Fire-retrofitting buildings in Dhaka ‘only viable solution’

Fire-retrofitting is the best possible solution to making the existing buildings of Dhaka, especially the high-rises, less vulnerable to fire, say experts. They believe vacating or demolishing the structures that violate fire norms is not possible.

Even people in policymaking and administrative positions accept that declaring a high-rise — most of which are owned by influential people —illegal is not something that can be done easily.

Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, Sayeed Khokon, told a public discussion few days back that he was openly challenging the Rajdhani Unnayan Kortipokkho (Rajuk) to demolish a building owned by “an influential person” because it violated the fire safety code. It was his belief that Rajuk would not be able do so.

Common people also have this notion that the post-FR Tower drives by 24 teams of Rajuk across the capital to identify and take punitive measures against buildings violating fire norms amounted to beating around the bush without finding a feasible solution.

“Under the present circumstances, the government should rather focus on fire-retrofitting the existing building to make them a tad safer for its inhabitants,” said eminent architect Iqbal Habib.

He said a large number of buildings in Dhaka, especially the high-rises, could be made at least 90 per cent fire-safe by spending a few lakhs to a few crores of taka, depending on the size of the structures.

Habib said there were many available ways for fire-retrofitting the buildings. “In the Western world and even in Japan, many hundred-year-old historic structures are being fire-retrofitted,” he said.

Mohammad Monjur Alam, senior vice-president of the Electronics Safety and Securities Association of Bangladesh (ESSAB), told The Independent that an existing building could be fire-retrofitted and made compliant.

“A building is fully compliant if it fulfils structural norms, electrical wiring norms and fire norms. Of course it is easier to ensure compliance during construction of the building, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be done later through retrofitting once the building is constructed. Even structural retrofitting is done every now and then,” he said.

Alam also said several companies in Bangladesh were capable of fire-retrofitting an existing building. “Let me assure all that I am not talking of putting a fire-extinguisher on every floor and calling it a fire-retrofitted structure, because a fire extinguisher probably comprises only two per cent of fire-safety measures of a building,” he added.

The ESSAB vice-president further said a professional fire-safety solution provider would asses an existing structure and then design the integrated fire safety solution for the building. “That’s true of retrofitting. It means the structure, if it’s a high-rise, it must have fire hydrant, sprinklers, proper fire alarm and evacuation structure and route,” he added.

Architect Mahfujul Haque, who has extensive experience in designing fire-safety solutions for buildings, told The Independent that one of the most significant problems in fire safety of existing residential buildings was the spread of fire from openings and cracks on walls.

When a fire breaks out, the flames tend to spread to other places where there is more oxygen. Therefore, the flames spread through existing openings and cracks on walls.

“For fire-retrofitting, these openings and cracks have to be plugged. This is the first step,” said Haque. “The building should then go for installing a fire alarm system,” he added.

The fire alarm is part of the fire safety system that includes one or a number of devices that work together to detect fire, smoke and carbon monoxide and warn people usually by the fire alarm bell.

The existing buildings could then be made fire-resistant with the help of fire-protection walls, which are usually made of gypsum boards. A gypsum board (often called drywall) is the generic name for a group of sheet products that include primarily gypsum, non-combustible core and a paper surfacing on the face, back and along the edges.

“One of the most important components of fire-retrofitting is installing a fire sprinkler system,” said Haque.  A most widely used solution is thermal protection. Haque said a fire sprinkler works as an active fire-protection system. This system consists of a water supply and a piping system that provide the required pressure for spraying water by sprinklers on fire.

He also said wet a pipe system is one of the most common methods among sprinkler systems, where water is always kept in the pipes so that when the sprinklers are activated, water is immediately sprayed onto the fire.

“Installation of wet-pipe fire sprinklers costs the least, require low maintenance and also require minimal service time. Another advantage of this system is flexibility in modification, since changes may include shutting down part or the whole of the drain piping systems and water sources,” he added.

