Mumbai Grahak Panchayat White Paper on Safety in Electrical Installations in Housing Sector
Electricity is as important as food, clothing and shelter to the mankind. While constructing a house the Electrical installations need to planned and installed in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003, the Rules and Regulations framed thereunder taking into consideration the applicable Codes and Standards. The rising number of Electrical fire accidents reported in the National Crime Report of 2018 in the residential sector and the major fire incidents occurring recently are signalling the necessity to look into the Electrical safety aspects in the planning and execution of the residential projects. After the fire it is difficult to identify as to who is responsible for the fire accident. Whether it is due to insufficient provision in civil design by the Developer/Architect, faulty Electrical design by the MEP Consultant, improper execution or unskilled/ faulty workmanship by the Electrical Contractor. Each one shirks away the liability and the home buyers are left to suffer.
This is an exercise to study the adequacy of the existing laws, codes, standards and practices and to recommend solution to fix the gaps, if any, in the applicable law in force and the practices followed by the various professionals associated with the construction. We gathered inputs from professionals like Developers Architects, Electrical Consultants, Electrical Contractors and the industry bodies by way of survey, discussion and personal interviews. We considered the applicable laws and the practices followed by the above to identify the gaps and suggest some means to plug those.
Impact assessment of fire incidents and implications for safety standards and regulations in India
Fire impacts people, places, properties and the environment around the globe. Fire destroys everything in its path and the resulting losses and impacts are huge and widespread. It can have long-lasting consequences for those caught in it as well as the cascading shocks for people and systems. As per the National Crime Records Bureau, between 2001 and 2020, India recorded more than 370,000 deaths and 39,000 serious injuries due to fire incidents. Besides death and injuries, there have been devasting physical, economic, health, psychological and environmental impacts of these incidents. Yet, there is a lack of formal studies or research reports in India that capture these impacts in detail for their severity and consequences.
This study is an endeavour to address the research gap by examining the economic, social, health and environmental impacts of fire in residential, commercial and public buildings. Six case studies, from Mumbai, Ahmednagar, Surat and Delhi, have been chosen for in-depth analysis of these impacts. The analysis brings out significant implications for safety standards, policies and regulations and the behavioral change needed as a society.
During the last two decades, big changes are happening around us in terms of design and construction of new mixed-use buildings, high-rises and skyscrapers, new materials being used for interior designing and modifications inside premises to create more space. Equipment currently used to fight fires in such establishments is grossly inadequate. Fire safety norms, rules and regulations also need constant revision and upgradation to account for new construction material. Efforts should also be made to ‘build back better’ when rehabilitation of fire-affected premises is done so that people do not come back to the same hazards.
Identifying Gaps and Needs to Enhance Fire Safety in India
Fire is always one of the major disasters that threaten life, structure, property, and the environment. In India where most of the urban areas are densely packed and heavily populated, fire poses a significant challenge and greater risk to buildings and lives. Fire incidents have become a regular occurrence in the country, which has led to massive financial damage and fatalities. The analysis of fire safety in the country through this study brings to light those policies and systems related to fire services in India that need further strengthening.
The status of fire accidents in India based on the available data and the analysis of recent fire incidents, therefore, justifies the need for an in-depth study of the whole issue related to fire prevention and safety in the country Hence, this knowledge paper developed by CUTS International with the support of APCO Worldwide India Private Limited attempts to identify the gaps and highlight the challenges from a national perspective. It points out best practices within the country and across the globe that our policymakers can rely upon.
The paper focused extensively on secondary data relevant to fire accidents in India and around the world largely relying upon government data, official documents, internet articles, newspapers, investigation papers, other reports and round-table discussions with experts and professionals. Hence, this paper would hopefully be helpful to policymakers within the government and other related stakeholders and help them strengthen the existing fire prevention policies and enforcement.