Policy Paper on Fire Safety for India

Introduction

Fire is a constant threat to public health around the globe. Whether it occurs in our homes, offices, or industrial settings, fires often lead to the worst-case loss of life, bodily injury, and property. India is no exception as fires are a daily occurrence across the country. India is particularly vulnerable to the devastating effects of fires. The single largest cause of fire disasters in urban areas are electric short circuits. Poor city infrastructure for firefighting and accessibility to site further increases the potential for fire hazards in India.

What are the leading Indian Fire Challenges?

Lack of Uniform Fire Safety Legislation:According to Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India report 2021, a total of 8,491 cases of fire accidents were reported in the country during 2021. Despite that there is no uniform legislation regarding fire safety in India
Absence of Smoke Management and Emergency Lighting:Because high-rise buildings often contain large, enclosed spaces or voids, even a small fire can become a fire hazard due to the lack of smoke management and warning mechanism through emergency lighting.
Lack of Vulnerability Analysis:Due to poor regulation and enforcement of National Building Code 2016, communities often lack urban preparedness, response, and recovery plans.
Lack of Proper Electric Installation Enforcement: Poor Wiring and Electrical Infrastructure, overloading and unauthorized connections are some of the leading causes of fires in the country.

Major Fire Incidents & Causes in India

As per the Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India 2021 Report by the National Crime Records, Ministry of Home Affairs, India reported a total of 8,491 cases of fire accidents during 2021 which rendered 8,348 deaths and injuries to 485 persons. This averages to ~23 fire incidents and ~21 deaths due to fire accidents every day. Tables 1 & 2 below, highlight some of the recent fires in India with many reported casualties.

Residential buildings contributed to ~50% (4,240) of total casualties from accidental fires in 2021. Most of these fire incidents are caused due to lack of Safety equipment and lack of knowledge about solutions like flame retardants which are available to prevent fire hazards in homes. Fire in Commercial Buildings (233) and in Automobiles (194) were the other place of occurrences resulting in large casualties. Hence, residential, and commercial buildings as well as automobiles, buildings, need proper standards to be put into place. Electrical Short Circuit has been observed to cause ~20% (1,657) of total Accidental fire casualties in India.

What Should be the Way Forward?

Fire Safety Legislation and Audit:

India needs strong fire safety legislation with an effective time to time audit mechanism to reduce the vulnerability of urban fires

Modernization of Fire Safety Equipment:

Finances and assistance should be provided by the government to bolster fire departments capabilities and training

Fire Safety Standards across Industries:

India needs to ensure product safety standards are harmonized with important global standards and enforcement. This is particularly true for electronics, white goods, and transportation

The role of Flame Retardants to help meet Fire Safety Standards

Flame retardants are chemicals added to materials to reduce their flammability which prevents or slows down the spread of fires. The use of flame retardants helps to meet fire safety standards that help prevent fires from starting or spreading, which in turn can save lives and reduce property damage. In many cases, flame retardants can also provide an amplitude of time for people to evacuate a building and for firefighters to respond to the emergency.

Globally, there are multiple fire safety regulations which require the use of flame-retardant materials in certain applications, such as in upholstered furniture, electronics and building insulation. This is because flame retardants can greatly improve the fire resistance of these materials and reduce the risk of fires. To achieve these fire repelling properties, many flame retardants are composed of the chemical element, Bromine. Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are particularly effective and are widely used in a large variety of products/industries including upholstered furniture, building & construction, Electronics, Automobiles and EVs.

Conclusion

Fire safety and standards are critical to protecting lives, property, and the environment. The examples from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the European Union demonstrate the importance of strong fire safety standards in furniture, electronics, and automobiles.

India’s growing population will result in urbanization leading to growth in Building and construction industry. The government’s Make in India initiative will further boost growth of automotives, Electric vehicles and Electronics manufacturing in India. The fire incidents in India highlights the importance of improving fire safety standards to protect people, property, and the environment, and create a safer and more stable environment for businesses to operate in. Thus, it is essential to improve fire safety standards and ensure its strict implementation to mitigate the devastating effects of fires in India.