nr 23 fire protection
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MINISTRY OF LABOR NR-23 Brazilian Regulations
Free translation into English Language page 1 of 8
August 2001
NR 23 – Fire Protection
23.1. General Provisions
23.1.1. All companies shall have:
a) fire protection;
b) sufficient emergency exit to allow quick exit of personnel on duty in case of fire;
c) enough equipment to fight the fire at the beginning;
d) personnel trained on the use to fire-fighting equipment.
Exits
23.2 Work places shall have exits in sufficient quantity arranged in a way that anyone inside is able
to exit quickly and safely in case of emergency.
23.2.1. Maximum width of exit openings shall be 1.2 meters.
23.2.2. Doors shall not open to the inside of the work place.
23.2.3. Wherever is not possible the immediate access to exit doors, it shall be provided
permanent and totally unobstructed internal walkways or hallways with continuous and safe
access with a minimum width of 1.2 meters.
23.2.4. Where it is not possible to directly reach the exit doors, it shall be provided
permanent passageways and walkways with minimum width of 1.2 meters always totally
unobstructed.
23.2.5. Openings, exits and passageways shall be clearly identified by means of lighted plates
or signs indicating the exit direction.
23.2.6. Exits shall be arranged in a way that the distance between them and any work place is
not more than 15 meters in high risk areas and 30 meters in medium and low risk areas.
23.2.6.1. Those distances may be modified, for more or for less, at the Safety
authority’s discretion, if automatic sprinkler system is available and according to the
risk nature.
23.2.7. Exit doors and escape routes shall not have stairs or ladders; passageways shall be
well illuminated.
23.2.8. Floors of different level shall have access ramps of small slope, and a warning sign
shall be located at the higher end of the ramp.
23.2.9. Circular stairs, portable ladders or external wooden ladders shall not be considered
part of an exit.
MINISTRY OF LABOR NR-23 Brazilian Regulations
Free translation into English Language page 2 of 8
August 2001
23.3. Doors.
23.3.1. Exit doors shall be hinged type or horizontal sliding type, at the Safety authority’s
discretion.
23.3.2. Rolling type vertical doors or turnstile type door shall not be permitted on internal
passageways.
23.3.3. All hinged doors, either exit doors or internal doors shall:
a) open to the direction of exit;
b) be located in a way that will not block exit routes when open.
23.3.4. Doors leading to stairways shall be arranged to not reduce the effective width of the
stairway.
23.3.5. Exit doors shall be arranged to be visible, being totally prohibited any obstacle, even
occasional, to block their access or visibility.
23.3.6. No entrance or exit door or emergency exit door of a workplace or premises shall be
locked, barred or stuck during business hours.
23.3.7. During business hours doors may be closed by a safety device that allows any person
to open them easily from the inside of the premises or workplace.
23.3.7.1. Under any circumstances the emergency doors shall be closed from the
outside, even after business hours.
23.4. Stairs and ladders.
23.4.1 All stairs, ladders, platforms and steps shall be made of non-combustible and fire-
resistant material.
23.5. Elevators.
23.5.1. Elevator and dumbwaiter trunks, in buildings of more than 2 stories shall be made of
fire-resistant material in its entirety.
23.6. Fire-resistant doors.
23.6.1. Staircases shall be provided with fire-resistance doors, self-closing type and shall be
easily opened from both sides.
MINISTRY OF LABOR NR-23 Brazilian Regulations
Free translation into English Language page 3 of 8
August 2001
23.7. Fire-fighting
23.7.1. As soon as fire is detected:
a) alarm system shall be actuated;
b) Fire Station shall be called immediately;
c) machines and electrical equipment shall be turned off, if such an operation does
not represent additional risks;
d) fire must be fought as soon as possible using adequate means.
23.7.2. Machines and electrical equipment that shall not be turned off in case of fire shall
have a warning plate nexte to their main switch informing accordingly.
23.7.3. In some types of industry or activities where there is a high risk of fire, special
construction features shall be required such as fire-retardant doors and walls, or ditches
around above-ground reservoirs containing inflammable liquids.
23.8. Fire fighting drills.
23.8.1. Fire-fighting drills shall be performed periodically, in order to:
a) personnel to learn the sound and meaning of fire alarm;
b) evacuation of workplace is done orderly;
c) to avoid panic;
d) to assign specific tasks and responsibilities to employees;
e) to verify if fire alarm siren can be heard in all areas.
