Keep fire at bay

Fire safety is an issue of major concern especially in multi-storey residential buildings. There are codes on fire safety that developers should adhere to such as: adapting the architectural design,deployment of mechanical,HVAC (heating,ventilation,airconditioning and refrigeration),and plumbing systems and fire alarms.

Fire service officials say that even as these measures are in place,the vulnerability of high-rise buildings to fire increases purely on account of the lack of general awareness among people.

Common Causes

There are common fire hazards that people tend to ignore,fire officials say. Some of them are: blocked cooling vents,overloaded electrical systems,having a high oxygen concentration or insufficient protection in fuel storage areas (such as in diesel generator rooms). Then there are the usual follies such as not extinguishing a cigarette properly.

It is imperative that occupants of high-rises need to be aware of fire safety regulations. The most basic among them are: maintaining proper fire exits and clearly visible exit signage,so that they serve their intended purpose even during a power failure; placement and maintenance of fire extinguishers in easily accessible places; proper storage of hazardous materials that may be needed for operational requirements of the housing complex such as slovents and sprays.

In addition,residents should take up the responsibility and inspect their complex and ensure that critical fire fighting gear such as spray fireproofing remains undamaged,and also sensitise all living in the community so that obvious mistakes are avoided.

With the number of multi-storey buildings coming up,the methods,techniques and safety measures to effectively deal with emergency situations have also evolved. These fire protection measures are based on the characteristic of construction material and structural elements of buildings.

To ensure that emergency situations are effectively dealt with,the fire services give out guidelines to the public.

Keeping in view the construction of such high rise buildings,it is important that the construction material used in stairways,façades and corridors be non-combustible.

In addition,staircases are to be ventilated and should be open to the atmosphere,having a vent at the top. In cases where staircases cannot have a provision of being ventilated,a positive pressure of 50 Pascal should be maintained,fire officials say.

One of the primary reasons for massive fires,and one that tests the very limits of all safety measures is the electrical short-circuit.

To prevent any hazard on this count,electrical supply cables should be placed so that they run along ‘safe’ routes in the building.

Further,there are provisions that state that apartment buildings having a height of 30 metres and above should have a control room with facilities to detect fire on any floor through indicator boards and alarm systems on all floors,and which has a communication system connected to all floors to receive and send messages.

Ideally for buildings with a height of 15 to 30 meters,the minimum width of the road should be 15 meters,the desirable width being 18 metres.

Be prepared

Despite the existence of all the guidelines issued specifically for buildings of this nature,there have been cases wherein the guidelines were flouted causing harm to human life and property. There have been cases reported where the loss was either due to the ignorance of the occupants of the building or on the part of the fire services.

There have also been times when the fire department has faced difficulties in controlling the fire in congested areas where fire tenders cannot reach.

Keeping that in view,the environment ministry recently issued guidelines correlating the height of the building to the width of the road. The main aim of the guideline is to ensure that fire tenders and trucks have access to the spot during an emergency.

Also,a major concern in attending to fire calls is the increasing number of vehicles on the roads causing traffic chaos,which come in the way of the mobility of fire-fighting squads.

In order to address such a situation,some fire services such as the Delhi Fire Service has raised motorcycle units fitted with backpack-sized equipment running on water-mist technology to attend to fire emergencies in congested localities.

Apart from the above specific guidelines issued by the ministry of environment and forests for high-rise buildings,there are new rules that have been framed,which state that the height of the building will be regulated by determining the distance from the nearest fire station,so that fire tenders can reach the spot in the shortest possible time and the damage caused is minimum.

Every developer has to adhere to these guidelines and obtain a ‘no objection certificate’ from the fire department and the disaster management authority before construction and also before delivery of the residential units.

Even as rules are in place and all new developments would have fire safety mechanisms incorporated,the key to their effectiveness is maintenance,for which,the resident welfare association or housing society should assume full responsibility. Systems and drills are only one part of the story. The other key element is a sense of disaster preparedness that has to be inculcated among citizens for that is the best insurance when an emergency,god forbid,strikes.

— ananya.bhardwaj@expressindia.com

Safety Essentials

* Ensure good housekeeping: All fire protection equipment must be periodically maintained so that they are in ‘battle ready’ mode,always

* Empty all receptacles for waste at regular intervals. Never allow it to pile up. They could be combustible

* Repair/ replace faulty electrical appliances immediately. A major cause of fire is short-circuit,that can beat the best systems. A major cause of short-circuits are equipment faults

* Switches and fuses should conform to correct ratings. Any electrical equipment that is operated against its intended use spells trouble

* Welding jobs should be carried out under strict supervision,preferably in open areas

* Keep fire exits clear of obstructions

* Fire rescue drills should be carried out at regular intervals with the cooperation of the fire department

* Impart elementary fire fighting training to occupants,and especially those who are nearest to the fighting gear

* Set up an emergency management committee in your housing complex