XN000022-1979-05-27 — Page 5

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SUNDAY, MAY 27, 1979

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PROPERTY OWNERS ADVISED AGAINST REMOVING PROTECTED LIFT LOBBIES ******

THE FIRE SERVICES TODAY (SUNDAY) ADVISED PROPERTY OWNERS AGAINST REMOVING PROTECTED LIFT LOBBIES.

+F IREMAN'S LIFTS ARE PROVIDED IN BUILDINGS OVER EIGHT-STOREY TO ENABLE FIREMEN TO QUICKLY REACH AND DEAL WITH FIRES OR OTHER EMERGENCIES ON THE UPPER FLOORS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES SAID.

HE SAID ONE OR MORE LIFTS MAY BE DESIGNATED AS FIREMAN'S LIFTS PROVIDED THEY SATISFY CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

+THESE INCLUDE THE CONDITION THAT THE LIFT SHOULD OPEN UP INTO A SMOKE, OR PROTECTED, LOBBY AN AREA SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN FLOOR AREA,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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HE SAID, HOWEVER, IT WAS FREQUENTLY DISCOVERED THAT AFTER A BUILDING HAD BEEN OCCUPIED THE FLOOR LAYOUTS WERE ALTERED, INCLUDING THE REMOVAL OF THE PROTECTED LOBBIES TO FIREMAN'S LIFTS.

WITHOUT THE PROTECTED LOBBY FIREMEN EMERGING FROM A LIFT WOULD WALK STRAIGHT INTO AN INTENSE FIRE ON REACHING THE FLOOR

INVOLVED. IN HONG KONG AND ELSEWHERE FIREMEN HAD BEEN KILLED IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE SAID FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN REQUIRING REINSTATEMENT OF PROTECTED LOBBIES TO FIREMAN'S LIFTS IF THESE HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

+BUT IT IS SOMETIMES ACCEPTABLE TO ALTER AND REDUCE THE SIZE OF THIS LOBBY SO THAT IT PROTECTS ONLY THE FIREMAN'S LIFT, LEAVING THE REMAINDER TO OPEN DIRECTLY INTO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY LOBBY SEPARATION, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO CONTACT THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU SHOULD THEY HAVE ANY ENQUIRIES OR PROPOSALS ON PROTECTED LOBBIES AND FIREMAN'S LIFTS.

THE BUREAU'S TELEPHONE NO. IS 5-281224 (24-HOUR SERVICE).

+ IF THEY SO WISH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN ALSO CALL PERSONALLY AT THE BUREAU ON THE 11TH FLOOR OF ASIAN HOUSE, 1 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI,+ HE SAID.

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