Although human life is priceless,

We always act as

if there is something

even more valuable

3

UNITED HUMAN RIGHTS FEDERATION

We, the United Human Rights Federation (UHRF), are a registered society, certified and enrolled under the provisions of the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The UHRF is a non-political, non-religious and non-sectarian body that has been incorporated to promote, empower and preserve the democratic system and to ensure the basic ground-level outreach to all the citizens of our country, bereft of any favouritism, nepotism and corruption.

UHRF is devoted and totally committed to protect the human, legal and constitutional rights of all the citizens and to serve as a mediator between the highest offices of democracy and the masses of this country. UHRF, from its inception, has been relentlessly and tirelessly engaged in the pursuit of the achievement of complete social justice and promotion of public interest.

VISIONARY MISSION

UHRF has been actively researching and strategizing for ensuring that there is complete discipline and restoration of public faith in the institutions of public governance and corporate offices. Since the beginning of our journey, we at UHRF, have focussed our campaign on tackling and fighting specific malpractices like frauds, corrupt practices, financial and other irregularities in the domain of construction of high-rise buildings, educational institutions, hospitals, malls, luxury hotels, multiplexes, resorts, high-end eateries, court complexes etc.

The segment of our prime focus in this field has been the aberration and irregularity in construction of “Refuge Area” in high rise buildings. The violations concerning the laid-down guidelines regarding refuge area are a potential threat to human lives and we have constantly been exposing the corrupt and dubious means by which certain builders default on the guidelines and twist the laws to make money at the cost of human safety.

The sole mission of UHRF is to create and propagate a safe, healthy and valued environment in India for all the segments of society to live, work and lead normal lives. We have persistently fought against the defaulters of public faith and against the people engaged in construction business who make full use of the legal loopholes and money-power to satiate their personal and illegal interests.

4

OBJECTIVES

UHRF is an organization of international repute formed by a group of persons working in different fields all over the world and protecting the human rights of all the segments of society, with all the dignity. Using help of experts and agencies, UHRF keeps a close watch on the socio-economic affairs of the countries with regard to trades, businesses, economic and political set-up, foreign policies etc. which largely affect inhabitants and accordingly suggests and makes an endeavour to resolve the issues.

The UHRF researches and analyses the growing menace of Terrorism, Environmental Destruction, Sexual Harassment, Communal Violence, Fake Encounters & Police Atrocities, Child abuse, Human Trafficking, Bonded Labour, Drug Addiction, Refugee – Laws and Rights of Asylum, Industrial Dispute and Labour Unrests, Consumer Rights, Marital Disputes and Dowry problems.

ASSOCIATION

UHRF is an organization of like-minded people where huge number of dignitaries, luminaries and social activists like retired judges of Hon'ble Supreme Court, High Courts, lawyers, retired bureaucrats and technical experts from all walks of life are associated.

CANVAS OF EFFORTS INITIATED BY UHRF

On behalf of the UHRF Team, we urgently want to inform and update you - all responsible and diligent people, government authorities, public and private sectors of India about our efforts and initiation to fight against the on- going and continual increasing risk of fire accidents in India and abroad to keep the innocent citizens and the buildings of our nation safe from any fire accidents.

We take this opportunity to emphasize on our fresh representation and research document concerning the interest of public at large with only object being the protection of the interests of genuine and commoners living in the houses built by various builders/ developers. Many real estate developers knowingly or unknowingly, in collusion with regulating and sanctioning authorities, in flagrant violation of National Building Code and other bye–laws, have endangered the lives of innocent citizens who had / have bonafidely purchased spaces in their projects.

As a result, multiple deaths are occurring on a daily basis in all around the country. The death toll due to fire accidents in all those illegal constructions are increasing in an exponential rate. Even there is no fire safety certificate granted to the Hon'ble Supreme Court and Parliament house buildings.

Recently extremely horrific incident of “Kamala Mills building fire: 14 dead in Mumbai blaze,maximum casualties due to suffocation” published in The Indian Express on December 29, 2017, proves the extreme concern and importance over fire safety.

5

The UHRF submitted its first representation dated 20.09.2017 to His Excellency the President of India and copy of the same to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Hon'ble Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India and various other eminent persons/authorities. In the said representations / complaints, UHRF has requested the concerned authorities to initiate enquiries and investigations for the illegal activities of the real estate builders/ companies and take appropriate actions through the submission of their second representation which is the continuation of the first volume detailing “Safe Modernized India – A Myth or A Reality” dated December 09, 2017 to his Excellency The President of India, the Vice president of India, Hon'ble Chief Justice of India and more than 700 various dignitaries of 29 states of India. Along with the representation, the UHRF has appealed to His Excellency for an appropriate action against the delinquent promoters / builders / architects, financiers & sanctioning authorities to create an example to prevent the entire ongoing misdeeds in High – Rise Building Constructions.

ENDEAVOUR OF MISSION

Along with His Excellency President of India, the representation has also been delivered to more than 700 dignitaries such as the Hon'ble Vice President of India, the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, The Hon'ble Chief Justice and all the judges of Supreme Court of India, all the Hon'ble Chief Justices of High Courts of India, all the Hon'ble Governors of States & Union Territories, all the Hon'ble Chief Ministers, the Hon'ble Speaker of Lok Sabha, all the Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of States, Government of India, the Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, all the Secretaries of Govt. of India, all Commissioner of Police, and many more for the kind perusal and to bring this grave matter under the kind attention of the authorities. The UHRF has also sought from all of them for their kind suggestion, guidance and valuable time to put an end to the ongoing crime in High – Rise construction methodology, real estate and fire safety concern.

On that note we have persuaded, conveyed and approached to various government dignitaries, judiciary members, corporate officers, renowned business man, corporate sectors, Real Estate Developers, Hotels, Hospitals, Schools, multiplexes etc. with our researched data prepared by UHRF in assistance with Rapid Advisors Private Limited (RAPL) for their kind perusal and to create the ultimate change in terms of safety issue in the country.

6

SYNOPSIS OF THE PAMPHLET

As a rejoinder, the utmost positive vibe, acknowledgement, support and appreciation has been sent to us from almost all dignitaries to whom the representation had been dispatched and the concerned matter have been conveyed. The gracious responses, acknowledgment and appreciation from all the dignitaries increased the number of viewers on our online website i.e. www.uhrfinternational.org and currently total estimated viewers are more than 7 million. The positive support from the Government and authorities made us more determined, strong and committed to continue our visionary mission of ending all kind of illegalities happening in construction business and execute it in a successful harmony. There after our continual hard work, research and analysis of data led us to create Because We Care Volume 3 to illustrate & explain multiple irregularities and illegalities happening in the Banquet Halls, Community Centre, Dance Bars, Pubs, Discotheque etc. while emphasizing the very recent horrific tragedy happened in Kamala Mills Fire incident due to violation of building and fire safety norms & regulations.

Henceforth, your kind support, active involvement and stepping forward to successfully execute the mission will not only be appreciated by the UHRF but also it will help to generate the utmost importance of the up taken initiative by the UHRF to safeguard the lives of innocent people.

7

Through rigorous research done by UHRF, the on-going violation committed by different

corporate builders in the real estate project came right out of the blue. All these violations are

just not only limited in a specific criteria, it is wide spreaded around all real estate sectors

whether it is in Nursing Home, Hospitals, Resorts, Airports or Schools, Colleges, Universities

etc. The ongoing violation in multiple areas like misusing parking areas, basement, podium

etc. & most importantly misuse of Refuge Areas are continuously leading the increasing

number of unintentional accidents in all metro cities.

MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS & IRREGULARITIES IN REAL ESTATE SECTOR

The illegal Constructions and Safety

Issues in Luxury Hotels & Resorts

Travel and tourism in India is perhaps the most

flourishing sector with demand growing at

10.1% per annum. This sector foresees

tremendous growth opportunities and

includes cultural, heritage, medical, sports as

well as medical tourism. To their worsening,

many five star hotels are unaware of these

small but prevalent issues, and over the last

couple of years, major unauthorized

constructions have been done jeopardizing

the life of the visitors and guests. The space

where there should be an exit gateway, has

been turned into a commercial place or a part

of the amenity center obstructing the required

exist plan during an emergency. Government

has handed out certain guidelines for hotels

and resorts to address their Fire safety issues,

however hardly anyone pays attention to. The

only thing that one keeps in mind is how to spin

money out of this million-dollar industry.

II

8

CONDITIONS TO BE FULFILLED AFTER THE CONVENTION CENTRE/ HOTEL BECOMES FUNCTIONAL

1) The Convention Centre must immediately inform this Ministry the date from which it becomes functional, and apply for approval within 3 months thereafter.

2) The Convention Centre will submit the following information to the Director General, Ministry of Tourism, so as to reach on or before 31st March each year for the preceding financial year

(a) A bank certificate in r e g a r d t o f o r e i g n exchange deposited by the convention centre/ hotel;

(b) No. of conventions/ conferences/ seminars held and the no. of part ic ipants as per Performa given below:

(c) Tota l bed capacity offered by the Hotel as under:-(provided the convention centre is h a v i n g r e s i d e n t i a l accommodation)

( d ) N u m b e r o f r o o m s occupied on a permanent/ semi permanent basis by Residents/ staff Officers etc.

(e) A specimen copy of the current tariff card (applicable to convention centre having residential accommodation).

(f) List of the name of the Senior Executive with their designation, experience etc.

(g) Total number of persons employed.

(h) Annual report of the convention centre / hotel and a statement showing the audited balance sheet and profit and loss account within 4 months of the close of the financial year;

(I) Statistical returns in regard to the number of the events, held guests, rooms, occupancy, income and employment on quarterly basis as prescribed by the Ministry of Tourism from time to time.

9

HOTEL SECURITY– I: HAVE THE HOTELS LEARNT A LESSON

AFTER 26/11?

Security is tighter but only in the top-end hotels. That apart, a lot of processes are followed to meet

just regulatory norms

Hotel security in India is much tighter today. A visit to

the Taj Mahal Hotel will make you aware that the

hotel has become a fortress. The 26/11 terrorist

attack when 166 people were killed in the twin

attacks on the Taj Mahal Hotel and Trident Oberoi in

Mumbai, have changed the perception of the

hospitality sector regarding their vulnerability to

such attacks and security incidents.

I w a s r e c e n t l y s t ay i n g a t H o t e l Ke y s i n

Thiruvananthapuram and was impressed by the

security arrangements in the hotel. The instructions

about fire safety were cogent and practical

particularly the suggestion to crawl at the time of fire

to avoid getting suffocated from smoke. Renjith

Rajendranath, the Guest Service Manager-Front

Office admitted that the 26/11 incident did push

them to look more carefully at the security aspects in

the design. The hotel came up after the incident.

However, Percival Edward, a security expert based in

Bangalore, says that the actions taken by the hospitality sector post 26/11 were more of knee-jerk

reactions. Installing security surveillance systems is not enough. Installing effective security

surveillance systems coupled with creating awareness among the hotel staff by way of intensive

training is what is needed. Another security expert Sathiya Seelan says that some of the hotels try to cut

corners by installing fewer cameras than what is required. Much less attention is paid towards minor

details like position of the cameras, the capturing and storage of images, training, retrieval of images,

capturing moving objects with excellent precision and installing cameras in common areas like lobbies,

reception, etc.

10

Though both Taj and Oberoi Trident have taken stringent measures to restore their premises and beef

up the security, the same cannot be said about the others in the hospitality sector in India. Fire safety

and security surveillance must go beyond the need to 'comply' and get a “No-objection” certificate

from the fire department or the municipal authorities. Worse is the fact that hospitality sector does not

believe in regular annual maintenance contracts with the service providers. Says Chetan Nagappa who

works for a security organization, “At the end of the day everything boils down to cost. The hotel

authorities will remember the service providers only when there is a problem; when it comes to safety

and security their primary intent is to save costs.”

A management trainee who briefly worked in a famous three-star hotel in Mumbai spoke to me on the

condition of anonymity. She says, “It always surprises me that the hospitality sector spares no expense

when it comes to providing world-class interiors with a terrific aesthetic sense; but when it comes to

safety/security related issues, they believe that nothing will happen to them or their premises and so

any money spent on security surveillance is considered an added burden.”

The hospitality sector should look at the consequences in the aftermath of an accident. How will it

11

impact their brand? How long will it take to rebuild the hotel in case of property damage? Global

insurance companies do talk about resilience—the ability to bring back a damaged property back to

shape, but in India, the insurance companies seem to be more concerned about losses and claims. Our

question is why not look at prevention through robust risk management and prudent underwriting

norms?

The situation in some of the lesser known second-rung hotels is even more alarming. It doesn't help

that there is not a single designated authority to conduct periodic checks or audits. One is not sure if

hotels have a disaster response plan in place. Nagesh, a security expert based in Bangalore, feels that

there are very few people who have realized the need to make their properties fail safe or security safe.

He agrees that there are limitations that the hospitality sector faces in terms of fool-proof security

measures. Security has always been on top of the agenda in five star hotels and high-end hotels, but the

26/11 incident has made them realize the importance of maintenance.

Nagesh regrets that other than these top-end hotels, the efforts of the mid-range and lower range

hotels in the hospitality sector to improve the security measures are inadequate. Windsor Manor hotel

in Bangalore refurbished their security surveillance post the 26/11 incident. He says that earlier hotels

neglected maintenance but after 26/11 they have realized

that maintenance is important too.

According to Nagesh, the mid-range and lower-end hotels

install CCTVs only to comply with regulatory norms. He

even adds that most of the five-star hotels are not aware of

what they exactly need. So, the thinking of the hospitality

sector has to change. The thinking should not be restricted

to looking at the criteria required or meeting the norms.

