Time to Get Fire Evacuation Systems in Place
The recent Fire incident in Bandra high-rise building has raised many questions on Mumbai's high-rises fire safety. Everyone talks about Fire Safety but no one is talking about Fire Evacuation. Looking at the recent incident, the major risk is evacuating people on time and dousing the fire. Our Fire Brigade department risks their lives to save people’s lives. Having a Fire Evacuation system in place will help them in fighting major fire hazards.
The incidence of fire break-outs are rising. In Mumbai, as the Mumbai Fire Brigade recently stated, the city has witnessed more than 48,434 small and major fire incidents since 2008 to 2018, of which 1,568 were reported in Mumbai’s high-rises since 2008 and sabotaging 8,737 residential buildings, about 3,833 commercial buildings.
The lack of awareness, negligence towards fire safety audits, non-implementation of fire safety rules by the buildings or technical reasons like non-functional internal fire fighting systems, inadequate sprinkler arrangements, etc., could be the reasons why fire accidents are happening? It is observed that many buildings in Mumbai do not have a Fire Evacuation system in place to evacuate the people on time. Timely evacuation can help prevent the loss of assets and lives of the people.
After many incidents of fire in the recent past in Mumbai, there has been a growing demand to ensure proper fire safety and Fire Evacuation system in place in the high-rise buildings. During major fire incidents in high-rises, it has been seen that the evacuation of people has often become a cause of major concern. The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and the Fire Brigade Department realized the need to equip high-rise buildings in Mumbai with the right kind of Fire Evacuation system. Therefore, it has been made mandatory in 2018 by MCGM and Mumbai Fire Brigade department to have a provision of a Fire Evacuation Lift for all the buildings with a height above 70 meters (around 22 floors).
Time is of the essence when fighting fires. A few seconds can be all that stands between controllable flames and an out-of-control blaze. Therefore, Fire Evacuation Lifts are important to evacuate the people on time before it gets out of control. It will be a lifesaver for fire-fighters and for the people.
Under the fire safety requirements, protective fire equipment like the Fire Evacuation Lifts, fire sprinklers and other fire management devices, may make the dangerous job of fire - fighting safe for evacuation of people.
The city needs to ensure implementation of an advanced fire evacuation lift before we lose more human lives and an effort in planning safer infrastructure.
Tags : Dr Vikram Mehta Managing Director of Spartan Engineering Industries and Fire Evacuation Lift Expert Fire Evacuation Systems Mumbai's high-rises fire safety The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai the Fire Brigade Department