The Chief Minister’s camp office in Begumpet will soon be transformed into a fire-resistant building with the government deciding to install the latest fire safety systems.
Administrative sanction was given to install 21 wireless smoke detectors at a cost of over Rs.2.70 lakh at the camp office. These detectors will be connected to a wireless smoke detector control panel, through which security men will get an alert in case of a fire breaks out on the premises, say officials.
Security personnel could either put out the flames with the help of 20 portable fire extinguishers that have already been installed in the building or call the fire control room. The detectors will also help the security personnel locate the origin of fire, they say.
Smoke detectors are to be installed at strategic locations inside the two-storied Chief Minister’s camp office. “The installation work could take up to two weeks, with plans drawn up to invite tenders,” says R&B Department Executive Engineer (Electrical) P. Harshavardhan Rao. This facility will be in addition to the existing wired detectors. Both the wired and wireless detectors will work simultaneously, he says.
As per the norms of the National Building Code (NBC), buildings with 15 metres height (commercial) and are 18 metres and above (residential) should comply with fire safety norms. Although the Chief Minister’s camp is a two-storied structure, the government does not want to take any chances with any major fire accidents, they maintain.
Fire Department records in the last six months show that close to 700 out of 876 fire accidents taken place in the State capital was due to electrical short-circuit and careless throwing of cigarette butts.
The caption for the picture accompanying this article has been corrected for a factual error.
