OUTLOOK
Ocado’s £45-million state-of-art robotic warehouse was completely destroyed by fire in late 2019. (Source: HFRS via bloomberg.com)
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
What is Fire Risk Assessment and Management? Why is this important and has it been practised over the years? To certain extent perhaps, but it may not be in the context of fire risks. OBJECTIVES OF FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT Architects as well as Mechanical and Electrical engineers designed new buildings according to Building Regulations, relevant Acts, Codes and Standards, and Fire regulations in compliance with legislative requirements – that is as far as the current status of the building goes. At times, the building’s occupancy has been converted into different risk groups, e.g., when upper floors of a shoplot are modified or a few shoplots combined into one entity to become budget hotels, tuition centres, entertainment outlets and etc. Converting an existing building deviates from the original design risks, which necessitates a review through fire risk assessment exercise to ensure that the fire risks can be managed through mitigation measures. This is an essential process especially when occupancy includes “sleeping risks”. In cases where there is no change in occupancy risks in the building, in-house fire risks could change over time as a result of increased fuel loads, expansion or extension of the building, or the introduction of new fire hazards beyond the effectiveness of the fire protection system that is already in place. 26 Building & Investment | www.b-i.biz
In view of the above, fire risk assessment is vital for buildings that have been completed and occupied to ensure that fire hazards and potential fire risks can be identified and managed in reducing potential fires incidents or averting any fire disasters. Fire incidents that caused a disruption of business, or worse, resulted in loss of life, can be and should be avoided to prevent further losses such as investment, productivity or even national heritage – case in point, a massive blaze devastated major parts of Japan’s 600-year-old Shuri Castle; Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris suffered extensive damages when it caught fire last year; and Ocado’s £45-million state-of-art robotic warehouse was completely destroyed in a fire in late 2019 that affected its supply chain to Marks and Spencer; and 72 fatalities were reported in the Grenfell Tower disaster – all of which are good reminders of crucial and essential fire risks assessment exercise. The objective of fire risk assessment in protecting national or world heritage, safeguarding construction investments to ensure business continuity and sustainability is an essential part of a fire safety strategy.
