nr 23 fire protection

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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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;



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).



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

nr 23 fire protection

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