Delhi amends building bye laws for enhanced fire safety

Days after a fire tragedy killed 17 people at a hotel in Karol Bagh, the Delhi government on Friday approved 10 amendments to the Delhi Building Bye Laws 2016 to enhance fire safety.

In the amendments, special directives have been given regarding the use of rooftops, basements, passages and exit routes for curtailing the spread of fire in public buildings, the government said in a statement.

"All existing and future guest houses must install carbon monoxide smoke alarms, fire doors on each floor and remove all kinds of combustible materials from passages, exit routes and rooftops," it said.

The amendments were approved in an inter-departmental meeting, chaired by Home and Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain, the government said.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from all the three municipalities of Delhi and Departments of Fire Services, Home and Urban Development of the Delhi government.

"We have to strictly ensure that no one dies of fire mishaps in the city," Jain said.

On February 12, a fire broke out at Hotel Arpit Palace in Karol Bagh, claiming 17 lives.

Initial probe shows that many of the building regulations were not followed which could have reduced the impact of the horrendous incident, the government said.

"The government has decided to amend the existing Delhi Building Bye Laws 2016 to prevent the recurrence of such ghastly fire incidents," the Minister said.

According to the amendments, no kitchen will be allowed on rooftops or basements.

"No cooking activity of any kind will be permitted on rooftop or basement," the government said.

It also restricted the storage of inflammable material on the rooftops.

"No temporary roofing over the roof or terrace using any inflammable material will be allowed."

Fire NOC for guest-house will not be issued to those buildings, which have more than four floors (excluding basement and stilt floor), it said.

"Inflammable materials of construction will not be used in passages, corridors or staircases like wooden panelling, foam panelling, carpet etc," the government said.

Gas bank, if any, will be installed conforming to the standards prescribed in the National Building Code (NBC).

"Owner/Director/Partner will submit three signed hard copies along with one soft copy in PDF format of all the floor plans indicating the floor-wise use while submitting the application to the Fire Department for NOC."

Carbon monoxide detectors and alarm according to standards as required by Delhi Fire Service will have to be installed.

"Natural or mechanical arrangements be made for smoke ventilation of the all passages/corridors at each floor level and staircases."

Fire doors having fire resistance rating of not less than one hour at the entrance of staircases at each floor level be provided where number of occupants are more than 10 on each floor, it added.

The Minister said: "It has been observed that many rooftops and basements are being misused for different activities which may have potential fire threat."

The owners will be required to submit floor plans indicating the use of each floor to the Fire Department while applying for NOC, he said.

--IANS

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