Bangkok: The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) inspected 50 high-rise buildings and found that most had trees planted or extensions obstructing the path of fire trucks. The BMA is intensifying safety inspections of these buildings, ordering urgent improvements to meet strict standards and vowing to conduct regular inspections.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Wisanu Trapsompol, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, addressed the issue of circulating information suggesting that these high-rise buildings may not comply with building control regulations regarding surrounding areas used for fire trucks. He stated that the BMA prioritizes public safety and has been continuously inspecting and supervising these buildings. Following concerns raised by the Consumer Protection Council, the BMA immediately conducted a follow-up inspection to verify the facts and monitor the progress of any corrective actions.
Deputy Governor Wissanu Krea-ngam emphasized that Bangkok has been strictly enforcing Ministerial Regulation No. 33 (1992), Clause 3, issued under the Building Control Act B.E. 2522 (1979), to ensure that high-rise buildings have a minimum surrounding area of 6 meters, in accordance with safety standards. Inspections of the buildings revealed that most problems stemmed from non-compliance with the use of surrounding areas, such as planting trees, landscaping, parking, or structural additions that obstruct access for fire trucks in emergencies. The BMA has therefore instructed building owners to promptly rectify these issues to meet the required standards.
Regarding the latest progress, all 50 buildings have been fully inspected. Of these, 12 buildings have completed repairs, 34 are currently undergoing repairs, and 4 are under construction. In addition to inspecting the perimeter of each building for fire truck access routes in accordance with legal requirements, the BMA also conducted other safety inspections to ensure comprehensive oversight. Deputy Governor Wissanu emphasized that he has instructed the Public Works Department and all district offices to expedite the follow-up on buildings with remaining deficiencies, requiring building owners to make corrections within the specified timeframe and to report progress periodically. This is to ensure all buildings meet safety standards and build public confidence.