The Bombay High Court was informed by the Maharashtra government on October 11 that the final fire safety rules for high-risk buildings in Mumbai and the entire state would be put into effect. This decision comes in the wake of the Chembur fire tragedy that resulted in seven fatalities, leading the court to demand stricter safety measures. The new amendments require high-risk buildings to install fire towers with two-hour fire resistance, evacuation lifts, and ventilated lobbies. High-rises over 90 metres must have break tanks with fire pumps every 65 metres. These regulations will be integrated into the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR) for Greater Mumbai, enhancing existing fire safety laws.
On October 11, the Maharashtra government informed the Bombay High Court that it has issued final notifications to enforce fire safety regulations for high-risk buildings in Mumbai and across the state. This move follows the tragic Chembur fire incident, which claimed seven lives, prompting closer scrutiny of fire safety measures by the court.The Bombay High Court had previously ordered the state government to outline a clear timeline for implementing stricter fire safety rules.
The court emphasised that failure to act could lead to halting development permissions in Mumbai, highlighting the urgency of addressing fire safety to prevent future tragedies.Under the new amendments, buildings classified as high-risk must implement specific fire safety features.
This includes the installation of fire towers with a minimum of two-hour fire resistance, firemen evacuation lifts, and ventilated lobbies connected to fire escape staircases. For high-rise buildings reaching 90 metres or more, there is a requirement to provide break tanks equipped with fire pumps every 65 metres above ground level. These water tanks can be placed on service floors or near refuge areas. The new regulations will be incorporated into the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR) 2034 for Greater Mumbai and the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) for the rest of the state.
Despite ongoing delays in enforcement, the court has set a hearing for November 20, 2024, and requested the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) chief fire officer to file a detailed affidavit addressing concerns over inadequate fire safety approvals.
The Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, already sets out fire safety requirements for multi-storey buildings, but the recent amendments aim to strengthen these guidelines, particularly for high-rise structures. With over 6,700 high-rise buildings in the state and nearly 3,600 located in Mumbai alone, these changes are critical for ensuring public safety.
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