Mumbai | New Guidelines Alert: The Fire Safety Changes Every Driver Should Know

In response to several fire incidents in parking lots, the State Fire Services Department has introduced new fire safety guidelines specifically for parking structures.

These guidelines are framed under the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations 2020 and the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006. One of the key recommendations includes a ban on charging electric vehicles in certain parking areas, such as automated car parking towers, puzzle parking systems, and basement parking.

A significant issue highlighted in the new guidelines is the difficulty fire tenders and rescue officials often face in reaching the site of a fire within parking structures. To address this, the guidelines mandate a minimum marginal open space around the plot, allowing easy manoeuvrability of fire and rescue vehicles, including ambulances, during emergencies.

Challenges With High-Rise Parking

The increasing number of high-rise buildings in major cities has made it difficult for developers to provide adequate parking spaces. While minimum parking requirements are met, the guidelines warn against using free open spaces or narrow lanes for extra or visitor parking, as this can obstruct the movement of fire and rescue vehicles. The guidelines stress the importance of keeping these areas clear to ensure quick access in case of a fire.

The guidelines draw attention to the risks associated with vehicles parked closely together, both horizontally and vertically, in multi-level parking structures. Such configurations have a high potential for rapid fire spread, particularly when the entire car-stacking area is treated as a single fire compartment. This is a common setup that can contain a large number of vehicles, creating a very high fire load that must be managed carefully.

Special Considerations For Electric Vehicles

With the rise in electric vehicle (EV) usage, the guidelines provide specific instructions for parking EVs. In car stacker systems, especially those with charging facilities, special attention must be given to the unique hazards posed by EV fires. The guidelines recommend that charging facilities be provided only in well-ventilated areas, as fires involving lithium-ion batteries in closed spaces can be extremely difficult to control.

The guidelines also explain the specific dangers associated with the lithium-ion batteries used in EVs. These batteries, typically located in the vehicle's floor pan, are composed of thousands of individual cells, making them a dense fuel source. Fires in these batteries are triggered by chemical reactions that are difficult to extinguish with conventional methods.

Furthermore, there is a high risk of explosions during these reactions, which can occur unpredictably, spreading fires as individual burning cells are ejected from the vehicle.