The need to install security systems under pressure from

fire department or legal cell should be replaced with the

need to enhance security surveillance to take care of their

employees, guests, their properties and also the

surrounding properties. The buildings adjacent to such

hotels are also subject to collateral risks. This cannot be

ignored.

12

APPROACHES TO QUALITATIVE FIRE SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT IN HOTEL FACILITIES

ABSTRACT

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to inves�gate

approaches pertaining to qualita�ve fire risk assessment of

exis�ng hotel facili�es, for the purpose of iden�fying and

elimina�ng fire hazards, and mee�ng requirements of the

current legisla�on. Design/methodology/approach – The

paper carries out several research ac�vi�es, including:

iden�fying the set of factors that render hotel facili�es a

high-risk type of facili�es in fires;

inves�ga�ng poten�al high-risk areas to fires in hotels;

exploring the role of hotel managers towards opera�ng safe

hotel facili�es; discussing the concept of fire risk

management, and the role of fire safety inspec�ons as a risk

mi�ga�on strategy to ensure the adherence of exis�ng hotels

to fire safety legisla�on; and describing a methodical

approach that fire safety inspectors can follow while conduc�ng fire safety inspec�ons. The paper also

presents the development of a qualita�ve fire risk assessment tool, whereby exis�ng hotel facili�es

can be assessed. Findings – The paper establishes that hotel facili�es are a high-risk type of facili�es in

fire emergencies due to the combina�on of several risk factors. The fire risk assessment tool provides

76 items to assess, in seven main divisions, including exits, fire protec�on systems, electrical, fire

doors, hazardous materials, housekeeping and miscellaneous. Originality/value – This paper provides

for a be�er comprehension of the roles of hotel managers towards opera�ng safe hotel facili�es.

The paper emphasizes adherence of exis�ng hotels to fire safety legisla�on to ensure the minimum

level of safety for guests in all hotel proper�es. It serves to enhance the understanding of the poten�al

dangers present in hotel facili�es. It is of prac�cal value to hoteliers responsible for the day-to-day

opera�on of hotel facili�es and for surveyors inspec�ng such proper�es. pproaches to qualita�ve fire

safety risk assessment in hotel facili�es. Available from:

13

WHAT ARE THE LAWS GOVERNING HOTEL INDUSTRY IN INDIA

INTRODUCTION TO HOTEL INDUSTRY

With opening up of the Indian economy a�er 1991 and the adop�on of globaliza�on, there has been a

steep rise in the opera�onal ac�vi�es of various sectors that were earlier very dormant. One of the best

examples of this is the hospitality industry. One of the major parts of this sector is the hotel industry.

The expanding ac�vi�es of the hotel industry have turned it into a mul�million-dollar industry. Hotel

industry consists of restaurants, lodging places, theme parks, event planning, etc. and includes

ac�vi�es such as facility maintenance and direct opera�ons including servers, porters, housekeepers,

bartenders, kitchen keepers, etc. Such services that are provided by the hotels cons�tute to be the

subject ma�er of laws that regulate the hotel industry.

Un�l recently, there were not many stringent requirements of compliance a�ached to these laws. Due

to rise in the number of cases of food poisoning, rising concerns and public conscience, these laws now

demand a stringent compliance. Apart from regula�ng the areas men�oned above, hotels are also

obliged to protect their customers from harms that are criminal in nature such as the�s, bodily harms,

and even poten�al harms from terrorist groups.

Associa�ons governing hotel industry

Apart from certain laws, there are certain

industry associa�ons that govern the working

of hotels in India:

Ÿ The Federa�on of Hotels and Restaurants

Associa�on of India

Ÿ The Hotel and Restaurant Associa�on of

Eastern India

Ÿ The Hotel and Restaurant Associa�on of

Northern India

Ÿ The Southern India Hotel and Restaurant

Associa�on

Ÿ The Hotels and Restaurant Associa�on (Western India)

Ÿ Hotel Associa�on of India

14

LICENSES REQUIRED FOR OPENING A HOTEL

To open a hotel, there are various licenses that are required to be obtained. Such licenses include:

Ÿ Police License / Registra�on.

Ÿ A license under Shops & Establishments Act.

Ÿ A license under Preven�on of Food Adultera�on Act.

Ÿ Registra�on under the Luxury Tax Act.

Ÿ Registra�on under the Sales Tax Act.

Ÿ Registra�on under the Contract Labour Act.

Ÿ Registra�on under the Pollu�on Control Act.

Ÿ Registra�on under the Appren�ces Act.

Ÿ Registra�on under the Provident Fund Act.

Ÿ Registra�on under the ESI Act.

Ÿ Entertainment License on Fes�val Occasions.

Ÿ License for Chimney under the Smoke Nuisance Act.

Ÿ Registra�on under the Weights & Measures Act.

Ÿ Factory License for Laundry.

Ÿ Central Excise License for Bakery Products.

Ÿ Registra�on & Permits under the Motor Vehicle Act for Tourist Coaches / Taxies.

Ÿ Ea�ng House License.

Ÿ Municipal Beer Bar License.

Ÿ License for storage of Diesel Oil.

Ÿ License for storage of Kerosene & Compressed Gas (LPG).

Ÿ Sign Board Direc�ons, Neon Signs.

Ÿ License to deal in Foreign Exchange under FEMA.

Ÿ Cold Storage License, (if over 25 cubic �.).

Ÿ License for Boiler & Generators and Mixers and Grinders.

Ÿ Bar License (Foreign Liquor).

Ÿ Dance License

Ÿ Mild Liquor License.

Ÿ Temporary License for Awnings & covering of Terrace during monsoon.

Ÿ Building Comple�on Cer�ficate.

15

Ÿ Copy Right License for Playing of Music.

Ÿ Lodging House License

Ÿ Approval from the Department of Tourism, Government of India.

Ÿ Registra�on from GTDC for new projects under the Package Scheme of Incen�ves.

LAWS GOVERNING HOTEL INDUSTRYThe laws that govern the Hotel Industry can be classified into the following broad categories.

Establishment and Commissioning of Hotels

The first head of laws that govern the hotel industry include the laws regarding commissioning and

construc�on of hotels, restaurants, guest houses and other establishments of such kind. These laws

also include laws such as Foreign Exchange Management Act, Industrial Licensing Policies, and land

laws, etc. Hotel insurance policies, especially the customized ones can fulfil the growing needs of the

hotel industry. It can cover all its establishments ranging from spa to guest houses and apartments, bed

and breakfasts, etc. Other insurance policies such as the standard insurance policy would cover risks

and damages arising from accidents, fire, natural calamity, etc.

THE OPERATION, MANAGEMENT, AND MAINTENANCE OF HOTEL INDUSTRY

The second head of laws that govern the working of hotel industry is related to ma�ers such as

management, maintenance and the opera�onal ac�vi�es of hotels. Such laws include insurance laws,

laws regarding safety and security of workers, food and hygiene standards, obtaining licenses, Food

and Drug Administra�on Act, Shops and Establishment Act, etc. For example, Acts such

as the Food Adultera�on Act would prohibit the sale of substandard food items thereby protec�ng the

customers from the poten�al harm caused by poisonous food and protec�ng their interest by

elimina�ng the fraudulent prac�ces. The Food Safety and Standards Act would set up criteria for

manufacture, storage, distribu�on and sale and trade of food substances so that they remain fit for

human consump�on for a considerable period. The Legal Metrology Act would regulate the use of

standards of weights and measures. The Copyright Act would protect the rights rela�ng to expression

in the form of literature, drama, music, art or architectural works. In fact, hotels are required to take

such copyright licenses before they organize any event such as plays or musical shows, etc.

16

TAXATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND CONTRACTS IN HOTEL INDUSTRY

The third set of laws that govern the working of a hotel are related to the contracts that it enters into

with other enterprises or employment contracts, for example, the Appren�ce Act, Employees State

Insurance Act, etc. These laws also include the manner in which such en��es are taxed. Taxes may

include income tax, service tax, expenditure tax, excise duty, luxury tax, entertainment tax, value

added tax, etc. Legisla�ons such as the Shops and Establishment Act or the Employees State Insurance

Act would aim at regula�ng the rela�onship between employers and employees in the hotel. The

former would lay certain statutory obliga�ons on the employers in ma�ers related to wages, work

hours, holidays, paid leaves, provision for payment for over�me work, etc. The la�er is a social security

scheme that would mandate the employers to protect the interest of the workers in �mes of

con�ngencies such as sickness, maternity leaves, physical impairment or injuries occurring from the

workplace, subsequent medical care. The Provident Fund Act mandates the crea�on of provident fund

schemes for the employees. The Appren�ces Act shall govern the working of appren�ces in the Hotel

Industry.

OTHER LAWS GOVERNING HOTEL INDUSTRY

Other laws that may govern the working of hotels may include local law norms or other local land

norms or guidelines issued by the tourism industry such as approval of hotels at project stage and

classifica�on & reclassifica�on of hotels, guidelines for classifica�on of heritage hotels, Time Share

Resorts (TSR), Stand Alone Restaurants,

guidelines for apartment hotels, guidelines for

approva l o f guest houses , Hosp i ta l i ty

D e v e l o p m e n t a n d P r o m o � o n B o a r d ,

implemen�ng a transparent system for the

effec�ve monitoring of hotel projects, ensuring

�mely accrual of approvals / clearances / NOCs

by the mul�ple agencies and facilita�ng the

implementa�on of hotel projects, expedi�ous

clearances, etc. will enable comple�on of hotel

projects in �me leading to enhancement of room

availability for the tourists.

17

HOTEL & RESTAURANT APPROVAL & CLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE

The Hotel and Restaurant Approval & Classifica�on Commi�ee inspects and assesses the hotels based

on the kind of facili�es that they provide. The two categories of hotels that they inspect are first, hotel

projects that are approved at the implementa�on stage and secondly, the opera�onal hotels which are

classified into various categories. About the former, the Ministry of Tourism a�er certain

documenta�on provides project approvals that shall remain valid for five years. Once the hotel reaches

its opera�ve stage, the approval ceases to exist within three months. The respec�ve hotel must apply

for the classifica�on during these three months. Once the classifica�on is obtained, it becomes valid

for 5 years.

18

FIRE SAFETY IN INDIA – AN OVERVIEW

PROPER ATTENTION MUST BE PAID TO MINIMIZE LARGE HAS TO BEAR ALL THE LOSSES. – R.R. NAIR

1. INTRODUCTION

A fire can happen at any �me at any place irrespec�ve of its occupancy status. You can expect a fire at

any structure, may be at your home or at your workplace or in a hospital or in public places like the

atres, malls, etc… Fire in any occupancy has the poten�al to cause harm to its occupants and severe

damage to property.

On an average, in India, every year, about 25,000 persons die due to fires and related causes. Female

accounts for about 66% of those killed in fire accidents. It is es�mated that about 42 females and 21

males die every day in India due to fire. According to the sta�s�cs released by the Na�onal Crime

Records Bureau, fire accounts for about 5.9% (23,281) of the total deaths reported due to natural and

unnatural causes during the year 2012. Probably many of these deaths could have been prevented, had

we taken enough fire protec�on measures.

No comprehensive data is available in India on the economic losses suffered on account of fires.

However, according to one es�mate the major losses reported by the Indian Insurance Companies in

the year 2007-2008 indicate, that about 45% of the claims are due to fire losses. According to another

es�mate about Rs. 1000 crores are lost every year due to fire. Fire losses are reported both in industrial

and non-industrial premises like hospitals, commercial complexes, educa�onal ins�tu�ons, assembly

halls, hotels, residen�al buildings, etc…

According to Fire Risk Survey (FRS) 2013, carried out by Pinkerton & Federa�on of Indian Chambers and

Industry, in India, fire accounted for 8.45% of the overall ranking of risks. FRS also revealed that fires has been rated as the 5th highest risk in industry in 2013. The above survey also revealed that in

industry wise risk ranking, fire take 2nd place in hospitality, 4th place in IT/ITES, Manufacturing,

Security Service Providers and 6th place in infrastructure. As far as the leading cause for the fire is

concerned, according to the survey, the electric defaults are regarded as the major cause of fires. In

Mumbai about 75% of fire-related incidents occur because of short circuit caused by loose wiring. The

survey also point out that during the period 2009-2012, Mumbai fire department had a�ended 13,185

incidents of fire out of which 9711 were caused due to defec�ve electric circuit. The scenario for other

major ci�es are also not different.

19

2. THE PROBLEM

For mi�ga�ng a fire in any occupancy, whether it is a business house or in a factory or in a residen�al

building, require a deep understanding about the problem.

A small fire in a residen�al building may be spread very fast and within a few minutes it can reach a

stage beyond the control of its occupants and ul�mately seek the help of fire brigade to carry out a

major firefigh�ng opera�on.

During the last one decade there was a vibrant growth in the construc�ons ac�vi�es in India, especially

in High Rise buildings. Thousands of High Rise buildings have already constructed in metros and major

ci�es in India, and thousands are under construc�on. Because of its peculiar nature, fire in residen�al

buildings in par�cular, high rise buildings become more complex and the salvaging opera�ons become

more difficult and some�mes even resul�ng in many deaths and huge property losses.

In an era of highly compe��ve business environment any interrup�on due to fire can be catastrophic. A

major fire can bring a business to halt. Restoring the damage done by fire is only part of the cost of fire.

A fire may have serious consequences for the produc�on capacity of a business and in the extreme, the

�me taken to restore produc�on may be such that the business is forced to close down altogether.

A fire can, not only interrupt the whole process of manufacture and produc�on, bwut also the building

and plant will be in ruins. Before they can be replaced and produc�on restored, much work in clearing

up the site will be necessary. It will also be necessary to determine what has been lost and damaged.

Even if only a small part of the plant has been involved in the fire, staff from other work will need to be

diverted to clear up the mess and to plan the rebuilding and restora�on of produc�on.

