The Accord will start assessing fire and building-safety compliances of readymade garment (RMG) units in Bangladesh from tomorrow (Wednesday).
The assessment will take place amid some reservations from factory owners on certain standards to be followed during the inspection, people involved with the project said.
The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh is an initiative of about 150 European brands, retailers and companies. It was formed to ensure work-place safety in the country's apparel units industry for a period of five years following the Tazreen and Rana Plaza tragedies that killed more than 1,200 garment workers.
In the first phase, the Accord will assess 200 garment factories and is committed to complete its inspection of a total of 1,500 factories by September next, they added.
However, apparel manufacturers have raised their objections to some of standards. These include use of automatic sprinkler system, fire escapes and fire doors and future of the factories located at shared and rented buildings, the remediation plan and funds required for its execution.
"Yes, the Accord's inspection of garment factories will start from Wednesday," Rob Wayss, Executive Director- Bangladesh Operations of the Accord told the FE Monday.
A total of four international firms-one for fire, one for electrical and two for building structure-will carry out the assessment in 200 factories in the first phase, he said.
An agreement has already been signed between the Accord and the four companies to conduct the initial assessment, particularly on the building structure, by September next.
"Some of the buildings will require further assessment and we will do the same.
"Process of recruiting 25 local engineers is on and they will look into the safety issues," he said.
Mr Rob expressed his hope that their inspection would be completed within the September deadline unless the programme is hampered by any political turmoil like hartals and blockades.
When asked, the Accord executive said a uniform set of standards will be followed for inspecting the listed factories irrespective of their location at shared, rented or industrial purpose buildings.
The Accord has set its standards based on the Bangladesh National Building Code, he added.
In spite of the BNBC, the Accord has set some additional conditions as per the demands of the brands.
Replying to a question over the manufacturers' disagreement regarding some standards, he said they are actively engaged in the process and having meetings with the brands and supplier factories.
Citing Sunday's views-exchange meeting between the Accord and its sourcing factories, he said during the meeting they clarified some of the concerns of the suppliers over standards through questions and answers.
However, the meeting sources said a number of manufacturers raised concern over the use of automatic sprinkler system, fire escape, fire wire walls and structure and fire door in the meeting.
Terming some of the Accord's requirements 'unrealistic', the garment manufacturers raised questions about the financing of additional costs involved in it and their remedy plan.
They also raised their concerns as to whether the Accord would apply its standards in the factory buildings set up before the enforcement of the BNBC 2006.
The apparel makers also urged the Accord to make sure that any individual buyer does not conduct assessment during its inspection programme.
They also urged the buyers not to stop their sourcing from Bangladesh's garment factories, either located at shared building or rented houses.
When asked about the RMG makers' demand for remediation plan, Mr Rob said the Accord would mention about it in its final report, which will be made public after completion of its assessment.
Replying to another question about the financing of remediation or relocation, he said, in some cases factory owners would be able to pay for everything while the brands would help any factories that require assistance.
