Guesthouse owners will now have to submit floor-wise building plans indicating the use of each level while applying for the fire safety certificate.
The amendments to Delhi Building Byelaws, 2016 were made in an inter-department meeting chaired by urban development minister Satyendar Jain. The meeting was also attended by senior officers of the three municipal corporations, Delhi Fire Service and urban development and home departments.
The deadly fire at Hotel Arpit Palace on February 12 spread due to temporary construction made of inflammable material on the rooftop. Excessive use of combustible material in corridors, passages and staircase helped the fire spread quickly.
The amendments state that storage of inflammable material will not be allowed on the rooftops. “No temporary roofing over the roof or terrace using FRP or any inflammable material will be allowed,” the amendment reads. Inflammable construction materials, like wood or foam paneling, carpet, will not be used in passages, corridors or staircases. Gas bank, if any, will be installed conforming to the standards prescribed in National Building Code, it added.
The owners will have to submit three signed hard copies along with one soft copy of all floor plans, indicating the floor-wise use, while submitting the application to the fire department for its no objection certificate.
They will have to install carbon monoxide detectors and alarm as per standards prescribed by Delhi Fire Service, while natural or mechanical arrangements for smoke ventilation of all passages, corridors on each floor and staircases will also have to be made.
Fire doors having resistance rating of not less than one hour at the entrance of staircases will have to be provided where the number of occupants is more than 10 on each floor.