FSC releases fire safety recommendation for high rises

• Court lauds FSC recommendations, seeks list of high rises within a fortnight

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah has observed that recommendations by the Fire Safety Commission (FSC) are most useful, and must be considered by authorities carrying out development work in the city.

Shah has ordered that these recommendations be sent to the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general and the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) administrator to ensure that their guidelines are utilised and incorporated into the building plans of future city projects so that the safety and security of the city’s residents can be ensured on a long term basis.

FSC Chairperson Dr Rizwan Naseer, appearing before the court in a case filed by Muhammad Shoaib Saleem for controlling fire incidents, stated that the FSC wanted to inspect the city’s high rise buildings but the LDA and the local government had not yet provided a list of such buildings.

The court directed LDA’s counsel and the local government to supply a list of four-storey and higher buildings to the FSC Secretary Rafay Alam within a fortnight so that the commission could survey the sky-rocketing structures.

The immediate fire controlling recommendations submitted by the commission include the presence of external steel staircases, fire doors, hydrant system, installation of fire extinguishers, fire alarm system, clear access and removal of obstructions, evacuation plan and emergency lighting system besides a quick response team.

 RECOMMENDATIONS: The commission recommended that external steel staircases should be installed at all high rise buildings above 38 feet for safe evacuation where exits are not already available. Buildings having over 10,000 square feet of covered area must have a minimum of two external staircases, with one on each side of the building. The emergency staircases must be separated from the main building by preferably two fire doors opening outwards. The fire doors should be of hinge type with a clear width of at least three feet and a minimum of one hour fire-resistant rating.

The commission also proposed that all high rise buildings should have an external or internal pressurised hydrant system running along the exit staircases. The hydrant system should have an independent power supply supporting the pumping systems. All multi-storey buildings should have an independent overhead water tank or an external underground tank to support the hydrant system. Underground tank should be accessible to rescue services and vehicles at all times. Similarly, all buildings having four storeys or more should have fire extinguishers to meet immediate needs. The buildings should have ‘comprehensive intelligent fire detection’ and an alarm system with relevant detectors at all locations within the buildings.

The commission further suggested that free access for emergency vehicles be provided around the building, which should be clear from overhead obstructions (such as wires and cables), and that the windows of all floors should be of an appropriate size to allow for emergency evacuation. The buildings should prominently display evacuation plans at their entrances. The exit signs, moreover, should be clearly legible and printed on florescent material that will guide one towards emergency exits. Every such building should have a building safety manager to ensure the implementation of these recommendations and ensure prompt evacuation at the hour of need. The designated manager and his emergency team should be trained by Rescue 1122 and Civil Defence, the FSC added.