Fire safety norms must for all commercial buildings: GHMC

HYDERABAD: As non-high rise buildings, especially commercial buildings, are also turning death traps in the event of fire mishaps, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to make these comply with fire safety norms for giving occupancy certificate.

Until now, the GHMC and Fire and Emergency Services department had been insisting that fire-fighting equipment be in place only in high rise buildings, i.e., commercial buildings above 15 metres and residential buildings above 18 metres height.

As per the National Building Code (NBC) 2005 even non-high rise buildings should provide certain fire-fighting equipment on their premises. But both the GHMC and Fire Services have been concentrating only on high rises. No Objection Certificates (NOC) by fire services and the Airports Authority of India are mandatory for high rises.

It has become extremely difficult for the civic body to make high rise builders install fire-fighting equipment in their buildings.

As per the new practice by the corporation, which was started recently, fire prevention installations like water tanks, sprinkler systems and other requirements in non-high rise buildings are being incorporated in the sanctioned plan apart from other conditions while releasing permission letters.

"The officers of GHMC Fire Prevention Wing (FPW) will inspect buildings after their completion for giving occupancy certificates. Occupancy certificates are required to release mortgaged portion of the building," GHMC additional director FPW C Lakshmi Prasad told TOI.

Even if a building complies with all norms of building rules and violates fire-fighting equipment, OC would be denied to them, the additional director said.

As per norms, residential buildings up to stilt+five floors (below 18 metres) should have an overhead tank with a capacity of 25,000 litres, a booster pump with a capacity of 900 litres/minute, hose reel, manual alarm and fire extinguishers. If any building has a cellar with more than 200 square metres, the builder has to provide a sprinkler system in the building.

If the building is a commercial one and less than 15 metres height, they too have to provide equipment as per norms. The width of staircase should be at least 1.5 metres in commercial and 1.2 metres for residential buildings.

"If width of the staircase is more, evacuation in the event of any fire accident is smooth and there will be no chance of any stampede," Lakshmi Prasad said.