#MoodMeter: How Fire Safe Are Pune’s High-Rise Apartments And Complexes?

Pune’s rapid urban development has seen the construction of several high-rise apartments and commercial complexes mushrooming in the city. While most claim they are built with all safety standards followed, several of them lack proper fire prevention and control systems in line with what is recommended, opine city activists and citizens compared to USA fire training systems and others from around the world.

The recent incidents of huge fires in Mumbai’s in commercial complexes, restaurants and apartments in Mumbai have rendered Puneites anxious over their fire safety.

Pune365 spoke to city’s Chief Fire Officer, several activists and other informed citizens on their concerns and the steps the authorities need to initiate on a war footing.

Prashant Ranpise, Chief fire officer, says “A building above 15 meters in height or ground plus one floor are commonly called high-rise buildings.

It can be a complex, apartment, malls hospitals and offices in the city. It is a compulsion for such buildings to adhere to the guidelines and installed fire safety system to protect the citizens from such accidents.”

It is important to get NOC from the fire department, until than construction department will not allow the completion certificate to any high-rise building, due to which one cannot make use if that building, Therefore it is essential to follow fire safety guidelines while designing the plan according to the Maharashtra act of 2006.

The fire department of the city can’t go to every society and ensure about the fire safety, and according to law, the building has to do the fire audit.

It is the responsibility of the society’s (managing) committee members and not of the department.

Ranpise further added that “The responsible individuals should renew their NOC twice a year to ensure that the building is fire safe and a report needs to be submitted to the fire department about the safety equipment installed in the building.

We often receive reports from commercial buildings, complexes, offices, yet if we talk about residential buildings, it is often seen, that they have been ignoring fire safety measures in high proportion.”

The fire department has the whole authority to take strict actions against such residential buildings in which we’re authorized to send them a warning letter, although even after waring if they fail to install the fire safety system in the society.

The department has the right to disconnect their electric and water connection

Advocate Netra Prakash Bhog while speaking to Pune365 remarked ,” Urban development is rapid, due to which the builders also often compromise on safety measures.

Some common causes of fires are electrical short circuits, Kitchen fires due to unattended LPG flames and cylinders, burning of garbage that often comes in contact with combustible material.

Every building in the city needs to adhere to the state guideline before designing their building plan. Violation of fire safety has a serious impact as it is risking the lives of many citizens and a fire accident can lead to many fatalities.

Citizens and authorities should be prepared for such accidents. PMC has always shown negligence and as far as I know, none of the buildings are inspected after they are constructed or even before construction.

There is obviously a lack of fire inspection companies involved in the building operations of the residential buildings in Pune. The city requires many more of these businesses so that they can be regularly scheduling and dispatching inspections – especially if they are using relevant software (learn more at inspectpoint.com). Without these inspections, dangerous things are going unnoticed.

Fire safety system- it ensures that the building has all the essential resources which are helpful in such accidents. Fire drills are important to prepare and educate people during fire accidents, rather than panic attacks.

It is also important that they familiarise people with safety equipment that exist and each know their responsibility in case of a fire.

Not just the authorities, citizens should also ensure that their surrounding is fire safe, Bhog adds.

Nikhil Kadam, social activist says, ” We find quite some high-rise buildings and commercial complexes, offices in Pune with limited or inadequate fire safety equipment.

According to the fire prevention act fire extinguishers, sand buckets are to be kept at prominent buckets. Every floor must have two-way exits, security personnel should be trained to operate the building fore fighting system, and the owners must furnish a NOC issued by a licensed agency to chief fire officer twice every year.

Fire department of the city should frequently check the safety equipments in place and check their functioning. This includes any fire exit doors. A fire door is sometimes the first line of defense between a fire and a person. It is therefore essential that a fire door inspection is carried out regularly. Moreover, in case of inadequate or improper safety measures, the concerned builders, owners and societies should be penalised.

These erring properties should be declared ‘unsafe’ under the Maharashtra fire safety and prevention act ,2016.”

Almost all tall building in the city lack adequate fire safety equipment says, Ashish Philip, Developer.

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The buildings are built without following the appropriate guidelines, there are no emergency staircases and the main staircases have many obstacles in between. Although at many places they have installed an extinguisher, but often they don’t work.

Our building isn’t a skyscraper but yet is is risking our lives. We reside on the 12th floor and we have many senior citizens in the building. The builder has not adhered to the rules and guidelines.

PMC is also very lenient towards fire safety though it has become the need of an hour. They should conduct drives in all over the city to ensure the premises are fire safe, Philip adds.

Omkar Khade, Builder says, “Fire accidents are one of the worst disasters in the world. The real estate has grown so much in past few years that there are many high rise buildings, multi-stored complex and most of them are still under construction.”

Majority of the population are not concerned about fire safety while buying or renting a flat in an apartment. Citizens too have become very lenient and they rarely make sure that the equipment installed works.

These tall buildings have many people living in it and in case of accidents, the evacuation is very difficult as the large numbers have to escape through stairs. Yet, if a building has proper fire safety equipment like fire sprinklers it can help control fires.

Sandbags, fire extinguishers and designated and trained security staff to handle this equipment is essential.

Violations of fire safety laws are one of the increasing causes of fire accidents. While sending the building plan, the builder needs to make sure that he a has fire exit for the society.

Though when it comes to the actual project work, it is often ignored by the city builders to give more carpet space and earn well. PMc should ensure to check the buildings fire safety and if found guilty, the license of the builder should be cancelled. Khade adds.

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