Fire safe as in 'zero chance of fire' ?
In June a minor fire broke out in a hotel in New Delhi. The hotel wasn’t named, however officials revealed that the fire started in the kitchen that was situated on the ground floor. In late May an F & B outlet in Delhi went up in flames and in India’s hill-station Shimla, a huge fire destroyed a major portion of the Grand Hotel. Built in 1892, the fire gutted down three floors of the recently renovated Mayo Block - a VVIP wing of the hotel. Fortunately no casualties were reported as the wing was not yet occupied. The previous month, a devastating fire that occurred at the Hotel Arpit Palace claimed the lives of 17 people.
Elsewhere in the world, in May this year, a fire that started in the world’s tallest hotel – the Gevora hotel, left three injured due to suffocation caused by smoke inhalation. The Gevora Hotel is a 4-star property and is 356 metre (1,167.98 feet) long, with 528 deluxe rooms and suites, five dining outlets and several leisure facilities. Dubai authorities revealed that the fire started in one of the “upper floors” and when fire fighters reached the spot, the floor was filled with smoke. The reason behind the fire was an electric fault in the sauna room.
Responding swiftly to the outbreak of fires in hotels, officials in New Delhi have asked restaurants, bars and night clubs to submit fire safety certificates by September 2019, going on to announce that failure to do so, would result in strict action been taken against defaulters.
The fire risk in kitchens is relatively high. This is due to a combination of the cooking materials used and the hot cooking equipment. Kitchen fires are predominantly fat fires, which often start spontaneously and rapidly generate an intense heat. An additional problem related to kitchen fires is their inherent ability to spread through the kitchen’s own air extraction system to the rest of the building. Hence, fire officials in New Delhi have introduced new building laws that prohibit hotel properties from operating kitchens on rooftops or the basement.
In addition to that, the use of carpets, wooden or foam panels in passages, corridors and staircases has been banned as well. In addition, Delhi’s government has tightened hotel and guesthouse fire regulations by deeming it illegal to store flammable material on rooftops or constructing temporary roofing over terraces with flammable material. Under these bylaws, it is also mandatory for hotels to install carbon monoxide detectors and alarms, besides natural arrangements for smoke ventilation. It is also compulsory for these properties to install doors that are fire resistant and can at least resist fires for an hour. Also, each building needs to get a ‘no objection’ certificate from the fire department.
A compelling number of newly built hotels in Colombo City offer a rooftop bar. Whilst many no doubt, have fire safety norms in- place, it is not unlikely that a few may be flouting the law. With the current downturn in business, it would be prudent for the fire chief to have his men carry out fire audits at high-rises where restaurants, pubs and bars are doing business. Bear in mind that 99% of the world’s ladder trucks can’t reach above the 7th floor, whereas most high rise buildings are at least 12 floors and above, and that’s a sobering thought. What Sri Lanka’s tourism can ill-afford at this juncture or at any time for that matter is an outbreak of a fire in any hotel.
Fire safety is a relative term. If one defines ‘fire-safe’ as a zero chance of a fire, then one can never say that any hotel is fire-safe. However, one can describe hotels as relatively safer than others based on the fire prevention, protection and practices that are prevalent.
Ilzaf Keefahs - writes on hospitality related matters that he is passionate about, and likes to share his views with hoteliers and customers alike.
|
|
|
|