One must admit that fire creates total waste. Such waste would not be tolerated by any efficient

management, if it resulted from inefficient opera�on. The successful preven�on of fire loss depends

almost en�rely on the management of the business. To control the loss through fire, the management

must survey the total opera�on of the business to determine where the loss poten�al lies.

One must also admit that the fires are caused almost en�rely by people, either through their ac�ons,

which may be accidental or deliberate and malicious or through their failure to make appropriate

precau�ons such as, for example, the regular inspec�on, maintenance and repair of defec�ve

equipment.

20

Inadequately maintained machines can be fire prone. The overhea�ng of bearing, due to insufficient

lubrica�on or the presence of dust, and heat caused by fric�on are common causes of fire. Frequent

inspec�on and regular maintenance will reduce risk and make the general �diness of premises easier

to achieve.

Remember that fires start when source of igni�on comes into contact with combus�ble material. If you

can control all sources of igni�on and combus�ble material, you can greatly reduce the poten�al for

fire.

You should also remember that waste and rubbish are friends of fire. Shop floors and offices can have

substan�al quan�ty of inflammatory materials such as oil soaked rags, loose packing materials, piles of

papers, cartons, etc. All these materials, if ignited, will encourage fire to spread rapidly. Vola�le

chemicals and explosives pose serious problems. Although the paint, lacquer, flammable solvents and

thinners are a less recognised hazard, negligence in handling them may result in fires. Handling small

quan��es of flammable liquids is a frequent causes of fires and injuries.

Hea�ng and ligh�ng systems that are inadequately maintained or safeguarded present risks. Many

fires occur from electrical faults or misuse. Smoking is a notorious fire risk. It should be prohibited in all

areas where it is especially dangerous.

Major fires start in storage area and warehouses than produc�on areas. Poorly stored goods, even

though they are not flammable, may help to spread fire and hinder fire fighters gaining access to the

seat of the fire or reduce the effec�veness of sprinkler systems. Goods �dily stored with gangways may

help to inhibit the spread of fire.

21

3. PREVENTION STRATEGYAn effec�ve fire preven�on strategy is an essen�al feature of fire protec�on. However, it must be kept in mind that

regardless of the efficiency of a fire preven�on strategy, some fires inevitably occur.

There exists large number of different types of firefigh�ng equipment and suppression systems like CO2, FM 200, and

NOVEC, to suit specific requirements. Automa�c fire sprinklers coupled with detec�on are the most effec�ve fire protec�on

system found in High Rise buildings which can, not only detect the fires, but also ex�nguish the fires in the ini�al stage itself.

Applica�on of Water Mist in various situa�on is gaining momentum every day. Passive fire protec�on system is also

becoming more and more popular in India.

In spite of all technical advances, water is the cheapest, most efficient and environmentally friendly fire ex�nguishing

medium. Water, which has high latent heat of vaporiza�on, is the most effec�ve coolant and protec�on agent. No amount

of appliances or equipment would be of much use, if sufficient quan��es of water under required pressure were not

available for firefigh�ng. To be effec�ve, it must be applied in sufficient quan�ty and at such a rate that it well prevent the

accelera�ng growth of the fire. It must be remembered that if remedial measures are not taken in the very early stages of

following the outbreak of a fire, the amount of water required increases exponen�ally as the increase in the �me taken for

the fire figh�ng forces to reach the scene of the fire and start effec�ve firefigh�ng opera�ons.

It is es�mated that a fire discovered within two or three minutes of its outbreak may be ex�nguished with less than 1000

litres of water. However, if the water is not applied un�l 5 to 10 minutes later, which is probably the shortest �me in which a

fire brigade may reach the scene of the fire, the fire will have grown to such propor�ons that between 50 to 100 �mes as

much water may be needed for ex�nguishing the fire.

The successful use of any type of fire equipment depends upon the elements such as equipment, maintenance and training.

It is vital that an occupier ensures, its employees are trained for and understand what is required during an outbreak of fire.

It must be remembered here that inappropriate use of water to fight a fire has even caused much damage.

It was observed that lack of knowledge in the area of fire and inadequate training in emergency drills, delay the firefigh�ng

opera�ons. Probably adequate fire safety training and periodic emergency drills can make the emergency response more

effec�ve. Training the employees / occupants and fire drills are clearly related but are not synonymous and it is a common

misconcep�on that conduc�ng periodic fire drills discharge an occupier’s training obliga�ons. No doubt fire drills are very

valuable exercise but taken in isola�on, they are insufficient in educa�ng employees / occupants in all the important

ma�ers.

Training of employees / occupants in fire safety ma�ers con�nues to be a controversial issue with many occupiers adop�ng

the a�tude that it is not reasonably prac�cable to provide training for all employees / occupants. This stance has probably

never been fully tested legally.

However, many occupiers take fire training seriously and train a large number of their employees / occupants.

22

4. LEGISLATIONSThe legisla�ons, standards and codes have a vital role in forcing the occupiers to provide the required

fire protec�on system, both ac�ve and passive. The Na�onal Building Code of India, 2005, is the basic

model code in India on ma�ers rela�ng to building construc�on and fire safety. Many of the code

provisions has been incorporated by various State Governments and Local Bodies in their own building

regula�ons.

The Maharashtra Fire Preven�on and Life Safety Measures Rules 2009, framed under the Maharashtra

Fire Preven�on and Life Safety Measures Act 2006, is an example to this, and is aimed to improve the

status of fire safety measures in Maharashtra. O�en a ques�on has been raised by many that who will

be responsible for providing the required fire protec�on and preven�on system in a building or in an

occupancy.

The acts and rules enacted by the State of Maharashtra has well defined on these points. According to

Sec�on 3 of the Maharashtra Fire Preven�on and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, the developer,

owner, occupier or whatever name called shall comply with all the fire and safety measures adhering to

the Na�onal Building Code of India, 2005, and as amended from �me to �me, failing which it shall be

treated as a viola�on of the Act. It means that the onus of maintaining the fire safety installa�ons in a

building or in an occupancy is the responsibility of the owner or occupier.

In India, although there are many rules and regula�ons, codes and standards related to fire safety,

these are seldom followed. Laxity in following fire safety measures caused major fires in many

buildings. Some of the fire authori�es in India even felt that in the absence of heavy fines and penal�es,

occupiers or socie�es do not bother to conduct regular maintenance of the fire preven�on systems

installed in their buildings.

Probably this was one of the reasons behind in incorpora�ng a provision about ‘Licensed Agency’ in the

Maharashtra Rules. As per the sec�on 3 of the Maharashtra Fire Preven�on & Life Safety Measures Act,

2006 and Rule 4 of Maharashtra Fire Preven�on & Life Safety Measures Rule, 2009, a licensed agency is

required to issue a Cer�ficate regarding the work executed by them is in compliance in rela�on to Fire

Preven�on & Life Safety Measures in Form ‘A’ and Six monthly Cer�ficate in Form ‘B’ in every January &

July to the owner or the occupier for compliance of the Fire Preven�on & Life Safety Measures duly

installed by them in the buildings or premises are maintained in good repair and efficient condi�on at

the �me of issuing cer�ficate.

23

5. FIRE SAFETY AUDITFire Safety Audit is found to be an effec�ve tool for assessing fire Safety standards of an organiza�on or

an occupancy. In other words, it is aimed to assess the building for compliance with the Na�onal

Building Code of India, relevant Indian Standards and the legisla�ons enacted by State Governments

and Local Bodies, on fire preven�on, fire protec�on and life safety measures.

Though a comprehensive fire safety audit can address the inherent fire hazards associated with the day

to day ac�vi�es in an occupancy and recommend measures to reduce the poten�al fire hazards, there

is no clear cut provisions in any of the safety legisla�ons in India regarding the scope, objec�ves,

methodology and periodicity of a fire safety audit.

However, NBC of India recommends for periodical fire safety inspec�on by the key personnel of the

occupants of the building to ensure fire safety standards. In case of industrial building, the statutory

authori�es insist for fire safety audit by external agencies depending on the type of ac�vity and the

nature of the materials handled in the building. Maharashtra Fire Preven�on and Life Safety Measures

Rules, 2009, made it mandatory for building owners and residents to conduct half-yearly fire safety

audits and submit the report to the fire department.

It is a good measure and other states too can follow this. However, entrus�ng the responsibility of

conduc�ng the fire safety audit to the

“licensed agencies”, has created some

confusions, because the same agency has

also been entrusted with the work of

“installa�ons” and “maintenance” of

fi r e fi g h � n g sy s t e m s . Pe r h a p s t h i s

arrangement has resulted in dilu�ng the

scope and methodology of the audit.

It is also doub�ul whether the so called

“licensed agencies” have the required

calibre / exper�se in conduc�ng an effec�ve

fire safety audit. So in effect, it seems that

the fire safety audit has become a ritual.

24

REFERENCES & RECOMMENDED READINGS

Ÿ Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2012 – Na�onal Crime Records Bureau, New Delhi, 2013.

Ÿ Hegde Pa�l, S.B. and Nair, R.R. – Management of Industrial Hazards (CEP Publica�ons) Bangalore,

All India Council for Technical Educa�on, 1997.

Ÿ India, The Factories Act 1948 with the Maharashtra Factories Rules 1963, Mumbai, Labour Law

Agency, 2010.

Ÿ India, Maharashtra Fire Preven�on and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006.

Ÿ India, Maharashtra Fire Preven�on and Life Safety Measures Rules, 2009.

Ÿ Indian Risk Survey, 2013 -Pinkerton & Federa�on of Indian Chambers and Industry.

Ÿ Madan Mohan and Nair, R.R. – Personal Protec�ve Equipment-Non Respiratory (CEP Publica�ons)

Bangalore, All India Council for Technical Educa�on, 1997.

Ÿ Madan Mohan and Nair, R.R. – Safe Guarding of Machinery (CEP Publica�ons) Bangalore, All India

Council for Technical Educa�on, 1999.

Ÿ NFPA Fire Protec�on Handbook, 19th Edi�on – Na�onal Fire Protec�on Associa�on, USA Nair, R.R. –

A Basic Guide to the Material Safety Data Sheet (Safety and Health Series No. 1), Safety and Health

Informa�on Bureau, 1989.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Electrical Hazards, Industrial Safety Review, October 2012.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Equipment for Fire Protec�on, Industrial Safety Review, November 2012.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Evacua�on System for High-Rise Buildings, Industrial Safety Review, July 2013.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Exposure of chemicals and their effects on the body, Industrial Safety Review, May 2012

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Fire Alarms and Detectors, Industrial Safety Review, August 2013.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Fire and Explosion Hazards, Industrial Safety Review, January 2013.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Fire Hoses, Industrial Safety Review, March 2012.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Fire Preven�on and Protec�on, Industrial Safety Review, June 2012.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Fire Safety Audit: The need of hour, Industrial Safety Review, July 2012.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Glossary of Technical terms used in Material Safety Data Sheet (Safety and Health Series

No. 2), Safety and Health Informa�on Bureau, 1989.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Halons and Other Clean Agents for Fire Suppression, Industrial Safety Review, January

2012.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Head Protec�on, Industrial Safety Review, December 2012.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Noise Pollu�on: The cri�cal overview, Industrial Safety Review, September 2012.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Personal Protec�ve Equipment, Industrial Safety Review, September 2013.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Safe handling of compressed gases, Industrial Safety Review, March 2012.

25

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Safety in High Rise Buildings, Industrial Safety Review, November 2011.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. – Water Mist Fire Suppression System, Industrial Safety Review, June 2013.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. Workplace Accidents are Increasing – Science Today, Times of India September, 1982.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. and Chakravor� – Safe Handling of Hazardous Chemicals (CEP Publica�ons) Bangalore, All

India Council for Technical Educa�on, 2001.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. and Joshi, D.K. – Safety and Loss Preven�on in Process Industries (CEP Publica�ons)

Bangalore, All India Council for Technical Educa�on, 2002.

Ÿ Nair, R.R. and Joshi, D.K. – Safety Audit (CEP Publica�ons) Bangalore, All India Council for Technical

Educa�on, 2001.

Ÿ Na�onal Building Code of India, 2005- Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, 2007

Ÿ Ramesh Babu, J. – Learning from Losses, Cholamandalam MS Risk Services Ltd.

Ÿ Safety and Fire Protec�on Handbook, 2nd Edi�on, – Edited by R. Veeraraghavan. Safe Technology,

Mumbai, 2009

Ÿ Veeraraghavan, R. and Nair, R.R. – Fire Technology (CEP Publica�ons) Bangalore, All India Council for

Technical Educa�on, 2002.

26

REGULATIONS AS PER THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE

The National Building Code, recognizes the Unsafe Building under clause 2.29 wherein it's

specifically written that, Buildings which are structurally and constructionally unsafe or insanitary or

not provided with adequate means of egress or which constitute a fire hazard or are otherwise

dangerous to human life or which in relation to existing use constitute a hazard to safety or health or

public welfare, by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment. Despite the

code has provided unsafe Building many builders violate the norms of the Unsafe Building.

The UHRF learnt that from various research, the Builders and the other developers are not adhere to

the NBC, which categorically states that

12.2.5 Building Plan and Details

The plan of the buildings and elevations and sections accompanying the notice shall be drawn to a scale of 1:100. The plans and details shall:

Ÿ include floor plans of all floors together with the covered area clearly indicating the size and spacings of all framing members and sizes of rooms and the position of staircases, ramps and liftwells.

Ÿ show the use or occupancy of all parts of the buildings.

Ÿ show exact location of essential services, for example, WC, sink, bath and the like.

Ÿ include at least one elevation from the front showing height of building and rooms and also the

Ÿ height of parapet.

Ÿ include at least one section through the staircase.

