Statutory Information Sheet No.

Ventilation Revision 01 Corporate EHS

Ventilation is an important engineering measure for the control of air borne contaminants at the work place
which are harmful to health and for providing comfort condition for persons at work. Experience shows
that industrial environments that are close to the comfort zone increase productivity, tend to register fewer
accidents, have lower absenteeism and, in general, contribute to improved human relations. Ventilation
may be natural or mechanical. While natural ventilation alone could be sufficient for achieving comfort
condition, wherever necessary augmented by mechanical ventilation, contaminant control requires a
combination of both types. Mechanical ventilation needs to be designed properly, installed carefully,
tested and examined periodically and maintained appropriately for its effectiveness.

Applicable Statutes/Salient Features/Provisions of the Statutes

The Factories Act, 1948 & Model Rules made thereunder

Section 7.A- General duties of Occupiers: Under Clause 2(e) requires the Occupier to provide,
maintain and monitor the working environment so that it is safe, without risk to health and adequate for
their welfare at work.
Section 13- Ventilation & Temperature: requires effective and suitable provisions to be made for
securing & maintaining in every work-room- (a) adequate ventilation by circulation of fresh air, and (b) such
temperature as will secure to workers therein reasonable conditions of comfort & prevent injury to health.
In particular, walls & roofs should be designed and constructed to keep inside temperation low, and where
the nature of work/operation involves production of high temperatures, measures (eg. insulation,
segregation, etc.) should be taken to protect the workers.
Section 14- Dust & Fume: requires effective measures to be taken in the factory to prevent inhalation
and accumulation of all such dust, fumes or other contaminants as may be dangerous to health given off in
any work or process being carried thereon.
Section 41-F and Second Schedule: specifies the permissible threshold limits of exposure of 120
contaminants in the work environment.

Model Rules

M.R. 23- Ventilation & Temperature: provides for air movement of at least 30 m per minute, 6 air
changes in the work room per hour and 15% of the floor area as ventilating openings. Humidity is also to
be controlled for comfort by limiting wet bulb temperature to a maximum of 30o C.
M.R. 74 Ovens & Driers: provides for mechanical ventilation & safeguards (eg. interlocks, maintenance,
automatic)
M.R. 120: Dangerous manufacturing processes and operations: 27 processes and operations have
been declared as dangerous under Section 87. Schedules have been framed for each giving specific
measures for preventing injury to health to be taken. Schedules on 18 dangerous operations/processes
(eg. electro-plating, grinding of metals, etc.) provide for contaminant control by installing of mechanical
ventilation (exhaust) system and its maintenance, examination & testing.

Building & Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment & Conditions of Service)
Central Rules 1998.

Rule 153 - Ventilation: requires the employer to ensure that at any construction site all working areas in a
free air tunnel are provided with an approved ventilation system and the supply of fresh air of at least 6 m 3
per minute for each worker employed underground and free air flow movement in the tunnel is greater than
9m/minute.
Rule 164- Quality & Quantity of Air: requires every employer to ensure in every working chamber at an
excavation of tunneling work of where compressed air is used to maintain a minimum air supply 0.3
cu.m/min/person and that the air supply is free from contaminants.

Developed by National Safety Council, Navi Mumbai

Some of the States like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu have a provision for ventilation in the
premises of every establishment requiring ventilation in accordance with standards.

National Standards

IS 3103 – 1975 : Code of Practice for Industrial Ventilation - It covers orientation of buildings and
various aspects of ventilation systems namely design, installation, operation, testing and maintenance for
industrial buildings.
IS 14489 : 1998- Code of Practice on OSH Audit - Annex C provides 8 points (113 to 120) for Audit of
ventilation system.

(ITC EHS Guidelines deal with adequacy of ventilation for control of toxic substances and control of
temperature, humidity and air-exchange rate at work places which are fully within range of conditions of
comfort besides laying stress on checking & maintenance programme.)

Management Responsibilities

 Design and provide adequate ventilation arrangements to achieve desired level of contaminants
control and provide comfortable work conditions.
 Establish a programme for proper inspection & maintenance of ventilation systems.
 Periodically conduct study to assess the efficiency of the ventilation systems.
 Review the ventilation requirements after adding any process involving or generating process heat or
releasing any contaminant (dust, fumes, vapours) in the work environment.

International Standards

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health) Act 1970 USA and Regulations
OSHA has stressed on ventilation providing for control of exposure to chemicals or other agents that may
be harmful to employees. OSHA Regulation 1910.94 on ventilation: deals in details about requirements of
ventilation for contaminant control in common operations and situations. It covers design of booths,
ducting, velocity an air flow requirements, etc. and refers to ANSI standards (Z 9.3:1970; Z 43.1:1996;
Z9.4:1968 & Z9.1:1969). Ventilation aspect is further covered in Regulations 1910:104, 106, 107, 108,
255, 262 & 265 relating to hazardous substances, operations and situations.

The Factories Act, 1961; COSHH Regulations, 1988 and Workplace (H,S&W) Reg. 1992 made under
the H&S at Work etc. Act, 1974 of UK
Different aspects of ventilation are covered in these statutes, Section 30 of the FA, 1961 is similar to that
in S. 36 of the Indian Act and deals with confined space entry. COSHH covers contaminant control
through exhaust ventilation. Reg. 6 (1) of the Workplace Regs. requires making of effective and suitable
provision to ensure that every enclosed work place is ventilated by sufficient quantity of fresh air or purified
air. Approved Code of Practice further requires 5 to 8 litres/second/person of fresh air taking into
consideration process or equipment involved and whether the work is strenuous, etc., but without
subjecting workers to uncomfortable draughts.

ILO’s Modular Check-Lists – Guidance & Master Contents: Check list No. 1 ‘Work Premises’ (Item No.
1.1.7-5 Points) and Check-List No. 10 ‘Welfare & Hygiene Measures’ (Item 10.2-39 points) provides check
points in relation to ventilation.

ILO Manual on Ergonomics Check Points No. 86 relating to increased use of Natural Ventilation when
needed to improve the indoor climate, No. 87 on improving and maintaining ventilation system and No. 94
on protection of workers from chemical risks contains hints for improving the working conditions by
increased ventilation.
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Developed by National Safety Council, Navi Mumbai