KUALA LUMPUR: The number of public and commercial buildings nationwide which do not have a fire certificate (FC) as required by the law is alarming.
A total of 140 out of 650 government buildings nationwide are without the FC and 39 of these buildings are in Putrajaya, the country's administrative capital.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the lackadaisical attitude towards this issue shows that many of the building owners and administrators had yet to learn from previous incidents including those which had claimed lives.
"The buildings are categorised as 'designated buildings' which are required to have FC, an important element in ensuring the premises is in good condition in various aspects of safety and safe occupancy.
"I hope that the affected buildings (administrators/owners) will act on their own initiative and interest of safety to apply for the Fire Certificate as directed by the Fire and Rescue Department, to ensure that all government-owned buildings have the FC by the end of this year.
"The authorities must also ensure that private premises also have FC as well because many of them failed to adhere to the regulation.
"The FC is important because the fire department will conduct a thorough inspection of the building’s safety system such as fire alarm equipment, fire extinguishers and emergency routes," he said.
It was reported that only about 50 per cent of the 1,701 premises operating in Selangor have FCs.
According to the Fire Services Act 1988, several types of premises are required to have an FC. This includes libraries, hospital and home treatment facilities, hotels, hostels and dormitories, offices, shops, factories, assembly areas as well as storage and general areas.
Such premises must apply for an FC upon obtaining a Certificate of Fitness (CF) or Temporary Certificate of Fitness (TCF) or Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) and the fire certificates are required to be renewed annually.
Referring to the Grenfell Tower fire in West London on 14 June 2017, Lee said the tragedy killed 71 people and injured at least 70 people, including many children, raising concern that similar incidents may take place in Malaysia.
He said the attitude to react only when a tragedy or accident takes place could be seen from the fire incident at the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) building in Petaling Jaya on Feb 13 last year. It was caused by the use of poly foam or polyethylene as a cladding material, similar to what was used in the Grenfell Tower incident.
"I hope that the Fire and Rescue Department, with the help of other agencies, could conduct inspections nationwide on buildings suspected of not abiding by fire safety regulations, including the failure to obtain or renew FC and the use of easily flammable cladding.
"The authorities should ensure that all parties abide by the existing fire safety rules and regulations including the need for FC.
"Stern action must be taken against those who flouted the law or else we will continue to face fire incidents that may claim more lives and limbs. Fire safety must never be compromised," said Lee.