More than Ten Violations Found at Surmalu: Inspection Authority Clarifies

The inspection authority of the RA Ministry of Urban Development has released a statement regarding the violations found during the inspection at the "Yerevan Canned Goods Factory" LLC (Surmalu market), following the explosion at the site.

The Ministry of Urban Development has reported that, based on the directive of Gegham Shakbazyan, the head of the RA Ministry of Urban Development, specialists from the Fire Safety and Technical Security Department conducted inspections from March 9 to March 16, 2021, at the commercial and public catering facilities operating within the aforementioned company to check compliance with technical and fire safety legislation.

As a result of the inspections, specialists discovered over ten violations related to the requirements set by the fire safety regulations approved by the RA Minister of Emergency Situations on June 18, 2015.

Specifically, the following violations were identified:

• Stalls and pavilions were not located at least 8 meters away from building structures.
• Structural elements were not treated with fireproof solutions.
• Doors of the sinks did not open outward in the event of more than 15 persons being present simultaneously.
• Power lines were passed over fire-hazardous substrates on roofs.
• There was no smoke protection system installed in spaces exceeding 55 square meters with no natural lighting.
• At least one hydrant and an external firefighting reservoir were missing from the designated areas for external fire extinguishing.
• The buildings were not equipped with an internal firefighting water supply system fitted with firefighting hoses that ensure each point is sprayed with a 1x2.5 liters per second water jet.
• Commercial floors exceeding 3500 square meters did not have a self-activating fire extinguishing system.
• In buildings of three or more floors belonging to commercial organizations, there was no self-activating fire extinguishing system installed.
• Commercial and public catering objects were not equipped with self-activating fire alarm systems.
• Self-activating fire suppression systems were found to be non-functional.
• In buildings of categories "A", "B", and "C", fire extinguishers were not installed within 30 meters of potential fire sources.

The inspection authority has issued directives to the management of the "Yerevan Canned Goods Factory" LLC to eliminate the identified violations. Additionally, administrative measures have been taken against the company in accordance with Article 187, Part 1 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Republic of Armenia.