The Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 (Amendment 2012) (UBBL) was gazetted in Sabah, Selangor, Terengganu and Penang, said Fire and Rescue Services Department director-general Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim, reported The Star.

“Besides the four states, Sarawak has its own building ordinance,” he added, calling on the other states to gazette the fire safety by-laws as soon as possible.

On why some states have delayed gazetting the UBBL, Wan Mohd said it was most probably due to complacency and low priority given to the issue of fire safety.

Last year, fires claimed a total of 107 lives, injured 477 and resulted in RM2.86 billion in losses.

Selangor had the highest number of deaths at 20, followed by Sabah (19), Johor (17) and Sarawak (10).

Under the UBBL, all residential buildings above 30 metres or 10 storeys built after 2012 must be equipped with fire detectors.

Furthermore, low-rise homes below 18 metres built after 2012 must also come equipped with a fire extinguisher.

Wan Mohd said purchasers of homes in states that have adopted the by-laws had the right to ask their developers for a fire extinguisher.

“Local councils, as the authority that approves building plans, must monitor the implementation of the UBBL,” he said.

“It is left to local councils and homeowners to ensure that the fire extinguisher requirement is met,” he said, adding that the fire department did not have the manpower to conduct door-to-door inspections on all residences.

Wan Mohd also advised homeowners to install window grilles that could be opened to prevent the possibility of being trapped inside their houses or apartments during a fire.

On Feb 6, a family of four perished in a pre-dawn fire after being trapped on the upper floor of their double-storey terrace house in Jalan USJ 2/3, Subang Jaya.