Fire Safety In High-Rises: Things You Must Check Before Moving In

Looking at the recent fire accidents that have been a cause of many deaths, disaster management in such situations have become critical. Violation of fire-safety norms is commonly found in a both commercial and residential setup giving rise to such accidents. According to Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services Department Director (Technical) K Shivakumar, the department is not sufficiently equipped to handle fire accidents. While there are around 900 high-rises in the city that are above 40 metres, there are only three fire tender equipments that can reach up to that level in case of a mishap.

Extinguishing fire and full-scale evacuation become an even more challenging task in a skyscraper for the fire department as it requires proper planning and complete cooperation from all the units. Nowadays, developers consider fire safety to be a crucial part and are strictly following the norms laid down for the same. The National Association of Fire Officers (NAFO) has made it mandatory to install these systems in high-rise buildings to make them fire safe. Continuous fire safety auditing is also a way out.

Fire safety in highrises

Fire detection system: Fire detectors should be placed on each floor and two-way communication should be established between the ground floor and other floors. There should be mics on every floor and regular instructions should be given according to the situation. The public fire department, manual call and automatic detectors all should be interlinked.

Fire alarm system: There are two kinds of fire alarm system, manual and automatic. Every building higher than 15 metre should have both of these.

Sprinkler system: In the basement, parking and other areas where highly combustible things are stored, sprinklers must be provided. The sprinklers should be connected to the main water tank so that there is an ample amount of water to control the situation.

Fire extinguishers: Portable fire extinguishers should be installed in each corridor. First Aid box should also be there.

Escape route map: Maps clearly showing the route to escape should be provided in each corridor. This should be in luminous paint so that it is useful even if there is a power failure.

Fire drills and orders: Drills are the only means that can be used to check how efficient your emergency response plan is. The occupants should know where the emergency equipment is and know the way to reach there. Also, they should know how to evacuate the building in less time. Surprise drills can also be used to assess the preparedness of the residents.

In addition to these points, the NAFO also suggests that there should be a built-in firefighting system that includes wet riser, dry riser and hydrant. Every high-rise should have a minimum of two entrances and staircases, each, both far from each other.

Fire-related accidents are not under our control but we can at least be prepared to tackle the situation in a well-planned manner so that there is minimum loss of life and property. Homebuyers, planning to invest in a highrise, must question the developer about the fire-safety measures taken by them. Also, one should always participate in fire drills and should keep the emergency telephone numbers handy.

Being aware is the best way you can keep you and your family safe from casualties. While these can be done at the personal level, authorities also need to make their processes quick and efficient. As of now, the fire department in Bengaluru is in the process of rolling out notices to 132 highrise buildings that do not have any fire exits or driveways which make the situation worse. Usually, 10-20 days are given to housing projects to reply and take action. Delays beyond this period will lead to the electricity supply company snapping the supply and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to cancel the occupancy certificates.

Should the builders include some more fire safety features in the buildings? Feel free to share your views with us by commenting below.

With additional inputs from Rupanshi Thapa