Section 15 of the Factories Act 1948 - Artificial Humidification

Section 15 regulated artificial humidification in factories by authorising standards for humidity, methods of humidification, testing, ventilation and cooling, and by requiring suitable water for humidification. The provision is important historically, but the central legal framework changed when the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 came into force.

Current legal position: The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 came into force on 21 November 2025. The Factories Act, 1948 is among the enactments repealed by Section 143 of that Code. For current central law, Section 23 of the OSHWC Code addresses health, safety and working conditions, including ventilation, temperature, humidity and adequate standards for artificial humidification. Applicable rules, standards, saving provisions and State requirements should also be checked for the factory concerned.

Meaning and purpose of artificial humidification

Artificial humidification means deliberately increasing the moisture content of air inside a workplace by mechanical or other artificial means. In industrial premises, humidity control may be used for manufacturing processes or product quality, but excessive or improperly controlled humidity can affect ventilation, thermal comfort and workplace health. The statutory scheme therefore links humidification standards with testing, ventilation, cooling and water quality.

Historical text of Section 15 of the Factories Act 1948

Section 15 - Artificial humidification

(1) In respect of all factories in which the humidity of the air is artificially increased, the State Government may make rules -

(a) prescribing standards of humidification;

(b) regulating the methods used for artificially increasing the humidity of the air;

(c) directing prescribed tests for determining the humidity of the air to be correctly carried out and recorded;

(d) prescribing methods to be adopted for securing adequate ventilation and cooling of the air in the workrooms.

(2) In any factory in which the humidity of the air is artificially increased, the water used for the purpose shall be taken from a public supply, or other source of drinking water, or shall be effectively purified before it is so used.

(3) If it appears to an Inspector that the water used in a factory for increasing humidity which is required to be effectively purified under sub-section (2) is not effectively purified, the Inspector may serve on the manager of the factory an order in writing specifying the measures considered necessary and requiring them to be carried out before the specified date.

What Section 15 required

Humidity standards: State Governments could prescribe acceptable standards where factory air was artificially humidified.
Control of methods: Rules could regulate the method used to increase humidity.
Testing and records: Prescribed humidity tests had to be correctly conducted and recorded.
Ventilation and cooling: Rules could prescribe measures for adequate ventilation and cooling in workrooms.
Water quality: Water used for humidification had to come from a public supply or another drinking-water source, or be effectively purified.
Inspector's direction: Where required water was not effectively purified, the Inspector could issue a written order requiring corrective measures within a specified period.

Current provision under the OSHWC Code 2020

Section 23 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 places responsibility on the employer to maintain prescribed health, safety and working conditions. The matters for which standards may be prescribed expressly include ventilation, temperature and humidity, as well as adequate standards of humidification, artificial increase of air humidity, and ventilation and cooling of workrooms.

Accordingly, readers dealing with present-day compliance should not rely on Section 15 of the repealed Factories Act alone. They should examine the OSHWC Code, the rules and standards applicable to the establishment, relevant State or Union Territory requirements, and transitional or saving provisions.

Practical compliance points

Factories using artificial humidification should maintain appropriate humidity control, ventilation and cooling arrangements; use water meeting applicable quality requirements; carry out prescribed monitoring and record keeping; and comply with directions of the competent safety and inspection authorities. The precise technical requirements can depend on the applicable rules, standards, industrial process and jurisdiction.

Updated: 26 September 2026. This page preserves Section 15 for historical and reference purposes and identifies the current central statutory framework.