India Legal News: Fire norms flouted
Safety is something that concerns us every time we step out of our homes because danger seems to lurk everywhere these days. We also know that the Indian way of disaster management has been disastrous most of the time, whether it is terrorist attacks, timely response to tsunami threats or anything else. This discussion will cover your fire safety tips based on India legal news reports pertaining to 12th May, 2010.
India Legal News: Big Names Flout the Fire Norms in Mumbai
On 12th May, 2010, it was reported by all newspapers that 75 organizations in Mumbai including hospitals, shopping malls, high rise buildings and educational institutes were issued notice by the fire brigade for flouting fire safety norms.
Think about the implications of this for ordinary people like us. We walk into malls, schools, hospitals and so many places, believing that we are safe. Each time, we are probably putting ourselves at the brink of a fire disaster that could take our lives. Sometimes, safety is not just about protecting the country’s borders or taking anti-terrorist initiatives but it is also about being conscious about the places where you visit as well.
Some of the well-known establishments that flouted fire norms include the Lilavati Hospital, Fun Republic and Nirmal Lifestyle.
India Legal News: Don’t Shrug Off the Flaws in Fire Fighting Systems
The Mumbai fire brigade found various flaws in the fire fighting system of many shopping malls and famous commercial establishments. Some of these prominent flaws that you should also look for the next time you visit malls are:
- The common in-built fire fighting systems (i.e. the wet riser) were dysfunctional.
- Most of the multi-storey buildings did not have mandatory open space in case of fire breakouts.
- Many buildings do not have a clean stairwell and a passage way to provide safe exits.
- A refuge floor (this is to accommodate people who are trapped in the building during a fire breakout) after every eight floors were missing in many constructions.
- Many of the establishments lacked firewalls in parking spaces.
- Other problems included the presence of two basements that had no proper ventilation.
Check whether these things apply to the malls, hospitals or establishments that you walk into with your loved ones. It’s serious because any of the above flaws in an establishment’s safety system is known to cause short circuit or fatal fire accidents, thereby causing the death of thousands of innocent people.
India Legal News: The Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006
Did you know that the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, authorizes fire officers to order other responsible authorities to disconnect the electricity and water supply of the establishment if they are found to flout the fire norms?
The Act extends to the whole state of Maharashtra. The purpose of the Act is to regulate the state’s fire safety norms. Under the Act, a certificate regarding the compliance of the fire prevention and life safety measures in a building must be obtained from the Licensed Agency. This certificate shall be issued twice a year in the month of January and July with regard to maintenance of fire prevention and life safety measures in a building or premises being in efficient condition.
A person shall act as a Licensed Agency only after such license is granted to him under the provisions of the Act.
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