Ghaziabad Apartment Fire Highlights Urgent Need for High-Rise Safety Awareness

On April 29, a big fire broke out at a high-rise residential complex in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, resulting in a massive firefighting and rescue operation. The incident follows a fire in Gurugram that apparently burned two posh flats in Sector 63A.

Such events are becoming more common, typically due to short circuits during peak summer heat, prompting new worries about fire safety in multi-story housing complexes, particularly among inhabitants on higher floors. Experts believe these events underscore the importance of stronger compliance and regular fire safety examinations, particularly during restoration work.

Here’s what occupants of high-rise buildings should know:

1. Maintain air conditioning units routinely.

Poor maintenance of electrical appliances, particularly air conditioners, is a major cause of fire. With power demand peaking throughout the summer, housing societies must assess load capacity and plan modifications ahead of time.

To alleviate load stress, residents should avoid operating air conditioners continually and keep their thermostats around 24°C.

2. Install and learn how to utilize fire extinguishers.

High-rise apartment buildings should have fire extinguishers fitted both inside and outside. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) must provide regular training and mock exercises to ensure that residents understand how to use them during an emergency.

3. Use staircases instead of lifts during a fire.
   Lifts should be utilized exclusively by firefighters. Staircases are meant to be largely smoke-free thanks to pressurisation systems, making them the safest escape path, according to fire safety experts.

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Common places, particularly staircases, must be clear of impediments. Pressurisation systems and smoke detectors should be examined on a regular basis for functionality.

4. Maintain chimney and kitchen safety measures.

Oil deposits in chimneys can fire at high temperatures, therefore regular cleaning is vital. They believe that societies with commercial kitchens, such as those in clubhouses, must install additional fire protection systems.

5. Ensure that fire water systems are functional.

Fire tanks, which are usually housed underground or on terraces, are vital in an emergency. Experts believe that in some complexes, swimming pools are connected with fire systems and can serve as supplementary water sources.

6. Perform frequent fire safety audits.

Fire audits, required every two years by the National Building Code 2016, evaluate the readiness of fire systems, electrical dangers, and emergency preparedness. Despite this, many societies consider audits an avoidable expense.

7. Check the smoke detectors and sprinkler systems.

Smoke detectors within units and in communal spaces must work. Homes in buildings taller than 30 metres (more than 15 storeys) must have detectors that are linked to the central fire system.

Experts warn that renovations frequently harm or disable these systems. “Residents should ensure that smoke detection systems are not tampered with during interior work,” Kumar stated.

Fire infrastructure must keep up with vertical growth.

Experts also raise a wider concern: the firefighting infrastructure in areas such as Delhi-NCR has not kept up with rapid vertical construction. High-rises must ensure that fire No Objection Certificates are renewed on schedule and that safety regulations are strictly followed.