The Growth in Mega-tall Buildings is a Challenge to Firefighters
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This article appeared in the October 2024 issue of Asia Pacific Fire magazine, fighting a fire in very tall buildings everywhere in the world is and has always been a challenge to the fire service.
Fire resistant construction of these high-rise buildings is required by building codes and gives occupants time to safely escape and also minimizes damage to the building. However, there are too many existing buildings with insufficient capacity in the exit stairs to allow occupants to evacuate safely and swiftly.
Too many existing high-rise buildings may not have photoluminescent egress path marking systems to supplement or back-up electrical general and emergency lighting systems which fail to operate properly during an emergency evacuation.
Fire and smoke spread may not be adequately controlled by active or passive fire and life safety systems and this can result in unnecessary injuries or death. And, older existing buildings may not be equipped with these systems at all.