Urban News

PCMC fire brigade chief Kiran Gawde said it was decided that new fire safety norms would be applicable from April 1. “But due to procedural delays we have not been able to finalise the norms. We are yet to finalise the licence agenicies for annual maintennce contract. Once this is finalised, from next month, the revised norms would be implemented,” he said.

Gawde said the annual maintenance contract was being made compuslory as the fire department has noticed that in case of commercial buildings, the fire norms were not been adhered to strictly. “In some commercial buildings, there were hurdles to ensure safety of the occupants in case of a fire. For instance, staircases are blocked by material which prevents people from escaping,” he said.

Gawde said the annual maintenance contract will have to be signed with authorised licensing agencies. “The process of finalising the licensing agencies is in the final stages. We expect both commercial and residential buildings to sign fire safety contracts with these agencies.”

As for norms for 70-metre tall buildings, Gawde said such buildings will have to set up “refuge” rooms where people can take shelter in case of a fire breakout. “A refuge room will have to be the size of one flat. In 70-metre tall buildings, there should be two refuge rooms,” Gawde said. 

PCMC deputy city engineer Vasant Kachi said the exact figure of the number of commercial and residential buildings in town are not available with the office currently. “But any building above 15-metre height needs an NoC from fire brigade,” he said.

Revised norms
* Existing as well as new buildings should have annual maintenance contract for fire safety
* Move after fire department find commercial buildings not strictly adhering to fire safety norms
* Annual maintenance contract will have to signed with authorised licencing agencies
* 70-metre-tall buildings should have refuge rooms, where people can take shelter in case of a fire breakout