On Tuesday, Farzaneh Sadegh referred to the regulations of passive defense and the construction of shelters at the Supreme Council of Urban Planning and Architecture meeting, stating: In previous years, there were regulations for the construction of shelters in the country's architectural and urban planning laws, but over time, due to the belief that no war would occur again, the mandatory nature of this issue was removed from the agenda and became an optional choice.
The Necessity of Shelter Construction in New Structures
Sadegh added: Currently, even in a country like Switzerland, which is considered one of the safest countries, the construction of shelters in new structures is regarded as a fundamental priority. This is necessary due to more serious threats, including nuclear attacks. She emphasized that such an important issue should not be left to the future.
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The Minister of Roads and Urban Development emphasized that the potential increase in construction costs should not hinder the enhancement of safety and passive defense, stating: In the past, when requirements like double-glazed windows and strict fire safety regulations were announced, there was initially some resistance due to higher costs, but when obtaining a completion certificate became conditional on adhering to these standards, builders complied with this rule, and today these matters have become a recognized standard.
Equipping Public Spaces and Urban Safety
Sadegh continued: We are facing an enemy that adheres to none of the human principles and uses advanced and dangerous weapons. Delays in decision-making regarding the future and the lack of legal obligation will only result in irreparable human damage and destruction of buildings. Ultimately, these damages impose a high financial and operational burden on governments and cities.
She also referred to the experiences of the imposed war, stating: During the Sacred Defense era, as soon as the alarm siren sounded, people took refuge in schools. Therefore, in critical conditions, normal life activities should not be halted; rather, we should enhance the resilience of cities by creating defensive and shelter infrastructures.
The Minister of Roads and Urban Development noted regarding the equipping of public spaces and utilizing the capacities of cities: A significant part of urban safety is focused on equipping centers and public spaces such as metro stations. Governors of the country are obliged to prioritize and implement the assurance and safety of these centers according to the needs of each province.
In conclusion, Sadegh set a deadline for revising the passive defense technical regulations, reminding that the National Building Regulations Office is required to urgently begin revising Article 21 of the National Building Regulations (Passive Defense) within the next one to two weeks by holding intensive meetings and to issue the necessary amendments for mandating the construction of shelters in new constructions and organizing public spaces.
The Minister of Roads and Urban Development also emphasized the need to prevent encroachments on natural areas and Hyrcanian forests and announced the adoption of strict policies to stop the horizontal expansion of the city of Gorgan. She added: The future development of cities in northern provinces must be pursued with a protective perspective towards the environment while simultaneously addressing the real housing needs.
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