Penza, 20 April 2015. PenzaNews. Oktyabrsky district prosecutor of Penza sent a claim to close down the offices and working facilities of the shopping center “Kosmos-City” on Stroitelei prospekt, 45A, until the fire safety violations are rectified.

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“During the check, the prosecutor’s office revealed numerous violations of fire safety requirements, indicating that the shopping center owner does not provide fire security of the person, property and society. The check indicated that the three-storey building is not equipped with automatic fire extinguishing systems. In addition, the second and third floors have less than two emergency exits. Also place does not provide at least two enclosed stairwells for evacuation of customers,” Yulia Makarova, Senior Assistant Attorney of the region in Media Relations, informed PenzaNews agency.

She added that the distance between the farthest point and the nearest emergency exit on the second and third floors does not comply with requirements.

“The escape routes have stairs with different tread widths and heights within flights leading from the basement to the third floor at the south wall of the building,” the agency interlocutor noted.

Yulia Makarova clarified that on the ground floor by the grocery store box office and on the second floor in the stairwell, there are no doors with self-closing devices or rabbet sealants.

“On the first floor of the west side of the building, the industrial, warehouse and technical use premises, including kitchens, bakeries, carving and storage rooms, are not equipped with firebreak walls not lower than the first type, separating them from the customer halls,” the Senior Assistant Prosecutor said.

According to her, the emergency exits door locks are opened only with a key, preventing free passage from the building to the adjusting territories.

“These violations pose a clear threat to the safety and health of people, including those working in the shopping center,” Yulia Makarova pointed out.

The fire safety checks are held in Penza as instructed by the Prosecutor General of Russia in connection with the fire in Kazan “Admiral” shopping center, which took place on March 11, 2015, with 17 people dead and over 50 burnt and injured.

Earlier, violations have been identified in a number of Penza malls and shops, as well as other buildings that attract many people, including “Arbat,” “Karavan,” “List,” “Rembyttekhnika” and “Spar.”