New Delhi: All underground structures will
now have to take a safety certificate from fire department in
the Capital, according to new Fire Services Rules.
As per the new rules, notified by Lieutenant Governor
Tejinder Khanna and which came to effect from July 1, all such
underground structures including commercial and residential
ones have been brought under the fire clearance norms.
Till now the underground buildings were exempted from any
kind of clearance from the fire department, a fire official
said.
The national capital has been divided into three new
zones -- New Delhi Zone, South Zone and West Zone -- to ensure
prompt response and better services in case of any
contingency.
The New Delhi Zone will comprise of East Division and
Central Division, South Zone will have South Division and
South West Division and the West Fire Zone shall comprise of
West Division and North West Division.
The new rules put about 20 types of buildings, as
against 10 as per previous clauses, which are likely to cause
a risk of fire. It includes residential (other than hotels and
guest houses) and business buildings of more than 15 metres to
have a fire safety certificate from the department.
Besides, hotels and guest houses having height of over 12
metres, educational and institutional buildings of more than
nine metres or above and `pandals` having seating capacity of
over 50 persons or covered area of more than 50 square metres
will have to take such certificate from the fire department,
the rules said.
All mercantile buildings of nine metres or above height,
industrial buildings having covered 250 square metres area and
underground structures among others are the new entrants in
the high risk category and hence need a certificate from the
department ensuring compliance of fire safety norms.
The new rules have brought some amendments in
constitution of Fire Prevention Wing, which acts as a single
window clearance for all fire safety needs.
As per the new rules, the wing will now be under the
charge of a Chief Fire Officer assisted by a Deputy Chief Fire
Officer, two Divisional Fire Officers, six Assistant
Divisional Fire Officers, 12 Station Officers and one
Assistant Law Officer.
The Fire Prevention Wing, which examines buildings plan
before giving a no-objection certificate, frames policies and
conducts mass awareness programmes, was earlier headed by a
Divisional Fire Officer.
PTI
