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Assessing Fire Safety Policy for Educational Establishment

MOHD FADZIL MOHD IDRIS(Ph.D)

Faculty of Manufacturing & Technology Management, UMP, Kuantan Pahang.

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Introduction

BUILDING PROGRESS

PROFESSIONALS

ARCHITECT

ENGINEERS

QUANTITY SURVEYORS

CONTRACTORS

BUILDING OWNER

LOCAL AUTHORITY

BUILDING ASSESSMENT

POLICY

OBJECTIVES

OR

FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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Fire Safety and Building Life Cycle (Building Process)

• Design & Approval• Construction• Commissioning• Accidental Coverage /Recovery• Improvement, Rebuilding,

Maintenance, Alteration

• Stages of Fire Building Construction Activities, ActionsSafety Development Process & Requirements

I Design & Approval - Assessment on Fire Safety,(Regs & Act)

- Costing, - Performances- Maintainability- Reliability- Safety Plans & Supervision

• II Construction - Health and Safety on Site(workers and staff, visitors)

- Layout Plan - Housekeeping and Material

distribution on site- Security and Monitoring on site

• III Commissioning - Introducing new system if possible- Introduce Support System- Occupancies Responsibilities- Checking and Maintenance

• IV Accidental Coverage - Insurance for Recovery Lifes & Properties

- Structural Stability- Performance Assessment- Notify the Safety and Risk Factors- Loss Estimation

•V Improvement, - Rechecking the Regs, & Acts,

Rebuilding or - Layout, Boundary etcMaintenance or - Building StructuralAlteration or - Building MaterialsMaintenance - Building Services

- Building Environment  Diagram 1.0: Fire Safety and Building Life Cycle

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Fire Safety In Buildings

• Building Selection• Building Purpose• Building Design• Selection of Materials• Layout and Planning• Construction • Commissioning and • Maintenance• Regulations, Codes and Standards, Cost.

FIRE SAFETY GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERD

• LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND INDUSTRIAL DEMAND– FIRE ACT 1988– UNIFORM BUILDING BY LAW (UBBL)1984– OSH ACT 1997

• ORGANIZATION’S POLICY– SAFETY FOR ALL & BENEFITS COME ALONG

• SUSTAINABILITY– BUSINESS PROJECTIONS– CONTINUITY– PROFITS– SAVINGS– PROSPEROUS– REPUTATION

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

• Fire Service Act 1988:– Part V (28)(1): Every designated premises shall

require a fire certificate.– Part V (28)(2): Fire Certificate shall be renewable

annually.– Part V (28)(3): Subsection(1) shall not apply to

premises appropriated to, and used solely or mainly for ,public religious worship, or premises consisting of or comprised in a house that is occupied as a single private dwelling.

Fire Service Act 1988

• Part V (33): Where there is no fire certificate in force in respect of any designated premises the owner of the premises shall be guilty of an offence.

• Part V (35)(5): fine <RM 10,000 or < 5 yrs imprisonment for a term or both and shall liable to further fine of RM 1000 each day during which the offence is continued after the conviction.

Uniform Building By Law 1984• No person shall occupy or permit to be occupied

any building or any part thereof unless a certificate of fitness for occupation, a partial certificate of fitness for occupation or a temporary certificate of fitness for occupation has been issued under these By-laws for such building and any failure to comply with this by-law shall render such person liable to prosecution under the Act.

(Act means the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974)

Objectives of OSH Act 1994

To secure safety & health of persons at workTo protect other persons at the place of workTo promote appropriate and suitable environment for persons at workTo promote use of industry codes of practice

Application of OSHA ‘94 Manufacturing Mining and Quarrying Construction Agriculture, Forestry

& Fishing Transport, Storage &

Communication Wholesale & Retail

Trade Hotels & Restaurants Utilities

– Electricity– Gas– Water– Sanitary Services

Finance, Insurance Real Estate

Public Services & Statutory Authorities

Except:

onboard ships & armed forces

Except:

onboard ships & armed forces

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Making Decision

• WHY? – Needs, uncertainties in construction fields / building organization

i.e: Fire Safety Policy & Objectives for Educational Establishment- to reach a satisfactory level of safety- to give good value for money- to sustain its continuation of mission, - benefits and priority for the future development.- to fulfill the legal requirement

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Decision Making Process

Experience Primary data Document Analysis Statistics Dept.

