Understanding Emergency Exit Guidelines: How to Ensure Safety in Tamil Nadu Factories

Emergency Exit or Fire Exit Guidelines as per Tamil Nadu Factories Rules 1950

Emergency Exit is the designated way out of a building, to be used for escape in the event of an emergency. We should follow the safety rules without fail. I have shared a few guidelines for your reference.

In every room of a factory, exits sufficient to permit safe escape of the occupants in case of fire or other emergencies shall be provided, which shall be free of any obstruction.

The exits shall be clearly visible and suitably illuminated with a suitable arrangement.

The exits shall be marked in a language understood by the majority of the workers.

Iron rung ladders or spiral staircases shall not be used as an exit.

Exits shall be located so that the travel distance to reach at least one of them on the floor shall not exceed 30 meters.

In those factories where high hazard materials are stored or used, the travel distance to the exit shall not exceed 22.5 meters, and there shall be at least two ways of escape from every room, however small, except toilet rooms.

No exit doorway shall be less than 100 cm in width.

Exit doorways shall open outwards, away from the room, but shall not obstruct travel along any exit. No door, when opened, shall reduce the required width of the stairway or landing to less than 90 cm. Overhead or sliding doors shall not be installed for this purpose.

Where stairways discharge through corridors and passageways, the height of the corridors and passageways shall not be less than 2.4 meters.

The minimum width of an internal staircase shall be 100 cm.

The minimum width of treads without nosing shall be 25 cm for an internal staircase. The treads shall be constructed and maintained in a manner to prevent slipping.

The maximum height of a riser shall be 19 cm, and the number of risers shall be limited to 12 per flight.

Handrails shall be provided with a minimum height of 100 cm and shall be firmly supported.

The horizontal exit shall be equipped with at least one fire door of the self-closing type.

The floor area on the opposite or refuge side of a horizontal exit shall be sufficient to accommodate occupants of the floor areas served, allowing not less than 0.3 square meters per person. The refuge area shall be provided with exits adequate to meet the requirements of this sub-rule; at least one of the exits shall lead directly to the exterior or street.

Where there is a difference in level between connected areas for a horizontal exit, ramps not more than 1 in 8 slopes shall be provided. For this purpose, steps shall not be used.

In any building not provided with an automatic fire alarm, a manual fire alarm system shall be provided if the total capacity of the building is over 500 persons, or if more than 25 persons are employed above or below the ground floor, except that no manual fire alarm shall be required in one-storey buildings where the entire area is undivided, and all parts thereof are clearly visible to all occupants.

Warm Regards,

Suthanthiraselvan

Dear Suthanthiraselvan,

Thank you for reaching out with your query about the Emergency Exit or Fire Exit guidelines as per the Tamil Nadu Factories Rules 1950.

Here's a simplified and clear interpretation of the guidelines you need to follow:

⚠ Every room should have enough exits to allow safe escape in an emergency. These exits should be obstruction-free.

⚠ Exits should be clearly visible and well-lit.

⚠ Exits should be clearly marked in a language that most workers understand.

⚠ Iron rung ladders or spiral staircases should not be used as exits.

⚠ The maximum distance to an exit from any point on the floor should not exceed 30 meters.

⚠ In factories where high hazard materials are handled, the maximum distance to an exit should not exceed 22.5 meters. Two escape routes should be provided from every room, except toilet rooms.

⚠ Exit doorways should be at least 100 cm wide.

⚠ Exit doors should open outwards without obstructing the exit path. When opened, they should not reduce the width of the stairway or landing to less than 90 cm.

⚠ Corridors and passageways through which stairways discharge should have a minimum height of 2.4 meters.

⚠ The minimum width of an internal staircase should be 100 cm with a maximum riser height of 19 cm. Each flight should not have more than 12 risers.

⚠ Handrails should be provided with a minimum height of 100 cm.

⚠ The horizontal exit should have at least one self-closing fire door.

⚠ The refuge area on the other side of a horizontal exit should be large enough to accommodate all occupants, allowing a minimum of 0.3 square meters per person.

⚠ If there is a difference in level between connected areas for a horizontal exit, ramps with a slope not exceeding 1 in 8 should be provided.

⚠ A manual fire alarm system should be provided in buildings housing more than 500 people, or where more than 25 people are employed on floors other than the ground floor.

Please note that these guidelines are meant for your safety and the safety of your workers. It's crucial that they are implemented correctly. I hope that this information is helpful and clear. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask.

🚥 Stay safe!