Outbreaks of Fire in High-Rise Buildings - Research Proposal Example

Community safety Table of contents Community safety 1 Table of contents 1 Introduction 1 Background of the study 2 Statement of the problem 3 Objectives and goals of community safety 4 Hypothesis for testing 4 Significance of community safety studies 5 Theoretical framework on community safety 5 Review of literature 7 ADOPTION OF SARA METHODOLOGY IN COMMUNITY SAFETY 8 Community safety as a measure of goals 10 Economic costs of fire 11 Research methodology 12 Discussion of the results 14 Conclusion 15 Recommendations 16 Bibliography 16 Introduction Community safety is an inter-agency effort towards sustainable safer home construction aimed at reducing risks of fire incidents (Engineering Systems-Barker,R.1991:pp.38-39). A responsible fire safety program involves contribution and participation of different agencies like building planners, building developers, community leaders and home owners (Wortham, 1997:pp.66-71). The predisposing factors to community fire safety program are increase in death toll of occupants in high-rise buildings and firefighters due to difficulties of access to upper floors (Timura, n.d.pp.74). This means agencies like housing and planners need to be involved in designing buildings that make it possible for firefighters and occupants to safely access the building (Lunch, 1994:pp.29). This objective can be achieved by adopting SARA methodology. Background of the study Outbreaks of fire in high-rise buildings present extinguishing difficulties (Engineering Systems-Barker,R., 1991:pp.38-39). This is due to increased ventilation and increase of velocity of winds that catalyze spread of fire horizontally and vertically (Eisma, 1990:pp.48-50). High-rise buildings that lack exterior ladders and elevators pose a challenge of evacuation of residents (Evans and Chaffins 1986:pp.734-737). Limited access to upper floors and delivery of water is characteristic property of high-rise buildings (Fagan, Monte,Powell and Cronici 1998:pp.33-35). They lack elevators, exterior stairways and exit routes (Gambatese, Hinge and Haas 1997:pp.32-41). The fire resistivity of the building contributes significantly to spread of fire (Flores, 1983:pp.11-14). Death toll in high-rise structures is high if the building doesn’t satisfy fire safety order 2005 and building regulation with respect to inter-building distance to curb spread of fire, presence of standpipes, fire alarms and sprinkler systems and presence of exit channels (Gornick, 1997:pp.41-42). A building that lacks exterior ladders, rails, and elevators poses a staffing challenge to fire and rescue personnel (Guvanessian and Holinky 1996). This arises in terms of planning a staging area, lobby control area, planning supply of water and air, rehabilitation area and designating lobby control area. These problems arise due to lack of inter-agency partnership that is a major factor for incident management in SARA methodology strategy. Statement of the problem Sustainable fire safety and risk management is a compound problem that requires input from different agencies hence the need for inter-agency cooperation in order to facilitate development of effective strategies towards fire risk management. Efforts of one agency cannot fully provide effective fire safety measures in the community. This is because there may be overlap of duties carried out by different agencies that would eventually affect efficiency and expected outcomes. The community is therefore not positioned to benefit. Agency independence would also increase economic costs of fire and services. In areas where crime rate is high, the exit routes in the building are shut and occupants of the building are trapped inside the building. There is therefore need for community safety programs to adopt SARA methodology in order to reduce incidents that put the community at risks. Objectives and goals of community safety a. To carry out assessment of efficiency of community based fire management b. To carry out investigation on effectiveness of community fire safety programs c. To determine impacts of fire planning and fire risk management as a function of number of emergency incidents, their frequency and outcomes Hypothesis for testing a. High-rise buildings that have automatic smoke detectors and sprinkler systems have reduced fore risks b. Fire risk assessment provides opportunity for repair and maintenance of fire safety systems in a building c. Education of residents on fire safety helps to reduce occurrence of fire incidents d. Building that is equipped with exterior ladders, rails and elevators provide exit routes during outbreak of fire and minimize chances residents’ deaths and injuries. e. Fire resistive buildings have minimal spread of fire vertically and horizontally Significance of community safety studies The study will propose strategies that could help in decreasing fire emergency cases and their consequences. This will assist in fire safety planning and development of fire risk management policies that could lead into development of safer, healthier workforce. The study will recommend availability of informed workforce who are well trained to handle fire and rescue operations within guidelines of safety regulations. This will lead into fire management outcomes that have little impact to the environment. The study will lead into cost effective strategies whose implementation will witness value adding services. The study will lead into adoption of SARA methodology in risk management and increase efficiency and effectiveness of community safety. Theoretical framework on community safety Community safety program brings in different