Punjab Fire Safety Commission (PFSC) has suggested comprehensive measures for present and future 4 storey and higher buildings. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of Lahore High Court sees them as ‘most useful’ and says these must be adopted by development authorities. Justice Shah also directed (July 15) the Fire Commission to send these to Lahore Development Authority and City District Government to ensure their incorporation in future buildings to ensure residents’ safety and security on a long term basis. These recommendations were submitted in the court in response to a petition seeking measures against fire incidents.
These require Fire Commission to inspect all hi-rise buildings but added that LDA and CDGL had not provided the Commission a list of such buildings for initiating such a survey. Fire Commission’s recommendations include installation of external steel staircases, fire doors, hydrant systems, fire extinguishers, fire alarms, clear access, no obstructions in the exit path, evacuation plan and emergency lighting besides quick response teams in all 4 storey (38 ft high) or taller buildings.
The commission recommended that: 01. External steel staircases must be installed at all buildings taller than 38 feet for safe evacuation. 02. Buildings with 10,000 sq ft or more covered area must have a minimum of two external staircases, one on each side. 03. Emergency staircases must be separated from the main building preferably by two fire doors opening outwards. The fire doors shall be hinge type with a clear width of at least 3 feet and minimum of one hour fire resistant rating. 04. All hi-rise buildings must have an external or internal pressurised hydrant system running along the exit stairs.
05. The hydrant system should have independent power supply for its pumps. 06. All multi storey buildings should have independent over head water tank or an external underground tank to support the hydrant system. 07. Underground tank should be accessible to rescue services and vehicles at all times. 08. All four storey and taller buildings should have fire extinguishers for immediate needs. 09. The buildings should have comprehensive intelligent fire detection and alarm systems with detectors at all locations within the buildings. 10. Emergency vehicles be provided free access to buildings. 11. Buildings must prominently display evacuation plans at entrances. 12. Exit signs must be legible, displayed prominently and printed on florescent material guiding towards emergency exits.
13. Each such building should have a `Building Safety Manager` to ensure implementation of commission’s recommendations and ensure prompt evacuation. In the meantime Lahore Development Authority has begun to ask builders/ owners of 60 ft or higher commercial buildings constructed on 4 kanals (about 2,400 sq yards) or more to build helipads on rooftops for rescue work in case of emergencies like the May 9 fire in LDA Plaza. Present rules are silent about helipads and other safety measures. The new rule is being drafted as a result of Lahore High Court’s directive to LDA to amend rules to tackle LDA Plaza like incidents.
Had there been a helipad on LDA Plaza’s roof, many more people would have been rescued, said an LDA officer. High Court’s directions have moved LDA, CDGL and Pakistan Engineering Council to begin drafting rules for hosting helipads on hi-rise buildings. A LDA meeting also suggested installing sprinklers, emergency lights and rescue equipment at every floor of tall buildings. Under the new rules all multi storey buildings, except residential ones, will be required to have sprinklers on all floors (except basements). Another rule will require owners of completed buildings to arrange fire drills jointly with Rescue 1122 and city district government at least once a year for training building owners/ occupants on fire fighting and rescue measures. After Lahore, the new rules will be extended to Multan, Faisalabad etc.
