Ahmedabad: To avert fires, updated rules to make consultant check of new buildings’ wires mandatory

Ahmedabad: To avert fire accidents — like the three that occurred last Thursday and Friday — reworked rules will mandate that new buildings use only standard wiring and have their mechanical, electrical, and plumbing plans approved by designated consultants.Most fires are caused by electrical short circuits. Due to flaws in the current Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations (CGDCR), no inspections are conducted of basic elements such as wiring and circuit breakers in new residential or commercial buildings.Therefore, the new CGDCR will mandate the registration of MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) consultants who will approve the plans.This will ensure that all electrical safety measures, including the use of standard wiring and circuit breakers, are implemented in every new building. The state govt has indicated that the new CGDCR, with construction rules for Ahmedabad and other cities of Gujarat, will be implemented.Sources from the AMC stated that the state govt implemented CGDCR in 2017. In Part 1, Chapter 4 of CGDCR, the responsibility of the owner is defined. Registration is mandatory for the following: architect on record, engineer on record, structural engineer on record, clerk of works on record, supervisor of works on record, and fire protection consultant on record.They are responsible for implementing safety measures at construction sites. After the building is constructed, obtaining a fire NOC is mandatory. Appointing a fire consultant is also mandatory.However, there are no provisions for the scrutiny of mechanical, electrical, or plumbing plans for new buildings.But under the new regulations, after an MEP consultant approves plans, development permission and building-use permission will be granted.An officer from the AMC’s Fire and Emergency Service stated, “Under the current system, inspections are conducted to ensure that fire equipment is installed according to regulations to prevent fires in new buildings.”Inspections ensure that entry and exit points are adequate, and arrangements are in place for fire vehicles to move. “All these aspects are checked before issuing a fire NOC. However, measures to prevent fires are also necessary,” the officer said. “For example, it is important to verify whether standard wiring is installed in new buildings, or if circuit breakers and ventilation systems are in place.”The officer said short circuits are the most common cause. “Poor-quality wiring or electrical equipment can be responsible for these short circuits,” the officer said. “Therefore, approving wiring, plumbing, and electrical plans in every new building is crucial to preventing fires.”BoxDisquieting recordFires within Ahmedabad city limitsYear # Fire accidents2019-20 # 1,7662020-21 # 1,7372021-22 # 1,6782022-23 # 2,0572023-24 # 2,285Total # 9,523BoxBlaze breakdown (2023-24)Location of fire # Number of accidentsChemical colour units # 04Residential # 454Units with cellulose, kerosene # 05Units with electric circuits, decorative items # 210Petroleum, oil, & refining units # 05Shops, offices, & commercial units # 33Theatres, cinemas, dance halls, hotels # 24Showrooms, restaurants # 18Railways, vehicles # 195Storage, coal units, warehouses # 90Textile mill, industries, factories # 102Shops with cloth, other items # 159Printing machine unit # 01Facilities related to gas cylinders, sewage # 141Grassy areas, trees # 327Religious sites # 05Other # 512Total # 2,285