agencies like planning, development and fire rescue into partnership working with aim of reducing loss of property and life in the event of fire incidents (Timura, n.d.pp.74 and Wortham, 1997:pp.66-71). Agency cooperation in seeking sustainable solutions in fire management has resulted into high-rise buildings that are equipped with fire alarms that make it possible for zoned evacuation to be realized due to adoption of SARA methodology in community risk management (Mishan, 1976:pp.65-74). Community safety as a function of inter-agency partnership has contributed into development of buildings that have fire resistive property (Hall 1998 and Hitchcox, 1996:pp.45-46). This helps to minimize spread of fire vertically and horizontally. It has also led into development of rails that are elevator compatible for evacuation and delivery of fire suppression facilities (Rossi, 1993). In addition, they are standpipes are installed for delivering water and rescue air supply to firefighters (Charters, 2006). Cooperation of agencies has made it possible for exterior ladders, stairways and elevators to be developed that assist in evacuation tasks (National Institute of Design, 1992). Agency partnership has made staffing challenge easier in fire incidents as efficiency has been improved in terms of designating crews for hoselines, backup for fire floors (Wortham, 1997:pp.66-71). Safer fire suppression, search and rescue and salvage tasks lead into improved safety measures for occupants and firefighters. Agency partnership has provided a forum for addressing issues related to sustainable environment management with aim of reducing emission of greenhouse gases. This ensures the building conforms to standards required by fire safety order 2005. Agency partnership has created avenues for user education on fire safety precaution and fire response procedures in the event of fire incident (Flores, 1983:pp.11-14). Education campaigns on fire safety equip users and firefighters with knowledge that has led into reduction of fire emergency incidents and their outcomes (Gornick, 1997:pp.41-42). Agency partnership has opened doors for effective performance management in terms of staff training on fire safety and choice of equipments to use with respect to magnitude and nature of fire. Review of literature According to Ta van, Fraharoli,Gwendolyn and Carlon (2006) community safety advocates for presence of fire equipments room that is equipped with rescue air filling system and other firefighting accessories. This makes it possible for any trained personnel to set up a staging area. Tomasson, Karlson, Bengtsson and Porsteinsson (2005) argues that presence of rescue air systems saves time as no gas cylinders are taken up and down the building for refilling. It also helps to reduce deaths of firefighters from suffocation and breathing in hot air that reduces gaseous exchange. Linaires and Linaires (1990:pp.281-285) argues that community safety programs ensure high-rise buildings have rails that facilitate evacuation of trapped residents via elevators. Efforts of community safety ensure high-rise buildings carry out fire risk assessment that helps to reduce chances of outbreak of fire and show position of the building to fire outbreak. Tanaka (2005) argues that fire risk assessment ensures repairs and maintenance tasks are carried out in areas that are likely to compromise fire safety of the building. Haddix, Mallonnes, Waxweiner et al (2001:pp.276-281) suggests that the report on fire risk assessment provides appraisal for insurance premiums payable by the premise owner for instance. Forjourh and Coben (1997:pp.86-91) proposes that fire risk assessment report ensures the building satisfies regulatory reform. Varas, Carbone and Hamnon (1988:pp.69-71) suggested that community partnership ensures high rise buildings are equipped with standpipes for delivering water for extinguishing the fire. McLoughlin (1982:pp.281-284) argues that elevators and exterior ladders help in evacuation of residents. Community safety advocates for presence of fire alarms with staged evacuation, a measure that ensures loss of life is minimized. Eckelt, Fannon, Blades et al. (1985:pp.509-510) indicates that high rise buildings should have fire resistive properties to reduce spread of fire. Hwang, Duchossois, Garcia-Espana and Durbin (2006:pp.34-346) and McConnell, Leeming and Dwyer (1996:pp.213-227) argue that education of residents on fire safety prepares occupants on how to effectively prevent loss of life. Hitchcox, (1996:pp.45-46) argues that in fire resistive buildings, upon outbreak of severe fire that has makes it impossible for stairways, elevators and exterior ladders to be accessed, the occupant can safely close all entry points of smoke and seek emergency response from fire departments. This reduces entry of hot smoke that could affect the rate of gaseous exchange as a function of the body metabolic processes of the occupant. Community awareness on fire safety results into development of fire emergency plans that are pre-tested. Community safety programs ensure fire protection methods are in place and functional. ADOPTION OF SARA METHODOLOGY IN COMMUNITY SAFETY The term SARA is abbreviation of Scanning, Analysis, Response and Assessment. Process of scanning as a prerequisite for SARA methodology Efficient incident management is a product of competent data and information evaluation to determine weaknesses that lead into incident outbreaks, high incident frequency and high incident economic costs. The process of scanning investigates why the incident is occurring, when the incident is occurring, who are affected by the incident most and who is predisposing