What the Americans did to terror-proof their buildings after 9/11,the state government will do for its buildings after 26 A panel will try and adapt,to Indian needs,the guidelines laid out in an American reference manual to mitigate potential terrorist attacks against buildings. Following the September 11 terrorist attack,the United States had made the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) part of the Department of Homeland Security. FEMAs 426 manual details various steps and checklists to be followed by architects and engineers to alleviate structural damage to vulnerable buildings and people in those buildings during terrorist attacks. The state government will take a leaf out of the United States emergency management rulebook while preparing manuals for its terror-proof buildings. In a meeting held on Thursday,the state government formed a sub-committee under NV Merani,the architect of the Security Control Rules that are to govern all building constructions in the state. The sub-committee will try and adapt FEMA 426. The committee has been given about three months to prepare manuals and handbooks for terror-proof buildings and design the protocol to be followed. According to TC Benjamin,Principal Secretary for Urban Development,these manuals would be applicable only to categories I and II of buildings identified as having a high threat perception. Buildings of iconic value or strategic importance,those with high importance for governance,certain five star hotels,those in religious and tourists places fall under category I. Category II includes buildings meant for provision of emergency services like telephone,electricity,railway stations,schools and hospitals,as well as buildings with a built-up area over 10,000 sq m or an occupancy over 1,000 people. Benjamin added that in addition to FEMA 426,the committee will also borrow from the IS (Indian Standards) 4991,which specifies blast-resistant design for structures. Until these manuals are ready,we will follow the FEMA 426 guidelines in their present form, said Benjamin. The sub-committee will have to prepare manuals for audit of existing and new buildings,security based designs for buildings and for preparation of digitalised floor plans. The digitalised floor plans,a copy of which will be maintained with the municipal corporation as well as the police,are meant to allow entry to security forces through the best and shortest routes and also display alternate routes due terror attacks. The state government will also conduct training programs for those who are at the helm of affairs when it comes to giving building permissions. These include city engineers and the chief engineer of the development plan department of all municipal corporations. Many of the guidelines in the FEMA manual are expensive. For instance,their access control rules lay equal emphasis on aesthetic aspects. We will keep these purely structural. These and similar guideless will be pruned as per our needs, said Merani.
