Andheri fire pushes draft framework for old high-rises

The blaze on the twelfth floor of the 32-year-old residential tower, Kanchan Ganga in Andheri has exposed brewing fire hazards in old high-rises in the city. Learning a lesson, the Mumbai fire department will finally draft a framework for old skyscrapers.

The state-appointed high-rise committee will form guidelines and mandatory compliances for old structures. “All proposals bought under the high-rise committee are scanned for fire safety provisions. Meanwhile, the structures which have been built already have not been scrutinised,” said Chief fire officer, Uday Tatkare.

For the purpose, a schematic scrutiny plan for the old high-rises will be chalked out, Tatkare added.

The city has over 6,000 high rises. And 50% of these structures were built before the high-rise committee was appointed.

Consequently, over 50% of the high-rises are out of the purview of the committee and have not been inspected. “A large chunk of the existing skyscrapers have structural defaults as they are not in compliance with the criteria laid out by the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006,” added Tatkare.
Any building with more than 7 floors and 24m in height is categorised as a high-rise.

In the fire mishap in the Kanchan Ganga, both the refuge area and emergency fire exit were missing. Moreover, the internal fire fighting system was in a defunct state. The width of the staircases was also lesser than the necessary 1.5 meter and the lift lobby had zero ventilation.