or creating likelihood of occurrence of the incident. Scanning investigates potential of inter-agency cooperation in incident management and determines measures that can be implemented to reduce risks and improve community safety. Process of analysis as a prerequisite of SARA methodology The process of evaluating an incident looks into analytical aspect of the incident. The analytical characteristics of the incident involve descriptive, quantitative and qualitative aspects of the incident. Analysis presents features of the incident in terms of time, date, method of control and prevention and investigates what could be done to prevent the incident in the future. Process of response as a prerequisite of SARA methodology Response mechanisms refer to strategies that should be put in place to resolve incident and this is a function of agencies and authorities’ partnership. Effective and efficient response is a product of incident dynamic assessment and critical review of cause, magnitude, consequences, economic costs incurred, value addition and environmental impact of the incident. Process of assessment as a prerequisite for SARA methodology Assessment mechanisms are a function of incident response of agencies. Response to an incident is determined by the level of partnership of agencies in place and whether those who respond to the incident have potential to bring about required response to lower economic costs of the incident. Poor training in terms of following safety precautions, handling of tools for incident control and prevention and lack of cooperation between agencies is the main challenge that affects outcomes of an incident. Community safety as a measure of goals Short terms goals for effective community safety These are immediate objectives that should bring about improvement in safety. These includes installing passive and active fire protection which is a function of fire alarms, heat detectors and smoke detectors for the active and use of fire resistive materials, compartmentalization, to prevent vertical and horizontal spread of fire and installation of zoned alarms, elevators, exterior ladders and rails for evacuation purposes Medium term goals for effective community safety These include measures that ensure employees and users of buildings comply with regulatory reform order 2005 and understand fire safety and precautions. The training of premise users ensures incidents of fire outbreaks are reduced. Long term goals for effective community safety This requires agency partnership in incident management and is a product of joint training of staff involved in incident management, control and prevention. Economic costs of fire There are two broad classes of economic costs namely relevant economic costs and socio-economic costs. Relevant costs include costs that are directly caused by fire and include compensation costs that follow injuries and death of residents and firefighters and direct damage to the building. The relevant indirect costs include loss of production following closure of company, loss of sales due to destruction of products and loss of goodwill. Indirect costs also include administrative costs of fire insurance, loss of income to the injured, business and government and families lose a breadwinner. Socio economic costs include costs factors that are subject to community’s preparedness to handle fire incidents. These costs include costs of fire fighting department with respect to equipments, training of community on fire safety and respective administrative costs that also include transport costs to the site of fire incident. Research methodology A comparative study was carried out was carried out. Data collection methods Secondary data was used for the comparative studies Results of the comparative studies Study Variables Results Recommendations Yaping He (2008). A comparative study of effectiveness of smoke alarms in two buildings Response of fire alarms in dwellings and commercial stores and efficiency evacuation Building equipped with fire alarms has high chance of resident evacuation. Fire extinguishing has minimal economic costs Dwellings and commercial stores should be equipped with fire alarms, fire detectors, heat detectors and sprinkler systems Carvalho, J., Fernandes, M., Lambert, V. and Lapsley, I. Measuring fire service performance: A comparative study Availability of resources, degree of passive fire protection and active fire protection Fire service department efficiency in fire management is depended on fire equipments, and subject to installed standpipes, smoke detectors, heat detectors, exterior ladders, elevators, rails for evacuation and fire suppression tasks. It is function of resident education and training on fire safety and availability of tested emergency plan. Residents should be educated on fire safety and measures to take when outbreak of fire occurs. Buildings should be installed with fire alarms with zoned evacuation potential, automatic water sprinkler systems, standpipes and rails. Passive fire protection and active fire protection should be in force. Joyce Pollinger, Laura Samuels, and Robert Stadolnik (2005). A comparative study of the behavioral personality and fire history characteristics of residential and outpatients adolescent with firesetting behaviours Social skill deficit, dynamic behavior modeling and negative life events that trigger firesetting behaviour Youth contribute to 80% of fire incidents in high-rise buildings due to behavioral and personality factors. Household factors like parental pathology, level of fire suppression and family stress management, early child modeling, personal repertoire like cognitive and behavioral skills should