The Government plans to make the use of fire-resistant textiles mandatory in public places to minimise damages caused by fire, and ensure greater safety.
A draft order circulated by the Textiles Ministry mandating manufacturers and distributors to stick to specified standards has, however, met with some opposition from the industry, which says users should share responsibility, too. Fire-resistant standards have been prescribed for textiles used for curtains and drapes and upholstered composites used for non-domestic furniture. Specifications have also been proposed for protective clothing for industrial workers exposed to heat.
"No person shall himself or by any person on his behalf, manufacture or store for sale, sell or distribute textile material which does not conform to the specified standard," the draft order says.
The textile material, which does not conform to the specified standard, shall be destroyed within a month, it adds.
While welcoming the proposal the Federation Of India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), an industry body, said its implementation in the present form would be difficult. “Most manufacturers would be supplying textiles both for domestic and public places. In such a scenario, prohibiting manufacture, sale or distribution of non-fire retardant material and permitting only fire retardant textile materials would not be rational,” pointed out Shishir Jaipuria, Chairman, FICCI Textiles Committee. Segregating domestic from the non-domestic supply would not be feasible, he added.
Stressing on an enforcement mechanism at the user-end, FICCI has proposed to the Government that there should be legislation for mandating the use of fire-retardant textiles by various authorities in public places.
According to D.K. Nair, Secretary General, Confederation of Indian Textiles Industry, while standards can be stipulated only on manufacturers, what has to be mandated for consumers and users is the use of fire-retardant textiles in specified applications.
Nair added the industry should be given enough time to adapt to the new specifications.