The fire that broke out in a 24-story residence in Fikirtepe, Istanbul, once again brought to the agenda the importance of using non-combustible materials, especially in exterior cladding. Experts, emphasizing that exterior insulation and cladding materials should be A1 class non-combustible, underlined that it is impossible for firefighters to intervene from the outside above a certain height in high-rise buildings, stressing the importance of internal intervention in fires. Experts also emphasize that metal fires cannot be extinguished with water…
Non-combustible materials should be used on exterior facades
Dr. Rüştü Uçan, Head of Occupational Health and Safety Department at Üsküdar University, and Lecturer Abdurrahman İnce made evaluations regarding the fire that broke out in a 24-story residence in Fikirtepe, Kadıköy, and the precautions to be taken against possible fires.
Dr. Rüştü Uçan stated that the 24-story residence fire caused hearts to skip a beat as the combustible exterior facade material ignited and rapidly spread upwards from the first floor to the top floor, and then spread into the apartments through the windows.
Water does not extinguish metal fires…
Dr. Rüştü Uçan stated that the importance of not using combustible materials on the exterior facades of high-rise buildings has once again emerged, adding, “Polyethylene-filled aluminum composite panel is in flammability class B (difficult to ignite). Even according to the current provisions of the Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings, the use of this material is prohibited in buildings higher than 28.5 meters. These prohibited materials must be removed and discarded. In fact, we recommend the use of A1 class (non-combustible) material as exterior facade insulation and cladding, especially in high-rise buildings. The provisions under the ‘facades’ heading that were in force in the 2007 Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings should be reverted to.”
Dr. Rüştü Uçan also emphasized that polyethylene-filled aluminum composite panel fires are Class D metal fires and therefore cannot be extinguished with water.
Work should be done to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent floors…
Dr. Rüştü Uçan also reminded of the provisions under the “facades” heading that were in force in 2007: ARTICLE 27- (1) Exterior facades in high-rise buildings must be made of non-combustible material, and in other buildings, at least of difficult-to-ignite material. The intersections of facade elements with floors that do not have openings through which flames can pass must be insulated for a period that ensures the floor’s fire resistance, in a way that prevents flames from spreading to adjacent floors.”
Came to the Agenda with the 2017 London Fire
Dr. Rüştü Uçan stated that in the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, all floors above the fourth floor completely burned due to combustible exterior facade insulation and cladding material, and added:
“The fire, which started due to a refrigerator motor malfunction on the fourth floor, reached the combustible exterior facade and, with the ignition of the combustible exterior facade material, spread along the entire facade, penetrated inside through the windows, and caused the entire building to burn. This material is now being debated by fire scientists worldwide, especially NFPA experts. In England alone, the existence of 1600 more buildings with the same exterior facade material is reported.
The Istanbul Fire Could Not Spread Inside
This number is higher in our country. Azerbaijan removed all combustible exterior facade materials after a similar fire with 16 fatalities. Similarly, in the 34-story Polat Tower fire that occurred in Istanbul in 2012, the fire rapidly spread to the terrace floor in a very short time due to combustible exterior facade material. However, because there were no windows in the burned section, the insulation material behind the exterior cladding was non-combustible rock wool, and behind that was a completely non-combustible reinforced concrete wall, the fire could not spread inside.
Fire escape stairs must be present
Dr. Rüştü Uçan, stating that high-rise buildings should also have emergency elevators, said, “In the 2017 London Grenfell Tower fire, 80 people died (most by burning) also because there was no protected fire escape staircase and emergency elevator. However, in our legislation (Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings), at least two protected fire escape staircases with fire safety lobbies are required in buildings of this height (24 stories). In addition, an emergency elevator is required and is believed to be present in this building. Those using the building were able to escape through these escape stairs, and there was no loss of life.”
Emergency elevators must operate
Dr. Rüştü Uçan, stating that the elevators did not work during the fire, which is a normal situation, said that emergency elevators should operate. Dr. Rüştü Uçan warned, “When a fire breaks out, elevators descend to the escape floor as per scenario, open their doors, and receive no further commands, but emergency elevators must continue to operate. At the same time, electricity must be compulsorily cut off, except for fire suppression systems. Generators should only power and maintain the energy for fire suppression systems. This is called an emergency power system, and unfortunately, because this issue is not well-known enough in our country, emergency elevators usually do not work during a fire. If they did not work here either, the responding firefighters must have been severely challenged. The emergency power system should not only operate the emergency elevators but also the pressurization fans to prevent smoke from entering escape routes. The emergency elevator is needed both for the evacuation and rescue of disabled individuals with limited mobility and for firefighters and extinguishing, rescue teams to quickly ascend and descend to upper floors.”
External intervention in multi-story buildings is impossible
Lecturer Abdurrahman İnce also underlined that external intervention by firefighters in these very high-rise buildings becomes a handicap, or even impossible, after a certain height, and said, “Internal intervention is necessary. For this, fire department water inlets (siamese connections) are located outside the building, and fire department water valves are on each floor. Firefighters, in addition to their personal protective equipment, take their hoses and ascend to the floor below the fire, where they position themselves. To ascend to this floor quickly, emergency elevators (formerly called firefighter elevators) must operate. They are also used for rescue purposes, as mentioned above.”
Fire precautions must be taken in high-rise buildings
Lecturer Abdurrahman İnce, emphasizing that not only residences but also the electrical devices of these very high-rise buildings must be regularly maintained and safe, listed the precautions that should be taken as follows:
“Fires mostly originate from heating-cooling systems and cooking processes. Apart from these, there are numerous causes of fire, primarily careless smoking. Not only residences but all high-rise buildings; hospitals, hotels, office buildings, and residential buildings require extra fire precautions. The relevant part is that exterior facade insulation and cladding materials must be A1 class non-combustible. In this regard, there is a very high risk of fire and associated loss of life. Those using these buildings should occasionally use the fire escape stairs to test them, i.e., conduct drills, and keep them always ready for use. All kinds of precautions must be taken to prevent fires. Ventilation openings of electrical devices should not be covered, and air circulation should not be obstructed.”