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The need for fireproofing buildings
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From following the National Building Code of India to keeping a fire extinguisher at home, people should take all possible preventive steps to avert a fire. While building houses, fire safety measures should be given priority, writes BIJU GOVIND.
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WAKE-UP CALL: Taking on the inferno that broke out at Sweet Meat Street in Kozhikode on April 5, 2007.
The monster flames engulfing shops on Moideen Palli Road, adjacent to Sweet Meat Street, in Kozhikode remain etched in the minds of people. The fire that spread from a wholesale firecracker shop on the commercial street around 9 a.m. exactly a year ago killed eight persons, injured 50 and destroyed property estimated at Rs. 15 crore.
The April 5 blaze was one of the major accidents that took place in the State in the past decade. In Kozhikode city, apart from that, over 500 cases of fire-related accidents were reported at the Beach, Vellimadukunnu and Meenchanda fire stations in 2007.
Various reasons
Spontaneous ignition resulting from the stacking up of firecrackers meant for Vishu celebrations led to the blaze on the commercial street, while in accidents at shops and godowns, electrical short circuit and poor safety mechanisms were attributed to be the causes of the fire, says K.C. Sadananthan Nair, Assistant Divisional Officer, Fire and Rescue Services.
“The fire-fighters of the fire and rescue department have been able to prevent the spread of the fire in the heart of the city,” he says.
Nevertheless, the series of accidents happening in the city calls for drastic measures to detect the pitfalls. Preventive steps taken to avert major tragedies at commercial complexes in the city need to be reviewed.
No-objection certificate
N.V. John, Divisional Station Officer, says all establishments are required to take a no-objection certificate for fire safety from the Director of Fire and Rescue Services. The National Building Code of India (NBCI) has classified buildings into seven categories — industrial, commercial, residential and so on.
The requirements have been classified based on the fire risk at each place, he says.
However, only a few buildings, such as hospitals and hotels, adhere to the practice of proper and timely maintenance of fire-safety systems. It is seen that precautionary measures are flouted at many shopping complexes. A company may not necessarily do periodic inspection once it gets a certification of fire protection.
The code provides guidelines for regulating building construction. It serves as a model for adoption by all agencies, government departments as well as private real estate companies in building construction. Builders generally stick to fire safety requirements during the initial stages of construction.
Cities such as Kozhikode have a multitude of old buildings and structures which violate the stipulations on safety aspects. The rule requires a fresh inspection after a fire had taken place in a building.
But the owners of most buildings razed after a fire never applies for certification a second time, says Mr. John, who is in charge of the six districts in north Kerala.
The code states that building owners should go for periodic renewal certificate of occupied buildings from a fire and electrical safety point of view.
New provisions have been made on fire prevention, life safety and fire protection. It has incorporated new categories of star hotels, heritage structures and archaeological monuments. Easy substitutes for fire extinguishers and promotion of innovative technologies have also been incorporated in the code.
Mr. John says that the buildings housing conference rooms and cinema halls have been asked to give priority for easy means of escape in case of any eventualities. The halls should have more doors allowing people to exit within a specified time.
Fire-fighting equipment, smoke detectors and water tanks should be well maintained.
Builders of apartments, shopping arcades, educational institutions and villas should ensure that the electrical installation is done in a proper manner. Overloading of supply lines has caused havoc at flats.
The root cause of at least 75 per cent of the accidents are defective wiring and carelessness. Occupants should switch off electrical appliances immediately after use as well as during a power failure.
Designing and construction of lifts and stairs at high-rise buildings is an integral part of the fire-safety system. Backup stairs in an apartment should lead to an open ground.
Stairs should be accessible from each apartment within a range of 30 metres. Fire extinguishers and water supply should be readily available on each floor, Mr. John says.
Fire safety is given top priority in developed countries. The response time to a accident is 90 seconds in western cities. This is because fire stations are established within 3 km of them. Here, the system is not so efficient.
Prevention is the best option. People can pay Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 30 lakh for a villa. Then why not keep a fire extinguisher at home. Several types of extinguishers are available in the market. They can be used to avoid accidents in the kitchen during a gas cylinder leak or a fire on account of a short circuit, he says.
Amendments have been proposed to the Fire Force Act of 1952. If the proposals get legislated, then fire safety will get utmost importance in the construction of buildings in future.
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