EQUIVALENT INITIAL FIRE SAFETY ASSESSMENT Factory Name: 2 New Eskaton Road, Mogbazar, Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka Bangladesh 15 Jun 2013 The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 1/10
Factory Name: 15 Jun 2013 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
15 Jun 2013 GENERAL INFORMATION General Information Factory Name: Country: Province: City: Bangladesh Dhaka Dhaka Zip Code: 1217 Audit Duration: Re-Audit: Re-Audit After 0 Months Draft Report June 30, 2014 Final Report June 30, 2014 Are all Action Items From Previous Assessment Completed?: Buildings in Complex: Is the building(s) owned or rented by the Factory: 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): N/A 2: Main Building, Fabric Storage Owned 9 77,000 sq.ft. 1985 None None N/A Number of Occupants: 1300 The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 3/10
15 Jun 2013 Number of Ancillary Levels (Stories): Occupancy Type: Construction Type: Height of est Occupied Floor Level Above Grade: N/A G2: Ground Floor Fabric storage; 1st Floor Daycare, Offices, Carton storage; 2nd Floor Finishing; 3rd Floor Sewing and Finishing; 4th Floor Cutting; 5th Floor Sewing; 6th Floor Finishing and office; 7th Floor Sewing; 8th Floor Dining Room, Prayer Room, Idle Machine, Fabric waste storage Reinforced Concrete Construction on all floors; roof over 8th floor dining is metal panel roof on steel frame. 82 ft. The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 4/10
15 Jun 2013 ASSESSMENT FINDINGS Fire Protection Construction Are exit enclosures provided with fire-resistive rated construction barriers? None of the exit stairs are provided with separation from the rest of the building. There are multiple openings, incomplete rated construction, and nonrated doors in these openings. Photograph: (1) Office area open to exit stair (2) Non-rated glass opening into stair Provide fire-resistive rated construction barriers for exit enclosures in accordance with Alliance Standard Section 6.3.1.2. Consult a qualified fire protection engineer to design the required rated construction barrier. 30 Sep 2014 Reference Alliance Standards Part 4 Section 4.5 Separation Are shafts provided with the minimum fire-resistance rating? Non-Compliance Level: 2 There is a utility shaft that is not rated and has penetrations at each floor. Photograph: Cable penetration of floor Provide 2-hour fire resistive rating for all vertical shafts. The protection means can either be at each floor penetration or by the provision of a fire rated shaft enclosure. 31 Oct 2014 Reference Alliance Standards Part 4 Section 4.5.7.1 through 4.5.7.3 The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 5/10
15 Jun 2013 Are separations between hazards provided with fire-resistive rated construction barriers. Medium No separation is provided between hazard areas and production areas including boiler, and generator. Photograph: (1) Boiler room opening (2) Opening to storage area Provide fire-resistive rated construction barriers between hazard types in accordance with Alliance Standard Sections 3.4.2 and 4.5. Consult a qualified fire protection engineer to design the required rated construction barrier. 30 Sep 2014 Reference Alliance Standards Part 4 Section 4.5 Separation Is the fire resistance materials of structural members in good condition and free of damage? Medium Non-Compliance Level: 2 The building is constructed of reinforced concrete construction. The roof has a noncombustible metal panel covering on steel frame. Photograph: Metal panel roof construction Provide local jurisdictional (RAJUK) approval for roof construction. Alternately, provide fire proofing for the roofing material or replace with a material that is consistent with the allowable building construction type. 31 Dec 2014 BNBC Part 3 Chapter 3 Fire Protection Systems Is the building protected by an automatic sprinkler system? No automatic sprinkler protection is provided for this building. The highest occupied floor is 82 ft. above grade. Visual Assessment: No sprinklers installed. Provide automatic sprinkler protection throughout the facility. The installation The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 6/10
