ISLAMABAD - The implementation of Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations 2010, approved by the Capital Development Authority on August 17, 2010, is still a distinct dream, making the lives of hundreds of city’s high-rise buildings inhabitants vulnerable to any untoward incident.The Authority in a bid to minimise the losses in result of fire incidents across the federal capital has approved the aforementioned regulation. The regulation binds the owners of high-rise buildings to take all possible measures including fixation of fire sprinklers, work in combination with heat and smoke detectors that can activate alarms to warn the building inhabitants.However, despite passage of 20-months the Authority has just conducted a survey in this regard, which mirrors a horrible picture, as 60 per cent of the city’s high-rise buildings are not equipped with necessary equipments required as per provision of Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations 2010.After getting the status of regulation all existing buildings constructed before the promulgation of the regulations were under legal obligation to install all required equipment within six months period.“Not even a single owner of buildings constructed before the promulgation of regulation has submitted compliance report with CDA in response to notices they were served on a year ago to install necessary equipment,” said a concerned official.However, he said buildings constructed after the passage of this regulation were adhering to some extent to the CDA guidelines in this regard. He said in case of construction of new buildings, clearance with regard to fire prevention and life safety measures are required from the directorate of emergency and disaster management both at the time of approval of building plan as well as issuance of completion certificate by the Authority.Under this regulation Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management has the powers to get vacated or seal any building if it finds it in violation of regulations.“Despite the powers and recurring fire incidents in high-rise buildings, till to date the directorate of emergency and disaster management has not sealed even a single such building. Such slackness on Authority’s part gives strength to violators,” the official observed.According to the Geological Survey of Pakistan, most multi-storey buildings in the Federal Capital lack provision of fire detectors, emergency alarms, fire extinguishers, emergency exits, hydrants, parking spaces and compartmentalisation of buildings.Under the Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations 2010, the regulations and standards have been divided into three clauses: fire prevention, life safety and fire protection. The fire prevention covers the aspects pertaining to design and construction of buildings on passive fire protection measures, describing various types of building material and their fire safety rating. The life safety provision deals with events of fire and similar emergencies, addressing construction and occupancy features that are necessary to minimise the danger to life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic.The protection aspect relates to appurtenance, their related components and guidelines for selecting correct types of equipment and installations meant for fire protection of buildings depending on their classifications and types.