Residential units are increasingly being converted into commercial hubs under the tag of paying guest accommodation, often without the safety infrastructure expected of a commercial establishment.A typical residential flat may house a family of four or five people, whereas a PG can accommodate 12-15, with three or four occupants often staying in a single room. This significantly increases the occupancy load on the building.Despite housing significantly more occupants, many such PGs do not require a fire NOC or adhere to the safety standards applicable to commercial premises.WHAT A PG SHOULD HAVE: A CHECKLISTStructural safety: Building plan should be sanctioned. The design of building should meet safety norms, including seismic safety standards.Emergency lighting: Backup lighting and illuminated exit signs to guide occupants during a power failure or fire.Fire extinguishers on every floor: Easily accessible, regularly inspected, with training given to occupants on how to use them.Broad staircases: Staircases should be accessible, unobstructed and designed to easily accommodate total number of occupants in a building.Emergency exits: Exit routes should be clearly marked and kept free of obstructions.Digital records of inmates: Digital records of occupants and staff should be maintained.Access for emergency vehicles: It should have proper road-width to give access to emergency vehicles like fire tenders.Adequate ventilation and windows: Rooms should have sufficient ventilation.Smoke detectors and alarms: Detectors should be installed in rooms, corridors and common areas, with a functional alarm system.Safe electrical systems: No loose wiring, overloaded sockets, makeshift connections or exposed electrical equipment.Fire-fighting equipment: Hose reels, hydrants and other required firefighting equipment should be installed and maintained regularly. Deployment of security guards, police verification of staff.Safe kitchen and cooking area: Cooking facilities should be properly ventilated, with safe LPG and electrical connections.No overcrowding: The number of occupants should be appropriate for the size and design of the rooms and building.Emergency preparedness: Occupants should know what to do in case of an emergency like fire or earthquake. Emergency numbers should be displayed prominently.First-aid & emergency contacts: A first-aid kit and prominently displayed emergency numbers should be availableWHAT MASTER PLAN DELHI 2047 SAYS ABOUT PGsHostels and PG accommodation will not be permitted in A & B colonies (A & B colonies are graded residential areas based on their market value and infrastructure quality).HOW REGULATORY GAPS QUEER THE PITCH
- Buildings less than 15 metres height do not require NOC from fire department.
- PGs do not require registration or permission.
- No official figure on how many of them are operational in Delhi.
- Most of them have basements and structural alterations.
- Norms related to their location based on road-width as per MPD 2021 are often flouted.
- Residential units converted into PGs, leading to overcrowding.
- No audit of such establishments.
“Such buildings need repair and retrofitting on a regular basis. Besides, any modification to the structure of the building should be checked and approved.”— An IIT-Delhi professor“PG accommodations are essentially private hostels and should provide basic assurance of building structure safety, fire and life-safety standards, including adequate exits, CCTV cameras for security in common areas, women-safe premises, showers for emergency vehicles and clearly displayed dos and don’ts on use of alcohol and narcotic substances. There must be compliance with the basic framework or a simple policy for PGs under the Ease of Doing Business framework, mandating a clear set of safety and operational rules for owners.”— PROF VK PAUL | DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE, DELHI“ If a PG is housed in a building less than 15m in height, it is not required to obtain a fire safety NOC. Whenever a residential unit is converted into a high-occupancy or commercial activity, it needs to be assessed whether the building has adequate structural stability, staircases and exits to safely accommodate the increased number of people. Another major gap is regulation, as PG accommodation currently do not have a licensing or registration mechanism.”— ATUL GARG | FORMER FIRE CHIEF
