Consumer Council Flags 50 Condos for Fire Safety Violations
Thailand's Consumer Council flagged 50 condominiums for failing to maintain the required 6-meter safety perimeter around buildings, blocking emergency vehicle access during fires and rescues. Despite previous warnings to Bangkok authorities
Thailand's Consumer Council has issued a Facebook warning to condominium residents after identifying multiple projects with inadequate space around their buildings, raising serious safety concerns during emergencies when rescue access is critical. The council emphasized that past building collapses and fires have shown that every minute counts in emergencies—when fire trucks or rescue vehicles cannot reach a building, response delays can worsen damage significantly. Large buildings exceeding 23 meters in height, eight stories, or 10,000 square meters in area must have a minimum 6-meter-wide road surrounding them; this requirement is not merely a design matter but a critical safety feature enabling firefighters to access the building and deploy rescue equipment during incidents. The council's inspection found numerous condominium projects with problematic building surroundings that require scrutiny to ensure resident safety. The council previously forwarded its findings to Bangkok authorities requesting stricter oversight and enforcement, but many projects remain uncorrected; even some that reported implementing fixes were found upon re-inspection to still violate the legal requirements.
