escape routes			Notes / action needed
1	Are escape routes clear?	Yes/No
2	Is there any combustible waste or storage in corridors, lobbies, stairways and chute rooms?	Yes/No
3	Are there any signs of damage to fire-resisting walls, doors and glazing between units and the common parts?	Yes/No
4	Are external routes clear and safe? And if needed well lit?	Yes/No
5	Have any vents required for smoke control been tampered with, forced open and damaged (e.g. by residents seeking to air stuffy atmospheres or to remove the smell from illicit smoking) or blocked up to prevent draughts?	Yes/No
6	Are fire exit signs or fire action notices missing or defaced?	Yes/No
7	Where required are there spare batteries for emergency escape lights & torches.	Yes/No
8	Have emergency lights been inspected – tell-tale lights illuminated	Yes/No
9	Where fitted is emergency lighting and sign lighting working correctly?	Yes/No
Fire doors
1	Can all fire exits be opened immediately and easily?	Yes/No
2	Are fire doors clear of obstructions?	Yes/No
3	Are fire door smoke seals in good condition (not painted over / damaged)?	Yes/No
4	Do all self-closing fire doors work correctly?	Yes/No
5	Do fire doors fit closely with a maximum of 5mm gaps?	Yes/No
6	Do all emergency fastening devices to fire exits (e.g. push bars) work correctly?	Yes/No
7	Are front doors and other entrance and exit doors closing properly?	Yes/No
8	All enclosed staircases shall have access through self closing doors of at least two hour fire resistance – these shall be swing doors opening in the direction of escape. The door shall be fitted with check action door closers.	Yes/No
Fire Detection & Alarm System
1	Is the indicator panel showing ‘normal’?	Yes/No
2	Where provided, are fire detectors, MCP, CM, MM still in place and/or damaged, covered over or interfered with in anyway?	Yes/No
3	Where provided, are fire detectors, MCP, CM, MM indication LED are blinking?	Yes/No
4	Where provided, are 70% fire detectors, MCP, Strobe, Battery are tested?	Yes/No
5	Where applicable has the fire alarm been tested on a weekly basis?	Yes/No
6	Is an ongoing periodical maintenance contract in place?	Yes/No
7	Automatic fire dampers shall be provided at the inlet of the fresh air and return air duct of each compartment on every floor.	Yes/No
8	Fire alarm system should be intercommunicate with BMS	Yes/No
9	Fire alarm system should be intercommunicate with Access Control	Yes/No
10	PA System speaker must be placed so that the information is clearly audible in all areas	Yes/No
Firefighting equipment
1	Are all fire extinguishers in place?	Yes/No
2	Are fire extinguishers discharged or damaged?	Yes/No
3	Are fire extinguishers clearly visible and accessible?	Yes/No
4	Gross weight of Cylinder when inspected in Kgs?	Yes/No
5	Are fire extinguishers Safety Pin damaged?	Yes/No
6	Are vehicles blocking fire hydrants or access to them?	Yes/No
7	Are all Sprinklers shall cover the entire area?	Yes/No
8	Are all Sprinklers line is energized?	Yes/No
9	Are last Sprinklers properly tested?	Yes/No
10	Distance between two hydrants or extinguisher stations must not be more than 30 m, and very clearly marked	Yes/No
11	A Diesel fire pump should be required and provide diesel exhaust pipe from the diesel engine and terminate to atmosphere in a location acceptable to the local Authority / Architect.	Yes/No
12	An additional static water storage tank to be provided at roof / terrace level with capacity specified by the local fire authority with arrangements of replenishment by main or alternate source of supply, which can be used in the eventuality of failure of other system under gravity flow.	Yes/No
13	All valves must be open, accessible and unobstructed	Yes/No
14	All the fire pumps to have direct access from the ground level.	Yes/No
15	What is the capacity of Under Ground / Terrace Static Storage Tank? (in ltr)	Yes/No
16	Whether the fire pump room is separated by fire walls all around and provided with fire doors.	Yes/No
17	Whether an undertaking from LPG piping installation agency and client stating that proposed gas bank , supply lines and other fitting associated with it is as per NBC of India -2016, Part-IV	Yes/No
18	Whether an affidavit / Confirmation is produced by the Applicant and Licensed contractor stating that all the proposed lightning protection installations for building is as per NBC of India -2016; Part-IV?	Yes/No
19	Whether an affidavit / Confirmation is produced by the applicant and HVAC Consultant be stating that all the proposed Air Conditioning, Smoke Management, Ventilation and Staircase Pressurisation Systems for the building is as per NBC of India -2016; Part-IV?	Yes/No
20	Whether an affidavit / Confirmation from the Applicant and the Electrical Consultant produced along with plan stating that all the proposed Electrical Installations and power supply for the proposed building is as per NBC of India -2016 Part 1V and necessary emergency power distribution system for fire and life safety systems also proposed in the building as per NBC 2016 Part IV 3.4.6.2 ?	Yes/No

All Fire Stations / Cabinets, for installing or keeping First Aid Fire Protection Equipment such as fire hose reel, hydrant valve, fire hose, branch pipe, etc should be provided in strategic locations of all floors, @ one station for every 1000M2 of plinth area.