The Health and Family Welfare Department is in a fix over imposing fire safety guidelines on clinical establishments and issuance of certificates for operating such medical institutions including pathology laboratories. At a review meeting held in the Secretariat recently, while the Fire Safety officer opined that the height of the structures where clinical establishments are functioning may not exceed nine metres to get the certificate, a joint committee on fire safety norms recommended that the structures with a height of nine metres or more can obtain the certificate.
The Health Department now is in a dilemma over which guideline to be followed while imposing the safety norm since the officer says they have ladders up to the level of nine metres to fight fire emergencies. On the other hand, some other officials who attended the meeting were of the opinion that the guideline should be applicable for establishments which are limited to ground plus two structures. A senior health official said they apprehend that such a condition may affect a large number of existing clinical establishments and consequently may lead to widespread resentment.
“We have written to Director General of Fire Services for examination of ground situation for issuance of fire safety certificate and furnish his considered view on such a stand taken by the fire safety officer so that a decision can be taken at this level,” he informed. As per recommendations of the joint committee, clinical establishments functioning in structures with a height of nine metres or more from ground level or buildings having three or more floors can be issued fire safety certificate. The clinical establishments not coming under the category shall be self-regulators as far as fire prevention/safety measures are concerned. They will provide a fire safety self-declaration in form of affidavit that they have all fire prevention/safety measures as prescribed in National Building Code of India, 2005.
Date: July 27, 2016