Latest update January 17th, 2025 6:30 AM
A question for the fire department
DEAR EDITOR,
We see another apartment engulfed by fire. There will be more fires because of the development of commercial buildings and apartments that are more than three storeys.
The fire department will issue fire permits to many more apartment buildings. Such apartment buildings must have fire sprinklers. It has to be mandatory.
Fire safety in Guyana has no importance. How and why would the fire department issue a fire permit to an apartment building that’s three storeys and maybe more, with twelve apartments in the building? Why not issue fire sprinklers to be installed?
The building owners don’t consider the safety of the occupants (Owners only care about the rent), this is the reason why the fire department should make fire sprinklers mandatory in apartment buildings and commercial buildings three storeys and more.
When the fire department issues fire permits for buildings, the building owners can now go to the banks for a loan and insurance coverage would be granted to get a loan and they can begin to build.
The insurance companies and banks do not enquire about or implement fire safety measures to make sure that buildings are completely safe; they depend on the fire department laws and regulations.
Fire sprinklers are more effective than fire extinguishers and can be fitted to the water supply of the building and don’t need someone to activate or control it; fire sprinklers work automatically. Such a simple implementation will save lives, save the building and the investment.
The fire department by being in authority can mandate commercial buildings and apartments to install fire sprinklers; this would be a great asset towards the protection and the safety of our citizens and will help the fire department in containing and extinguishing fires easier.
So why doesn’t the fire department enforce the installation of fire sprinklers in commercial and apartment buildings three storeys and more ?
Vishul Ishwaridin
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