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FIRE PROTECTION (From page 95)
WEDGING OPEN OF FIRE AND SMOKE DOORS.
This is done to give easier cir- culation. The intention of these doors is to prevent fire spread and protect escape routes. When left open smoke and fire can spread and block all escape routes. Fire and smoke lobbies are normally found in multi-storey buildings, the upper floors of which are beyond the reach of Fire Brigade escape ladders.
LACK OF MAINTENANCE OF ESCAPE ROUTES.
The alternative means of escape in case of fire are often used as storage space, particularly for gar bage cans and litter baskets, and as a general dumping ground for un- wanted articles. Furthermore, when used to carry garbage down to ground level, spillage is not cleared up, leaving the steps and landings slippery. The possibility of a panic evacuation of a burning building is always present, and the conditions described may only be considered as an increase in the hazard, One person falling may cause others to do the same and this escape route may become blocked with persons suffocating and with broken limbs.
IRON BARS TO WINDOWS.
These are often provided by ten- ants as a protection against bur glary. Designed to prevent ingress they also prevent egress, delaying (to say the least) the chance of re- scue by ladder. If personal posses- sions are so valuable that they need protection at the risk of life, then they ought to be kept in a safe or in bank vault.
a
UNAUTHORISED ALTERATIONS.
The dangerous practices found are: the connection of what are in- tended to be separate fire contain- ment compartments; the alteration. of buildings for a change of use (cutting holes in floors for hoists. to turn domestic into commercial use);
and the division of space by parti: tions impeding escape. The Buil ing Regulations require that approv al be obtained to all alterations af fecting the structure, one obviou intention of which is to ensure that unwitting increase of the fire hazard is not caused.
TAMPERING WITH ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS.
This consists of increasing fuse resistance over .the designed maximum and the addition of out lets to existing circuits by amateur electricians.
NO MAINTENANCE OF FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT.
Fire extinguishers, first alarms. sprinkler systems, hoses and hose reels and hydrant control valves are left untested.
These are a few examples of how the work of the ar. chitect and of the authorities is circumvented, either deliberately or through ignorance. Building owners and their tenants have re sponsibilities in ensuring that nothing is done to buildings that is likely to cause fires, to increase the risk of a fire being caused and of its spreading and to increase the hazard of escape of its occupants.
One cannot escape the thought that sooner or later a fire will occur in a multi-storey, high-occupancy building with disastrous results and where it will be found that the nor mal "installed" precautions have
been circumvented.
A life-sentence in jail for those responsible is no compensation to those whose friends and relations have unnecessarily lost their lives let alone their possessions. A fire in such circumstances could be more disastrous than the worst squaller fires, from which at least the occup ants can escape in all directions.
One questions also: should no more attention be paid to the perio dic inspection of existing buildings
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110
THE HONG KONG & FAR FAST BUILDER-VOLUME 17, NUMBER 4
Page 110Page 111
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