Firefighting devices must in high-rises

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 29

The state government has issued a notification that high-rise buildings would not be issued a completion certificate without installation of firefighting equipment and clearance certificate from the chief fire officer (CFO).

The government has fixed fire protection and fire safety requirements for multi-storey buildings and the ones which are 15 metre or above in height and low occupancy categories, including educational institutes, nursing homes, hospitals, underground complexes, industrial stores and banquet halls among others.

According to the Punjab Municipal Building Bylaws-2018, the Department of Local Government, Municipal Corporation, Council or Nagar Panchayat concerned would have to refer the building plans to the CFO for obtaining clearance. The complete fire protection arrangements and the means of access and escape for proposed building will be clearly marked in the building plans.

The chief fire officer will examine the plans to ensure that they are in accordance with provisions of fire safety as per bye-laws and shall forward two sets of signed plans for implementation to the building sanctioning MC, council or Nagar panchayat.

After installation of firefighting equipment, the owner has to get it tested and certified by the licenced fire consultant/architect and needs to approach the CFO through the MC/council/nagar panchayat for obtaining clearance certificate. The CFO would issue no objection certificate after ensuring that fire protection measures are functional.

Mohan Singh, Assistant Town Planner, said the completion certificate of a building would be granted only after obtaining clearance certificate from the CFO.

SS Bindra, ATP Headquarters said, “No building plan will be approved without fulfilling the required conditions and obtaining provisional no objection certificate for fire safety. The owner will have to obtain the NOC after installing fire safety equipment in the building.”