Around 330 cinemas across Bangkok are facing fire safety inspections in the wake of the fire at Major Cineplex Pinklao in Bang Phlat last week.

Thaiwut Khankaew, chief of the Building Control Division of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) Public Works Department (PWD), said yesterday staff from his department will inspect 330 cinemas in 39 buildings across the city over the next 15 days.

The inspections will be carried out to ensure fire safety standards are in place at all cinemas, he said.

The 39 buildings are among 15,000 that have to undergo inspections every year, he added.

If a cinema fails to meet building and safety standards, owners will be told to make improvements that meet minimum requirements within 30 days, Mr Thaiwut said.

If a repeated offence is found, it will face a temporary shut-down, he said, speaking after an inspection at a cinema at Central Rama IV.

The cinema has been given 30 days to improve minor flaws that were found during the inspection yesterday, said Mr Thaiwut.

The inspection took place after cinema No. 8 of the 16-screen Major Cineplex Pinklao in Bang Phlat was hit by fire last Thursday about 11.30 am, injuring two people who suffered minor cuts from broken glass.

Firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control, with the flames being fed by the carpet flooring.

The building has its own fire extinguishing system but the fire spread too rapidly.

The inspections will be conducted in response to governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra's directives, Mr Thaiwut said.

Mr Thaiwut said cinemas require regular inspections as they are public places used by many people.

The owners of the buildings must pass safety inspections by security inspectors and submit annual safety assessment reports to authorities, he said.

Bussakorn Sansuk, from the Engineering Institute of Thailand, joined the inspection.

She said she was concerned about old cinemas built before 2007 when the Building Control Act came into force, adding old buildings may not meet the strict safety standards required by the regulations.

Source:
courtesy of BANGKOK POST

by Supoj Wancharoen

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]