Why India's buildings are vulnerable to fire, and what's needed to fix them, Pg15

Key Highlights:

• Recent fires in India, including a Delhi bed & breakfast on June 3 killing 23 people and a Lucknow commercial complex on June 22 killing 15 people, have exposed significant fire safety gaps.
• Professor Virendra Kumar Paul, Director of the School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi, highlighted how building facades and lack of secondary escape routes contribute to fire vulnerability.
• Building facades covered with inflammable materials like AC units and hoardings accelerate fire spread, making firefighting difficult.
• The absence of a second staircase or proper ventilation in existing stairwells often traps occupants during emergencies.
• Delhi government has ordered inspections of 923 coaching centers following the Lucknow tragedy to assess fire safety compliance.

Detailed Insights:

• Fire escape routes must be kept clear of combustible materials, have non-combustible false ceilings, and ensure ventilation to prevent smoke entry.
• Compartmentation in building design helps contain fires within smaller sections, providing occupants more time to evacuate.
• Sprinkler systems are highly effective fire safety measures, provided they are properly installed and designed.
• Fire safety systems become ineffective if building occupancy changes or new risks are added without updating safety measures.
• High-density urban areas often lack adequate access for fire vehicles due to narrow streets, street parking, and encroachments.
• Renovations should prioritize fire-retardant wall panelling and carefully assess the combustibility of materials like curtains.
• Many urban buildings in India lack fire-resistant designs, emergency exits, and proper safety planning, making evacuation challenging.
• Weak enforcement of fire safety regulations and inadequate firefighting infrastructure are systemic issues contributing to fire disasters.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Compartmentation: A fire safety strategy that divides a building's floor area into smaller, fire-resistant sections to limit fire spread.
• Flash Over: The stage in a fire when all combustible materials in a room or enclosed area ignite simultaneously due to intense heat.
• Fire Retardant Materials: Materials treated or designed to slow down or prevent the spread of fire, reducing its intensity and impact.