Survey News Questionnaire Know-how Reports

and Knowledge Building

Experimentation Regulations & Legislations Professional Judgment

Decision Making

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DefinitionKnowledge- The nature of desired outcomes

Know –How- The Course of action which will ensure the

achievement of the desired outcomes

Delphi- The susceptible of two interpretation or more

meaning, ambiguous, of doubtful meaning, equivocal, obscure or uncertain position or classification

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Why Delphi Technique?

• To discuss the uncertainty of several factors• To obtain a group consensus on a forecast.• To be able to assess policy or objectives (In this

case Fire Safety In Educational Estb.)

• “Delphi may be characterized a s a method for structuring a group communication process so that the process is effective in allowing a group of individuals as a whole, to deal with a complex problem”.(Linstone and Turoff)

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Delphi Technique: Approach & Procedure

• Anonymity (freedom from identification or state of being noticed)

• Controlled feedback

• Statistical group response

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Delphi Approaches

• Selection of Members

• Meetings (Venue & Dates)

• Invitation letter

• Set Topic & Questionnaires

• Incentive and Appreciation

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Professional Judgment

• Loss Impact

( Individual, Community, District, National or International level)

• Priorities/Importance

• Using Scaling Number

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4 Major Elements( Solving Problems)

• Prioritization of Issues

• Setting up Objectives

• Design suitable courses of action

• Method to assess or evaluate

WHAT IS A POLICY?• A policy is a deliberate plan of action to guide decisions and

achieve rational outcome(s). The term may apply to government, private sector organizations and groups, and individuals. Presidential executive orders, corporate privacy policies, and parliamentary rules of order are all examples of policy. Policy differs from rules or law. While law can compel or prohibit behaviors (e.g. a law requiring the payment of taxes on income) policy merely guides actions toward those that are most likely to achieve a desired outcome.

• Policy or policy study may also refer to the process of making important organizational decisions, including the identification of different alternatives such as programs or spending priorities, and choosing among them on the basis of the impact they will have. Policies can be understood as political, management, financial, and administrative mechanisms arranged to reach explicit goals.

When the term policy is used

It may also refer to:• Official government policy (legislation or

guidelines that govern how laws should be put into operation)

• Broad ideas and goals in political manifestos and pamphlets

• A company or organization's policy on a particular topic. For example, the equal opportunity policy of a company shows that the company aims to treat all its staff equally

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Fire Safety Policy

i.e:-• Fire Free Educational Environment

Fire Safety Objectivesi.e:-•Human Life•Property Protection•Educational Continuity•Educational Environment•Public Anxiety•Economy

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Assessing Fire Safety Policy

• To Inculcate Positive Values. i.e:-- To Minimize the Level Of Risk- To Maximize the Level of Safety- To Create/Maintain the Educational

Environment- To Ensure the Adequacy of the Services and

Infrastructure, etc.- To set a Standard Fire Safety Evaluation

Scheme

Assessing Fire Safety Objectives

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Life Safety:Occupant

-Maturity, Aged, Child

-Ability to Escape/ Evacuate

-Location

-Physical Requirement or

Building Provision

-Human Resource

Management, etc.

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Property Protection

• Within a Room• Within a Building• Outside Building• Portable or Fixed Appliances• Fire Engine &Fire Officers• Rescue Team• Building Materials etc.

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Educational Environment• Environmental Temperature• Good Views• Air Circulation• Mobility • Good Odor• Acoustics• Sun Light• Shading• Number of occupants

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Public Anxiety

• The standard of fire safety

• Allocation and management

• Political and Moral Issues

• Organizational Reputation

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Economy

• Installation

• Commission

• Maintenance

• Alteration

PURPOSE OF STUDY Providing guidelines to ensure the safety of the establishments from danger of fire.

