To prevent fire accidents like the three incidents reported last Thursday and Friday, updated building rules in Ahmedabad will make it mandatory for new buildings to use standard electrical wiring and get mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) plans approved by authorised consultants.
Most fire incidents are caused by electrical short circuits. Officials said that under the current Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations (CGDCR), there is no proper inspection of essential electrical systems such as wiring and circuit breakers in new residential and commercial buildings.
Under the revised CGDCR, registration of MEP consultants will become compulsory. These consultants will be responsible for approving building plans and ensuring that proper electrical safety measures are followed.
The new rules are expected to ensure the use of standard wiring, circuit breakers and other fire prevention systems in all new buildings. The Gujarat government has indicated that the revised CGDCR for Ahmedabad and other cities in the state will soon be implemented.
Sources in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) said the state government introduced the CGDCR in 2017. Under the existing rules, registration is compulsory for architects, engineers, structural engineers, supervisors, clerks of works and fire protection consultants involved in construction projects.
These officials are responsible for implementing safety measures during construction, while obtaining a fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) after completion of the building is also mandatory. However, there are currently no specific provisions for reviewing mechanical, electrical or plumbing plans.
Under the new regulations, development permission and building-use permission will only be granted after MEP consultants approve the plans.
An official from the AMC Fire and Emergency Service said inspections are currently conducted to ensure that fire-fighting equipment, entry and exit points and access routes for fire vehicles are properly arranged before issuing a fire NOC.
However, the officer stressed that fire prevention measures are equally important. “It is necessary to check whether standard wiring, proper circuit breakers and ventilation systems are installed in new buildings,” the official said.
The officer added that electrical short circuits remain the most common cause of fires and poor-quality wiring or electrical equipment is often responsible for such incidents.