Office fire FPASA guidelines

The incidence of fires in office buildings in South Africa is not considered to be unduly high, although considerable attention has been focussed in this direction following multiple deaths in fires in tall buildings in various parts of the world in the 1970s.

The unsatisfactory features that have lead to loss of life and injury in fire situations have been identified as:

• deficiencies in the design of the building with particular reference to the means of escape
• absence of a fire procedure
• absence of fire alarms, fire detection system or automatic fire extinguishing appliances
• the readily combustible nature of the furnishings and fittings

Smoke and flames entering the stairwells and trapping the occupants have proved to be the main
causes of fatalities.

Office building fires

A few examples of fires in office buildings in South Africa include:

• An open electric bar heater ignited curtains in a health studio in Johannesburg.
• Fire amongst cardboard boxes in a basement spread to telephone cables, disrupting
• communications including the public address system designed to alert fire wardens.
• Fire in rubbish bins in a basement car park below a cable duck destroyed telephone and power cables resulting in services such as telephones, telex, electric typewriters, office heating (fire occurred in mid-winter) being out of service for a week.
• Fire in a sauna on the lower floor of an office block caused fire and smoke damage.
• The fifth floor of attorneys’ offices were damaged due to incendiaries.
• A short-circuit in a fluorescent ceiling light started a fire, causing major damage.

Building management and tenants have become increasingly aware of their responsibilities towards the safety of occupants and there are many excellent examples in South Africa of good fire protection and evacuation systems and procedures in buildings.

Despite all the precautions taken and the stringent requirements by local authority fire brigades in relation to fire safety, fires do occur and are almost entirely due to carelessness or negligence.

Precautions

The following precautions are essential if the risk of fire is to be minimised or, in the event of a fire occurring, the safety of the occupants is to be assured.

• On a daily basis, remove combustible rubbish and packing materials to a safe area, preferably in metal bins. If the refuse collection area is in a basement or ground floor area it should not be accessible to the public nor be in such a position that, if ignited, would permit smoke and heat to enter the building. Refuse collection areas should not be in close proximity to service ducts where cables could become damaged.
• Ensure that all electrical office machinery is switched off at the mains (plugs should preferably be withdrawn).
• Do not permit incandescent or open flame heaters in offices. Fixed heaters are preferable to the portable type.
• Avoid the use of flammable liquids for cleaning office machinery.
• Provide adequate ashtrays in all areas where smoking is permitted and instruct staff not to discard cigarette butts in wastepaper baskets.
• There should be sufficient electrical outlet points to ensure that overloading or the use of long cords, which could become frayed, are avoided.
• Ensure that fire exits and fire equipment are suitably indicated preferably by means of SABS symbolic safety signs. Exit doors should be kept closed and unlocked or fitted with an easy to operate locking device that is acceptable to the fire brigade.
• Ensure that all occupants are familiar with the location of the fire escapes, location and method of operation of the fire alarm and building fire equipment. A floor plan showing the position of fire escapes, fire equipment and fire alarm should be prominently displayed in the lift lobby or main passageway on each floor.
• Ensure that building hose-reels and extinguishers are regularly maintained and that, where equipment is kept in cabinets, it is not obstructed by cleaning materials.
• Depending on the size of the building and number of occupants, it may be advisable to appoint a chief fire warden and one or two marshals on each floor. These people should receive special training for this purpose.
• Instructions should be given to caretakers and maintenance staff about the action they should take in the event of fire. The instructions should include bringing all lifts to the ground level and stopping them and shutting down all services not essential to the escape of occupants or likely to be required by the fire brigade. Lighting should be left on.
• Ensure that the staff is familiar with fire and evacuation procedures.

Model Fire Drill Instructions

The following instructions are intended for guidance only and will need to be adapted according to individual circumstances.

Instructions to all staff on discovering fire:

• Raise the alarm by immediately reporting to the telephone switchboard or by operating the building’s fire alarm.
• Call for assistance and attack the fire with the building’s fire extinguishing equipment, but do not place yourself at risk.

On hearing the fire alarm either:

• Leave the premises and report immediately to the assembly area OR join the fire team if you are a member.
• Do not stop to collect personal belongings unless it is obvious that there is a clear escape to the outside.

Instructions to the switchboard operator to be kept where the operator can refer to them instantly.

On being notified of an outbreak of fire:

• Call the fire brigade immediately.
• Notify a senior member of the staff.
• Warn other departments and other offices in the building that fire has broken out.
• When instructed, sound the fire alarm or pass on the order to evacuate the premises.

Action by management
On being notified of an outbreak of fire a senior member of staff should:

• Ensure that the fire brigade has been called.
• Pending the arrival of the fire brigade, go to the scene of the fire and supervise the fire- fighting.
• Clear everyone, except those engaged in the fire-fighting, from the immediate vicinity of the fire.
• Order the evacuation of the building as soon as it becomes apparent that fire or smoke is spreading. Do not wait until the fire is out of control.

Reproduced with acknowledgement to FPA (UK)

Published by
Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa
(Incorporated Association not for Gain)
(Reg.No. 73/00022/08)
P O Box 15467
Impala Park
1472
Office Fire FPASA Guidelines.pdf

People in Risk

Marcel Wood

Marcel Wood heads Etana’s risk management division. Before starting in insurance he worked for the fire department, rescuing people and (literally) putting out fires. He’s passed through Munich Re and Santam, and has designed the only risk management tool aimed specifically at the insurance industry – ARQ. Marcel is a mean guitarist, a brilliant vocalist and an accomplished soccer player with the personal motto: “Do your best all the time”.