Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Spraying of Flammable Liquids) Regulations
[1 July 1976]
(Format changes—E.R. 1 of 2022)
These regulations may be cited as the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Spraying of Flammable Liquids) Regulations.
In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—
employee (僱員) means a person employed in any process involving the use of a flammable liquid; F.R.P. (耐火期) has the meaning assigned to it in regulation 182* of the Building (Construction) Regulations (Cap. 123 sub. leg. B); (E.R. 1 of 2022) flammable liquid (易燃液體) means any liquid having a flash point below 32oC; flammable liquid spraying process (易燃液體噴塗工序) means the application of a flammable liquid or of a mixture containing flammable liquid to an article by the atomisation of the liquid or mixture through the nozzle of a spraying apparatus under pressure; (L.N. 238 of 1984) flash point (閃點) means, in relation to any liquid, the lowest temperature, if any, at which such liquid will give off vapour which will ignite or explode if mixed with air and exposed to a naked light; open air (露天地方) means a space which—(a)is vertically uncovered and unobstructed;(b)is not less, in any horizontal dimension, than 1.3 metres; and(c)where such space is enclosed on 4 sides, has a horizontal area of not less than 0.1 square metre for every 600 millimetres of the mean height of the walls enclosing the space; (L.N. 238 of 1984) spraying area (噴塗地點) means the area referred to in regulation 4(1)(b); spraying room (噴塗室) means the room referred to in regulation 4(1)(a).These regulations apply to any industrial undertaking in which any flammable liquid spraying process is carried on.
No flammable liquid spraying process shall be carried on except in—
a spraying room constructed of materials—
in the case of floors, walls and ceilings, having an F.R.P. of not less than 1 hour; and
in the case of windows and doors, being capable of resisting the action of fire for a period of not less than 1/2 hour and complying with the specifications set forth in *Tables F and G respectively in the Third Schedule to the Building (Construction) Regulations (Cap. 123 sub. leg. B); or (E.R. 1 of 2022)
a spraying area set aside for the purpose, and then only if the spraying process is carried on inside a booth or cabinet which is completely enclosed except in so far as openings are necessary to enable the work to be carried out or for ventilation purposes as required by regulation 5.
All ducts, trunking, hoods, booths, cabinets and casings provided or used in connexion with a flammable liquid spraying process shall be capable of resisting the action of fire for a period of not less than 1/2 hour.
Where a flammable liquid spraying process is carried on either in a spraying room or a spraying area, any such room or area, including in the case of a spraying area any booth or cabinet within such area, shall be efficiently ventilated to open air by mechanical means adequate to remove from any such room, area, booth or cabinet any flammable vapour mist or spray arising from the spraying process.
A proprietor shall not permit—
any person to smoke; or
the presence of any naked flame or other means likely to ignite vapour from a flammable liquid,
inside any spraying room, spraying area or within a distance of 6 metres of any spraying area.
A proprietor shall display or cause to be displayed in a prominent position inside every spraying room and spraying area, including in the case of a spraying area any booth or cabinet within such area, at least 2 notices in both English and Chinese as follows—“NO SMOKING—NO NAKED FLAMES
不准吸煙——不准點燃無遮蓋之燈火”.
Any notices displayed in accordance with paragraph (1) shall bear English capital letters and Chinese characters at least 100 millimetres in height and each letter and character shall be red in colour on a white background. (L.N. 238 of 1984)
All electrical equipment likely to be exposed to a flammable atmosphere arising from a flammable liquid spraying process shall be—
so constructed and designed; and
so installed and maintained,
as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, the ignition of the flammable atmosphere. (71 of 1989 s. 13)
Every spraying room and spraying area, including in the case of a spraying area any booth or cabinet within such area, shall be provided with portable fire extinguishing appliances of the type and quantity specified in the Schedule.
All fire extinguishing appliances required by paragraph (1) shall be—
so placed or fitted having regard to the size and situation of the spraying room, spraying area or of any booth or cabinet within such area as to be readily available for use; and
regularly checked, inspected and maintained so as to ensure the proper functioning of the appliance in the event of fire.
