The Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES) has initiated a significant audit campaign to enhance fire safety across government schools throughout the state, now including even low-rise school structures in their review.
Concurrently, the fire department is actively researching safety regulations from other Indian states to craft robust, comprehensive guidelines tailored for all hospitals and clinics within Karnataka.
By the end of August, the KSFES had already inspected 24,000 of the approximately 46,000 government schools in Karnataka, with the full survey anticipated to be finalized within the next two months.
While a Fire Safety Non-Objection Certificate (NOC) is typically mandatory for high-rise buildings, including schools, all educational institutions are still required to install essential safety equipment and display precautionary notices based on the fire department’s recommendations, even if an NOC isn’t strictly enforced for low-rise structures.
Fire Department officials have acknowledged that an audit of this magnitude had not been previously conducted, despite its necessity. The Education Department proactively approached the KSFES several months ago, requesting this audit and a detailed list of safety mandates for all government schools in Karnataka.
Shivashankar T.N., Director of the KSFES, explained to The Hindu that this extensive audit will meticulously evaluate each school’s fire safety equipment, structural integrity, and water storage capacities.
“Most government schools are single-storey buildings, which technically don’t require an NOC. However, with the expansion of midday meal programs, we deemed this audit a crucial precautionary step,” he elaborated.
Enhanced Fire Safety Audit for Hospitals
For hospitals, regardless of their building height, both the NOC and adherence to fire advisories have been made compulsory. This stricter stance reflects their critical role in public health, where lives are acutely at risk during emergencies.
Historically, fire safety NOC and advisory regulations in standard buildings have often been overlooked due to a lack of accountability in routine inspections and penalties. However, for hospitals and schools, the NOC is indispensable for obtaining operational licenses. For example, hospitals must secure a fire department NOC before receiving accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and clearances from the health department, as mandated by the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act.
Smaller private medical facilities, including clinics, have frequently expressed concerns regarding the high expenses associated with implementing comprehensive fire safety measures. This apprehension was substantiated by a fire department audit, which alarmingly revealed that less than 30% of hospitals had complied with existing fire safety advisories.
High-Level Discussions on New Hospital Guidelines
According to a fire department official, a recent high-level meeting involving the health department concluded that it is essential to study fire safety best practices in other states. This research will inform the development of practical and all-encompassing advisories specifically for medical establishments in Karnataka.
“Following this decision, we have commenced visits to various states to analyze their successful implementation models,” the officer confirmed.