 

Fire-retrofitting buildings in Dhaka only viable solution

Fire-retrofitting is the best possible solution to making the existing buildings of Dhaka, especially the high-rises, less vulnerable to fire, say experts. They believe vacating or demolishing the structures that violate fire norms is not possible. Even people in policymaking and administrative positions accept that declaring a high-rise most of which are owned by influential people illegal is not something that can be done easily. Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, Sayeed Khokon, told a public discussion few days back that he was openly challenging the Rajdhani Unnayan Kortipokkho (Rajuk) to demolish a building owned by an influential person because it violated the fire safety code. It was his belief that Rajuk would not be able do so. Common people also have this notion that the post-FR Tower drives by 24 teams of Rajuk across the capital to identify and take punitive measures against buildings violating fire norms amounted to beating around the bush without finding a feasible solution. Under the present circumstances, the government should rather focus on fire-retrofitting the existing building to make them a tad safer for its inhabitants, said eminent architect Iqbal Habib. He said a large number of buildings in Dhaka, especially the high-rises, could be made at least 90 per cent fire-safe by spending a few lakhs to a few crores of taka, depending on the size of the structures. Habib said there were many available ways for fire-retrofitting the buildings. In the Western world and even in Japan, many hundred-year-old historic structures are being fire-retrofitted, he said. Mohammad Monjur Alam, senior vice-president of the Electronics Safety and Securities Association of Bangladesh (ESSAB), told The Independent that an existing building could be fire-retrofitted and made compliant. A building is fully compliant if it fulfils structural norms, electrical wiring norms and fire norms. Of course it is easier to ensure compliance during construction of the building, but that doesnt mean that it cant be done later through retrofitting once the building is constructed. Even structural retrofitting is done every now and then, he said. Alam also said several companies in Bangladesh were capable of fire-retrofitting an existing building. Let me assure all that I am not talking of putting a fire-extinguisher on every floor and calling it a fire-retrofitted structure, because a fire extinguisher probably comprises only two per cent of fire-safety measures of a building, he added. The ESSAB vice-president further said a professional fire-safety solution provider would asses an existing structure and then design the integrated fire safety solution for the building. Thats true of retrofitting. It means the structure, if its a high-rise, it must have fire hydrant, sprinklers, proper fire alarm and evacuation structure and route, he added. Architect Mahfujul Haque, who has extensive experience in designing fire-safety solutions for buildings, told The Independent that one of the most significant problems in fire safety of existing residential buildings was the spread of fire from openings and cracks on walls. When a fire breaks out, the flames tend to spread to other places where there is more oxygen. Therefore, the flames spread through existing openings and cracks on walls. For fire-retrofitting, these openings and cracks have to be plugged. This is the first step, said Haque. The building should then go for installing a fire alarm system, he added. The fire alarm is part of the fire safety system that includes one or a number of devices that work together to detect fire, smoke and carbon monoxide and warn people usually by the fire alarm bell. The existing buildings could then be made fire-resistant with the help of fire-protection walls, which are usually made of gypsum boards. A gypsum board (often called drywall) is the generic name for a group of sheet products that include primarily gypsum, non-combustible core and a paper surfacing on the face, back and along the edges. One of the most important components of fire-retrofitting is installing a fire sprinkler system, said Haque. A most widely used solution is thermal protection. Haque said a fire sprinkler works as an active fire-protection system. This system consists of a water supply and a piping system that provide the required pressure for spraying water by sprinklers on fire. He also said wet a pipe system is one of the most common methods among sprinkler systems, where water is always kept in the pipes so that when the sprinklers are activated, water is immediately sprayed onto the fire. Installation of wet-pipe fire sprinklers costs the least, require low maintenance and also require minimal service time. Another advantage of this system is flexibility in modification, since changes may include shutting down part or the whole of the drain piping systems and water sources, he added.