New building code to hold developers liable for safety

The Centre on Wednesday unveiled a code under which builders can be made liable for the safety of the structure. 

The code has been prepared by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the consumer affairs ministry.

The code is voluntary but states can incorporate them in their building bylaws. 

"The code contains provisions on use of new/innovative materials and technologies and on prefabricated construction techniques that can give fillip to speedier construction to meet the objectives of housing for all by 2022," consumer affairs minister Ram Vilas Paswan said after releasing the code on the occasion of the World Consumer Rights Day in New Delhi.

That apart, Paswan said the government has drafted a fresh consumer protection Bill after incorporating suggestions of a parliamentary standing committee and hopes to introduce it in the ongoing session.

In August 2015, the Centre had introduced the consumer protection Bill in Lok Sabha to repeal the 30-year consumer protection Act. The standing committee had also submitted its recommendations in April.

The ministry has accepted some of the recommendations of the panel and finalised the draft Bill, which has also been vetted by the group of ministers, headed by finance minister Arun Jaitley.

"The draft Bill was sent to the law ministry. We had proposed 80-odd amendments in it. So, the law ministry suggested us to bring in a new Bill," Paswan added. 

ON the building code, BIS Director (Civil Engineering) Sanjay Pant told PTI that it is a voluminous code with 34 chapters. 

It is used by local bodies for framing building bylaws. It is used by government departments in construction activity. It is used by private builders as well as professionals like architect, planners and engineers. It is also used for academic purpose.  

Asked about key changes made to the building code, Pant said planners, structure designers and supervisors were made responsible for the safety of the structure while geo-technical engineers and builders were not included.

"Now, builders are also made responsible safety of the construction. Builders have to give a certificate saying that the building has been constructed as per the planned design submitted to the local bodies," he said.

Apart from making builders liable, the revised code has made necessary changes keeping in view the requirement of modern buildings.

For example, the code specifies fire and life safety norms for high rise buildings and a proper horizontal evacuation system in high-rise hospitals and public buildings.

It also provides for universal accessibility for senior citizens and differently abled citizens besides encouraging use new building material and alternative smart technologies.

The salient features of the revised code are norms for solar energy utilisation, inclusion of modern lighting technique including LED, updated provision on piped gas supply in houses and hospitals, solid waste management and rain water harvesting, besides high speed lifts for tall buildings.

For ease of doing business, the revised code has a detailed provision for streamlining the approval process in respect of different agencies in the form of an integrated approval process through single window approach thereby avoiding separate clearances from various authorities.