Is Your Building Fire-Proof? Have a Quick Check

Many of us are guilty of not considering fire safety rules while building our dream houses and offices.

The Kamala Mills fire tragedy has shocked the nation. While a lot of speculation is doing the rounds, the blame-game is on and politics is being played, all of us need a fact-check of our own backyard.

While many of us are guilty of not considering the fire safety rules while building our dream houses and offices, we don’t realise the importance of it till a tragedy strikes, endangering the lives of our loved ones.

Here are the 10 basic requirements of all buildings more than 5 meters high as prescribed by the National Building Code of India (Part 4 – Fire and Life Safety )

1. Fire alarm system comprising components for automatically detecting a fire, initiating an alarm of fire and initiating other actions as appropriate.
2. Automatic Sprinkler System: A system of water pipes fitted with sprinkler heads at suitable intervals and heights and designed to actuate automatically, control and extinguish a fire by discharge of water.
3. The height of each floor of the building must be as prescribed by the National Building Code, according to the category that your building falls under.
4. Emergency Lighting System: A complete but discrete emergency lighting installation from standby power source to the emergency lighting lamps, for example, self contained emergency luminaire or a circuit from central battery generator connected through wiring to several escape luminaries.
5. Lifts and escalators shall not be considered as exits.
6. No exit doorway shall be less than 1,000 mm in width except assembly buildings where door width shall be not less than 2,000 mm. Doorways shall be not less than 2,000 mm in height.
7. No electrical shafts /AC ducts or gas pipes, etc, shall pass through or open in the staircases, lifts shall not open in staircase.
8. A satisfactory supply of water for the purpose of fire fighting shall always be available in the form of underground/terrace level static storage tank with capacity specified with arrangements for replenishment by means of alternative source of supply at the rate of 1,000 litres per minute for underground static tank.
9. When supply of water on each floor is not practicable, the capacity of static storage tank(s) shall be increased proportionately in consultation with the local fire brigade.
10. Use of false ceiling voids for storage or as return air plenums should be discouraged.

While these are just a few basic requirements, you can refer to the extensive rule book of the National Building Code of India.

The Kamala Mills tragedy has claimed the lives of 15 innocent individuals, who were there to merely have a good time with friends and family. Let’s make sure we follow the prescribed norms for our own safety and that of our dear ones.

Stay Safe! Stay Blessed!

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