In ‘fire season’, poor quality gadgets worse than having nothing
A.Subramani@timesgroup.com
25.04.2019
Summer is the season of fires, and fire safety specialist Khalid Al Khatib shudders to enter highrises with low quality fire safety devices. Uncertified safety gadgets, poor legal backing, absence of training and education, besides weak enforcement have meant that almost every highrise in the country is a sitting duck for fire-related disasters, he said, during a recent visit to Chennai. “Not having any fire safety equipment is better than having substandard equipment,” said Khatib commenting on fire safety in most buildings, including star hotels in Chennai. A random check in the hotel he was staying revealed that the fire emergency door was locked.
The chief executive officer of NAFFCO, a global fire safety firm, tells TOI in an interview that though Tamil Nadu is progressing in all sectors — commercial, residential and industrial — it is not able to fortify its properties from fire accidents.
What does India need to do on the fire safety front?
Price for quality fire safety gadgets and mechanism is less than 3% of the overall building cost. So, stop all unapproved and unlisted products and use products approved by international laboratories. Strict application of NFPA codes and imposition of hefty penalties on violators is needed. No approval should be given for occupancy of a building unless these norms are met. There should be dedicated fire inspectors for approvals. In some countries, I have seen uncertified products being the cause of a fire — due to poor quality of fire alarm cables and panels. Such gadgets have caused the fire instead of detecting the fire.
India is cost-conscious. Do you have any India-specific strategy in mind?
People across the world are economical, but quality too is important. Will you buy an ‘economical’ car, if you are told the brake system may not be effective? Safety is crucial. Yes, we can provide economical equipment, but approved products come at a price, especially since labour cost, logistics and infrastructure is competitive here.
What is the venture proposal you have in mind?
We are here to set up a factory for certified fire protection equipment and systems in India with state-of-the-art engineering. NAFFCO will provide training and begin the journey.
How about your commitments to awareness and training?
Due to the serious nature of fire and its consequences, we takes it as our moral responsibility to educate the public and train engineers on fire safety and the latest technologies to combat it. NAFFCO conducts fire awareness campaigns in malls and parks to teach public how to use a fire extinguisher. We also conduct fire simulation training, drills and evacuation plans for residents of highrises, and for families and children. We have NFPA certification courses for design engineers, consultants and authorities. Also, we have courses for fire safety inspectors, fire risk assessment and recognition of approved and unapproved products. These accreditation courses will help people update their knowledge about latest international techniques.
Khalid Al Khatib
A.Subramani@timesgroup.com
25.04.2019
Summer is the season of fires, and fire safety specialist Khalid Al Khatib shudders to enter highrises with low quality fire safety devices. Uncertified safety gadgets, poor legal backing, absence of training and education, besides weak enforcement have meant that almost every highrise in the country is a sitting duck for fire-related disasters, he said, during a recent visit to Chennai. “Not having any fire safety equipment is better than having substandard equipment,” said Khatib commenting on fire safety in most buildings, including star hotels in Chennai. A random check in the hotel he was staying revealed that the fire emergency door was locked.
The chief executive officer of NAFFCO, a global fire safety firm, tells TOI in an interview that though Tamil Nadu is progressing in all sectors — commercial, residential and industrial — it is not able to fortify its properties from fire accidents.
What does India need to do on the fire safety front?
Price for quality fire safety gadgets and mechanism is less than 3% of the overall building cost. So, stop all unapproved and unlisted products and use products approved by international laboratories. Strict application of NFPA codes and imposition of hefty penalties on violators is needed. No approval should be given for occupancy of a building unless these norms are met. There should be dedicated fire inspectors for approvals. In some countries, I have seen uncertified products being the cause of a fire — due to poor quality of fire alarm cables and panels. Such gadgets have caused the fire instead of detecting the fire.
India is cost-conscious. Do you have any India-specific strategy in mind?
People across the world are economical, but quality too is important. Will you buy an ‘economical’ car, if you are told the brake system may not be effective? Safety is crucial. Yes, we can provide economical equipment, but approved products come at a price, especially since labour cost, logistics and infrastructure is competitive here.
What is the venture proposal you have in mind?
We are here to set up a factory for certified fire protection equipment and systems in India with state-of-the-art engineering. NAFFCO will provide training and begin the journey.
How about your commitments to awareness and training?
Due to the serious nature of fire and its consequences, we takes it as our moral responsibility to educate the public and train engineers on fire safety and the latest technologies to combat it. NAFFCO conducts fire awareness campaigns in malls and parks to teach public how to use a fire extinguisher. We also conduct fire simulation training, drills and evacuation plans for residents of highrises, and for families and children. We have NFPA certification courses for design engineers, consultants and authorities. Also, we have courses for fire safety inspectors, fire risk assessment and recognition of approved and unapproved products. These accreditation courses will help people update their knowledge about latest international techniques.
Khalid Al Khatib
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