Had the Carlton Tower Association got their fire safety equipment audited, the tragedy could have been averted. Fire safety measures in high-rise buildings and public structures are a must for obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) form local bodies. If the fire measures are infringed upon after obtaining the NOC, the fire and emergency department can take up criminal prosecution under the provisions of the Karnataka Fire Services Act 1964.

Also, such buildings will not merit regularisation. Keeping the residents’ safety in mind, the state government has framed preventive measures for buildings that are 15 metres and higher in respect of high-rise buildings and other important public places. The notification has guidelines for safety measures for both high rises and public buildings.

The BBMP or any other planning body must not grant building plan or license if an NOC is not obtained from the fire and emergency services. In respect of high rises, the owners or associations must get their building inspected by agencies empanelled by the fire and emergency department to ensure that the safety equipment installed are in good and working condition.

The state government had issued the notification in the wake of the High Court’s interim order. An inspecting officer is supposed to carry out surprise checks at least once in two years to ascertain that the fire safety measures provided in the high rise buildings are as per the applicable law, rules and by-laws of the local authority.

Safety measures for high rise buildings should also be adhered to under the building by-law, zonal regulations, National Building Code being followed by the builders, developers or contractors. They must also provide safety measures in such structures, failing which occupancy certificates will not be issued, the notification directs.

In so far as existing buildings and buildings which are under construction are concerned, the occupancy certificate should not be issued until sufficient fire protection systems are installed. Such buildings must be certified by the fire officer not below the rank of district fire officer and nominated by the director general, fire and emergency services. The notification also directs the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and other local bodies to refrain from issuing occupancy certificates unless sufficient fire protection systems are installed.