Authorities asleep as many bldgs ignore fire safety

Although many high-rise commercial buildings have been occupied without fulfilling the fire safety standards, those are yet to be identified because 99 per cent of the owners are least bothered about having occupancy certificates following the approval of the building plans, claimed fire service officials. The officials also raised concern over the increase in factory buildings in the city in an unplanned way and stressed the need for having stricter rules to regulate the fire safety measures in all kinds of buildings -- residential, commercial and industrial -- big or small. Talking to UNB over the issues of fire safety and occupancy, Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate’s instructor M Akram said only 1 in 100 owners of high-rise buildings cares about collecting the occupancy certificate, leaving the authorities in the absolute dark about their fire safety standards.