ANSWERS TO PNQ

(a) High rise building is a real phenomenon which has come into

our landscape on a mass scale, only during the last decade or

so.

With these developments, it has become necessary to legislate

this type of buildings and to propose an enforced guideline for

these buildings.

Guidelines were therefore proposed by the Mauritius Fire and

Rescue Service in 2006. These guidelines however, were

intended to apply to buildings to be set up after 2006. As for

the buildings that were set up prior to 2006, a transitional

period was allowed to the owners to comply as fully as possible

with the guidelines.

Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service has issued guidelines on 28

November 2006 and also in THE BUILDING CONTROL ACT 2012

stating the conditions to be observed for various types of

buildings:

- These guidelines provide that all high rise buildings should

be equipped with fire prevention, fire-fighting and fire

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 detective devices including fire detectors, sprinklers, fire

doors and fire exit routes.

- Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service has been carrying out an

audit of all high rise buildings and has proposed schemes to

compensate for the lack of all fire-fighting devices. For

example, education campaign is reinforced and the

enforcement of existing fire safety measures are being

intensified.

We are conscious of the risk that these buildings constitute

to the occupants. It is for this reason that not only the

Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service but also the Local

Authorities come into the picture to regulate the use and

occupation of these buildings. Clearance of other authorities

are also required, such Ministry of Health and Quality of Life

and the Police.

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(b) The term gas appliances is vague, that is, it englobes gas

water heaters, cooking gas, gas heaters and so on. Gas

appliances are not banned in high rise buildings, as same

include commercial, residential and office blocks. But most of

the high rise buildings provide that the gas appliances are out-

sited outside the building. However, when there are gas

installations, it is covered by the gas companies complying

with international gas safety norms.

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(c) Out of more than 50,000 commercial buildings throughout

Mauritius, 1314 have not yet been issued with Fire Certificate.

This is so, because they do not comply with the guidelines

issued to them.

When inspection reveals that commercial buildings are

operating without a valid Fire Certificate, the Mauritius Fire

and Rescue Service proceeds to issue an Improvement

Notice. The Improvement Notice contains a set of measures

required to prevent, detect and fight fire occasions. The

owners should comply with those regulations by one month.

If there is no improvement, the Mauritius Fire and Rescue

Service issues a Refusal Notice and informs the appropriate

local authority and other respective authorities.

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(d) Fire fighters are properly equipped with personal protective

equipment. Fire fighters have a wide range of fire-fighting and

rescue equipment, such as breathing apparatuses, pumps,

branches, ropes and lines, delivery and suction hoses, ladders,

extrication and stabilizing equipment, rescue gears, stretches,

foam branches, in-line inductors and thermal image cameras.

Fire fighters use them depending on the circumstances of the

emergency.

Madam Speaker, we are conscious about new challenges posed

by high rise buildings in Mauritius. The vast majority of such

high rise buildings are basically found in Port Louis or Ebene are

of commercial nature. It is only recently that a few applications

have been received for high rise buildings of residential nature.

I must stress that strict guidelines by the Local Authorities and

Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service have been issued for the

safety of would be residents.

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Further, Madam Speaker, the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service

is in the process of finalizing the Mauritius Fire Code which will

cater for all fire safety measures in residential, commercial and

industrial buildings.

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that after the

deadly Glenfell Fire in London, I called an urgent meeting to

discuss the issue of high rise buildings in Mauritius. I instructed

an audit of all high rise buildings in Mauritius, which have

already been issued with Fire Certificate.

Inspection of buildings have been initiated by the Mauritius Fire

and Rescue Service.