KUCHING: About 57 per cent of hotels in Sarawak do not have a Fire Certificate (FC) which determines the level of fire safety.State Fire and Rescue Department assistant head for building enforcement, Anuar Shabzap Marzuki said the percentage represents 68 out of 119 hotels.

“Under Section 33 of the Bomba Service Act 1988, it is compulsory for buildings such as hotels to obtain the FC so that the fire safety level is more secure,” Anuar said on Wednesday.

He further mentioned that under the Act, it was compulsory for a hotel with more than 21 rooms to apply for a FC. A fine not more than RM5,000 or jail term of not more than three years or both will be imposed on building owners who do not have an FC.

Anuar added: “The requirement for the FC in Malaysia is based on the examples practised in European countries.”

He also said customers in European countries gave priority to FC issues before checking into any hotel. They would enquire whether the fire safety features of the hotel have been validated by the Fire Department.

“Tourists would choose a hotel with fire certification. Some hotel owners mention that tourists enquire about safety requirements before checking in.”

Anuar said a few hotels fail to meet the fire safety criteria in the state as their fire extinguishers are non-functional or incomplete.

Buildings with an FC will have their fire system checked every year to make sure that it is in good working condition.

There are approximately 50 per cent of premises in the state that is 171 out of 348 premises that do not own an FC — mostly old buildings, factories and large storage buildings.

“Some of these buildings did apply for the FC but it was not granted as the building plan did not fulfil the criteria needed. To approve the FC, we will consider the building plan and carry inspection on the premises,” Anuar said.

He said there are nine building categories apart from hotels that need the FC: libraries with a floor capacity of at least 1,000 sq metres, hospitals which are three-storey high or more and dormitories of four storeys or more.

These includes office buildings which are 30 metres or higher or having a floor capacity of more than 10,000 sq metres, factories, assembly halls and large storage buildings.

Anuar said: “Building owners should realise the importance of the FC. It is not just the case of having it but it should be a priority in the safety aspects of a building.”