The Times of India 31.07.2012
Nashik Municipal Corporation reviews fire safety norms
fire safety norms, on grounds that it would not be practical in old
buildings, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Monday referred back the proposal seeking details from the health, town planning and fire departments.
The proposal to appoint an agency to conduct audits on residential and
commercial buildings having a height of more than 15 metres was tabled
on Monday at the NMC’s general body meeting (GBM).The norms
over fire safety have been made mandatory by the state government.
Submission of an NOC from the fire department has been made compulsory
for the hospitals during their licence renewal. With an aim to check
fire safety measures taken by the residential and commercial buildings,
the NMC administration had tabled its proposal to appoint the agency
responsible for fire audits to ensure regulations were being met. But corporators demanded that old buildings be exempted from the new fire safety norms
since these call for structural changes. They also demanded a stay or
an extension of the deadline for hospitals and maternity homes to fulfil
norm requirements. The members had also demanded an extension of the
deadline for renewal of licences for hospitals and maternity homes, from
the present deadline of one year to three years.
commissioner Sanjay Khandare said the resolution over extension of
licence renewal would be examined. “The possibility of exempting old
buildings from adopting structural changes as per fire safety norms will
be reviewed, but fire safety equipment installation will be
compulsory,” Khandare said.
