Bhubaneswar: In view of the recent fire incidents reported from different parts of the state, including the devastating blaze at SCB Medical College and Hospital in March, when 12 people were killed, public works department (PWD) has directed strict adherence to safety norms in all public buildings across the state. It has asked engineers and architects to treat compliance as a top priority.In a letter, engineer-in-chief Lakshmi Kanta Padhi said integration of comprehensive fire-safety provisions in public infrastructure requires renewed focus and technical rigour.He instructed all field officials, including chief engineers and chief architects, to ensure that every public building project under their jurisdiction strictly conforms to the prescribed fire-prevention and life-safety standards.“All new building proposals must incorporate comprehensive provisions for fire detection, alarm systems, fire-fighting installations, safe evacuation routes and access for fire services,” the instruction stated.The department has made it clear that no building plan should be approved without due vetting of the fire-safety provisions by the competent authority. “Necessary clearances from fire services authorities must be obtained before commencement of work,” Padhi said.Emphasising zero tolerance for deviations, Padhi said that execution of works must strictly adhere to approved fire-safety designs and specifications. “Any deviation shall be viewed seriously and require prior approval of the competent authority,” the engineer-in-chief warned.The department has also ordered a comprehensive assessment of all existing public buildings to identify gaps in fire and life-safety compliance, with retrofitting and upgrade measures to be taken on priority.According to the works department, the retrofitting will be in focus especially in high-occupancy and critical buildings such as hospitals, educational institutions and offices in strategic areas.“All fire-safety systems — hydrants, sprinklers, alarms, extinguishers — shall be kept in functional condition at all times through periodic inspection, testing and maintenance,” Padhi said.The works department has made it mandatory for the field officials that compliance status reports on existing buildings must be submitted to the department at regular intervals without failure.Padhi further directed regular monitoring by chief construction engineers and underlined that implementation of these instructions should be treated as a top priority by all the officials concerned.The instruction of the works department holds importance in view of the frequent fire incidents.Though a private building, in the latest one, an apartment fire at Laxmi Sagar area of the city killed three people, including a minor. “Fire safety is a critical issue which is ignored by many. This should be held top priority,” urban planner Dipu Nanda said.
