Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Government has expanded the scope of its fire-safety regulations, requiring a wider range of commercial establishments, including shops, guest houses, homestays, bed-and-breakfast units, temporary structures and beach shacks, to keep fire extinguishers on their premises.
The revised rules, notified by the Home Department through an amendment to the 2014 regulations, also bring shops operating within village panchayat areas under the mandatory provisions. The earlier exemption available to these establishments has been withdrawn.
Under the new requirements, premises with an area of up to 50 square metres must have at least one approved fire extinguisher. Establishments measuring between 50 and 100 square metres will need to install two. The permitted options include ABC dry powder extinguishers of 4 kg or 6 kg capacity, or a 4.5 kg carbon dioxide extinguisher, meeting the prescribed Bureau of Indian Standards specifications.
Additional precautions have been prescribed for establishments using commercial LPG. Premises measuring up to 50 square metres and using commercial LPG cylinders of up to 50 kg must keep one extra fire extinguisher beyond the basic requirement.
The expanded coverage places greater responsibility on businesses and hospitality operators to maintain basic firefighting equipment, as the government seeks to strengthen preparedness and reduce fire risks across the state.
