The government has initiated a move to address the local apparel makers' reservations over some standards, especially the use of sprinkler in the readymade garment (RMG) factories, set by the western retailers and brands, sources said.
The fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flow rate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected. These are historically used in factories and large commercial buildings.
The National Tripartite Committee (NTC), chaired by Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar, in the meeting held February 20, sought the list of the factories that are expected to require installation of the sprinkler.
Earlier, the NTC was formed to implement the National Plan of Action on Fire, Electrical and Building Safety in the readymade garment (RMG) sector. The NTC aims at preventing any further loss of life, limb and property in workplace fires or any other incident. It also comprises representatives from the Accord and the Alliance.
The meeting was attended by the representatives from the Accord, the Alliance, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the International Labour Organisation and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
The Labour Secretary told the FE that the NTC sought the list of those factories which might need to set up the sprinkler system.
The move came following the disagreement between the garment factory owners and the retailers as the EU based buyers' group started factory inspection with foreign engineers and a set of international standards including the use of sprinkler.
ILO country director Srinivas Reddy said the meeting informed that about 15 per cent of the running factories might need the sprinkler.
To find out how many factories are the members of the Accord and the Alliance, and the remaining factories if any, the NTC asked the BGMEA, Accord and Alliance to prepare such a list, he added.
After getting the list, it would be possible to find out the ways especially involvement of financing, whether the system is appropriate to the Bangladesh perspective or not, a meeting source said adding about 500 factories might come under the requirement.
When communicated, Rob Wayss, Executive Director- Bangladesh Operations of the Accord said they are ready to provide such list.
However, another source said the meeting clarified different issues that also include demand for inclusion of local engineers in the inspection teams, led by the Accord and the Alliance.
M Rabin, Managing director of the Alliance, said its factory assessment will be carried out with local experts.
The Accord recruited four global companies to assess the factories and will also recruit local engineers to follow up the programmes, the official said.
The meeting was mainly convened to bridge the gap among the Accord, the Alliance and the apparel makers.
President of the BGMEA Md Atiqul Islam told the FE, "We want all these things to be carried out as per the laws of the land and it requires time."
Automated use of sprinkler is a requirement by the western retailers that is not mandatory according to the Bangladesh National Building Code while the apparel manufacturers frequently oppose it.
A manufacturer said mandatory use of sprinkler means the shut-down of about 500 factories that. This is not realistic as thousands of workers will be jobless.
Earlier, in a meeting with the buyers' representatives, the BGMEA president said according to their standards, the buildings above two floors with an area of 22,000 sft and above, and also the high-rise buildings are required to install auto sprinkler in every floor and every part of a building.
"This is going to create a huge challenge for the factories in terms of cost, installation and possible hazards after installation," he added.
However, the meeting sources said they will sit shortly to resolve all the issues.
