FIRE HAZARD AWARENESS IN HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
Ali Al Musabih, MSc , CFPS, CFI-I Lead Consultant at Jensen Hughes
regular basis. The program should be part of the fire management plan and ensure that all fire safety systems and equipment are functioning properly and effectively. A preventive maintenance program should also include records of all maintenance activities and results. Fire safety education involves informing and educating residents and staff about building fire hazards and risks and the fire protection measures in place. It should also include training on preventing fires, responding to fire alarms, using fire extinguishers, evacuating safely and cooperating with the fire department. Fire safety education should be conducted through awareness campaigns, posters, leaflets, meetings, drills and simulations. Automatic fire detection and suppression systems automatically detect and suppress fires in the building without human intervention. One of the most common and efficient automatic fire detection and suppression systems is the automatic sprinkler system, which consists of a network of pipes, valves, sprinkler heads, and a water supply. When a fire is detected by a heat-sensitive sprinkler head, water is sprayed on
the fire area to extinguish or control it. Automatic sprinkler systems can reduce the spread of fire, smoke and heat, helping to prevent property damage, injury and loss of life. Compartmentalization involves segmenting the building into different areas to ensure that a fire does not spread throughout the building easily. This can be achieved by installing fire doors and breaks utilizing fire-resistant materials at strategic locations throughout the building. These materials can slow down the spread of fire and smoke, thus providing more time for building occupants to evacuate the area. By adopting these measures, high- rise buildings can enhance their fire safety performance and protect their occupants and property from fire hazards.
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