Formulating evaluation checklists consisting of numbers which is applicable to assess fire safety components

Establishing the procedure to evaluate fire safety standard via the set objectives, tactics and components to achieve the fire safety policy

Sources of fire safety knowledge PercentagesGeneral reading 34.6 %Mass media and friends 17.7 %Notices and sign system 11.8 %Rules and regulations 9.9 %Subjects taught in schools or colleges 8.1 %Extra Co-curriculum activities 7.1 %Assigned Responsibility 4.8 %Past Fire Accident(s) 3.1 %Other 1.5 %Profession 1.3 % 32

Source(s) of Ignition Percentage %

1/ Carelessness 38.4

2/ Electrical Appliances 25.6

3/ Not known 12.8

4/ Arson 9.3

5/ Smoking habit 5.8

6/ Natural Disasters 5.8

7/ Other specify 2.3

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Types of Fire Threat within the Educational Premises

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

Clas

sroo

m

Staff

room

Cante

en

Labo

rator

y/Wor

ksho

p

Libra

ry/R

esou

rce C

entre

Comp

uter

room

Asse

mbly

Hall

Spor

t Cen

tre/

Gymn

asium

Stor

e roo

m

Hoste

l/Acc

omod

ation

Dinin

g hall

Building Areas

Perc

enta

ges % Electricity

Gases

Chemical

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The Most Important Areas For Fire Safety System Within Hostel/ Accomodation Building

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Dor

mito

ry

Din

ing

Hal

l/kitc

hen

Roo

m(S

ingl

e)

Can

teen

Com

mon

Roo

m

Util

ities

Roo

m

Sto

re R

oom

War

den

Fla

t

Pra

yer

Roo

m

Areas

Ran

kin

g Series1

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Rank of Vulnerability Towards Fire Hazards (Areas Within Educational Buildings)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Labo

rato

ry

Hos

tel

Wor

ksho

p

Com

pute

r cen

tre

Can

teen

Din

ing

Hal

l

Res

ourc

e C

entre

Libr

ary

Cla

ssro

om

Staf

f roo

m

Offi

ce/G

ener

alof

fice

Lect

ure

Hal

l

Tuto

rial

Spor

t Cen

tre

Asse

mbl

y ha

ll

Areas

Prio

rity

Ran

king

L

ess

Prio

rity

Series1

Building Area Percentage % Fire Safety Objective within Educational Establishment and it’s priority.

Classroom 33.5 Life / Mission / PropertyHostel 21.0 Life / PropertyLibrary 12.4 Property / Cost - books, references,

equipmentLaboratory 10.3 Property / Environment or high hazard

Staffroom 6.5 Life / Mission or teaching references

Computer 3.9 Property / Cost or electrical itemsGeneral office 3.4 Property / Mission - records

Individual office

2.8 Property or teaching or learning references

Studio 2.4 Property or combustible materialsOther 2.2Workshop 1.1 Property or High hazard areaKitchen 0.6 Property or electrical and source of

ignition

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CLASSROOM/

LABORATORY

GYMNASIUM/SPORT CENTRE

CANTEEN

LIBRARY

COMPUTER CENTRE

RESOURCECENTRE

STAFFROOM

WORKSHOPS

HOSTEL

DINING HALL

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Priority Ranking from 1 to 8 Less Priority

CLASSROOM/

LABORATORY

GYMNASIUM/SPORT CENTRE

CANTEEN

LIBRARY

COMPUTER CENTRE

RESOURCECENTRE

STAFFROOM

WORKSHOPS

HOSTEL

DINING HALL

Are

as

The Areas Within Educational Establishment Which Are Very Important To Be Considered

For Fire Safety System Installation

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EVALUATION PROCESS

EVALUATION CONSIDERATION

Quantitative appraisal Analysis

DELPHI TECHNIQUE

QUESTIONNAIRE 1

QUESTIONNAIRE 2Involving

building occupants

Professional judgment

POINT SCHEME

EVALUATION PROCESS The first fire safety evaluation scheme was developed for the patients area in hospitals for Department of Health and Social Services in June 1982

Development and application of the scheme is now concentrated on educational establishmentin Malaysia

THE MAKING OF EVALUATION POINT SCHEME Establish the NORM

Establish the component of fire safety

Formulating policy, objectives and tactics to

achieve

Setting up questionnaire for the Delphi Group

Attributing contribution numbers or points scheme

for each fire safety components, tactics,

objectives and policy based on their inter-

relationships

Setting up the Evaluation/Assessment Checklist

Application of Checklist

WHY POINTS SCHEME? (NUMERICAL ASSESSMENT)

A convincing method for non-technical professionals and authorities

Evaluation based on acceptable level

Evaluation on specific area of the building will lead to overall numerical assessment of the premise with regard to fire safety requirement and performance

Comparison between buildings of the same group can facilitate authorities in decision making process for current and future development

