Taipei City Construction Management Office

Taipei City Construction Management Office Press ReleaseReleased by: Taipei City Construction Management OfficeReleased Date: April 7, 2015Contact Liaison: Deputy Chief Engineer: Qiu, Ying-ZheTelephone: 1999 ext.8346 or 0936-772-225Taipei City Government Enacts Priority Inspection Guidelines in Article 16 Paragraph 2 of Violation in Apartment Building Management Regulations, Effective May 4th, 2015As the leading political and economic capital city of Taiwan, Taipei City is known for compact apartment buildings and the most expansive properties around. The space is scarce, so much so that there are often objects illegally stacked in the fire alleys and indoors elevator passageways where sometimes one can even find parked dining carts, cars, scooters and gas barrels. Not only does this situation greatly affect residents’ access to the buildings, but also it jeopardizes fire escape and general public safety. Wei-Gang Zhang, Director of Taipei City Construction Management Office said: “The following situations are our top inspection priorities.”1.Use fire alley or fire proof interval for the main entrance where debris was stacked, or the entrances with more than 1.5 meters but less than 3 meters wide yet does not keep clear outdoor access of more than 90 centimeters. Also, fire alleys reserved by individual building lot or two neighboring building lots or those that are more than 3 meters in width, yet without clear outdoor access of 180 centimeter for fire evacuation use. 2.Use fire alley and fire proof interval to place dining carts, window display, gas barrel, sink, heating devices besides residential water heater, pet’s cages, cars, scooters, fences or road blocks set up by residents. 3.Use constructions that are not part of the office or residential buildings to stack up or hang objects in elevator passageways or public corridors.4.The office and residential buildings where debris are piled up in the elevator reducing the legal width for safe passageways or blocking fire hydrant with fence, windows, furnishings, pet cages, gas barrels, cars, scooters, garbage or other window display for business use. Director Zhang stressed that violations mentioned above mostly affect residents’ fire escape access. To ensure a good living quality for general public, if any one of the scenarios above is confirmed, a notice with 20 days probation period is given to remove the debris and clear up the passage ways. Otherwise the apartment building that is in violation would be fined for $40,000 NTD and possibly the following up consecutive penalties in accordance with regulations. Director Zhang said: “We encourage all apartment building management committees and residents to work together for a better secured living space.”