The Fire and Safety Department is all set for another major safety audit starting January 2021 to identify buildings which have not implemented specified fire safety norms. It will identify structures without necessary fire safety equipment and impose heavy fines on them, while also cancelling their fire clearance certificate.
Ernakulam Regional Fire Officer K K Shiju said that following earlier audits, many buildings were brought at par with required safety standards. “There are many old buildings which don’t have the necessary infrastructure to implement many guidelines. The department has not taken a final call on how to proceed against such structures,” he added.
Officials said the new audit will check for fire extinguishing mechanisms, presence of proper exits from the building, construction or modifications made to buildings after getting fire safety approval etc. The department is also planning to form rescue teams in all buildings, comprising their occupants.
As per India Risk Survey 2019 by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), fire is a major threat disruptive to business operations in India. “Fire outbreaks continue to pose risk to business continuity and operations. In the India Risk Survey 2019, incidents related to fire outbreaks were marked at tenth position.
In the current year, significant events of fire outbreaks have been reported from different parts of the country, causing loss of life and property. Companies would need to diligently follow the regulatory authorities’ prescribed norms of fire safety measures and implement them. In addition to that, training employees and citizens and making them aware about safety measures is critical,” the report said.
