Fire safety management in high rises is inadequate
Real Estate

Fire safety management in high rises is inadequate

Fire safety management in high rises is inadequate because lifts cannot be used during a fire and getting down stairways can be difficult. Also, the rule requiring 6 metres of open space on three sides and access in the front for fire engines is often not followed in redevelopment projects and smaller buildings in Mumbai. Once a building is constructed, space for fire exits cannot be created.

The term ‘Caveat emptor’ under the Contract Act means “Buyer Beware” so the sale of goods is the buyer’s responsibility but in a complicated thing like housing it is the responsibility of the agency which passes these approvals. It is not clear who is responsible for ensuring that fire safety rules are followed during construction and after occupancy.

Rules exist on paper but it is unclear who ensures that they are implemented. How can a buyer ensure all norms are followed in a complex building project? Whose responsibility is it to enforce the fire safety rules and norms? What is the penalty for illegal construction and how does it help the victims? How does a penalty matter to people who lost their lives or to relatives of people who've lost their lives? How can compliance with rules regarding sprinklers, smoke detectors, fire exits, etc, be ensured after occupancy? My concern is over who's in charge of ensuring rules are followed because the damage is invariably loss of life.

- Naushad Panjwani, Chairman, Mandarus Partners

Fire safety management in high rises is inadequate because lifts cannot be used during a fire and getting down stairways can be difficult. Also, the rule requiring 6 metres of open space on three sides and access in the front for fire engines is often not followed in redevelopment projects and smaller buildings in Mumbai. Once a building is constructed, space for fire exits cannot be created. The term ‘Caveat emptor’ under the Contract Act means “Buyer Beware” so the sale of goods is the buyer’s responsibility but in a complicated thing like housing it is the responsibility of the agency which passes these approvals. It is not clear who is responsible for ensuring that fire safety rules are followed during construction and after occupancy. Rules exist on paper but it is unclear who ensures that they are implemented. How can a buyer ensure all norms are followed in a complex building project? Whose responsibility is it to enforce the fire safety rules and norms? What is the penalty for illegal construction and how does it help the victims? How does a penalty matter to people who lost their lives or to relatives of people who've lost their lives? How can compliance with rules regarding sprinklers, smoke detectors, fire exits, etc, be ensured after occupancy? My concern is over who's in charge of ensuring rules are followed because the damage is invariably loss of life. - Naushad Panjwani, Chairman, Mandarus Partners

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

Schindler named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026

Schindler has been named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026, a global ranking recognising companies for their workplace environments.Compiled by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the ranking is based on independent employee feedback, including whether employees would recommend their organisation to friends and family.The company said the recognition reflected its focus on creating a workplace where employees can develop their expertise and build careers. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India needs an export-execution mindset: Vishesh Jain

Interview with Vishesh Jain, Founder & CEO, EximpleWhat gaps in India’s global trade ecosystem led you to build Eximple, and what problem did you see businesses struggling with most?Eximple came out of a problem that all three founders had seen from different choke points in the trade ecosystem. India has millions of MSMEs and manufacturers, and many of them can make products that are genuinely competitive on quality. Yet only a small fraction is able to build meaningful international businesses. In our experience, the gap is usually not manufacturing capability; it is the ability to exe..

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code