Defunct sprinklers, damaged hydrants: Fire NOC rejected for RML Hospital’s trauma building

The report said that lifts were not protected with a dedicated lift lobby, and essential pressurisation systems for lift shafts, lift lobbies, and staircases were missing. While an automatic sprinkler system had been installed, it was found to be non-functional. In several areas, including above false ceilings, sprinklers were missing altogether, according to the report.

The smoke-management system was also non-functional, and hose reels installed on the premises failed to work. Fire check doors were absent at several locations, and many utility shafts remained unsealed, compromising the building’s ability to contain fire and smoke.

Further checks showed that hose boxes lacked hoses ain multiple places, and several yard hydrants were damaged. In a significant water-supply lapse, the overhead storage tank was not connected to the firefighting system; its capacity was also only 30,000 litres, far below the required 50,000 litres.

Fire pumps, critical for initiating firefighting operations, were found not to be operating in auto mode. Inspectors also noted a temporary structure on the fifth-floor terrace that did not appear in the sanctioned plan. Additionally, staircases were not continuous up to the terrace level as approved in the original layout.

In the wake of these concerns, the Fire department has declined to issue a fire safety certificate for the trauma building. Officials cautioned that continued use of the premises without the mandated fire-safety provisions would remain entirely at the “risk and liability” of the hospital authorities.

A senior official from the hospital said that an application will soon be submitted for the fire NOC (no objection certificate) for both the trauma building and the super speciality block.

The official added that RML Hospital is National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH)a-accredited, and all its buildings have obtained fire NOCs except the trauma building.

“This exception occurred because construction work was ongoing in the adjacent Super Speciality Block (SSB), resulting in construction materials and activity in the area at the time the NOC was being processed. Now that the SSB building is complete, the surrounding area has been cleared, and a six-meter-wide road is available in front of the building, with adequate access at the rear as well. Given the proximity of the two buildings, we are now applying for the fire NOC for both the Trauma Building and the SSB together,” said an official.

He said the trauma building itself is fully compliant with fire-safety standards. It has a large ramp and multiple fire-escape routes up to the fourth floor. “The fifth floor is used solely for academic purposes and is not occupied by patients, which is why the ramp does not extend to that level. A fire audit has already been conducted, and most parameters received five-star ratings. The observations were positive, and any minor issues identified have either been resolved or are in the process of being addressed,” he added.