KOTA KINABALU: Young engineers and architects have been urged to enhance their understanding on fire safety standards and regulations.
Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) director general Datuk Wira Wan Mohd Nor bin Hj Ibrahim said many building plan submissions were rejected by the department for not complying with fire safety standards.
He pointed out that many young engineers and architects who just ventured into their respective fields were not well-versed in fire safety laws and building codes.
“Fire engineering is a field by itself. Fire safety is not a subject taught much in universities where they (engineers and architects) earn their degrees.”
Hence, Wan said these young engineers and architects only begin to learn and understand the concept of fire safety when they enter the industry.
As a result, he said many building plan submissions to Bomba were rejected so that amendments could be made before gaining the approval of the department.
Wan said this in a press conference after officiating at the Seminar on Fire Protection – Challenges and Innovations jointly organized by Bomba and the Malaysian Fire Protection Association (MFPA) here yesterday.
“I am confident that the seminar is a good opportunity for young architects and engineers to learn from their experienced counterparts.
“If architects and engineers are well-versed in fire safety standards, we can drive down the rejected rate of building plan submissions,” he said.
Wan said many perceived fire safety regulations as requirements from Bomba, but it was actually required by law.
On another note, Wan said the Certificate of Fitness for Occupation (CFO) had been replaced by the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) in West Malaysia.
He said the CCC was issued by the Principal Submitting Person who is responsible for ensuring the design of a building complies with safety standards.
Wan said Sabah and Sarawak maintained the issuance of CFO as it was up to the State Government whether to replace CFO with CCC.
He said building owners must not be complacent in ensuring the safety of buildings.
He said Bomba, when assessing building plans, checked whether residents could escape a building safely in the event of an emergency, as well as whether there was sufficient exit staircase at the right distance and position, and protected lobby which could be used by firemen for firefighting.
The fire safety standard is even more complicated for high-rise buildings, he said.
Even if the building plan meets fire safety standards, Wan said the fire safety system had to be maintained and complied with so long as the building was in use or after renovation.
“We perform inspections from time to time. We give advice and time (for building owners) to rectify their offences.
“There were also cases which we brought to court,” he said.
Among the common offences are the lack of maintenance of fire exits, such as broken door knobs, malfunctioning exit sign and obstacles blocking the evacuation route.
Nonetheless, Wan said building owners in Sabah have cooperated with Bomba well, as reflected in the over 600 participants who attended the seminar to learn more about fire safety yesterday.
He said rapid developments also presented a challenge for Bomba as they needed to understand issues that might arise from new designs or products.
“If we make a mistake in our decision, it will affect the future of the building.”
He said fire safety also played an important role in securing insurance protection for a building.
“A building that has proper fire safety protection will benefit you in the long run because you get a good (insurance) premium.
“In fact, some buildings have problems getting insured because they do not comply with fire safety standards,” he pointed out.
The seminar yesterday covered five topics, namely ‘Fire Safety Design and Evacuation Strategies for High Rise Buildings’, The Need for Diligent Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Fire and Life Safety System’, ‘How Insurance Underwriting Principles Improve Fire Safety of Buildings’, ‘New UBBL2012- Changes and Implications’ and ‘Fire Safety Considerations for High Rise Building’.
Also present at the seminar were Sabah Bomba director Nordin Pauzi and MFPA president Teh Khay Leong.