An American expert has called for better fire safety norms and criticised people’s complacency towards mock fire drills.
Russell Leavitt, chairman of Telgian Corporation and a member of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), said: “There is often a laxity in fire rehearsals and people do not take these seriously. The most important part of fire suppression systems is their continuous functioning and the uninterrupted supply of water to the systems.”
Leavitt was speaking at the opening session of a four-day workshop on fire fighting and safety-related issues.
The workshop is a precursor to a three-day Civil Defence Exhibition and Conference, organised by the Civil Defence, to be held at the Diplomatic Club from November 3.
The NFPA lays down uniform and consistent standards for fire safety norms. Most Americas follow NFPA standards, which according to Leavitt, were formed to integrate fire safety standards into a unified whole.
“The NFPA comprises all stakeholders including insurers, builders, and safety experts, and not just enforcers,” said Leavitt.
Asked if the NFPA guidelines could be translated into Arabic, Leavitt said the standards involved a lot of jargons but said Arabic could be used for the benefit of Arabic-speaking countries.
High-rise safety, the expert from Arizona said, is an important aspect to be targeted by fire protection mechanisms. “What is most challenging in such fires is the height of the structure. The greater the height, the more effort is required to bring the blaze under control,” Leavitt said. |
