Fire-prone buildings checked

JAKARTA (JP): The city's fire department has established a special team to identify buildings which are prone to fire, an official said Wednesday.

The department's head, Suharso, said the team, which consists of senior firefighters and private consultants, would be assigned to examine the fire safety system and equipment of high-rise buildings here.

"The team is to check on whether developers have fulfilled their obligation to equip buildings with adequate safety equipment and whether they maintain it."

Citing city regulation No. 3/1992, Suharso said that developers should install safety devices such as hydrants, sprinklers, emergency stairwells, emergency lighting and a fire alarm which alerts the fire department's headquarters.

He said that the team would start the year-long task this week.

Suharso disclosed that the total number of skyscrapers here had climbed to 789 buildings, compared to 650 last year.

Suharso said all high-rise developers should obtain a certificate of approval from the fire department before a building can be occupied.

So far, only a few developers have met the necessary requirements for fire safety certification, he said.

"There is a tendency here to occupy buildings even though the fire safety system has yet to be certified by us." (ind)