INITIAL FIRE SAFETY ASSESSMENT Assessor: N. Islam Center, Mazar Road, Dhakkhin Khan Uttara, Dhaka Dhaka Emkay Enterprises The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 1/10
09 Jun 2014 Introduction to the Report The following report contains a site profile and summary of non-conformities identified during an onsite assessment commissioned by the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety (Alliance) and conducted by a third-party Qualified Assessment Firm (QAF). The assessment was conducted against the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Assessment Protocols (APs) and Fire Safety and Structural Integrity Standard, which is harmonized with the factory assessment guidelines developed by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) for the Bangladesh National Tripartite Plan of Action (NTPA). The goal of the Alliance process is to provide clear and practical technical requirements by which Bangladeshi Ready Made Garment (RMG) Factories producing for Alliance members may be consistently and fairly evaluated for fire, structural, and electrical safety in a non-duplicative manner. Each assessment will prompt action plans that will be used by RMG factories to systematically and sustainably improve safety conditions for garment workers. Beyond tracking and reporting on action steps taken in a transparent manner, the Alliance organization and its members will seek to further support factory improvements through technical assistance, training, implementation support for functional Worker Committees, and in some cases financial assistance and wage support for workers if factories are closed for remediation. The contents of the report do not constitute a guarantee of compliance with the applicable laws, the Alliance Standard or the absolute or continued safety against fire, electrical and/or structural integrity issues that may lead to injury or loss of life. The report is designed to provide a non-exhaustive summary of risk issues, based on a limited sampling and duration of time onsite by the named QAF. Neither the QAF nor the Alliance can certify or guarantee the quality, outcome, or effectiveness of actions taken in response to the report. For more information and report feedback please go to: www.bangladeshworkersafety.org. The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 2/10
GENERAL INFORMATION General Information Country: Province: City: Bangladesh Dhaka Dhaka Zip Code: Audit Duration: Re-Audit: 1 Days 0 Hours Re-Audit After 0 Months Draft Report 1 July 2014 Final Report Are all Action Items From Previous Assessment Completed?: Buildings in Complex: Is the building(s) owned or rented by the : Number of Building Levels (Stories): Approximate Building Area (SF): Date of Building Construction: Date of Last Building Renovation/Addition: Ancillary Structures in Complex: Approximate Ancillary Structures Area (SF): To be filled out by the Alliance QA representative N/A 2 (One Main building and One Ancillary building). Rented Main building: 6 stories (G+5) [RCC building with prefabricated steel shed on roof deck.] 37,118 1998 to 1999 2013 1 540 Number of Occupants: 695 The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 3/10
Number of Ancillary Levels (Stories): Occupancy Type: Construction Type: Height of Highest Occupied Floor Level Above Grade: Ancillary building-1: Single story tin shed room Main building: Ground floor: Occupancy Type-H2 (Store), Occupancy Type-K (Generator and substation), Occupancy Type-B2 (Child care) and Occupancy Type-F1 (Office), 1st floor: Occupancy Type-G2 (RMG factory) and Occupancy Type-F1 (Office), 2nd floor: Occupancy Type-G2 (RMG factory) and Occupancy Type-K (Boiler), 3rd to 5th floor: Occupancy Type-G2 (RMG factory) and 6th floor: Occupancy Type-E3 (Dinning). Ancillary building-1: Occupancy Type-H2 (Wastage store). Main Building: Type-1 (RCC frame) from ground floor to 5th floor and non-rated structure (Prefabricated steel shed rest on RCC columns) at roof deck. Ancillary building-1: Non-rated structure (5 in. brick wall with bamboo frame tin shed roof.) Main Building: The total height of the building above grade was 24.39 m (80 ft) (Ground floor+5+steel shed on roof deck) and the highest occupiable floor level was 19.20 m (63 ft.). Ancillary structure was single story shed. The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 4/10