FRAMEWORK INTERACTION POINTS SCHEME

QUESTIONNAIRE

Explanatory Notes

Interaction Boxes

Contribution

A guide to experts and respondents on limitation of the questionnaire

Boxes and arrows between levels of hierarchical framework

Numbers between 0 to 10 is given to represent a range of limitation

LEVEL OF QUESTIONNAIRE

STEP1 Policy Level

STEP2 Objectives Level

STEP3 Practice Level

STEP4 Component Level

HIERARCHICAL FRAMEWORK INTERACTION STAGES

OBJECTIVES VS POLICY 

  POLICY

OBJECTIVES Average Percentages

Life Safety 9.6 25%

Property Protection 7.0 18%

Education Continuity 6.9 18%

Education Environment 5.3 14%

Public Anxiety 5.0 13%

Economy 5.3 14% 

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Rank Order of The Fire Safety Objectives

• In Achieving the Policy

• Based on Loss of Life

• Based on Concern• Based on Priority• Based on Loss

Impact

Fire Safety Rank

Life safety 1

Educational Continuity 2

Property Protection 3

Educational Environment

3

Public Anxiety 4

Economy 5

A = BUILDING OCCUPANTS 8.26 8B = PREPARED FOR FIRE EMERGENCY 9.12 9C = FIRE PREVENTION 9.63 9.5D = INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT 7.64 7.5E = SERVICES 6.33 6F = DETECTION 8.16 8G = COMMUNICATION AND ALARM 8.12 8 H = EGRESS OR ESCAPE 5.33 5.5 I = FIRE FIGHTING 6.87 7 J = PROTECTED AREAS 5.92 6 K = AUTO SUPPRESSION 6.89 7 L = SMOKE MOVEMENT CONTROL 6.64 7 M = BUILDING STRUCTURE 7.45 7.5 N = EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT 3.64 4_

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COMPONENTS POINTS(%) V2%

NORM VALUES

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Building Type: A B C D E F

Building Area: Sport halls Percentages Contribution

Components (Pp) Values(Nc)

A. Building Occupants 90% 8 = 720

B. Preparedness For Fire Emergency 70% 9 = 630

C. Fire Prevention 80% 9.5 = 760

D. Internal Environment 80% 7.5= 600

E. Services 80% 6 = 480

F. Detection System 60% 8 = 480

G. Communication and Alarm 50% 8 = 400

H. Egress or Escape 95% 5.5= 522.5

I. Fire Fighting 50% 7 = 350

J. Protected Areas 85% 6 = 510

K. Auto Suppression 0 7 = 0

L. Smoke Movement/Control 75% 7 = 525

M. Building Structure 80% 7.5= 600

N. External Environment 70% 4 = 280

Total = 6857.546

1-->14P’ = Pp x Nc 100%

n 10000 

Overall Safety Performance P’ = 68.57% (Acceptable level of

safety and the standard is good). This evaluation observation checklist is considered to be the simplest way to assessed the

performance of safety components within an area with adequate experience and having strong knowledge background in fire safety.

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1 2 3 4 5

Worst Bad Average Good Very Good

Highly

Vulnerable

below 30%

30% to 40%

41% to 60%

61% to 80%

81% to 100%

High Threat

  Average Threat

  Less Threat

High Risk   Medium Risk

  Low Risk

Low Safety

  Medium Safety

  High Safety

  Vulnerability   Less Vulnerable

 

Percentages perceptions:

Performances Assessment

  Zero, 0 = The component is not available . Survey Grade:

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Conclusion The fire safety policy and objectives has been considered by

the Delphi group members of various background and qualifications. Yet, the outcome was really impressive in terms of the agreement towards achieving the fire safety policy for the educational establishment. It was agreed that life safety as the main priority objectives in achieving the policy and followed by educational continuity, property protection, educational environment, public anxiety and economy in sequence.

Also the formation of the checklist and appraisal technique enable the evaluator and building manager to enhance the quality of fire safety services installed within a building according to the yearly budget allocated. And yet there is no compromise about the level of safety required for the sustainable of the building and the contents.

• The evaluation processes is very important to carry out at earlier stage so that precautions steps are established - to cater for any unexpected fire occurrence. - a fire safety cost benefit can be implemented with flexibility in design - to overcome the problems of fire. - fire safety of the building is kept to the acceptable standard.

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Thank You