Fire incidents can be averted if we know what to do Hassan Murtaza of IMS talks about
how awareness is important in our societyFire incidents can be averted if we know what to do

Pakistan’s every major city has been witnessing fire incidents pretty frequently and every time all questions concentrate on the causes of the fire which most of the time remain mute. A Fire Safety expert at IMS, Hassan Murtaza believes fires can safely be averted if proper fire safety systems are employed at all levels.
When asked what are the major reasons for fire incidents which have been occurring quite frequently in our cities Hassan Murtaza, the chief of IMS Fire Safety and Security Department says there are many reasons for fires and short-circuit is only one of them and the reason behind short-circuit is related to loose connections and also the absence of a proper electrical system design in the buildings. Awareness is also a big issue.
Most of the time the wiring does not support high amperes when we draw excessive load which leads us to fire incidents. Then how to prevent such incidents or handle them is an area in which the people are not aware of.
One fire extinguisher is far better than a fire tender away as it requires time to reach you. The fire extinguisher can handle fire instantly. We realize the situation when the fire engulfs you. So our company is focusing on how to prevent incidents that happen anywhere. We are striving to create awareness in the people that if you cannot afford an extensive system then go on prevention so that you can cover the fire timely.
Responsibility of the authorities
It is the responsibility of our authorities that they should issue permission for the buildings only if they ensure public safety. Fire is not only an incident but causes loss of lives. The people who work in buildings and malls do not know that their lives are at high risk. How will they escape if any fire broke out in their buildings which do not ensure such safety guards? The people running huge businesses and malls do not have plans to tackle fire incidents. If you focus on business only and overlook safety then such incidents will only increase. In new buildings, tenants alter the system according to their requirements and thus the safety is compromised in many cases. We have to think about if we have any fresh air movement where we are sitting, do we have any exhaust and emergency exit in the building. If we have any backup generators for the elevators. If the people start thinking are they safe in case of any incidents in the building or any setup they are in. This awareness means a lot and people control such things through joint community efforts.
What minimum thing can one do to prevent or handle any fire?
It depends on what value do your assets have and also it depends on the intensity of the fire. There are many systems, some are automatic and some are manual. All are available in the market. If you cannot afford an automatic system then you must have such a manual system that can control the fire to some extent till the fire tenders reach you. Therefore, a fire extinguisher is a must in the building. This is like water and air for life. And if you believe you have to save your assets too then you must install a fire fighting system. There are two levels of the Fire Fighting System. One is imported and certified and if you cannot afford it you can go on a conventional system whose cost is lower. Then make your people be aware of it. Even if you cannot afford any one of them, you can decide on the lower and simpler system such as fireballs. This system can control the fire which is initiated in the building.
IMS is a ‘No Limit’ contracting company having complete fire safety solutions. We are registered with Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) as a CA company.
Globally, we represent Honeywell, Tyco, Lifeco. We have complete setups of fire systems, alarm systems, detection, suppression and foam systems, etc. We possess in-house technical expertise.
The company has three offices in Pakistan, one in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad besides an international office in Dubai. Our experts are certified by our principles. We also have a wide range of projects with oil companies, automobile companies, textile, and others. We are also involved in the provision of service and maintenance of safety systems. n