23.8.2. Fire drill shall be performed under direction of a group of people capable to organize
and manage it, formed by a leader and enough assistants in accordance with the
characteristics of the premises.
23.8.3. Fire drill shall be planned as if it was a real case of fire.
23.8.4. On factories that keep organized fire-fighting teams, the fire drills shall be performed
periodically and preferably without notice and simulating as much as possible the real fire-
fighting conditions.
23.8.5. Factories or companies that does not have organized fire-fighting teams shall have
some members of its staff such as security guards and vigilantes, specially trained to handle
and use correctly the fire-fighting equipment.
MINISTRY OF LABOR NR-23 Brazilian Regulations
Free translation into English Language page 4 of 8
August 2001
23.9. Fire Class.
23.9.1. The following fire classification shall be adopted for easy application of this
regulation:
Class A – material of easy combustion, that burns out both its surface and interior and
that leaves residues, such as: fabric, wood, paper, fibers, etc.;
Class B – inflammable fluids that burn out the surface only and do not leave residues,
such as: oil, grease, varnish, paint, gasoline, etc.;
Class C – energized electrical equipment such as: motors, transformers,
switchboards, cables, etc.
23.9.2. Class D – pyrotechnic material such as magnesium, zirconium, titanium, etc.
23.10. Fire extinguishing using water.
23.10.1. Industrial facilities with 50 or more employees shall be provided with water
reservoir with enough capacity and pressure to extinguish beginning of Class A fire at any
time.
23.10.2. Water inlet shall be easily accessible and protected to avoid damage.
23.10.3 Water inlet connections and water inlet piping shall be frequently tested to avoid
deposits accumulation.
23.10.4. Water shall never be used:
a) on Class B fire, except when sprayed as mist;
b) on Class C fire, except when sprayed;
c) on Class D fire;
d) automatic sprinklers.
(note from translator: although it seems wrong, the translation above has been double-checked and it
is correct)
23.10.5. Automatic sprinklers shall have inlet valve always open, and shall be closed only in
cases of maintenance or inspection with authorization of responsible person.
23.10.5.1. A free space of at least 1.0 meter shall be provided under and around
sprinkler heads to assure an effective deluge.
MINISTRY OF LABOR NR-23 Brazilian Regulations
Free translation into English Language page 5 of 8
August 2001
23.11. Fire Extinguishers.
23.11.1. Only fire extinguishers complying with Brazilian regulations or technical standards
of Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Normalização e Qualidade Industrial – INMETRO shall
be used. To assure this requirement is met, identification showing conformity issued by
certification entities dully registered at INMETRO shall be posted on the extinguisher.
23.12. Portable fire extinguishers.
23.12.1. All premises even if provided with automatic sprinklers shall be provided with
portable extinguishers to fight the fire in the beginning. Such devices shall be suitable to the
class of fire to be extinguished.
23.13. Types of portable fire extinguishers.
23.13.1. Foam type fire extinguishers shall be used on Class A and B fire.
23.13.2. Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers shall be used preferably on Class B and C fire,
although they may be used also on the beginning of Class A fire.
23.13.3. Dry Chemical fire extinguishers shall be used on Class B and C fire. Extinguishers
of 60 to 150 kg shall be installed on wheels. Dry Chemical extinguishers shall also be used
on Class D fire, but the chemical powder shall be specific for each case.
23.13.4. Pressure Water of Gas-Water fire extinguishers shall be used on Class A fire, with
capacity between 10 and 18 liters.
23.13.5. Other types of portable fire extinguishers shall only be accepted with previous
authorization of the safety authority.
23.13.6. Fire extinguishing using sand (sand pail) may be used as alternative on fire Class B
and D.
23.13.7. Fire extinguishing using cast iron saw dust may be used as alternative on fire Class
D.
23.14. Inspection of Fire Extinguishers.
23.14.1. All fire extinguishers shall have an Inspection Control Card (see sample attached)
23.14.2. Each fire extinguisher shall be subject to monthly visual inspection, checking the
external conditions, seals, and gauge on pressurized extinguishers, checking if nozzle and
relief valves are not blocked or clogged.