ASSESSMENT FINDINGS Fire Protection Construction Are separations between hazards provided with fire-resistive rated construction barriers. Medium Not in compliance with Alliance Standards Part 4 Section 4.5 Separation: Unprotected generator room was noticed at ground floor and the wastage store at Ancillary structure was unprotected open to the egress rout of East- Middle stair. Photograph: 01. Unprotected generator room, 02. Unprotected wastage store. 1. Rooms used for housing generator shall be separated from the surrounding occupancy with a minimum 2.0 hour fire rated construction with 1.5 hour fire rated opening protection. 1. Rooms used for storing combustible materials shall be separated fro Reference Alliance Standards Part 4 Section 4.5 Separation Certificates of Occupancy for each building have been issued and are on file. Low Non-Compliance Level: 1 Occupancy certificate for buildings were not available during this inspection. Document Review: By checking documents it was found that factory doesn't have any occupancy certificate. Apply to RAJUK for issuance of the Certificates of Occupancy for main building and ancillary structure according to building use. Pursue the matter to expedite. 21 Aug 2014 Are certificates of occupancy provided for each building or ancillary structure? Fire Protection Systems The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 5/10
Does the building have a Standpipe System? High Not in Compliance with Alliance Standard Part 5, Section 5.4: Class-I stand pipe hose connection (65 mm dia.) was found at South-West stairwell but no stand pipe hose connection was found at occupied roof, East-Middle stairwell, and inside the floors. Photograph: Class-I standpipe hose system at South-West stairwell. Install a standpipe system at required locations designed by a qualified fire protection engineer. Modify or install the standpipe System (Class-I and class- II) to meet the requirements of Alliance standard's section 5.4. Once standpipe system is install Does the building have a standpipe system installed where required. Alliance Standard Part 5 Section 5.4.2 Are notification and initiation devices for the fire alarm system installed at required locations based on occupancy type? High Not in compliance. Pull stations at egress points: Centralized fire alarms were system installed. Both pull station and piano switches were used as fire alarm call points. Audible and Visual devices: No visual alarm was noticed. Photograph: Piano switch as fire alarm call point. Install initiating devices and notification appliances as required by the Alliance Standard and NFPA 72. This includes electrical supervision of all valves controlling fire protection systems (sprinklers, fire pumps, water supplies, etc.). Connect devices Pull stations at egress points, smoke detectors in air handling equipment, visual and audible devices spaced appropriately based on occupancy type. Reference NFPA 72 The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 6/10
Are hangers, bracing, and restraints properly installed and supporting the system piping? Medium Non-Compliance Level: 2 Not in compliance with NFPA 13 Chapter 9 Hanging, Bracing, and Restraint of System Piping : Sprinkler system piping were only fitted with U-clamp, no angular or sway bracing were fitted during inspection. Photograph: Sprinkler system piping fitted with U-clamps only. The hangers, bracing, and restraint of sprinkler piping system shall be design modify and installed as per NFPA 13 chapter 9. Assign a qualified fire protection system designer for that modification. 25 Dec 2014 Reference NFPA 13 Chapter 9 Hanging, Bracing, and Restraint of System Piping. All valves controlling the automatic sprinkler systems are electrically supervised by a listed fire alarm system control unit. Medium Non-Compliance Level: 2 Not in compliance with Alliance Standard Part 5 Section 5.3.5 Supervision and Alarms. Fire alarm control unit was available but valves of automatic sprinkler systems were not connected with the control panel and not electrically supervised Visual Assessment: Valves of automatic sprinkler systems were not connected with fire alarm control panel during this inspection. All valves controlling automatic sprinkler systems, fire pumps, and water supply systems shall be electrically supervised by a listed fire alarm system control unit as per Alliance Standard Part 5 Section 5.3.5 Supervision and Alarms and NFPA 13 chapter 7 25 Dec 2014 Reference Alliance Standard Part 5 Section 5.3.5 Supervision and Alarms. Does the automatic sprinkler system have an approved audible device activated by waterflow equal to the flow of one sprinkler? Low Non-Compliance Level: 2 Not in compliance with Alliance Standards Part 5 Section 5.3.5.2 Alarms: No The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 7/10