Ÿ include the structural arrangements with appropriate sections showing type/arrangement of footings, foundations, basement walls; structural load bearing walls, columns and beams, and shear walls; and arrangement/spacing of framing members, floor slabs and roof slabs with the material used for the same.

Ÿ show all street elevations.

Ÿ give dimensions of the projected portions beyond the permissible building line.

Ÿ include terrace plan indicating the drainage and the slope of the roof. and

Ÿ give indications of the north point relative to the plan.

27

The code further provide under 12.2.5.1 for Building plan for multistoreyed / special buildings

which specifically states that:

“For all multistoreyed buildings which are 15 m or more in height and for special buildings like

educational, assembly, institutional, industrial, storage and hazardous and mixed occupancies with

any of the aforesaid occupancies having covered area more than 500 m2, the building sanction shall be

done in two stages. In case of important projects and projects having high complexity and sensitivity,

the Authority may get the design, drawings and details of such buildings peer reviewed/proof checked

before approving the same.”

Stage 1: First stage for planning clearance

The following additional information shall be furnished / indicated in the building plan in addition to

the items given in 12.2.5 as applicable:

Ÿ Access to fire appliances / vehicles with details

of vehicular turning circle and clear motorable

accessway around the building.

Ÿ Size (width) of main and alternative staircases

along with balcony approach, corridor,

ventilated lobby approach.

Ÿ Location and details of lift enclosures.

Ÿ Location and size of fire lift.

Ÿ Smoke stop lobby/door, where provided.

Ÿ Refuse chutes, refuse chamber, service duct,

etc.

Ÿ Vehicular parking spaces.

Ÿ Refuge area, if any.

Ÿ Details of Building Services – Air conditioning

system with position of fire dampers,

mechanical ventilation system, electrical

services, boilers, gas pipes, etc.

Ÿ Details of exits including provision of ramps,

etc, for hospitals and special risks;

Ÿ Location of generator, transformer and

switchgear room;

Ÿ Smoke exhauster system, if any;

Ÿ Details of fire alarm system network;

Ÿ Location of centralized control, connecting

al l f ire alarm systems, bui lt- in-f ire

protection arrangements and public

address system, etc.

Ÿ Location and dimensions of static water

storage tank and pump room along with fire

service inlets for mobile pump and water

storage tank.

Ÿ Location and details of fixed fire protection

installations such as sprinklers, wet risers,

hose-reels, drenchers, etc; and

Ÿ Location and details of first-aid fire fighting

equipments/installations.

28

Stage 2 Second stage for building permit clearance

The following additional information shall be furnished/indicated in the building plan in addition to

the items given in 12.2.5 as applicable:

After obtaining the sanction for planning (Stage 1) from the Authority, a complete set of structural

plans, sections, details and design calculations duly signed by engineer/structural engineer along with

the complete set of details duly approved in Stage 1 shall be submitted. The building plans/details shall

be deemed sanctioned for the commencement of construction only after obtaining the permit for

(Stage 2) from the Authority.

With the extensive research of UHRF shows

that all the Builders and Construction

Company not only violated the terms of Code

but also not adhered the true spirit of the

Code.

The federation by taking up various common

problems of the people affecting from the

violation of NBC and in safeguarding the

Public interest raises its voices against the

wrong doer.

29

RESTAURANTS, HOTELS IGNORE FIRE NORMS LEAD TO DEATH OF INNOCENT LIVES

Though there have been various fire tragedies in different factories, eateries, complexes in the recent

years in India but the authori�es seem to be s�ll ignorant about the issue. While choosing a banquet

hall for your wedding or party have you ever checked what kind of fire safety arrangements the place

has? We all frequently visit restaurants and hotels but are negligent about how fire secured they are.

The business owners will always concentrate on the money they have to mint from the restaurants,

banquets and hotels they run; but we must also open our eyes for our own life safety.

The recent mishap Mumbai's pub in Kamala Mills has triggered fire safety checks everywhere. In the

capital during the inspec�on it was seen that various pubs and restaurants are not implemen�ng the

safety regula�ons.

DELHI TOO PLAYING WITH FIRE NORMSAt the posh Hauz Khas Village in south Delhi, the fire officials found bar stools piled in front of fire exits

prac�cally blocking them, poor signage and staircases obstructed with furniture and po�ed plants. All

of these are viola�ons of the Fire Safety Rules 2010, but the official could not penalize the restaurant

owners, because the eatery was licensed as a 48-cover restaurant.

The major loophole here is that only the restaurants that are licensed to seat 50 or more people are

30

required to obtain a No Objec�on Cer�ficate from the Fire Department. For them, there is a 20-point

checklist that includes mul�ple exits, clear exit signs, and up-to-date ex�nguishers and hoses. Director

of Delhi Fire Services, GC Mishra says “Due to the closely crowded buildings the rate of fire spread will

be too high, construc�on is fragile, and there is no space for fire vehicles to move. It is also risky for my

men to enter these buildings when they are on fire, they can only stand 15-20 minutes. This is a

dangerous condi�on.”

The fire department says a new set of rules for smaller restaurants are under considera�on, but a

�meline has not been provided. Un�l then, it remains up to restaurant owners to honestly enforce

their capacity and voluntarily implement measures to ensure the safety of their customers.

MUMBAI SITTING ON TICKING BOMB

Over 90% Mumbai restaurants don't comply with fire safety norms. The death of 14 persons at the

Kamala Mills fire last month should have

taught a lesson to all- not just authori�es but

also the eateries, hotels, restaurants, bars,

p u b s e t c . B u t t o 9 0 p e r c e n t s u c h

establishments surveyed by the Mumbai Fire

Brigade in the a�ermath, the tragedy has

taught nothing.

MFB inspected 566 such structures that

included star hotels, popular pubs, Resto-

bars and even clubs, gymkhanas etc and

found that over 90 percent of them did not comply with the fire safety norms. The defaulters have been

served no�ces under Maharashtra Fire Safety and Life Preven�on Act 2006. “No�ces are being served

to them and �me is given from 30 to 120 days to comply with norms”, said Deputy Fire Officer, H D

Parab. Some of the most common deficiencies observed in the inspec�ons were obstruc�on in escape

routes, excess cylinders stored, Fire NOC not obtained for the structure, cooking ac�vity without fire

NOC, encroachment or temporary structures on terrace among others.

31

REGULATIONS FOR RESTAURANTS/BANQUETS/HOTELSRestaurants face specific fire hazards that are not present in other environments. The presence of

cooking equipment and the possibility of grease fires can endanger both customers and employees.

Planning ahead when designing the space can improve the fire safety of a restaurant. Once the

restaurant opens for business, it must maintain all kitchen equipment and provide a means of

ex�nguishing fire quickly.

1) Building Design

Furniture drapes and other decor used in

the restaurant must be fire-retardant. The

space must comply with current building

codes regarding fire protec�on. A fire

barrier must be installed between the

cooking area and the remainder of the

restaurant. Storage areas must be at least

3 feet away from cooking areas and heat

sources. Supplies must be stored on stable surfaces that do not block any fire exits. The electrical

system must be able to handle the restaurant's occupancy load. Ground fault protec�on must be

installed on electrical equipment in wet areas.

2) Fire Exits

The restaurant must contain at least two exits for each smoke compartment. Emergency light system

should be installed near each exit so customers and

employees can move out of the building safely. An

access aisle must be placed between each table in

the sea�ng area. Fire Exits must be marked with

clear visible signs. Fire exits should be easily usable

in case of an emergency.

3) Fire Alarms and Suppression Systems

There must be at least one smoke detector and fire

32

alarm in all enclosed rooms. The alarm system should

have both manual and automa�c ac�va�on methods.

Refrigerant leak detec�on systems are required for

walk-in coolers and freezers. The leak detec�on

system should be �ed into the building's exis�ng fire

alarm system. All cooking equipment must have an

automa�c ex�nguishing system capable of pu�ng out

the type of fires caused by the piece of equipment.

Sprinkler systems must cover all sea�ng areas, coolers

and freezers. Well-maintained fire ex�nguishers must

be placed throughout the restaurant. Staff must be

trained on the use of fire safety equipments and must know where they are placed.

4) Kitchen

A regular inspec�on for all kitchen equipment must take place. Ensure that the exhaust is vented

outside the restaurant. Cooking equipment should have noncombus�ble grease filters that are easy to

access and remove. Employee training should include a discussion of common kitchen fire issues such

as explosion risks, igni�on sources and the combus�on of fuel and air mixtures. Deep fat fryers must

have automa�c fuel cutoff valves and be placed at least 16 inches away from all other kitchen

equipment.

How many more fire incidents do we need to feel the

loss of lives in these incidents and as a society to

realise the importance of fire safety norms?

Probably we have lost on the count of the number of

lives lost in fire-related incidents as they happen so

frequently. It has become a regular news story for us

that we have stopped paying a�en�on to reports on

fire, only when the death toll is significantly high the

incidents catch media a�en�on. As a part of society

we must all stand for the fire norms to be followed

strictly as innocent lives must not suffer anymore.

33

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOTEL FIRE SAFETY

Here are our top �ps for complying with fire regula�ons if you work in a hotel:

1. Everything starts with a fire risk assessment. All hotels, whatever the size, must complete one.

Regular checks of the building need to be made to ensure that fire doors are not damaged in any way.

Fire doors must be kept closed and not wedged open. Hazards, such as frayed wiring or blocked escape

routes, must be removed.

2. Risk assessments should be ongoing. All risks must be noted and dealt with as soon as possible,

rather than a '�ck-box' exercise carried out once a year.

3. Staff training is vital to ensure hotel fire safety. All employees need to be able to iden�fy and report

fire risks, as well as knowing all escape routes, and what to do in an emergency. Try to spread out fire

training across the year. This includes evacua�on drills, how to use a fire blanket, fire ex�nguisher

training and how to change the lint filters in

tumble dryers.

4. Make sure that there is a clear evacua�on route

in case of emergency. Watch out for the following

hazards:

Ÿ Wedged open fire doors. If a fire door is

wedged open, fire and smoke can spread easily

rather than being contained. This will make

evacua�on difficult as corridors will become

full of smoke

Ÿ Corridors clu�ered with stored furniture will

make escape difficult

Ÿ Inaccessible stairwells because of a fire door

rendered useless with a door wedge

Ÿ Confusing signs

34

QUICK TIPS — A VISUAL GUIDE

Don't prop open fire doors. Whether it's with Henry the hoover, a fire

ex�nguisher, a plant, a brick or a door wedge, fire doors need to remain closed

to prevent the spread of smoke and fire.

Ensure escape routes are not blocked and kept clear.

Keep fire doors in good condi�on. Locking

this damaged door won't stop those gaps

allowing smoke and fire to rage through. This

fire door is completely useless.

A fire has trauma�c consequences if

preventa�ve measures aren't in place. Fines,

closure and loss of reputa�on can follow a

fire, as well as the risk of someone dying.

35

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

The Fire Safety Order (FSO) is the current law in England and Wales. This states that one 'responsible

person' (usually the owner or manager) is in charge of compliance. This 'responsible person' can

nominate a 'competent person' to receive the fire training and ensure day-to-day compliance with

regula�ons if they prefer.

COMMON BREACHES OF FIRE REGULATIONS IN HOTELS

Fire safety experts checked a group of 17 hotels in Liverpool, Sheffield, Birmingham and Manchester.

They found issues which breached fire regula�ons in almost every one. What were the most common

things they encountered?

Ÿ Ill-fi�ng doors in frames

Ÿ Damaged fire doors

Ÿ Fire and smoke seals in poor condi�on

Ÿ Fire doors wedged open

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES?

In England and Wales, a breach of fire regula�ons used to result in a fine of up to £5,000 in the

Magistrates' courts unlike the Crown Court where the penalty was an unlimited fine and/or prison.

Now, the penalty in the Magistrates' Court is an unlimited fine and the person responsible for fire safety

will be prosecuted as an individual, not as a company. This means that in future, less cases need to go to

the Crown Court and fines can increase, especially if you have a significant turnover. On top of this, any

enforcement ac�on is published online for everyone to see.

Here are some of the he�iest recorded fines that the UK hotel industry has seen.

5. White Swan Hotel, Arundel, 2007

£25,000

When a fire broke out at the White Swan Hotel, 10 guests were le� trapped in their bedrooms. The

guests were rescued, but subsequent inves�ga�ons found a list of serious fire safety breaches.

Ÿ Fire doors were wedged open

Ÿ Fire alarms weren't tested correctly

Ÿ Staff did not have adequate fire safety training

36

Ÿ Fire alarm panel was switched to 'silent' mode.

Ÿ No suitable emergency plan in case of a fire.

4. Tantons Hotel, Bideford, 2011

£40,000

Tantons Hotel was ordered to pay £40,000 in fines and a�er being

condemned for breaching fire safety regula�ons. 55 guests narrowly

escaped serious injury or death a�er a fire broke out. At 4am:

Ÿ The fire alarm failed

Ÿ A guest was sent back to their room when fire was spreading

through the building and

Ÿ A fire exit was blocked by cans of cooking oil

Ÿ An elderly guest was fearful for her life when she was trapped between a fire exit which failed to

open and another door that had no handle. The judge commented that the hotel was a 'death trap.’

3. The Belfry Hotel, Cheshire, 2008

£75,000

Firefighters carried out a rou�ne visit to this luxury hotel and discovered their inadequate safety

precau�ons were pu�ng their guests at serious risk. They found:

Ÿ No working fire alarms

Ÿ Faulty smoke detectors

Ÿ Poor fire exits

Ÿ Lack of fire safety training for staff.

Ÿ The hotel was immediately closed but re-opened a�er the issues were resolved and the required

equipment fi�ed.

