Annual fire certs a must for high-risk building soon
NST 18/05/2004

IPOH, Mon. - The requirements for fire certificates will soon be extended to cover offices and buildings which have been identified as "high-rise" and "high risk", Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Jaafar Sidek Tambi said today.

The certificates have to be renewed annually. At present only certain buildings such as hotels, hospitals, factories, shopping complexes, private schools and fuel depots are required to have the certificates.

The requirement is provided for under the Fire Services (Fire Certificate) Regulations 2001 which came into effect on Aug 1, 2002.

It is intended to certify that the buildings are safe for occupation and fire-fighting facilities are adequate and properly maintained.

The new ruling would ensure public safety in high-risk places such as entertainment outlets and discotheques, Jaafar told reporters after visiting the Perak Fire and Rescue Department headquarters here.

He also presented medals to 28 firemen for excellent services.Also present was Perak Fire and Rescue department director Amer Yusof. Jaafar said the department had found that some entertainment outlets, after obtaining the Certificate of Fitness, carried out renovations which turned the premises into fire traps.

Jaafar said building owners who failed to obtain the fire certificate could be brought to court and fined up to RM5,000 or three years' jail. Last year, 4,107 building owners nationwide applied for the certificates. A total of 2,108 premises were inspected