Subject to paragraph (3), any flammable liquid which is present inside a spraying room or spraying area or inside any booth or cabinet within such area shall be stored in a strong metal box, bin or tank, or similar metal container, fitted with a self-closing lid.
Every metal box, bin, tank or metal container used for the storage of a flammable liquid in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be—
inscribed in bold capital letters in English and in Chinese characters on the outside thereof, in the following manner—“FLAMMABLE LIQUID
易燃液體”;
so far as practicable be so designed, constructed, installed, placed and maintained as to avoid leakage;
kept closed when any flammable liquid spraying process is in operation.
The quantity of any flammable liquid stored at any one time in any spraying room, spraying area or in any booth or cabinet within such area in accordance with this regulation shall be as small as is reasonably practicable having regard to—
the nature of the spraying process being carried on; and
the safety of the premises and any person therein.
The provisions of this regulation shall be in addition to and not in substitution for any provision relating to the keeping or storage of a flammable liquid to which the Dangerous Goods Ordinance (Cap. 295) applies.
Every spraying room, spraying area and every booth or cabinet within such area shall at all times be kept clean and tidy.
Where any flammable liquid has been spilled on any floor, wall, door or ceiling, or on any piece of equipment, fitting or fixture, immediate steps shall be taken to remove, contain, draw-off or otherwise treat such spill so as to make the premises as safe as reasonably practicable.
Where a deposit of any solid waste residue on any surface may give rise to a risk of fire, such deposit shall be removed forthwith.
No cotton waste, cleaning rags or other materials which have come into contact or become contaminated with a flammable liquid shall be allowed to remain in any spraying room or spraying area or in any booth or cabinet within such area unless contained in a strong metal box or similar metal container fitted with a self-closing lid.
All cotton waste, cleaning rags or other materials which have come into contact or become contaminated with a flammable liquid shall, unless stored in accordance with paragraph (1), be removed without delay from the spraying room or spraying area or from any booth or cabinet situated within such area, to a safe place.
Any person who has used cotton waste, cleaning rags or other materials for the purpose of removing, containing, drawing-off or otherwise treating deposits or spills of any flammable liquid shall comply with regulation 12.
Every employee shall make full and proper use of all ventilating equipment at all such times as such equipment is required to be put into use in accordance with these regulations.
Every employee shall report forthwith to the proprietor any fault or defect in—
any ventilating apparatus, fire extinguishing appliance or any electrical appliance including any cable, wire switch or plug; or
any pipe or conduit or container used for the conveyance or storage of any flammable liquid.
If regulation 4 or 8 is contravened, the proprietor of the industrial undertaking in respect of which the contravention occurs commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $400,000.
If regulation 5, 9, 10(1), (2) or (3), 11 or 12 is contravened, the proprietor of the industrial undertaking in respect of which the contravention occurs commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 6.
A proprietor of an industrial undertaking who—
contravenes regulation 6 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $400,000;
contravenes regulation 7 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 6; or
permits or suffers a contravention of regulation 12 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 6.
A person who contravenes regulation 13, 14 or 15 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 5.
A person who smokes or uses a naked flame inside any spraying room, spraying area or within a distance of 6 metres of any spraying area commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $150,000.
Type | Minimum capacity per appliance | Quantity | |
| 1. | Bucket (galvanised iron) of sand and | 9 litres | 2 |
| 2. | (a)Bromochlorodifluoromethane (B.C.F.) or | 1.4 kg | 1 for every room or area of 40 square metres or less. |
| (b)Carbon dioxide or | 2 kg | 1 for every room or area of 33 square metres or less. | |
| (c)Dry powder (gas expelled) or | 2 kg | 1 for every room or area of 33 square metres or less. | |
| (d)Foam (chemical) | 9 litres | 1 for every room or area of 40 square metres or less. |