Audible device was connected with the sprinkler system during inspection. Visual Assessment: No audible device was connected with the sprinkler System. Install an approved audible device connected to every automatic sprinkler system, which will activate by water flow equal to the flow of one sprinkler. Where a fire alarm system is installed, activation of the water flow need to be Activated the fire alar 25 Dec 2014 Reference Alliance Standards Part 5 Section 5.3.5.2 Alarms. Means of Egress Doors along the path of egress have a minimum width of 0.8 m (32 in) and have required ratings. High Not in compliance. The minimum widths of doors were measured more than 0.8 m (32 in) in all floors. Only one exit door at each floor was fire door leading to the East-Middle stairwell and there were no door at the 2nd exits leading to the South-West stairwell. Photograph: No door at exit leading to the South-West stairwell. Provide fire rated door in all rated exit stair enclosures. Fire door shall be of the side-hinged, swinging, self-closing type and shall swing in the direction of egress. Door shall have a minimum clear width of 1.0 m (39 in.). Consult a qualified a fire Alliance Standard Part 6 Section 6.5.6 Minimum Widths. Increased occupant loads will require a door width greater than 0.8 m. All doors in a means of egress are of the side-hinged swinging type. High Not in compliance with Alliance standards Part 6 Section 6.8 Doors and Gates. Collapsible gate was installed in the main exits of this building. Photograph: Collapsible gate. Replace all non-compliant doors and frames in the means of egress with side swinging doors in accordance with Alliance Standard Section 6.8. Replacement doors shall be listed, approved, self-closing, fire rated door The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 8/10
assemblies (door and frame) with latchi Alliance Standards Part 6 Section 6.8 Doors and Gates Every door in a stair enclosure serving more than 5 stories is provided with reentry unless it meets the requirements of Alliance Standards Part 6 Section 6.8.3.1. Medium The building was 6 stories (Ground Floor+5+Steel shed on roof deck). Exit doors of East-Middle stair enclosure were outward opening fire doors with glass viewer panel without re-entry provision and no exit doors were installed at the exits leading to the South-West stair enclosure. This is not in compliance with Alliance Standards Part 6 Section 6.8 Doors and Gates. Photograph: No provision for re-entry in stair enclosure door. Every door in a stair enclosure serving more than 5 stories shall be provide reentry provision as per Alliance Standards Part 6 Section 6.8 Doors and Gates. Re-entry floor and door shall be marked with proper signage. Alliance Standards Part 6 Section 6.8 Doors and Gates Handrails are provided on both sides of each stairway. Intermediate handrails are provided when the stair width exceeds 2.2 m (87 in.). Handrails are not mounted lower than 760 mm (30 in.) or higher than 1100 mm (44 in.). Medium Non-Compliance Level: 2 Not in compliance with Alliance Standard Part 6 Section 6.9 Stairs and 6.12 Handrails and Guards: Handrails were provided only on open side in the stair- 1 & 2 with height 914.4 mm (36 in). Photograph: Handrail on open sides at stair-1 Install handrails on the both side of the stairs. A minimum height of 865 mm (34 in.) and a maximum height of 965 mm (38 in.) as measured from the leading edge of the tread need to be maintained when installing new handrails. The spacing between vertical Alliance Standard Part 6 Section 6.9 Stairs and 6.12 Handrails and Guards The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 9/10
Fire Safety Programs Are the required number of people trained and certified in fire fighting, first aid, and rescue training by the appropriate authority. High Non-Compliance Level: 1 40 workers have taken training from Fire Service and Civil Defence authority out of 640 workers. Certificates are under process. Document Review: Record of training of Fire Service and Civil Defence authority. Provide training for the required number of people (25%) certified in firefighting, first aid, and rescue training by the appropriate authority. 25 Dec 2014 Alliance Standard Part 13 Human Element Programs The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 10/10