Fighting fire with fire safety standards

MENA Infrastructure speaks to a panel of experts/Wagner Fire Safety Management Consultants’ Barry Bell about the development of fire safety standards in the MENA region today.

What are the biggest challenges developers face today in terms of implementing a comprehensive fire safety procedure?

BB. Implementing a corporate safety philosophy works well within the boundaries of the corporate units. The challenge arises when other entities from different backgrounds become subordinate to the leading corporate body. In other words, for example, foreign contracting companies that win large construction projects within the GCC, generally bring their own safety philosophies with them. Depending on their country of origin, safety principles can vary significantly. While there is no intention to be derogatory, the fact remains that projects in the Middle East have a tendency to be fast-track. Putting pressure on budgets and time lines will always have an adverse effect on enforcement of safety policy.

Construction site fires and occupational based accidents across the region substantiate this. Implementation of fire safety policies is not the challenge. It is not difficult to advertise the existence of a fire safety policy or a health and safety policy, but the enforcement of corporate fire and life safety policies is the real challenge that faces all developers. Basically, the developer must assume the responsibility of enforcement of all safety regulations and not rely on the contractors to accommodate local compliance.

What can the Middle East learn from the US and EU in terms of fire safety standards?

BB. The Middle East countries have been learning and are still learning from US and EU partners as well as other parts of the world, particularly Asia and the Far East. Although there are many subtle cultural and social differences between all of these regions, technology is a common denominator and therefore the learning curve is mainly about technology. 

It has become apparent over the last decade that European and American standards, while rich in experience and well established, do not always provide the ideal solution in the Middle East region. We must understand that standards that are at least one hundred years old in terms of development do not necessarily find a home in countries that are only fourty years old in terms of independence, and the United Arab Emirates is just one example. Some Middle East countries are still catching up with modern city infrastructure development, including communication systems, road networks, fire service facilities as well as fundamental building maintenance services.

The region has recently adopted new legislation regarding fire and safety regulations, looking to implement some international standards of practice. What benefits will this bring the sector?

BB. Obvious benefit comes in the shape of uniformity. Each country within the Middle East could apply its own choice of international codes and standards, or implement its own national codes and standards, or even a combination of both.

While a regional consensus on codes and standards would be nice, it is more important that each country first adopts a uniform code of practice nationwide. This would apply for example to countries like the United Arab Emirates, where within the seven Emirates, uniformity has not yet been established. It is true to say that much work has been done, and is still in progress, to generate uniform fire and life safety standards. 

How do you envisage the fire safety sector will develop over the next three years?

BB. Without a doubt, in leaps and bounds. For all practitioners and professionals working in the field of fire and life safety engineering, and at all levels, the next three years will see many changes while the Middle East attitude towards this discipline continues to move in a positive direction.

We have seen immense changes to safety across the board. Occupational health and safety (OH&S) is a prime example. We are about to host the ninth OH&S regional conference this year in Dubai. Fire safety symposiums and conferences are annual events, with international participation. The Intersec exhibition and conference that takes place in Dubai again this year is a tribute to the ongoing development in fire and life safety discipline in the Middle East region.

About

Barry Bell is the Managing Director of Wagner Fire Safety Management Consultants, Middle East, and a licensed fire engineering consultant in the United Arab Emirates.