The Maharashtra government has issued a notification amending fire safety regulations for buildings prone to terrorist attacks or man-made disasters, just 24 hours after a Bombay High Court warning. The High Court had cautioned the state about a possible order to halt all development permits in Mumbai due to inadequate fire safety rules.

The newly introduced regulations aim to enhance fire and electrical safety standards and mandate regular equipment checks to prevent loss of life and property in fire accidents. Mumbai has experienced numerous fire incidents in recent years, not only in slum areas but also in high-rise buildings, resulting in significant fatalities. Investigations revealed that many fires were caused by non-compliance with existing fire safety norms.

The High Court’s warning came during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocates Abha Singh and Aditya Pratap, which sought enforcement of fire safety regulations for buildings at risk of man-made disasters. The bench, comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar, criticized the state government for its delayed action in framing the necessary fire safety rules, especially after recent fatal building fires. The court set a hearing date for November 20, warning that further inaction could lead to a restraint on approval of building plans in Mumbai.

Although the Urban Development Department had previously appointed an expert committee to draft independent safety control regulations, they had not been notified until now. The updated regulations apply to buildings with a built-up area exceeding 10,000 sq m or an occupancy of over 1,000 people, identified as vulnerable based on risk assessment scores.

Key requirements in the notification include:

- High-rise buildings must have fire towers with at least two hours of fire resistance, equipped with a fireman evacuation lift and a ventilated lobby integrated with the fire escape staircase.

- After a building is completed, the owner or society must ensure proper maintenance of fire protection measures.

- Electrical installations must be inspected and certified by a Licensed Electrical Engineer at least once every five years. Non-compliance with maintenance and certification requirements may result in disconnection of the power supply until issues are resolved.

 The writer is a freelancer