For the first time, E&DM collects spot penalty from high-rise

Dept imposed millions in fines on high-rises in the past but could not recover it

ISLAMABAD: For the first time in its history, the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation’s (IMC) Emergency and Disaster Management (E&DM) Directorate has collected spot penalty from a high-rise building in the capital for failing to comply with the Islamabad Fire Prevention and Safety Regulations 2010.

“Bank  Al-Falah, Stock Exchange Branch submitted an amount of Rs75,000 in terms of penalty payment on non-compliance of fire-fighting arrangements, including missing smoke detectors, control panels apart from fire alarm panels,” E&DM Director Zafar Khan told The Express Tribune.

He explained that the department has imposed millions in fines on high-rise buildings in the past, however, nothing had been recovered. This was the first time, it said, that the directorate had managed to recover a spot fine from a violator under the fire prevention and life safety regulations.

According to Emergency and Disaster Management Directorate’s record, until September 14, 2017, the E&DM’s had to collect a principal amount of Rs14 million and an accumulated amount of Rs105 million in terms of pending challans.

The E&DM has inspected around 1,300 high-rise building and warned them of violating fire-safety regulations since 2011 and imposed total fines or penalties on 53 violators — including public and private sector buildings — under clause 6 and 9 of the Islamabad Fire Prevention & Safety regulations. However, recovery of 50 challans is still pending.

Recently, new cases were forwarded to the E&DM director for imposing penalties. The directorate has been pleading with the land and estate wing to direct builders to obtain a no-objection certificate from E&DM for fire prevention, protection and life safety before green-lighting any transfer of building to ensure the capital is disaster and fire free.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) had notified Building Standards for Fire Prevention and Life Safety in 2010 in order to prevent and mitigate effects of disasters, natural calamities and emergencies, particularly those arising from fires.

IMC E&DM Director Zafar Khan said that the directorate had conducted a detailed survey of government offices and high-rises of the capital.

The surveys disclosed that fire extinguishing devices and other fire safety tools were not installed and were usually missing in buildings.

In the light of survey, the CDA compiled detailed safety regulations as per international standards, which was approved by the CDA Board.  The building standards have been divided into three categories: fire prevention, life safety and fire protection.

Fire prevention covers design and construction of buildings on passive fire protection measures, including various types of building material and their fire safety rating.

The life safety provision deals with events of fire and similar emergencies, addressing construction and occupancy features that are necessary to minimise the danger to life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic.

The protection relates to appurtenance, related components and guidelines for selecting correct types of equipment and installations meant for fire protection of buildings depending on their classifications and types.

Under the safety regulations, E&DM has the powers to vacate or seal any building or impose fine up to Rs500,000 if it finds any violation of Fire Prevention and Life Safety regulations.

“The number of high rise buildings is increasing in Islamabad therefore to ensure the safety of general public the compliance of Islamabad Fire Prevention & Safety Regulations 2010 has gained greater importance,” CDA Public Relation Directorate Deputy Director Malik Saleem Akhter said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2017.