Introduction

Imagine the following scenario: a fire erupts in a busy construction, the alarm system malfunctions, the sprinkler mechanism does not run, and the escape routes are covered. The result? Hysteria, injuries, and even loss of lives. This is not merely focused on bad luck, but in most cases it is the result of improper installation of fire protection systems.

This paper is going to discuss the most prevalent errors committed by local contractors in the installation of fire safety systems. You will know how such mistakes can destroy lives, what the appropriate fire exit and evacuation plan (in particular, in such places as Bangladesh) should look like, and what can be done by building owners to protect against carelessness.

Why Fire Protection Matters

Fire protection is not simply the sprinkler or alarm system, but it is the development of a life-saving shield. An installed system will spot a fire early enough, notifying people, and the system will contain the damage until the arrival of the professional help.

Imagine it to be a seatbelt. It may never come to pass, but when a tragedy hits, it may save you.

Categories of Fire System Installation Errors.

Poor Planning and Design

Most of the local contractors consider fire safety as a secondary consideration, and they fit the consideration at the end of the construction project. This results in:

The alarms are installed in areas where sound cannot travel.

Walls or ceilings blocked sprinklers.

Decorations containing exit signs.

Tip: Fire systems design must begin at the blueprint stage, not after the building has been finished.

Poor Quality Material.

Low-quality alarms, cheap wiring, or fake sprinkler heads may be cheap in the short term but will not work when the fire actually hits. The counterfeit fire safety products are a common phenomenon in places such as Bangladesh, with sadness.

Example: Suppose we have sprinklers, which do not release water as the pipes corroded in several months since the installation. It is putting on a raincoat but with holes in the center of the rain.

Improper location of sprinklers.

The sprinklers should have the greatest area. Local contractors often:

Place them too close to walls.

Profit under obstructions or fans.

Lack of water pressure calculation.

The fires spread faster as the systems are not able to reach all corners when sprinklers are not used.

Failure to follow fire exit and evacuation plan guidelines.

Fire exits are not ordinary doors, but lifelines. Common mistakes include:

Locking the exit doors because of security reasons.

Tiny stairs, which cannot support the people.

Emergency lighting is absent on exit signs.

In Bangladesh, fire exit and evacuation plan guidelines are legally obligatory, but most of the local contractors do not adhere to them.

Absence of Testing and Commissioning.

You don’t go and purchase a car without having to test drive it, right? However, a significant number of contractors install fire systems without checking alarms, sprinklers, and smoke detectors.

Life case example: A factory fire in Dhaka showed that smoke detectors were fitted in the factory; however, they were not linked to the alarm system. It was after a point that the workers realized the risk when they spotted smoke filling the hall.

Lack of Poor Documentation and Training.

The most effective systems do not work in case people are unaware of how to operate them. Common issues:

Missing manuals.

No staff training.

Drills on evacuation were omitted to save time.

Fire protection is not plug and play. It is a lifelong education and practice.

No Regular Maintenance

A system that was installed 5 years ago might not be of use by the time it is not maintained. Batteries decay, pipes calcify, and alarms rust. However, not a lot of contractors return after installation and arrange maintenance.

Hint: Building owners are supposed to enter into maintenance agreements and not just installation contracts.

Guidelines on fire exits and evacuation plans for Bangladeshi buildings.

Bangladesh has a set of fire exit regulations that are contained within the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC). Some key highlights:

Good signage: The exit signs should be clear and illuminated even in the face of power outages.

Minimum width: Stairs and exits must be broad in order to be able to evacuate in large numbers.

No impediments: Exits should not be locked, furnished, or stocked.

Evacuation drills: They are required to be practiced regularly, particularly in high-rise buildings and factories.

Adhering to these rules, the building owners do not only ensure the legal compliance but also guarantee the actual safety.

How to Avoid These Mistakes

Employ qualified fire safety engineers and not general contractors.

Demand compliance certificates for all the installed components.

Conduct test systems periodically and then submit the project.

Conduct fire drills and train personnel at least two times a year.

Third-party inspection of audit safety systems.

Key Takeaways

The fire protection systems should be considered at the time of designing and should not be included later.

Poor installation or cheap material may cost lives.

To be really safe, fire exits should be based on the evacuation rules in Bangladesh.

Routine tests, maintenance, and training are also not bargainable.

Owners of the buildings should ensure that the contractors are responsible.

FAQ

Q1. Whose greatest error during fire protection system construction is it?

The worst error is improper planning—fitting systems in a building without considering them as a part of the building.

Q2. What is so special about fire exits in Bangladesh?

Due to the common accidents of fires in factories and buildings, fire exits are the only way of escape in case alarms and sprinklers do not work.

Q3. What is the frequency of fire protection systems maintenance?

Once in six months with documentation of inspections and test findings.

Q4. Should I rely on the local contractors for fire safety installations?

But it depends on whether they are certified and adhere to national fire safety codes. Insist on documentation at all times.

Conclusion 

Fire protection is not a compliance checkbox; it is a matter of life saving. Uncountably, it is the bad contractor habits that expose buildings to insecurities. You can save lives and not only property by insisting on the installation, testing, and adherence to fire exit and evacuation procedures.

Wish to get to know more about compliance with fire safety? In our next article, Building Fire Safety Audits: Why Every Business Needs One, we read about building fire safety audits.