15 Jun 2013 of sprinkler protection should be conducted in phases. The first phase would be to protect all storage areas. Prior to installation, the system should be properly designed by 31 Dec 2014 Reference Alliance Standards Part 3 Section 3.5.3 Existing Buildings, Part 5 Section 5.3 Automatic Sprinkler Systems and Section 6.13 Travel Distance Does the building have a Standpipe System? Only small hose stations are provided throughout the building fed by a tank on the roof. Pressure is inadequate at the upper levels. Photograph: Small hose station Install standpipe system at required locations. Standpipe system must comply with NFPA 14. 31 Dec 2014 Does the building have a standpipe system installed where required. Alliance Standard Part 5 Section 5.4.2 Does the building have a fire pump? A fire pump has not been installed. Visual Assessment: No pump installed Install a dedicated fire pump for the facility in accordance with NFPA 20. Also, install a water storage tank in accordance with NFPA 22. 31 Dec 2014 Alliance Standard Part 5 Fire Protection Systems The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 7/10
15 Jun 2013 Are notification and initiation devices for the fire alarm system installed at required locations based on occupancy type? Non-Compliance Level: 2 The fire alarm system is mostly a manual system. There are call points at the entry to the exit stairs at each level. There are two buttons: one to alert the individual floor and another to alert the entire building. There are single-station smoke alarms Photograph: (1) Manual call point (2) Fire alarm horn (3) Manual fire alarm bell (4) Smoke detectors in storage Install initiating devices and notification appliances as required by the Alliance Standard and NFPA 72. Devices should be part of an automatic fire alarm and detection system for the facility. 31 Oct 2014 Pull stations at egress points, smoke detectors in air handling equipment, visual and audible devices spaced appropriately based on occupancy type. Reference NFPA 72 Means of Egress Occupant loads on each level (floor) do not exceed the capacity of the available means of egress. The stair widths are inconsistent from the top to the bottom. The Main stair has a limiting width (intermediate landing) of 46 in. The Emergency stair has a limiting width ( intermediate landing ) of 43 in. Based on the BNBC requirement of 8 mm/person for stairs, the maximum permitted occupant load per floor is 282 occupants. This capacity is exceeded on the 8th Floor, dining hall, where the maximum expected occupancy is 400. Visual Assessment: Stair measurements taken. Provide automatic sprinkler protection throughout the building. This will increase the capacity to 452. In the interim, limit the occupancy on the 8th Floor to 282. 31 Aug 2014 The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 8/10
15 Jun 2013 Alliance Standard Part 6 Section 6.4 Occupant Load Doors along the path of egress have a minimum width of 0.8 m (32 in) and have required ratings. No fire rated doors are provided for the exit enclosure and hazard separations. Photograph: Non-rated wood door in exit enclosure Provide fire rated doors for all exit enclosures and hazard separation walls. 31 Oct 2014 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. There are various types of doors in the path of egress including collapsible sliding gates, roll-down shutters, and sliding doors. Photograph: (1) Roll-down shutter at Main Stair (2) Collapsible gate at Emergency Stair Replace all non-compliant doors in the means of egress with side-hinged swinging type doors. 31 Oct 2014 Alliance Standards Part 6 Section 6.8 Doors and Gates Doors are not locked in the direction of egress under any conditions. All hasps, locks, slide bolts, and other locking devices have been removed where required. Non-Compliance Level: 2 The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 9/10
15 Jun 2013 Most doors are provided with locking devices but are locked in the open position during working hours. Photograph: (1) Hasp on egress door (2) Bolt and hasp on egress door Remove all locking devices from all egress doors and means of egress components. 31 Aug 2014 Alliance Standards Part 6 Section 6.8 Doors and Gates Fire Safety Programs Are there additional areas of non-compliance to report? Medium Non-Compliance Level: 1 The Day Care is located on the 1st Floor near the entrance to the stair enclosure but not directly connected to it. Photograph: Day Care Provide a rated enclosure to connect the Day Care to the stair enclosure or relocate the Day Care to the Ground Floor in accordance with Alliance Standard Section 3.4.2.1.1. 31 Dec 2014 Not Applicable The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Page 10/10