Fire Safety Audit Report: Serious shortcomings in firefighting system of top govt offices

As per the report, the New Haryana Secretariat building that houses the offices of all the principal secretaries of Hayana, building of Principal Accountant General Punjab and UT, office of Customs, Excise and Income Tax in Sector 17 all are at risk.

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In the New Haryana Secretariat building, the yard hydrants were found leaking, that too without hose. Nozzle and internal hydrants accessories were found missing. Not just this, even the automatic detection system and public address (PA) system was not working. The fireman lift was too without a fireman switch. Apart from loose electrical wiring, the main pumps were out of order. The sprinkler system was not even properly installed.

In the office of Principal Accounts General (Audit) Punjab and UT in Sector 17, the basic hose pipes and hose reel nozzle were found missing. The jockey pump too was not in a working order and was leaking, as per the report. No provision of illuminated exit signs, loose electrical wiring, and yard hydrants without accessories were other deficiencies in the system. The building of Principal Accountant General (A and E) Punjab and UT too had similar shortcomings. Here, apart from loose electrical wiring found by the inspection team, yard hydrants were found without accessories. Modular pressure was found less.

The inspection team found irregularities in the firefighting system of the Central Revenue Building and Customs Excise and Income Tax department in Sector 17 as well. The automatic detection/alarm system was not working, no proper exit signs were there. Wet riser and down corner system was without accessories. The fireman lift was without fireman switch and PA system was out of order.

The condition of the firefighting system at Kairon administrative block in PGI was deplorable. The team said that there was not even a fire control room and no provision of fire lift was made.

The mechanical ventilation with detection system has not been provided in the accounts branch here. There is no underground static water storage tank, no hose reels and no illuminated emergency exit signboards have been provided. All these are mandatory requirements as per the national building code.