2. The Radnor Hotel, London, 2015

£200,000

The former owner of The Radnor Hotel was fined £200,000

— the biggest ever fine from the London Fire Brigade, a�er a

rou�ne inspec�on found several serious fire safety breaches.

Ÿ Missing fire doors

Ÿ No fire risk assessment

Ÿ Inadequate fire detec�on systems and emergency

ligh�ng

Ÿ Fire doors were �ed open using string, extension cords and an ex�nguisher used as a wedge

Ÿ The former owner was also given a four month prison sentence.

37

HOTEL FIRE SAFETY

This page is a resource for the traveling public and

mee�ng planners who have ques�ons about hotel

and motel fire safety. This type of informa�on is not

rou�nely available, and what is available may not be

that reliable. To help you inquire about the fire safety

features of a hotel or motel, the following informa�on

will show you what to look for and the right ques�ons

to ask.

Hotels don't highlight fire safety like they do dining

facili�es and similar features. Apparently, this is out of

concern that references to fire safety will accentuate the nega�ve - the possibility of a fire. But fire

safety is a bona fide concern. For one thing, individual travelers have concerns about their fire safety.

For another, people who arrange travel and mee�ngs for employees or organiza�ons may take on a

liability if they neglect to confirm the level of fire safety equipment. This page a�empts to address

those needs.

AN OVERVIEW OF HOTEL FIRE SAFETY

The amount and type of fire safety equipment in a hotel varies by the

size of the building, its height and age. Many high-rise hotels are

protected with fire sprinklers, but one out of four s�ll lack them. For all

hotels and motels regardless of height, only 50 percent have fire

sprinklers. Some hotel owners have corporate policies to retrofit older

proper�es with fire sprinklers, but this is not the norm. And some

hotels install state-of-the-art, well-maintained fire alarm systems that

render false alarm problems nil, but other owners con�nue to tolerate

the problem. As a result, many hotel guests ignore fire alarms.

The quality of fire protec�on also varies by region. In some areas, building and fire officials keep their

safety codes current and diligently enforce them. But code advancement and enforcement are not

uniform around the U. S. If these codes are not kept up to date and enforced by competent personnel,

the quality of fire safety can suffer a great deal.

38

WE ARE A GIVING A HOTEL FIRE SAFETY ACT OF 1990.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM REQUIRED FOR HOTELS/MOTELS.

New hotels are more likely to have what we consider high-quality fire protec�on, that is, fire sprinklers

in every guest room as well as detec�on and alarm systems. Older hotels may only have smoke alarms

in guest rooms, if they have that. Some fire safety equipment is obvious, even to people who are not

trained in fire safety. Examples are fire sprinklers and smoke alarms. Other items may not be obvious

because laymen do not associate them with fire safety. An example is passive protec�on like a solid-

bonded 3-hinged corridor door with UL-listed hardware. Its role in fire safety is discussed below in the

sec�on on egress systems.

The components of a hotel fire safety system include the following items:

• Fire sprinklers.

• Smoke and fire detectors.

• Duct Smoke Detectors

• Automa�c alarm systems.

• Connec�on between Air handling units and alarm systems

• Manual alarm systems (the pull-boxes you see near stairway doors and elevators).

• Fire department standpipes (the things that you see in stairways).

• Emergency lights.

• The emergency egress system.

• Fire Resis�vity of Construc�on

• Exits & Exit signs.

• Pressurized stairways.

• Smoke control systems

• Portable fire ex�nguishers.

• Staff emergency response plans.

• Staff training.

• Gas Supply Shut-off Devices

• Fire Alarm System Required Hotels/Motels

• High Rise Buildings

• Place for a Helicopter to Land

Each of these items is described in a sec�on below. You can get to a specific item by clicking on the

hyperlinks at the top of the page, or you can scroll through the en�re page. The descrip�on includes a

39

discussion of each item's role and lists the ques�ons that one should ask when inquiring about that

item's presence and readiness.

All of the items discussed here are designed to work as part of an overall fire protec�on "system." This

is important to remember because if one part of the system fails it increases the likelihood of other

failures. Something as simple as a propped open stairway door can cause failure of the stairway

pressuriza�on, smoke control and emergency egress systems. Therefore, the hotel staff must be

diligent in maintaining every fire protec�on device, and nothing can be overlooked because of the

erroneous assump�on that another safety device will compensate for it. But experience tells us that

problems like this occur, and that is why we consider fire sprinklers as fundamental to hotel fire safety.

They stop fires when they are small and reduce the dependence upon the other fire safety features.

WHAT WE DON'T COVER HERE

This page does not contain guest instruc�ons for response to fires. As a rule, hotels rou�nely provide

this informa�on, either in the security sec�on of the hotel informa�on le� in each guest room or

posted on guestroom doors. Our purpose is to inform you about the items that will keep a fire from

becoming a threat in the first place. If they are effec�ve, the need for emergency evacua�on is unlikely

TIM

No, Tim isn't a code word that will get you a special deal on a room. It is an acronym for three important

items: Tes�ng, Inspec�on and Maintenance. Fire safety equipment that is present may be of no use if it

is not regularly tested, inspected and maintained by qualified technicians. There are na�onally

recognized standards that dictate how o�en TIM should occur for sprinklers and other fire safety

equipment. Hotels with high-quality fire protec�on will have records of TIM.

Fire inves�ga�ons abound with reports of equipment that did not operate or was improperly adjusted,

and that is why we refer to TIM throughout. Travelers may be fortunate enough to stay in a brand new

hotel from �me to �me, but this is the excep�on to the rule. We are more likely to stay in buildings that

are several genera�ons old, with fire safety equipment that is as old as the building. The importance of

TIM cannot be understated, and any hotel that does not adequately document TIM is neglec�ng its fire

safety responsibili�es.

40

WHAT IS A FIRE-SAFE HOTEL?

Fire safety is a rela�ve term. If you define "fire-safe" as a zero chance of a fire, then one can never say

that any hotel is fire-safe. However, we can describe hotels as rela�vely safer than others based on the

fire protec�on equipment that is installed and the safety prac�ces that they follow.

FIRE SPRINKLERS

Fire sprinklers are fundamental to hotel fire safety. You

must stay on a fully sprinklered hotel for your safety We

have a basic criterion for hotel fire safety - a fire sprinkler

system with sprinklers in every room, installed in

compliance with na�onally recognized standards and

then maintained by qualified technicians. Sprinklers are

designed to stop a fire when it is small, and they have a

superior track record in saving lives and property. In the

U. S., the frequency of hotel fires is rela�vely low. But

even though it is a low-probability event, it is a high-consequence event. Fires in residen�al se�ngs can

grow with amazing speed. In fact, most people dras�cally underes�mate how quickly they can become

deadly.

How fast can they grow? Fire tests confirm that a small fire in an average-sized room can ignite

everything in the room in less than five minutes. The combus�on products from that fire will start

killing people in as li�le as two minutes. The fire inves�ga�on report for the Dupont Plaza Hotel fire that

occurred in 1986 noted that 97 people died in a mere 12 minutes.

Another factor that increases the consequences of hotel fires is that hotels contain large numbers of

people who are unfamiliar with the building and may be sleeping when a fire occurs. The history of

hotel fires bears out the consequences of these factors.

You might be wondering how fast residen�al-type sprinklers work. In the same tests noted above, the

sprinklers operated in just under one minute and stopped the fire long before the combus�on products

could reach lethal levels. Happily, hotels with fire sprinklers installed throughout are now rou�nely

available, so we feel that sprinklers are a reasonable expecta�on. Many hotel and motel chains in the U.

S. install them in all of their new buildings, and some have corporate policies to install them in all of

their exis�ng proper�es as well.

41

THE VALUE OF FIRE SPRINKLERS

If a fire can be stopped before it grows, it cannot develop a lot of smoke, which is the biggest killer in

fires. Smoke alarms are great and we look for them as well as sprinklers. But smoke alarms can only

alert people to a fire, and fires can grow so quickly that they can kill before people can escape. A

sprinkler will not only alert people to the fire (when a sprinkler opens, the water flowing through the

system triggers an alarm), but it also opens very quickly and stops the fire. A fire that is quickly stopped

cannot produce smoke and the carbon monoxide it carries.

Fire sprinklers are designed to operate when a fire is small and stop it before it grows to a stage known

as flashover. At the flashover stage, the fire travels from the room of origin with a large burst of energy,

pushing great amounts of heat and smoke to the rest of the building. Sprinklers are spaced so that they

can stop a fire with a rela�vely small amount of water. In nearly all cases only one sprinkler opens. If you

thought that all of the sprinklers in the room or building go off at the same �me, you have been

vic�mized by Hollywood gag writers looking for comic effect.Travelers need to be aware that some

hotels have installed sprinklers in "common areas," such as corridors, restaurants, lobbies, etc., but not

in the guest rooms. If a hotel does not have sprinklers in every room then it does not meet our criteria

for hotel fire safety.

The reason for this is simple. If sprinklers are not installed in every room, a fire can grow to deadly

propor�ons before the sprinklers outside the room stop its progress. A sprinkler located outside a

burning room cannot stop the smoke that is being produced in the room, and this is a bigger threat to

people than the flames.

42

SMOKE DETECTION AND ALARMS

A system of interconnected smoke

detectors should be installed, with units in

every room including common areas and all

non-guest rooms. If they are installed in

compliance with na�onally recognized

standards, the alarm system will alert

guests who are at risk. It is also important

that the alarm system be monitored off-site

by a qualified organiza�on. An example is a

Central Sta�on Alarm company that has an

Underwriters Laboratories cer�ficate.

Some alarm systems are connected directly

to the fire department, which is even be�er.

When inquiring about the company that monitors the fire alarm system, ask for documenta�on that

the company has standing orders to call the fire department without delay. There are instances where

hotels have advised the alarm company to call the hotel so an employee can check for an actual fire

before no�fying the fire department. This is unacceptable and can lead to tragedy. Do not accept verbal

statements about the specific policy between the hotel and alarm company. Any quality fire alarm

company will have this in wri�ng, so the documenta�on should be readily available.

In large hotels, the building codes now require a Fire Department Control Sta�on. This is a protected

area where the fire alarm panel is located. The fire officer in charge will use it to monitor all of the

building controls and can manually operate some equipment, such as smoke control devices. The

control sta�on also has a communica�on system so the officer can send voice instruc�ons throughout

the hotel. Hotels may not have this item as part of the alarm system if they were built prior to the

requirements being placed in the building code.

Equally important is documenta�on on TIM. Modern fire alarm systems can be very complex,

especially in high-rise buildings. They need regular a�en�on by qualified technicians.

43

DUCT SMOKE DETECTORS

All air handling duct system must be equipped

with duct type some alarms

Connec�on between Air handling units and

alarm systems

All the air handling units must be programmed

due to fire alarm.They must be stopped

whenever a fire alarm actuates.All the duct

systems must include fire stopping dampers.

STANDPIPES

When you enter a hotel stairway and see a large pipe with a hose connec�on on it at each floor, you are

looking at a fire department standpipe. They are installed in hotels, at

least those higher than three stories, so that the firefighters can hook

up their hose near the fire. This reduces the amount of hose that they

need to carry up the stairs, which reduces the �me it takes to set up

and a�ack the fire.

TIM for standpipes is very important for two reasons. First, some of

them are "dry," that is, there is no water in them. To get water to

higher floors, the fire department hooks up its hoses to the standpipe

connec�on on the outside of the building and pumps water into it.

Dry standpipes can be clogged by debris placed there by vandals, so

regular tes�ng, inspec�on and maintenance is the only way to make

sure that they will work as designed in a fire. "Wet" standpipes, those

that have water present, are less prone to vandalism because the

miscreant would get doused with water and set off an alarm.

The second reason primarily applies to to high-rise hotels. Standpipes in these buildings are connected

to a fire pump that will start if water flow is detected in the standpipe or sprinkler system. The pumps

must be powerful enough to supply adequate pressure at the highest floor, but this means that the

pressure on the lower floors may be higher than firefighters can safely handle. To get an idea of the

pressure, think about how your garden hose creates a pressure that pushes you backwards, then

mul�ple that pressure by magnitudes.

44

When the pressure at an outlet is too high for safe use, a pressure-limi�ng valve will be installed at the

outlet. These devices need to be regularly checked to make sure they are set at the correct pressure. If

the se�ng is too high or too low for an effec�ve fire stream, then the firefighters can be seriously

delayed in a�acking the fire.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

A fire may cause the building's electrical system to fail. Some�mes

the fire originates in the electrical system. For this reason, the

building should have emergency lights installed in all corridors and

public rooms. Emergency ligh�ng that complies with na�onally

recognized standards will be connected to a separate power

supply that is backed up by an emergency generator. The lights will

automa�cally go on when the system detects an electrical failure. Check for TIM.

EMERGENCY EGRESS SYSTEM

Every building should be built in compliance with a na�onally recognized building code. These codes

contain minimum standards for the emergency egress system, i. e., the pathways that provide

evacua�on routes from every part of the building to the outdoors at ground level. The building codes

are based on the principle that the corridors and stairways are a vital part of the egress system, so they

are required to have added protec�on that will theore�cally last long enough to allow everyone to

evacuate.

Have you ever no�ced the metal labels on the

edge of corridor doors and the doorways? They

are there to document that the items comply

with the addi�onal protec�on requirements for

egress paths. That is also why stairways are so

spartan, with no decora�on or carpe�ng.

Because stairways are such a cri�cal part of the

egress path, they have stringent requirements

that do not allow any combus�ble material at

all - thus the lack of carpe�ng or even linoleum.

And storage of anything, be it combus�ble or not, is forbidden in stairways. If you see these rules

violated, it means that the hotel is not vigilant or is neglec�ng its fire safety responsibili�es.