23.14.3. Every fire extinguisher shall have an identification tag tied to its top, with charge
date, recharge date and identification number. This tag shall be dully protected to avoid loss
or damage to the data.
MINISTRY OF LABOR NR-23 Brazilian Regulations
Free translation into English Language page 6 of 8
August 2001
23.14.4. The cylinders of extinguishers with injected pressure shall be weighed every
semester. If the weight loss is over 10 percent of original weight, it shall be recharged.
23.14.5. Foam type extinguishers shall be recharged annually.
23.14.6. Recharge of fire extinguishers shall be done in accordance with official technical
regulations in force in the Country.
23.15. Quantity of Fire Extinguishers.
23.15.1. In workplaces and facilities, the quantity of extinguishers shall be determined based
on the following conditions established for one extinguishing unit as defined on item 23.16.
AREA COVERED BY EXTINGUISHING UNIT
RISK OF FIRE
CLASS * According to Tarifa de Seguro Incêndio
do Brasil - IRB(*)
MAXIMUM DISTANCE TO BE COVERED
500 sq.m low "A" - 01 and 02 20 meters
250 sq. m medium "B" - 02, 04, 05 or 06 10 meters
150 sq. m high "C" - 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12 and 13 10 meters
(*) Instituto de Resseguros do Brasil
23.15.1.1. Regardless of the occupied area, at least 2 extinguishers shall be installed
for each floor.
23.16. Extinguishing Unit.
PRODUCT CAPACITY OF EXTINGUISHERS
QUANTITY OF EXTINGUISHERS ON ONE EXTINGUISHING UNIT
Foam 10 liters
5 liters
1
2
Pressure Water or Gas-Water 10 liters 1
2
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 6 kilograms
4 kilograms
2 kilograms
1 kilogram
1
2
3
4
Dry Chemical 4 kilograms
2 kilograms
1 kilogram
1
2
3
23.17. Location and Signaling of Fire Extinguishers.
23.17.1. Fire extinguishers shall be located in places:
a) of easy visualization;
b) of easy access;
MINISTRY OF LABOR NR-23 Brazilian Regulations
Free translation into English Language page 7 of 8
August 2001
c) where there is less probability of fire blocking the access.
23.17.2. Places for installation of fire extinguishers shall be marked by a red circle or by a
large red arrow with yellow borders.
23.17.3. A large floor area under the extinguisher shall be painted red and shall not be
blocked whatsoever. This area shall be 1.0 meter x 1.0 meter minimum.
23.17.4. Fire extinguishers shall not have its top located more than 1.6 meters above the
floor. Pails shall not have edges located less than 0.6 meters or more than 1.5 meters above
the floor.
23.17.5. Fire extinguishers shall not be located on stairway walls.
23.17.6. Wheeled fire extinguishers shall have access to all points of the facilities assured at
all times.
23.17.7. Fire extinguishers shall not be covered by piles of material.
23.18. Alarm Systems.
23.18.1. On premises with high or medium risk an alarm system shall be available, capable
of alarming in all places of the facility.
23.18.2. Each story of the facility shall be provided with a sufficient number of activation
points capable of activating the available alarm system.
23.18.3. Alarm horns or sirens shall have a tone and sound level differentiated from all other
acoustic devices in the premises.
23.18.4. Push buttons to activate the fire alarm shall be located in common access areas on
each story.
23.18.5. Push buttons shall be located in a visible place and inside sealed casings with glass
or plastic cover, easily breakable. This casing shall have the indication “Quebrar em caso de
emergência” (Break in case of emergency).
MINISTRY OF LABOR NR-23 Brazilian Regulations
Free translation into English Language page 8 of 8
August 2001
Inspection Control Card
SAMPLE
***** NOT TRANSLATED****
MARCA: TIPO: EXTINTOR Nº: ATIVO FIXO: LOCAL: ABNT Nº:
HISTÓRICO
Data Recebido Inspecionado Reparado Instrução Incêndio Código e reparos
1. Substituição de Gatilho
2. Substituição de Difusor
3. Mangote
4. Válvula de Segurança
5. Válvula Completa
6. Válvula Cilindro Adicional
7. Pintura
8. Manômetro
9. Teste Hidrostático
10. Recarregado
11. Usado em Incêndio
12. Usado em Instrução
13. Diversos
CONTROLE DE EXTINTORES
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