be instilled on youth. Project EMMA, HSM Nelson (2005). Regulation to cover issues of property protection and life safety Structural performance of steelwork as a function of passive fire protection Risk of fire spread A fire engineered approach should be adopted as it enables structural stability of the building hence improving safety of residents and firefighters Each room should be constructed as an individual fire compartment whose walls and ceilings are fire resistant. Limited temperature method should be used that is a function of temperature gradient and stress profile Shield, T.J. and Boyce, K.E. (2000). A study of evacuation from large retail store Evaluation of residents prior knowledge on fire safety Questionnaires on emergency exit information , exit plan integration to safety, Passive fire protection and resident education potential to evacuation and fire spread suppression Residents should be informed during evacuation through a voice address systems Residents should have knowledge of emergency plans of the building. Residents should be aware of fire alarm sound Residents should have knowledge of emergency exits in the building. These should be pre-tested. Building be equipped with exterior elevators, ladders and rails. Emergency exit route be well lit with signals to indicate direction of movement. Discussion of the results Buildings that are equipped with fire alarms have zero death rates and injuries when fire outbreak occurs. Automatic water sprinklers help to put off fire before any economic losses are incurred. Fire alarms with staged evacuation facilitate faster evacuation of residents and fire suppression efforts. Fire outbreak has minimal effect in terms of costs. Performance of fire service departments depends on presence of firer fighting equipments and degree of passive and active fire protection of the building. Automatic sprinklers assist in putting off the fire. Installed rails help in evacuation. Installed standpipes help in delivering water for extinguishing fire. They also assist in delivering rescue air for breathing for the firefighters. Presence of exterior elevators ensure residents with limited mobility have an opportunity of escaping from the building safely. Exit channels enable the residents to escape to safety. The exit channels should be well lit and have direction signs to show direction that residents should follow. Fire alarms with staged evacuation potential should be installed to facilitate rapid evacuation and efficient fire suppression through setting up of a staging by any firefighter who reaches the equipment facility. Education of the community on fire safety plays a significant role in minimizing occurrence of fire incidents. Youth contribute to most of high-rise building fire incidents due to behavioral and personality oriented factors. These are brought about by lack of knowledge of fire safety. Community members that are educated on fire safety adopt fire safety measures that ensure minimal possibility of fire outbreaks. This helps to reduce direct economic costs of fire. Structural factors of the building contribute to the rate of spread of the fire. A fire engineered approach to high rise building ensures the building has efficient passive fire protection that is a function of fire resistive materials and compartmentalization. This ensures safety of residents and firefighters and reduces fatalities in the event of fire outbreak. The residents should be conversant with building emergency plans. Education campaigns should be carried out by perfoming education need analysis. All residents should have practiced emergency plan and should be familiar with fire safety measures when fire outbreak occurs. The residents should be trained to extinguish small fires and should have knowledge of switching off mains electricity in case of electrical short-circuit and managing the fire as burning metals. Conclusion SARA methodology should be adopted in community safety programs. Community fire safety should be backed up by education forum and training of the community on fire safety and different attitudes like personality and behavioral factors that lead into outbreak of fires. Architects and contractors liaison should lead into high rise buildings that have efficient passive and active fire protection that should be characterized by high degree of fire resistive materials and compartmentalization. This means the building should be equipped with smoke detectors, heat detectors and fire alarms that have enabled staged evacuation. The building should have exterior ladders, standpipes either dry or wet, elevators and rails for evacuation and fire suppression. Voice communication systems should be installed. Recommendations High-rise buildings should have fire engineered approach characterized by fire resistive structures and compartmentalization. There should be fire alarms that have zoned evacuation capabilities. Exit channels should be well managed with lit pathways and signals showing direction of the exit channel. An emergency plan should be in place and tested for efficiency. Residents should be trained on fire safety to minimize occurrence of fire incidents. The building should have both active and passive fire protection. Adoption of SARA methodology in incident management should form basis of community safety projects and programs. Bibliography Carralho, J. Fernandes,M. Lambert,V., and Lapsley,I. (2006). Measuring fire service performance: A comparative study. international journal of public sector management , Vol. 19 (issue. 2.), pp.165-197. Charters, D. (2006). A Study of Fire Risk Performance Parameters. 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