45

Along with the doors, the walls and ceilings of the egress paths are part of the added protec�on. These

items combine to be the "compartmenta�on," the passive system of barriers that slows down the

progress of a fire and smoke. That is why all doors should have self-closers, even the guest room doors.

Door wedges are a no-no. Doors that are propped open or ones that do not shut automa�cally and

latch �ghtly are signs that the hotel is neglec�ng its fire safety responsibility. In large hotels, you may

find doors across the corridor that divide the building into smaller fire compartments. These doors can

be held open by approved devices.

The devices are usually magnets that automa�cally release if the fire alarm

panel ac�vates.

We men�on walls and ceilings because holes in walls or missing ceiling �les

defeat the required compartmenta�on. Any coverings on walls and ceilings

should be limited to materials that will not contribute to the rapid spread

of flames or development of a lot of smoke. When inspec�ng a hotel, visit

all of the service areas as well. It is easier for the staff to neglect a hole or

missing �le in areas were guests don't go. These are basic items, and their

importance to the fire safety system is o�en overlooked (or worse, not

understood). They should have records of TIM.

EXITS &EXIT SIGNS

Exit signs that comply with na�onally recognized standards will be visible from any place in the corridor.

Those that are not near an exit door will have an

arrow showing the direc�on to the nearest exit.

Again, TIM is important. It is very easy for exit lights to

burn out over �me, and just as easy to neglect

replacing them. If the signs are being tested,

inspected and maintained by qualified technicians,

you have be�er assurance that they are accurate. A

hotel employee may be tempted to replace a broken

sign with one that has no direc�on arrow - or just as bad, with an arrow going the wrong way. They

might make this mistake because they don't know what the installa�on standard requires. That is why

we repeat the reminder that only qualified technicians should work on any fire safety system.

46

MEETING ROOMS

A general rule to keep in mind is that street-level mee�ng rooms are the easiest to evacuate. Rooms

above the seventh floor are more hazardous because fire ladders may not reach that high. Hotel

basement mee�ng rooms may not be a wise choice, because mee�ng par�cipants must climb up stairs

in the same direc�on smoke and flames will travel.

The mee�ng room should have adequate exits. A rule of thumb is that 50 to 300 persons require two

exits. Three hundred to 1,000 need three exits and more than 1,000 persons should have four or more

exits. The exits should be brightly lit, not blocked,by furniture or curtains and be easily opened. They

should never be locked or chained. Sea�ng or exhibit arrangements should allow enough aisle space

for quick evacua�on. You should familiarize yourself with exits and escape routes. Not only make sure

that the hotel floor plan is visibly posted, but also walk the en�re escape route. Hallways, exits and

stairwells should be clear of obstruc�ons. Stairs should have emergency ligh�ng; elevators should be

clearly marked to prevent use in a fire.

STAIRWAY PRESSURIZATION

Hi-rise hotels should have pressurized stairways. An excep�on is a

hotel where the stairways are open to the outside. In pressurized

stairways, a fan operates when the fire alarm panel receives a signal

from a fire detector or sprinkler. The air is blown in from the exterior,

and this creates a posi�ve pressure in the stairway, keeping smoke

from creeping into the stairway and blocking the egress path. Ask

about TIM. It is easy for these systems to go out of balance over �me.

47

SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS

Very large buildings will have systems that automa�cally

pressurize certain areas and depressurize others to contain

smoke or exhaust it outside. This should definitely be

present in buildings with atriums (where the rooms

surround an open courtyard). Remember TIM.

PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Portable ex�nguishers are designed to control or ex�nguish small fires.

They are placed throughout a hotel to be readily available when

someone finds a fire. Installers follow a na�onally recognized standard

that dictates what type (based on the type of fire expected at that

loca�on), their loca�on, and size. Different loca�ons will require

different types, depending upon the type of fire expected. For example,

the corridors will have units for ex�nguishing paper and other similar

combus�bles. A kitchen area will have units designed to put out grease

fires.

No�ce that the ex�nguishers are placed in wall cabinets or are hung on

the wall at a height that makes it easy for an average-sized person to

remove. If they are found on the floor, then they are not in the proper

loca�on. One reason for hanging them is to prevent items from being

placed on top of them.

It is easy to use portable ex�nguishers. The instruc�ons use icons to make them clear to someone who

has not used one before. However, hotel employees should receive periodic hands-on training on how

to use them. Ex�nguishers are more effec�ve in the hands of experienced users, and periodic training

increases exper�se. But there is another reason why employees should be trained. The experience also

teaches employees the limits of the ex�nguisher. Knowing when to use it and when to call the fire

department without delay is a valuable lesson that all hotels should be teaching to every employee.

Have you ever no�ced the paper tags hanging on each ex�nguisher? They indicate when the unit had

its last TIM. The hotel should have a record of the periodic visits by an ex�nguisher technician, while

the individual tags document when the last TIM was conducted. If it was over a year ago, then the hotel

is not keeping up on its TIM responsibili�es.

48

FIRE RESPONSE PLAN

A hotel with quality fire safety will have a wri�en

p l a n t h a t d e s c r i b e s e v e r y e m p l o y e e ' s

responsibility in a fire or other emergency. The lack

of a wri�en plan or a refusal to show it are a cause

for concern. Also be concerned if the instruc�ons

call for delaying the no�fica�on of guests or the

fire department. Examples are orders to no�fy the

manager before taking ac�on, or orders to first

inves�gate a fire alarm before calling the fire

department or no�fying guests.

Premature no�fica�on of guests due to false or nuisance alarms always concerns hotel management

because they don't want to inconvenience guests. There are two things to consider here. First, if the

hotel has replaced outmoded technology, and the fire alarm system was installed in compliance with

na�onally recognized standards (and TIM'd), false or nuisance alarms are rare. Modern smoke

detectors are smart enough to quietly no�fy the monitoring company if they need servicing or are

becoming too sensi�ve. That is why we stress the importance of TIM. There is no valid reason for a hotel

to tolerate false or nuisance alarms.

Second, modern alarm systems have voice no�fica�on features that allow hotel employees to alert

only those guests who are in immediate danger. For example, if a smoke detector on the 15th floor

operates, the employee might be instructed to:

No�fy the guests on the 14th, 15th and 16th floors to evacuate.

Alert guests on higher floors to prepare for an order to evacuate.

The specific evacua�on message will vary by the type, size and layout of the building

STAFF TRAINING

Every employee should receive periodic formal training and prac�ce

on what to do in a fire emergency. A hotel with quality fire protec�on

will have copies of their training plans and records of who a�ended

each session. A verbal statement that "we give everyone regular

training" should be suspect. The items covered in the plans should

include such things as:

49

Each employee's responsibili�es in a fire emergency.

Details about the building's fire equipment.

What the various fire alarm signals mean.

Who is responsible for no�fying the fire department (this should always be done as a backup measure,

even when the system is monitored).

The records should document the orienta�on and con�nued training of every employee, including

hands-on instruc�on on how to operate portable ex�nguishers

PLACE FOR A HELICOPTER TO LAND

Although there are building codes in some states, requiring new high-rise buildings to include a heli-

pad, many of the older skyscrapers have a "forest" of antennas and other equipment on the roof.

In conclusion. If you have read all of the above and concluded that a hotel's fire safety system is a

complex set of cri�cal items that are all interrelated, then we did an effec�ve job. You will also

appreciate the importance of tes�ng, inspec�on and maintenance by qualified technicians, because

the failure of one part of the system can effect the ability of the other parts to work effec�vely. As we

said earlier, when a fire occurs it is too late to find the problems.

This brings us back to the very first item we talked about - fire sprinklers. We already men�oned their

excellent track record for saving lives and property. In addi�on, studies show that they are the most

reliable part of a building's fire safety system. This makes them extra insurance against the failure of

another part of a hotel's fire safety system. It is for these reasons that we make sprinklers the

fundamental criterion for a quality hotel fire safety system.

50

51

Fire Safety measures are essential while designing the building to ensure the safety of human

being and property. The basic safety norms to provide fire exit, Installation of fire safety

alarms , fine extinguisher, smoke detector are must for all types of buildings. Life is precious

and we don't have right to put on stake one's life because of our negligence. Fire safety

parameters should be a top most priority while constructing a building.

Fire can cause irreparable losses, particularly to any building. The building as an infrastructure

consists many heat dissipating equipments, combustible gasses/ fuel, chemicals, a lot of

electrical wiring, etc. that stand as prone to hazardous incidents, if proper precautions not

taken while planning the infrastructure. Adequate measures need to be considered, designed

and practiced to ensure safety to all. Indicators like architectural designs, interior designs,

electrical wiring appropriate equipment planning and proper waste management are

considered while planning such safety measures.

Fire Safety

52

The hospitals basements which usually should have been used as parking, are being used to

provide ancillary medical facilities such as OPD, X-rays & Laboratories and sometimes are

being used as operation theaters. The hospitals are utilizing approximately 50% more space

than the sanctioned one. In extreme or severe emergencies, every patient or the hospital staff would need to get out of

the hospital as early as possible. However, because of the illegal constrictions and occupation

it becomes quite difficult to get evacuated such a large number of patients through stairs. In

case of fire or any tragic conditions, the use of elevators by people as a means of way out

usually treated as perilous and required to be ignored. With multi-specialty hospitals and

nursing homes now exceeding 400 meters mark in height, complete exit plan of thousands of

patients just using stairs alone won't be sufficient.

FIRE SAFETY CONCERNS AT HOSPITALS AND NURSING

HOMES

Lessons Learned from AMRI Hospital, Kolkata Fire Breakout

AMRI HOSPITAL

The fire breakout in the basement of AMRI Hospital, Kolkata is a lesson to be learnt. The fire in

the hospital sent toxic smoke surging through air-conditioning systems and ducts. As the

hospital was fully air-conditioned and there were no enough doors and windows to let the

fumes pass through, the whole inner atmosphere became suffocative for patients and staffs

out there.

This horrible incident at AMRI Hospital exposes the illegal constructions within multispecialty

hospitals and lack of security concerns. Keeping a motive of only making money, the open and

free spaces of the hospitals and nursing homes are being used for commercial activities which

in no way is safe for patients, nurses, staffs or anyone who enters the premises. These

complexes, nursing homes, and hospitals need a foolproof exit plans before construction and

a complete follow-up of the safety guidelines to avoid any mishap.

53

T h re a t s t o fi re s a fe t y a re

commonly referred to as fire

hazards. A fire hazard may include

a situa�on that increases the

likelihood of a fire or may impede

escape in the event a fire occurs.

Fire safety is o�en a component

of building safety. Fire safety is

the set of prac�ces intended to

reduce the destruc�on caused by

fire. Fire safety measures include

intended to prevent igni�on of an

uncontrolled fire; and those

w h i c h u s e d t o l i m i t t h e

development and effects of a fire

a�er it breaks out. Fire safety measures also comprises the planning during the construc�on of

a building or implemented in structures that are already standing, and those that are taught to

occupants of the building.

In the light of rampant irregulari�es in execu�on of Refuge Areas & planning/construc�on of

towers (residen�al or commercial) in metros, there is an urgent need for fire Safety Audits by

the authori�es and strict implementa�on of the same in the interest of reducing risk to general

public. Today many high rise buildings are constructed without following the building norms &

guidelines laid down for fire Safety. Disregarding the fundamental fire safety norms has

resulted huge loss of lives in fire accidents.

Although approximately 4000 buildings in Mumbai City & 3000 buildings in the suburb have

been inspected by Fire Department and no�ces have been issued to about 4800 buildings for

non compliance of Fire Safety laws, however legal ac�on has been taken against very few

building owners / developers. Hence, there has to be stringent methods by which the Fire

Safety Audits can be implemented properly so as to avoid any irregularity in

planning/construc�on of a skyscrapers concerning its Fire safety .

WHY A FIRE SAFETY AUDIT ?

54

Fire safety audit is an effective tool

for assessing fire safety standards

of an organization or occupancy. A

comprehensive fire safety audit

should address the inherent fire

hazardous associated with the day

to day activities in an occupancy

and recommend measures to

reduce the potential fire hazards.

A fire can happen at any time at

any place. The recent major fires

that occurred in various parts of country during the last few months, reinforce the view that a fire can

happen at any place. You can expect a fire at any structure, irrespective of its occupancy status –

residential / commercial / industrial / hospitals / theaters / malls and so on. It means that a fire in any

structure has the potential to cause harm to its occupants and property. However, when it comes to

residential buildings, in particular, high rise buildings, the problem becomes more complex and poses

very high risk to the life and property of its occupants.

The fire safety audit is an examination of the buildings / structures and relevant documents to

ascertain how the buildings are being managed regarding fire safety. In other words it is aimed to

assess the building for compliance with the National Building Code of India, relevant Indian Standards

and the legislations passed by various state governments and local bodies, on fire prevention and life

safety measures.

Safety Audit is a form of risk analysis and evaluation in which a systematic investigation is carried out

in order to determine the extent to which the conditions are present that provide for the

development and implementation of an effective and efficient safety policy. The main objective of

Safety Audit is to carry out a systematic, critical appraisal of all potential hazards involving personnel,

plant services and operation method, and to ensure that safety and health system fully satisfy the

legal requirements. Depending on the requirements of the occupancy, the audit can focus attention

on various aspects of a safety system such as fire and explosion prevention, protection and

emergency management.

FIRE SAFETY AUDIT - A NECESSITY

55

The UHRF has very humbly submi�ed the representa�on on the above men�oned issue detailing the

fire safety concern of these monumental building men�oning the grave concern in the le�er to the

Hon’ble speaker of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha , the Chief Jus�ce of Supreme Court .

Similarly the alarming condi�on of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and parliament house regarding the

fire safety issue has been conveyed to His excellency the Hon’ble president of India and the Hon’ble

Prime Minister of India vide dated September 22, 2017

As while persuing our extensive research on fire safety issues in India, we have encountered with the

news of unsafe condi�on of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and Parliament, the symbol of democracy,

which shocked us and made us realize that the current on going situa�on and no regula�on on fire

safety arrangement in the na�on.

