Seven persons were killed and 28 others were injured when fire broke out on the 14th floor of a 21-storey high-rise in Mumbai in June 2015. According to the fire brigade sources, the fire was caused by electric short circuit and it spread rapidly even as the electric supply was switched off. The sources further added that the building did not have proper emergency lights to help rescuers find direction amid thick smoke. Though there was no confirmation in this case, often buildings lack the mandatory fire extinguishers and water hydrants, and where provided, these do not always work. Buildings constructed before 2008 are not covered by the mandatory sprinkler system requirement.

According to the Loss Prevention Association of India (LPA), home fires is the second biggest reason for fatal fire incidents in India, the first being explosions in fireworks factories and third being urban slum fires. Homes packed with modern utilities today face unprecedented fire risks as a spark in the electrical panel, a short circuit in the air conditioner, a heating equipment, or an open flame in front of religious deities or a cooking gas leak, always pose the dangers of fire. Only a miniscule of homes is equipped with a fire extinguisher that can kill the fire in its initial starting stage at the source. Even in such cases, not everyone knows how to operate one.

Recently the Mumbai Fire Brigade acquired a 90-metre ladder, manufactured by Bronto Skylift, Finland, capable of reaching up to 30 storeys. The previous model could reach only 22 floors. But the city has spread far and wide and the fire brigade’s new command centre is based in Byculla. Given the reality of the city traffic conditions, the six axle wonder fire fighter is unlikely to hit the trouble spot in a hurry. Even when the fire tenders reach a locality, gaining access to the affected home or building is not easy due to the vehicles parked around or encroachments in the area. Most buildings do not observe any fire drill. Not all buildings are equipped with fire escapes and even a reasonably tall ladder that can reach the first or second floor is unlikely to be found in any housing colony.

But things are gradually changing. Over the last decade, India has witnessed a substantial increase in terms of awareness about fire safety and security. The rapidly expanding IT and retail markets across the country have significantly contributed towards the growth of the fire & safety equipment sector, and this trend is likely to continue over the coming years. As large refineries, petrochemical complexes, biotechnology ventures, pharmaceutical, automobile, steel, oil & gas exploration projects need to comply with various mandatory safety regulation, these segments have been contributing hugely to the growth of the country’s fire & safety market. However, the market potential is still largely untapped due to lack of awareness, stringent regulations and a common perception of fire safety equipment being perceived as an unproductive outlay. A separate fire safety act for each state is yet to come into effect, due to which ground level monitoring is still not rigorous.

According to TechSci Research’s “India Fire & Safety Equipment Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2019”, the fire & safety equipment market in India is expected to grow immensely over the coming years. The market revenues of India’s fire & safety equipment market are expected to reach USD 4.94 billion by the end of 2019. The market is being driven largely by the small players with restricted regional presence and involved in offering comparable products at lower prices compared to major organised players. The market is set to experience radical growth over the coming years as a result of increasing customer awareness regarding fire safety, security and asset management coupled with implementation of strict state level norms on fire safety.