While there are many new technology products available for fire detection and suppression, at the end of the day when a fire occurs it is real people, the firefighters, who have to risk their own lives to save others and minimise the damage to property.
As a result, Hi-Tech Security Solutions decided to ask the firefighter what the reality was when it came to fire prevention, detection and suppression and what they felt could be done to improve their situation. The interview could of course not cover every fire department and was deliberately restricted to Benoni Fire and Emergency Services. Benoni was selected as representative of the upper end of the fire service, operating five stations in a large metropolis with additional responsibility for potential catastrophes at Johannesburg International Airport. Benoni Fire and Emergency Services is also unique in that all of its fire stations and services are certified to the ISO 9001 quality management system. The interview was conducted with Jacques Steyn who is the manager of both Fire Safety and Quality Control.
It was interesting to find that while Steyn is very impressed with the technology available today in the form of smoke detectors, automatic sprinkler systems and the like, the lack of fire knowledge by the owner/occupier of many buildings often negates their benefit. It should however, be noted, that the sooner a fire is detected the less damage it will cause and in optimum scenarios the fire detection systems would be integrated with the security solution providing a timeous alarm at a control or emergency centre. Electronic fire detection systems are thus invaluable to fire services and allow speedy response. In the case of suspected arson the time and sequence of alarm triggers allows fire experts to trace the development of the fire. Technology itself has improved significantly with automatic and environmentally friendly extinguishing systems but the reality is that such installations are expensive and the owners of older buildings in particular are not keen to follow this route.
Compulsory occupational certificate
In terms of municipal by-laws all buildings do require an occupational certificate before they are used as planned (but remember the Colonnades in Pretoria). This certificate when issued by Benoni Municipality must be accompanied by a letter from the fire authority stating that the building ('as-is') complies with the requirements of the SABS 0400 Code. This Code lays down the minimum requirements in terms of detection systems, evacuation systems, number of fire extinguishers, hydrant points etc. where the occupied area exceeds 500 m2. Strict adherence to this Code is however not advised in the absence of professional advice as a spray paint shop for example would be much more of a fire hazard that a store containing just steel bars in steel racks. Another problem is that the nature of occupancy of a building may change (requiring stricter fire precautions) but the authorities are not kept informed.
The other problem is that even though a building may be inspected and found to comply with the SABS requirements initially, follow up in terms of servicing of smoke detectors (and other alarms) and even refilling (or replacement) of fire extinguishers may be nonexistent. Steyn indicated that while regulations require that fire extinguishers be checked and verified on an annual basis, the fire conscious company should still aim to inspect such equipment on a more regular basis. Most extinguishers available today have a simple colour-coded gauge that indicates whether the pressure is adequate.
As a firefighter himself, Steyn believes that the responsibility for adequate protection against fire should lie with the insurers of a property. One disastrous fire (such as Makro in Woodmead) can cost insurance companies millions. Firefighting authorities do not have the resources to fully police all buildings in their area, but insurers could through using properly trained inspectors. Defects in the installed detection and protection systems or inadequacies in the storage of hazardous materials could be addressed through imposing higher premiums or through denying cover until corrective action has been taken. In fact, a more positive approach would be to reward companies that unilaterally improve their fire management systems through a reduction in premiums or a contribution to the capital cost.
When it comes to buildings (and particularly those used by the public) owners are often unsure about their responsibility, although SABS 0400 makes it quite clear that they are ultimately accountable. In the case where this responsibility is partially delegated to, for example, the managers of stores in shopping malls, it is the owner who is accountable for the fact that these managers are both knowledgeable and aware of their responsibility.
Benoni itself has come across scenarios during exercises where untrained individuals have responded to a fire alarm warning by simply pressing the reset button. Although the provision of (unlocked) emergency exits is mandatory there is a lack of awareness with owners/managers that their responsibility also includes providing adequate access for firefighters themselves. Another area of concern is that new buildings are often located in areas where the existing infrastructure provides inadequate water pressure. The building owner is in fact responsible here and they should in fact install water tanks (rooftop or with pumps) for use in a fire emergency. Are larger companies aware that they should have emergency plans for their site and that fire drills should be practised? The plans should include the appointment of fire marshals and the designation of a medical recovery room plus allocation of assembly areas for evacuated staff.
Public awareness
General public awareness is also a necessity that is overlooked. When you enter a new area (hotel room, shopping mall etc) you should make yourself aware of what the various warning signs mean, identify emergency (or other) exits and note the location of firefighting equipment. Staff on the premises should of course be even more conscious of the hazard and should take responsibility for equipment located near them (it is too late to search for the fire alarm or look for keys for the 'so-called' emergency exit when the store lighting has already been extinguished). This same consideration should be given to our homes where other protective security measures may limit the means of exiting a building. If all else fails and you are caught in a fire the old rule of staying close to the floor below the smoke is a good one to follow.
In terms of fire prevention there is much that can be done by the individual himself. Common causes of fire include the overloading of plugs, faulty electrical connections and electrical wiring installed by unqualified personnel. Another prevalent cause is where electrical appliances are used for purposes other than those for which they are designed - using a heater to dry clothes is a good example. Even simple tidiness can reduce fire risk where oily or other chemically impregnated clothes thrown on a pile could result in spontaneous combustion. Magazines published on the issue of fire tend to focus too much on forensics, rather than pointing out how the fire could have been prevented or retarded. The coverage of such issues could raise public awareness and prevent the same type of occurrence.
In conclusion it appears that whereas modern technology can be a major aid in the detection, prevention and suppression of fire, there needs to be more training at the point of use as well as regular servicing and checking of devices. There is a great need for more awareness of the dangers of fire, its often simple causes and the rapidity with which it can spread. As fire authorities are hard pressed to provide adequate manpower to oversee precautions taken in public buildings, much more could be done by insurance companies to reduce risk and to save lives of both firefighters and the public.
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