The news ar�cles like “CIC ques�ons fire-safety of SC and Parliament Buildings ” published in “LIVE

LAW” on November 27, 2014 or the informa�on published in the “Times of India” on November 27,

2014 sta�ng “No fire safety cer�ficates for Parliament, SC in 10 years ” made us extremely concern

over the safety and security of all officials, workers etc. working in these monumental buildings.

56

The fire safety audit is a process of complete inspec�on of the building structures and evalua�on of

relevant documents and exis�ng fire safety arrangement including processes, instruments etc. to

ascertain how the buildings are being managed regarding fire safety. The assessment of the building is

done compliancing with the Na�onal Building Code of India, relevant fire safety norms as per Indian

standers and the legisla�on passed by all state governments and local bodies on fire preven�on and life

safety.

Safety Audit is a system of risk observa�on, analysis and evalua�on in which a systema�c scru�ne is

carried out to determine the extent of an affec�ve and efficient safety policy.

The most essen�al aspect of all building codes is ensuring life safety & security. As per the Na�onal

Building Code (NBC) , the present state of knowledge is based on various factors and aspects of

building construc�on followed by all most all parts of the country. In the NBC detailed guidelines for

General Requirements for all buildings, construc�on materials, Life Safety, Fire Protec�on, Specific

Occupancy wise Requirements and specific requirements etc. for buildings above 15 meters has been

stated.

NBC recommends for periodical fire safety inspection by the key personnel of the occupants of the building to ensure fire safety standards. In case of industrial buildings the statutory authorities insist for fire safety audits by external agencies depending on the type of activity and nature of materials handled in the buildings.

The NBC as a whole is the basic model code for

all other specific codes in the country. By and

large most of the states and local bodies in India

have adopted many of the code provisions in

their own building regula�ons.

The constructor, developer, owner, occupier,

society or anyone , shall comply with all the fire

and safety measures, adhering to the Na�onal

Building Code of India, and as amended from

�me to �me, failing or inadequacy of the

regula�on shall be treated as a viola�on of the

said Act. It means that the maintaining and

documen�ng the fire safety installa�ons in a

building is the responsibility of the building

owner or occupier.The recent major fires occurred in various parts

of country during the last few years reinforce

the specula�on of the unforeseen nature of a

fire accident regardless place and �me. One

can expect a fire at any structure, irrespec�ve of

its occupancy status – residen�al / commercial

/ industrial / hospitals / theaters / malls and so

on… It means that a fire in any structure has the

poten�al to cause harm to its occupants and

property. However, when it comes to

residen�al buildings, in par�cular, high rise

buildings, the problem becomes more complex

and poses very high risk to the life and property

of its occupants. The magnitude and level of

the problem can be reduced only if the

structures are designed, constructed,

equipped, maintained and operated with a

view to save the life and property of its

occupants. Therefore, any structure or building

should be erected only a�er mee�ng the basic

infrastructure needed to protect them from

fire and unexpected fire accidents.

FIRE SAFETY AUDIT

57

Fire safety policies apply at the construc�on of a building and throughout its opera�ng life. Building

codes are enacted by local, sub-na�onal, or na�onal governments to ensure such features as adequate

fire exits, signage, and construc�on details such as fire stops and fire rated doors, windows, and walls.

One of the main objec�ves of electrical codes is fire safety to prevent overhea�ng of wiring or

equipment, and to protect from igni�on by electrical faults. Fire codes regulate such requirements as

the maximum occupancy for buildings such as theatres or restaurants, for example.

§ Fire codes may require portable fire ex�nguishers within a building, or permanently installed fire detec�on and

suppression equipment such as a fire sprinkler system and a fire alarm system. Local authori�es charged with fire safety

may conduct regular inspec�ons for such items as usable fire exits and proper exit signage, func�onal fire ex�nguishers

of the correct type in accessible places, and proper storage and handling of flammable materials.

§ Depending on local regula�ons, a fire inspec�on may result in a no�ce of required ac�on, or closing of a building un�l it

can be put into compliance with fire code requirements. Owners and managers of a building may implement addi�onal

fire policies. For example, an industrial site may designate and train par�cular employees as a fire figh�ng force.

Managers must ensure buildings comply with evacua�on, and that building features such as spray fireproofing remains

undamaged.

A fire risk assessment is a survey of a building to review the standards of fire safety. It will

include an assessment of all issues that would affect the levels of fire safety such as:

§ The type of occupancy

§ Evaluate the building plan as per fire norms

§ the amount of combus�ble materials

§ the escape routes, Public Address System

§ the fire safety equipment that is present, provided and required as per NBC

(such as fire ex�nguishers etc.)

§ the arrangement standards

§ Proper maintenance and u�liza�on of basements and other areas

§ Adequate car parking facility considering the fire safety norms.

§ Storage of water for fire figh�ng with facili�es of Wet riser & Down Commer.

§ Provision for fire li�, fireman switch, refuge area etc.

FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

58

Identify all significant fire hazards.

Prepare fire emergency plan, Making sure that every occupant is aware of it and training on fire safety imparted to everyone associated with the organization.

Strictly follow the prevailing building by laws to keep building safe and secure.

Always keep escape / evacuation routes clear of any blockade.

Keep inflammables like kerosene, gas cylinder etc. away from the fire.

Make sure to keep storage and working areas are free from trash.

Ensure electrical connections are intact.

Inspect & ensure fire extinguisher, fire alarm, smoke detector, sprinkler, hydrants etc. are in working condition and make sure to learn the operational process of them.

Educate fire safety norms as per the National building Code.

Identify the people who are at risk from different types of unexpected fire hazards.

Evaluate & measure the existing fire safety arrangement and determine the additional required control measures.

Scrutinize the availability of suitable emergency plan analyzing the responsibility and action of the person in charge.

Review the existing fire alarm and detection system.

Evaluate the passive fire protection system provided.

Finally, testing all fire safety equipments and systems and organizing mock drill regularly.

FIRE SAFETY TIPS

59

In view of the above presenta�on, the United Human Rights Federa�on humbly request all

concerned & mo�vated likeminded people and ac�vists who fights for the cause of human

rights, to come and join us in our endeavour to make a 'FIRE SAFE BUILDING SOCIETY'.

The UHRF is engaged in taking up various common problems of the people for effec�ve

redressal and we are relentlessly engage in safeguarding public interests. The UHRF appeal to

you all to come forward for the protec�on of the rights of innocent house buyers of Mumbai.

We appeal to the people to show solidarity against any illegal & unauthorized construc�on

being built by the real estate developers knowingly or unknowingly in collusion with regula�ng

& sanc�oning authori�es, in flagrant viola�ons of Na�onal Building Code, 2005 and other bye-

laws and regula�ons. This apathy towards the protec�on and safety has endangered the lives

of innocent ci�zens who bonafidely have purchased houses in their projects.

We demands for appropriate strict ac�ons against the delinquent promoters / builders/

architects, their project financiers and sanc�oning civic authori�es like Bombay Municipal

BMC/ MCGM for the brazen and flagrant viola�ons of building bye-laws, regula�ons

concerning Fire Safety, Refuge Area etc in high rise buildings due to which the lives of

thousands of house / space buyers is at stake on account of the rampant unauthorized

construc�ons.

The UHRF further appeal all to stand together against the lack of safety measures & sloppiness

of the administra�on. The excuse of human error and the pretext of absence of sufficient

technology and infrastructure cannot be a ground for sparing the delinquent builders /

developers. In the age of growing skyscrapers all around, it is indeed a need of hour we oppose

the moun�ng greed of some builders of spinning as much money they can.

AN APPEAL : TO ALL ACTIVE & DELIGENT PEOPLE

60

The developers in some metropolis are viola�ng the Na�onal Building Code, 2005 and their

respec�ve applicable Building Development Acts / regula�ons. We appeal for a constant vigil

& monitoring of construc�on ac�vi�es by the regula�ng agencies which is more alarming

and dangerous for the public. The UHRF's website has already been accessed & liked by more

than 0.76 million visitors globally at :

www.uhrfinterna�onal.org;

h�ps://www.facebook.com/uhrfinterna�onal.org

Twi�er: h�ps://twi�er.com/uhrfintl.

E-mail ID : support@uhrfinterna�onal.org

The UHRF seek your support and valuable sugges�ons in making High Rise Buildings 'a fire

safe habita�on'. It is an urgent need we properly regulate the real estate development

ac�vi�es specifically in metropolitan ci�es so that a discipline is brought to the construc�on

industry.

Disclaimer:

This Information Brochure has been compiled by the research team of United Human Rights Federation while collecting data from various trusted � reliable sources as available in public domain and easy to obtain from the government�non-government organizations, agencies, news media, reports, articles, books, architectural reports, court cases and also the information received through Right to Information Act, ����. All official texts, data and documents are in the public domain and are easily accessible to view, retrieve and use.

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Not Just In Mumbai, Delhi Restaurants Are Potential Fire Traps Too

January 18, 2018

NEW DELHI: These are popular eateries located in the heart of Delhi and all of them have no-objection certificates from the fire department. But how safe are they if a fire breaks out?

Not quite, as an NDTV investigation at ten popular restaurants in central Delhi's Connaught Place found out that blocked exits was a problem that could make these places potential fire traps. It is a problem that Mumbai's fire department too had flagged as a major contributor that led to the chaos and 14 deaths at the two restaurants that caught fire at the Kamala Mills complex last month. 'Lord of the Drinks' says fire hoses, sprinklers, extinguishers and well-marked exits will keep guests safe in case of an emergency. One of the three exits leads to the roof. The fire department approves rooftop exits, but only when they lead to another terrace that provides a way down. At 'Lord of the Drinks', only one shaky ladder is propped up against a wall to offer a way out. It leads to a dead end -- there is no place to walk on the other side of the wall. "This ladder is a temporary one. We will be installing a permanent staircase very soon, said Sangeeta Dutta, a shift manager at the restaurant.

Mumbai: BMC inspects 2,568 hotels in last14 days for fire safety lapses and illegal constructions

January 13, 2018

Mumbai: In the last fourteen days, between December 30, 2017 to January 12, 2018, 52 squads of the civic corporation have inspected 2,568 hotels and other eatery outlets all over Mumbai to check for fire safety lapses and illegal constructions.

The BMC has tightened its inspection drive on hotels, eateries only after fourteen people lost their lives in a devastating fire at Kamala Mills compound on December 29, which shook the city and exposed the apathy of the civic body and their negligence towards rising irregularities, as till then all the activities were operating smoothly under their nose without any objection. Out of 2, 568 inspected hotels and restaurants across Mumbai, 718 hotels have been found flouting fire safety norms and hence asked to fulfill fire safety lapses and notice under Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act and Maharashtra Fire Prevention and life safety measures has been issued. If they fail to comply, action will be taken without any further warning, said the civic officer. While 89 hotels of different civic wards have been sealed for various irregularities and for imminent fire danger spots, 913 hotels have been demolished for construction of illegal extensions and obstructing fire escape routes and for other violations, added the civic officer.

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Delhi Restaurants Skirting Safety Norms, Say Officials After Mumbai FireNEW DELHI: The fire at a pub in Mumbai's Kamala Mills has triggered fire safety checks in Delhi. This year, as revelers turned out to celebrate the New Year, they found fire officials at various pubs and restaurants, carrying out inspections. Fire officials told NDTV that most restaurants are using a big loophole in regulations to escape implementing the safety regulations. Restaurants in Delhi are divided into two categories - those that allow below 50 patrons and those

which have more. The smaller restaurants are expected to regulate themselves and this is where, officials say, they get away with having no safety regulations at all. What's worse is though licensed for 48 people, these restaurants end up allowing many more.

At the posh Hauz Khas Village in south Delhi, the fire officials NDTV accompanied found bar stools piled in front of fire exits practically blocking them, poor signage and staircases obstructed with furniture and potted plants.

Jan 11, 2018

Mumbai: The civic body on Thursday announced that over the past two days it had sealed 12 eateries for f louting fire safety norms and demolished unauthorised construction carried out in 135 establishments.

A senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official said that the action was carried out by 52 squads that surveyed 795 eateries across Mumbai. "We have seized 319 cylinders as well and action is

being taken under provisions of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Act and the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act," he informed. The official added that 438 owners have also been asked to rectify irregularities at their establishments.

BMC seals 12 eateries in Mumbai for flouting fire safety norms,razes illegal construction at 135 others

Jan 11, 2018

63

NEW DELHI: The New Delhi Municipal Council has asked restaurants in its area to abide by trade license conditions, fire safety norms and sitting capacity regulations or be ready to face cancellation of permits and sealing of premises. NDMC Chairman Naresh Kumar called an emergent meeting of all traders associations today under his jurisdiction and asked them to comply with safety measures.

The directions came a day after a fire at a Mumbai pub claimed 14 lives and sparked off concerns over safety at thousands of eateries and restaurants in the national capital as just 400 of them have an NOC from the Delhi Fire Services. "There should not be any laxity on the fire safety measures and sitting capacity sanctioned in each restaurant," Mr Kumar told traders.

"If any restaurant is found to be violating terms and conditions, its licence would be cancelled without any further notice and properties operating without licence will be sealed."

After Mumbai Fire, NDMC Warns Hotels, Restaurants Against Norm Violations

Dec 31, 2017

NEW DELHI: At least nine restaurants in Central Delhi's Connaught Place may lose their licence for violation of fire safety norms, with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) issuing show-cause notices to them.

