Think of fire before it starts. Or at least we should, but the reality is starkly different. Fire safety often only becomes a subject of scrutiny after some harrowing fire breaks and makes the headlines. And the headlines have been plenty.
Fire accidents are not a new phenomenon. Neither are fire safety measures unheard of. The National Building Code (NBC) of India mandates certain fire preventive and fire fighting considerations to be incorporated during the construction stage of all types of buildings – residential, commercial, health care, public amenities and industrial with clearly specified guidelines for each.
However, lack of fire norms is not the issue – diligently implementing them is.
In case of older construction, it is vital for people and institutions to take the onus irrespective of their level or hierarchy for fire prevention.
In most types of buildings, electrical malfunctions are a leading cause of fire accidents. In hospitals, the ICUs which are suffused with oxygen pose a risk. We have technology and smart appliances today at our disposal designed to this extent. These include smart plugs and outlets, smart stovetops with fire prevention features, smart fire detectors, smart smoke detectors, smart batteries, fire-resistant wirings and more. Dry sprinkler systems which can be charged by fire fighters are an excellent way of curbing the spread of fire. Adopting these, especially in older buildings or buildings without fire measures in place, add a level of protection that may lend a few minutes for the residents to escape in an unfortunate case of an accident.
On this National Fire Service Day, we at the Construction World magazine bring to light the two most crucial tools that the industry has to mitigate fire accidents: raising awareness and taking conscious responsibility. Ultimately, the best way of fighting fires is by eliminating their risk completely.