Fire_Services_1964-1965 — Page 44

173. With no spare appliances and ever increasing usage of the latter and associated equipment, high standards of regular inspection, testing and servicing are vital in the public interest.

FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU

174. It has been an exceptional year, full of achievements, bringing direct benefits to the public. Outstanding events have been numerous of which the following are of most interest to the public.

ABATEMENT OF FIRE HAZARDS

175. Prior to the enactment of the Fire Service (Amendment) Ordinance 1964, the Fire Service had no means, other than in places of public assembly and dangerous goods stores, to take remedial action on the discovery of a life or fire hazard.

176. New buildings, the majority of which are multi-storey in charac- ter and which are being constructed at the rate of more than 1,000 per annum, were, once occupation certificates had been granted, being altered internally, especially in premises sold or rented for industrial and commercial use, thereby creating life hazards of disturbing propor- tions.

177. Developers were selling or leasing parts of passageways and exits required and provided in original planning for the safety of occupants of upper floors.

178. Areas specifically approved for car parking or storage space were being sub-divided and rented or sold for either living accommoda- tion or shops.

179. New multi-storey blocks attracted thousands of minor indus- tries, schools and a wide variety of 'trade' activities for which the safety routes were seldom designed.

180. Fire Service installations required and installed in buildings were in many cases either removed or immobilized by tenants and/or buyers, both of whom together with the original developer disclaimed responsibility for maintenance and servicing of this vital equipment.

181. A common violation was the removal of the 'smoke lobbies', which in multi-storey buildings provide the only hope for containing the spread of smoke between one staircase and another long enough for occupants to escape to the safety of the ground floors.

33