The move comes following a fire in a Mumbai pub on December 29 that claimed 14 lives, sparking off safety concerns at eateries and restaurants in the national capital, as just 400 of them have an no objection certificate (NOC) from the Delhi Fire Service. "We had conducted inspection of all restaurants in Connaught Place and identified nine of them which have been violating fire safety norms," a senior NDMC official told PTI. "Show cause notices have been issued to them and they may lose their licence if norms are not complied with," the official said. The official, however, did not reveal the names of the restaurants, saying, "We are not making their names public at this stage, till we receive their replies." The civic body had last week warned traders associations in its area to ensure that restaurants operating in its area abide by trade licence conditions, fire safety norms and comply with sitting capacity conditions or face cancellation of their permits and sealing of their premises.

9 Central Delhi Restaurants May Lose Licence For Violating Fire Safety Norms

January 8, 2018

64

In the past fortnight, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished more than 4,000 illegal structures such as stalls, shrines and hutments along Tansa pipeline and Mithi River in one of its biggest crackdowns against encroachments in the city. The action in some of these cases is according to the directives of the Bombay high court (HC).

ON THE PIPELINE

Of the 16,628 hutments identified along the Tansa pipeline, the BMC demolished 9,632 in four phases. The HC in 2011 had asked the BMC to demolish illegal hutments within 10m radius of the pipeline. The BMC plans to convert the entire stretch into a 39-km cycling track, deadline for which has been extended twice. “We are in the final phase of the project. In December, we demolished more than 800 hutments in Matunga and Kurla. The deadline is January 15, 2018,” said an official, adding Rs300 crore will be spent on the cycling track.

BMC pulls down 5,000 illegal structures in Mumbai, crackdown to continue

Dec 16, 2017

Georgia fire: Black Sea resort hotel blaze leaves 11 deadA fire at a hotel in Georgia's Black Sea resort has killed 11 people and injured 21 more, the Georgian interior ministry has said. The victims all died from inhaling fumes at the 22-storey Leogrand Hotel and casino, regional health minister Zaal Mikeladze said.

The cause of the blaze, which took hours to extinguish, is not clear. More than 100 people were evacuated from the hotel by emergency services. Among those being treated are three Turks

and an Israeli, a spokesman for the Batumi University Clinic said. Earlier, officials said 12 people had died.

Formal identification of the victims is said to be under way, but an interior ministry statement said one Iranian and 10 Georgians were killed in the blaze. The statement also said that those injured were taken to hospital in a stable condition. The hotel was due to host the Miss Georgia beauty pageant on Sunday. Officials said none of the 20 contestants, who were reportedly staying in the hotel, were injured.

25 November 2017

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ew Delhi, Aug 23 (PTI) The Supreme Court today vent its ire on the alleged illegal constructions Nat some hotels in the picturesque Himachal Pradesh town of Kasauli, warning that it would order the owners to put up signboards that the guests would stay there at their own risk.

"We will ask these hotels to put a board outside saying anybody staying there is staying at his own risk," a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said."There is no point in having excess and illegal constructions," the bench observed while hearing pleas against the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order to demolish or close down several hotels and resorts which were extended illegally without the requisite approvals.

During the hearing, senior advocate Parag Tripathi, representing one of the hotels, questioned the jurisidiction of the NGT to order the closure or demolition of illegal structures. The apex court said it would hear the pleas filed by some of the hotels and resorts in November. The top court had earlier granted stay on the NGTs order with respect to some of the hotels and resorts there subject to the condition that they would not use the alleged unauthorised constructions.

SC anguished over illegal constructions at Kasauli hotels

August 23, 2017

Fire At Odisha Hotel Owner's Home Kills 4 Of His Family

August 03, 2017

BHUBANESWAR: A massive fire broke out at the home of a hotel owner in Odisha's capital Bhubaneswar this morning, killing four of his family members and their domestic help. The fire has been brought under control.

The owner of Pal Heights Hotel, Satpal Singh, managed to survive the blaze but was injured. His two sons, Gaganpal Singh and Bhabana Singh, two children and a domestic help died, reported news agency ANI.

"The fire broke out at around 4 am. There was a security guard downstairs but he was asleep. Satpal Singh and his family were on the ground floor. They didn't know there was fire on the first and second floor," said RC Majhi, Deputy Fire Officer. He said it was the neighbours who spotted the fire and informed the Police Control Room, who, in turn, alerted the fire brigade. Thick, dark plumes of smoke billowed from the bungalow.

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Exactly 20 years ago, on June 13, 1997, 59 lives were lost in a fire at Uphaar Cinema in South Delhi, and as the friends and relatives of the victims gathered today to mourn their loss, there was also a sense of dismay for being “denied justice” in the case.

Not only is the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy not satisfied with the judgment in the case delivered by the Supreme Court on February 9, it also believes that through a mercy petition, attempts are being made to even deny whatever sense of solace the order may have provided. The

petition has been filed by the noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani on behalf of Gopal Ansal, the builder and owner of the cinema hall, who was convicted and sentenced to a year in prison.

June13,2017

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court observed yesterday that not a single eatery in the popular Hauz Khas village in south Delhi appeared to have fire safety clearance. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar made the observation as the fire department had not disclosed in its affidavit whether it had received any reference from the police or the municipal corporations for fire safety certification to any eatery in the area.

It directed the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to provide a site plan of the area indicating the width of the street, location of the properties and the village area as well as the permissible usage of the properties as per the master plan of Delhi. The court issued the direction saying no master plan would allow a village to be converted into a street of restaurants.

June13,2017

Hauz Khas Eateries Don't Appear To Have Fire Clearance: High Court

Two Decades After the Uphaar Cinema Fire,Families of Victims Still Battling for Justice

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April 01, 2017

KOLKATA: Police have registered a case a�er two men were killed a�er a fire broke out on early Thursday morning at the Golden Park Hotel in central Kolkata. Seven people were admi�ed to the hospital. The deaths are believed to have been caused by inhaling smoke. The owner and manager of the hotel have been arrested.

"Two causali�es so far and most probably they died a�er inhaling carbon monoxide or suffoca�on," said

Amitabh Chakrabarty, officer-in-charge of the disaster management team. The hotel is located in an upmarket area just metres away from US Consulate and the Bri�sh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.

Kolkata Hotel Owner, Manager Arrested After 2 Die In Fire

Mar 17, 2017

MS Dhoni, former Indian cricket team captain, survived a fire scare on Friday. Fire broke out in Dwarka’s Welcome Hotel were he was staying with his Jharkhand state cricket teammates. All players and support dtaff were evacuated in �me and are safe. (India vs Australia live)

Dhoni’s state team is currently in  the Capital for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where his side reached the semi-finals. They were supposed to face Bengal on Friday, but the match has been postponed to Saturday. The blaze started at a Reliance store on the first floor of the hotel, said Surender Kumar, DCP (South-West). Dhoni was on the ninth floor while other cricketers were staying across three floors from seventh to ninth.

Narrow escapeThe situa�on could have been worse as the fire alarm did not go off in �me at the hotel. “What added to our concern was the fire alarm didn’t go off, so we assumed it to be a small fire accident. But when there was a strong burning smell, we were asked to vacate immediately. The seriousness of it struck us only when we got out. The smoke spread to our rooms as well. That is when we were asked to run down the stairs,” Jaggi added.

MS Dhoni survives fire scare; Jharkhand’s Vijay Hazare Trophy semifinal postponed

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March 30, 2017

he two deceased guests- a 48 year old ,Bamal Krishna from Odisha and a 40 year old ,Anup TAgarwal from Gujarat died being suffocated from the smoke. "Two people have been taken into police custody," said Sovan Cha�erjee, Mayor of Kolkata and Minister of Fire & Emergency. BS

Gujral, who is the owner of the hotel and Gautam Mazumder, hotel manager have been arrested by Shakespeare Sarani Police. On the basis of complaint, a case has been started against the hotel owner and management staff of Hotel Golden Parkk.

A forensic team also visited the spot and collected samples from the place of accident. The hotel was evacuated around 31 people were rescued from 29 hotel rooms, among whom 2 people are cri�cally injured. The injured are admi�ed in the SSKM Hospital in Kolkata. Around 10 Fire Brigade engines and Disaster Management unit controlled the fire at the hotel. Kolkata Mayor Sovan Cha�erjee asserted that the fire broke out from the kitchen in the first floor of the hotel and spread out to the en�re hotel. The disaster management unit had to break the glass window panes to rescue the people. "Fire broke out from the kitchen on the 1st floor and reached the room nearby where the AC duct, electricity duct got involved in the fire and people were working there. Gradually the fire and smoke reached the third floor and the en�re four-floored building was affected," said Cha�erjee.

Kolkata: 2 dead in hotel fire; owner, manager arrested

MARCH 17, 2017

The Jharkhand cricket team, including their skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on Friday escaped unhurt a�er a fire broke out at a five star hotel in Dwarka here leading to postponement of the Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-final against Bengal. The match that was supposed to be held at the Airforce ground in Palam has been rescheduled at Feroz Shah Kotla on Saturday a�er match referee Sanjay Verma announced the postponement. Dhoni along with his teammates was having breakfast at the team hotel, ITC

Welcome, when they were evacuated on a SOS basis. Around 540 guests were staying at the hotel, according to police sources. “Yes, it was scary as a fire broke out early in the morning. We were evacuated and brought to the ground,” Jharkhand coach Rajeev Kumar said. The match referee’s decision to postpone the game was taken as the kits of the team were at the hotel and there was no way that the match could have started.

Fire in Delhi hotel where Dhoni, teammates were staying

69

Jan 11, 2017

HYDERABAD: It turned out to be a tense Tuesday morning for guests at the Katriya Hotel & Towers, in the heart of the city, a�er a stack of ma�resses stored in the house-keeping area of the hotel went up in flames.

The fire, which started on the fourth floor, soon spread to the fi�h and sixth floors, causing panic among people witness to the incident. They recalled how thick smoke was seen billowing from the three floors even as guests rushed out of their rooms in panic.

Out of the 225 rooms present in the hotel, 20 were damaged in the accident, stated the ini�al findings of the state disaster response and fire services department. It found the hotel unsafe for habita�on. "The fire was of electric origin and ignited ma�resses and other fabric stored in the sha� around the li�. Fourth and fi�h floors saw maximum damage," a statement issued by the department read.

Jan. 11, 2017

HYDERABAD: A fire broke out on the fourth floor of Katriya Hotel on Raj Bhavan Road here on Tuesday morning. No casual�es were reported, police said. People rushed out in panic as the smoke spread to the top floors.

Four fire-tenders were pressed into service and, a�er an hour of struggle, the fire personnel managed to douse the flames. The fire department officials on Tuesday proposed cancella�on of the hotel’s trade licence, ci�ng that the building was unsafe.

“An electric wire caught fire due to short- circuit and it sparked fire on the fourth floor. There was a minor fire on the seventh floor as well. There were just around half a dozen people staying on the fourth floor when the incident occurred. Some of them moved to other rooms while some others to other hotels. The hotel is now func�oning normally,” said a senior member of the hotel staff.

Fire breaks out at Hyderabad’s Katriya Hotel

Twenty rooms damaged in fire accident, hotel declared unsafe

70

Dec. 21, 2016

GONDIA, MAHARASHTRA: At least seven people have died a�er a fire broke out at a hotel in Maharashtra's Gondia early this morning.

Seven persons died in the fire, Inspector General of Police, Gadchiroli Range, ST Bodakhe said. The rescue team had to struggle to make their way to Bindal Palaza hotel situated in a congested lane in one of busiest markets in the city. 15 fire engines were sent to the spot to douse the flames.

"Rescue work is underway and the fire brigade team is searching if any person is trapped inside the premises," a fire officer said. There where nearly 15 guests staying in the hotel at the �me of the mishap.

7 Killed In Fire At Hotel In Maharashtra's Gondia

Poin�ng out that vehicles parked on roads were a major cause of traffic conges�on, the Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the chief of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corpora�on (NMMC) what they proposed to do against the illegal use of parking lots in hotels and restaurants for commercial ac�vi�es.

A Bench of Chief Jus�ce Manjula Chellur and Jus�ce M S Sonak was hearing a public interest li�ga�on about parking

areas of 14 hotels and restaurants being used as banquet halls or for other commercial ac�vi�es. “If you take an aerial view of the city you won’t be able to see the road, all that will be visible is the parked vehicles,” said the court.

The Navi Mumbai civic body informed the court that it had issued no�ces to proper�es carrying out the illegal ac�vi�es.

Crack down on hotels using parking lots for commercial activities: Bombay High Court

December. 09, 2016

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July 05, 2016

Hotels not keeping �re extinguishers are death traps: Bombay High Court

Hotels and establishments which do not follow

the law by keeping fire extinguishers in their

premises can become death traps for people in

case of fire mishaps, the Bombay High Court

said today. “We may have to pay a heavy price

for not undertaking fire safety measures in

hotels, establishments and offices in the city,”

observed a bench headed by Justice Abhay

Oka while hearing a petition on the issue. The

bench asked the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to check such

practice and state what action they have taken against the erring establishments which do

not keep fire extinguishers in their premises. The court asked the MCGM to file an affidavit

in this regard within six weeks, not later than August 31.

Three persons were killed when a major fire broke out at a luxury hotel in Neemrana in Alwar district of Rajasthan in the wee hours of Friday.

According to police the fire broke out at 3am on the sixth floor of Cambay Sapphire Neemrana hotel.

Of the three persons, two died due to suffoca�on, while one succumbed to serious burn injuries. The fire tenders managed to douse the flames by 6am.

The two deceased are iden�fied as Rahul and Saurabh Chauhan, while one other is yet to be iden�fied. All three were staying as guests at the hotel. While the inves�ga�on is on, prima facie, electric short circuit is suspected to have caused the fire.

3 killed a�er fire breaks out at a hotel in Neemrana

Feb. 13, 2015