Rules for Maintenance of Structure, Lift and Fire Equipment

Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations (GDCR) – 2017 are the regulations under which construction and maintenance of buildings are to be carried out.

During construction, these regulation are followed by developer. Post construction and sale of residential building, commercial building and plots, management is handed over to the members / owners. Post handover, it is the responsibility owners / managing committees to follow the regulation related to maintenance of society.

This article gives relevant extract of GDCR related to

1. Maintenance Related to Structure
2. Additions and Alterations to Existing Buildings
3. Maintenance of Lifts and Escalators
4. Maintenance of Fire Prevention and Safety Provisions

Definition:

Buildings will be classified in two categories:

Class 1: All types of framed structures, factory buildings, cinema, auditorium and other public institutional buildings, schools and college buildings, hostels.

Class 2: Masonry‐walled residential buildings constructed with height more than 9mts.

Responsibility for Maintenance

It shall be the responsibility of the Owner of a building to ensure that

• Building is kept in good repair, such that its structural stability is not compromised.
• Lifts and escalators in the building are kept in good repair, such that their use is safe.
• All the fire prevention and safety provisions in a building are kept in good working condition at all times. The fire prevention and safety provisions shall include all the fixed fire protection systems, installations, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, fire lifts and escape stairs provided in the building.

Periodic Inspection and Maintenance Certificate

All buildings in Class 1 and Class 2 shall require periodic inspection by a Structural Engineer on Record (SEOR) at intervals

Class 1: Building older then 15 year before GDCR regulation or which become 5 years old thereafter:.

• Within 3 Years from regulation.
• Every 15 years from the date of submission of the first report

Class 2: Building older then 15 year before GDCR regulation or which become 15 years old thereafter:

• Within 5 years from regulation
• Every 15 years from the date of submission of the first report

Further details are in Schedule 17. The SEOR shall inspect the building to ascertain and certify to the Competent Authority, that the building’s structural stability has not been compromised due to lack of adequate maintenance along with a Structural Inspection Report. It shall be the responsibility of the Owner to submit the certificate to the Competent Authority no later than one month after the date on which inspection is due.

Structural Stability and Maintenance of Existing Buildings

1. The Owner/ developer/ occupants and registered appointed Person on Record shall have the assessment of structural safety of an existing building/structure damaged/undamaged carried out at stipulated periodical intervals through expert(s) chosen from a panel of experts identified by the Competent Authority. The intervals for maintenance and inspection shall be as per Schedule 17.
2. The owner/developer/occupant on advice of such expert(s) shall carry out such repair/restoration and strengthening/retrofitting of the building found necessary so as to comply with the safety standards laid down in the national building code and the Indian standards as specified.
3. In case, the owner/developer/occupant does not carry out such action, the Competent Authority or any agency authorized by the Competent Authority may carry out such action at the cost of owner/developer/occupant.
4. The Competent Authority may also direct the owner/developer/occupant, whether the building could be occupied or not during the period of compliance.

Additions and Alterations to Existing Buildings

An alteration or addition to an existing building that is not structurally independent shall be designed and constructed such that the entire structure conforms to the structural and seismic safety requirements for new buildings, unless the following three conditions are complied with:

1. The alteration or addition complies with the requirements for new buildings.
2. The alteration or addition does not increase the seismic forces in any structural element of the existing building by more than 5% unless the capacity of the element subject to the increased force is still in compliance with the requirements for new buildings.
3. The alteration or addition does not decrease the seismic resistance of any structural element of the existing building unless the reduced resistance is equal to, or greater than, that required for new buildings.

Maintenance of Lifts and Escalators

Maintenance Protocol

1. Maintenance protocol for lifts and escalators shall be as per following Indian Standards amended from time to time.:
   • a. IS: 1860 – 1980 Code of Practice for Installation, Operation and Maintenance of Electric Passenger and Goods Lift;
   • b.IS: 6620 – 1972 Code of Practice for Installation, Operation and Maintenance of Electric Service Lifts; and
   • c. IS: 4591 – 1968 Code of Practice for Installation and Maintenance of Escalators.
2. The lift installation should receive regular cleaning, lubrication adjustment and adequate servicing by authorised competent persons at such intervals as the type of equipment and frequency of service demand.
3. In order that the lift installation is maintained at all times in a safe condition, a proper maintenance schedule shall be drawn up in consultation with the lift manufacturer and rigidly followed.
4. A log book to record all items relating to general servicing and inspection shall be maintained
5. The electrical circuit diagram of the lift with the sequence of operation of different components and parts shall be kept readily available for reference by persons responsible for the maintenance and replacement, where necessary, to the satisfaction of the Competent Authority.
6. Any accident arising out of operation of maintenance of the lifts shall be duly reported to the Competent Authority.

Maintenance of Fire Prevention and Safety Provisions

For all buildings with height more than 13mts, the Fire Protection Consultant on Record shall inspect the building at intervals not more than 12 months to ascertain and certify to the Competent Authority that the building’s fire safety has not been compromised due to lack of adequate maintenance.

Fire Safety of Existing Buildings

1. The Owner/ developer/ occupants shall have the assessment of fire safety system of an existing building / structure damaged/undamaged carried out at stipulated periodical intervals through expert(s) chosen from a panel of experts identified by the Competent Authority. The intervals for maintenance and inspection shall be as per Schedule 17.
2. The owner/developer/occupant on advice of such expert(s) shall carry out such repair/restoration and strengthening/retrofitting of the building found necessary so as to comply with the safety standards laid down in the national building code and the Indian standards as specified.
3. In case, the owner/developer/occupant does not carry out such action, the Competent Authority or any agency authorized by the competent authority may carry out such action at the cost of owner/developer/occupant.
4. The Competent Authority may direct the owner/developer/occupant, whether the building could be occupied or not during the period of compliance.

Schedule 17:

Schedule for Maintenance and Inspection for Structural Stability and Fire Safety

A. Structural Stability

The interval at which buildings are to be examined and a Structural Inspection Report in Format as per Form 15 submitted to Competent Authority shall be as under:

For Class 1 buildings which are erected fifteen years earlier from the date on which these Regulations has come into force or which becomes five years old thereafter:

1. Within three years from the coming into force of these Regulations
2. Thereafter at the interval of every fifteen years from the date of submission of the first report

For Class 2 buildings which are erected fifteen years earlier from the date on which these Regulation has come into force or which become fifteen years old thereafter:

1. Within five years from the coming into force of these Regulations
2. Thereafter at the interval of every fifteen years from the date of submission of the first report

B. Fire Safety

The interval at which buildings are to be examined by Chief Fire Officer or FPCOR and a Fire Safety Certificate as stipulated in Form 16 be submitted to Competent Authority shall be as under:

1. Within one year from the coming into force of these Regulations
2. Thereafter at the interval of every year from the date of submission of the first certificate

Reference

1. Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations – 2017
2. Schedule 17 as per GDCR
3. Form 15: Structural Inspection Report
4. Form 16: Fire Safety Certificate