UNB, Dhaka :
Although many high-rise commercial buildings have been occupied without fulfilling the fire safety standards, those are yet to be identified because 99 percent of the owners are least bothered about having occupancy certificates following the approval of the building plans, claimed fire service officials.
The officials also raised concern over the increase in factory buildings in the city in an unplanned way and stressed the need for having stricter rules to regulate the fire safety measures all kinds of buildings-residential, commercial and industrial-big or small.
Talking to UNB over the issues of fire safety and occupancy, Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate’s instructor M Akram said only 1 in 100 owners of high-rise buildings cares about collecting the occupancy certificate, leaving the authorities in the absolute dark about their fire safety standards.
Akram said, buildings higher than six-storey are multi-storey ones and occupancy (suitable for accommodation) certificates are to be collected for setting up such high-rise buildings.
He also noted that buildings having less than six-storey ones do not require the non-objection certificates, but have to be built complying with the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC).
However, Akram said, chemical industry owners require to take the no-objection certificates whatever the height is.
Sources at fire service said they have decided to issue notices on the owners who took no-objection certificates for their building plans, but did not receive occupancy certificates after completing their building construction.
They also said legal action will also be taken against the errant owners.
When his attention was drawn to the matter, Brig Gen Ali Ahmed Khan, director general of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate, said they are operating mobile-court drives to make sure owners build buildings complying
with the building code. Ali Ahmed observed that besides lack of information about the occupancy status of the buildings, another major concern over fire safety is the unplanned expansion of industries in the city area.
Roads in many areas in the capital, especially in its old part, are narrow for which fire fighters in vehicles cannot reach in time if fire breaks out there, he said, adding that there is no adequate water source in different spots of the city.
The fire service DG stressed for co-ordination among Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (Rajuk), DWASA, Power and Fire Service authorities to widen important city roads and install power and water supply lines in different areas vulnerable to fire incidents.
Ali Ahmed also recommended making it mandatory for the owners of all kinds of buildings to take clearance from fire service authorities before installing utility (gas, water and electricity) lines after buildings construction.
Fire incidents at multi-storey buildings will come down significantly if those are built following fire service codes, he added.
Ahmed added that steps will be taken to force the building authorities to keep fire extinguishers in all floors.
According to fire service rules, the DG can declare any structure unfit for accommodation if it lacks the fire safety measures.
As per the existing laws, errant owners can be given maximum punishment of 10 years’ imprisonment, including fine.
