Civic authorities unable to identify exact number of glass facade buildings in Mumbai, to publish ads

The Mumbai Fire Brigade in January had framed a new set of rules to be implemented in old glass-facade buildings, that came up before 2012, which was supposed to be implemented by the building proposal department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, following a final go-ahead from municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte. A separate set of rules for new and upcoming glass facade buildings was already put in place in 2013, after a fire took place at a commercial high rise in September 2012.

The authorities were to get into action immediately and issue letters to pre2012 glass facade structures asking them to comply within 120 days. However, the process has failed to take off since the authorities have been unable to identify the exact number of old glass facade buildings across the city in the last several months. As a result, they have decided to soon put up advertisements to invite owners of such buildings at the fire brigade office and collect the new set of rules meant for such buildings.

Chief fire officer Sunil Nesarikar told dna that the purpose of the advertisements will be create awareness among owners of old glass facade buildings who will approach the fire brigade to get a know how of rules framed for such glass buildings.

"That way, we will get a fair idea of the number of such buildings. They will be given a time period to inculcate the changes in their buildings as per the new law. After that, if they don't adhere to the rules given, action will be taken against them," Nesarikar said.

The building proposal department will be carrying out checks to ensure the implementation of the rules, another official said.

As per the rules, owners of such buildings must provide smoke seal/ barriers between the building wall and facade on every floor level in the form of non-combustible material/vermiculite cement, according to the new norms. People should be able to open glass panes blocking staircases, lift lobby and corridors. Pressurised system of the staircase/ lobby should be synchronised with glass facade window opening mechanism.

The rules also recommended that a minimum 2.5 per cent of the floor area of each compartment on every floor should be utilised in such a manner that they can be cleared immediately in case of emergencies.

Fire officials want the refuge area to be built above the height of 1.2 metres from the flooring level. If covered with glass facade, one should be able to access it from directions.

The need for a fresh set of rules of old glass facade structures was highlighted after a massive inferno at Lotus Business Park in Andheri west in July 2012, that has claimed a fireman's life and injured 20 others.