[ecis2016.org] We look at some of the basic fire safety provisions that home buyers can check for, in high-rise buildings, to ascertain whether it is safe for occupation
Fire is undoubtedly a big hazard that people moving into high-rise apartments in megacities, need to consider. The aftermath of gruesome infernos at Kamala Mills in Mumbai’s Lower Parel business district and the fires at high-rises like the ultra-posh Beau Monde Apartments in Prabhadevi or the slum rehabilitation buildings of Samrat Ashok SRA CHS in Mahalakshmi, show that fire is a common enemy to all – rich or poor. Hence, it has become imperative for anyone who is buying an apartment today to ascertain whether his dream house is fire-compliant.
You are reading: Safety tips for home buyers, to avoid fire hazards in new projects
In the fire at Crystal Tower, there were allegations that the electrical ducts were not sealed properly at each floor. Further footage of the fire revealed that the residents were trapped at the upper floors and the fire brigade had to use ladders and hydraulic platforms, to rescue the trapped residents. In the Samrat Ashok SRA fire at Mahalakshmi, the inferno broke out in the rehabilitation buildings constructed for the erstwhile slum-dwellers. Here too, the allegations were that the fire broke out in the electrical duct on the third floor and travelled all the way to the top of the 18-storey building, trapping many and killing one in the process.
While a fire has many causes and the authorities are quick to pin the blame on the society and residents for poor upkeep and storage of hazardous goods on the premises, seldom are fingers pointed at the fire officials who issued permits to such hazardous structures in the first place. It is no secret that such buildings are in essence ‘vertical slums’, with 20-storey towers cooped closely together, leaving no room for ventilation, sunlight, open space or enough access space for heavy fire engines. The final outcome is a death trap, which, tragically in a crowded city like Mumbai, is turning into an inferno with frightening regularity.
Development Control Regulations for fire safety
As per the requirements of Development Control (DC) Regulation 29, any building having a height of more than 24 metres, must compulsorily have open space of six metres or more, around it. However, builders are quick to flout this by getting illegal ‘condonations and relaxations’ from the planning authorities and the fire safety office. Given the connivance of public servants with errant builders, the burden unfortunately falls upon the common home buyers, to verify whether their dream home is a tinderbox or not.
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[ecis2016.org] Fire safety precautions that developers and home buyers can take
While there is no fool-proof safety mechanism against fire, every home buyer can inspect the project and arrive at a few basic conclusions, to ascertain whether his home has the necessary fire safety or not. The first and most basic step would be to ascertain the marginal and rear open spaces around the building. Is there sufficient space around the building, for a fire engine to manoeuvre? If the building does not have adequate space, then, the developer may have cut corners when it comes to legal compliances.
Minimum fire safety provisions in housing societies
The next step, is to ascertain whether the building has a special fire escape staircase, fitted with fire-resistant doors, in addition to the main staircase. In the city of Mumbai, every building taller than 70 metres must be compulsorily provided with two enclosed staircases, each having a width of not less than two metres. In many buildings, errant developers tend to provide narrow staircases, which end up becoming bottlenecks in fire emergencies. The sheer number of people escaping the building can clog the staircase, putting the lives of many in danger. It also heightens the risk of a stampede. Hence, it becomes necessary to ascertain whether the staircase has the minimum width, as specified in the local town planning regulations.
Fire evacuation and refuge areas
Another important aspect to consider is provision of adequate refuge areas. In Mumbai, high-rise buildings that are more than 30 metres high, must have a refuge area at a height of not more than 24 metres. Thereafter, a separate refuge area must be given after every seven floors. A refuge area is a place, free of combustible items, where residents can retreat to, in the eventuality of a fire. It is open to the air, in order to facilitate easy rescue by the fire brigade.
A prospective home buyer must critically examine whether the building has been provided with adequate recreational grounds. Recreational grounds are not only essential for health, but also serve as assembly points for people escaping the building, in the eventuality of a fire emergency. Recreational grounds are another area, where developers tend to cut corners and residents must be smart enough to spot lapses on this account.
The role of residents’ welfare associations in fire prevention
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Finally, once the building is complete and residents shift into their dream houses, it is imperative that everyone refrains from encroaching upon the common areas and amenity spaces. Residents must refrain from using the electrical ducts as makeshift store rooms. Further, the fire escape staircase must be kept clean and clear of any items.
The concerned housing society or residents’ welfare association (RWA) must organise regular fire drills, to keep the inhabitants up to date with procedures to be followed in the event of a fire breaking out. Orderly evacuation and fire-fighting drills will go a long way in ensuring that people leave the building in an orderly fashion and refrain from panicking or confusion. Even the building staff must be thoroughly trained to handle such situations.
In the wake of fire tragedies suffered by citizens of Mumbai, as well as other major Indian cities, it is high time that home buyers press for the cause of fire safety in their buildings. Home owners must shed their inhibitions and openly speak out against any compromise on fire safety, irrespective of whether the wrong-doer is a neighbour or a friend. Further, the building’s society or residents’ welfare association must not hesitate to engage the services of a fire safety expert and bear the necessary costs for the same.
(The writer is a practising lawyer in the Bombay High Court. He appears in diverse civil and criminal cases, as well as the Real Estate Regulatory Authority.)
Source: https://ecis2016.org/.
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Source: https://ecis2016.org
Category: Lifestyle
