NFPAWA highlights safety standards in reducing losses for Nigerian businesses

The need for safer buildings where all components are in conformity with international safety standards has been reiterated at the National Fire Protection Association West Africa (NFPAWA) conference which according to its organizers, aims at building a community of excellence through practice, sharing, defining, and elevating safety standards through professional partnership with stakeholders into the 21^st century.

The conference had sessions in teaching participants on best practices in fire prevention, detection systems and efficient response in militating against loss of lives and property.

Fire and building safety experts who spoke at the conference reiterated the importance of duly paying attention to details when buildings are being erected and fitted for use, noting that the schematics will be useful in emergency situations to determine the possible types of smoke that will be emitted as well as positioning of tools and equipment for response in bringing the situation under control.

“There are lots of buildings that are constructed where it doesn’t appear that there is any real plan in how to make the building safe; for occupants and the property itself. If there is a fire (incident) in a hospital, the way in which you handle it and get people out is different from if it was a cinema or house or even a factory. What we found is that the NFPA has already built in all these codes where they have looked into various angles from getting out, what kind of things are inside, are there propellants in the building (amongst other considerations) in keeping people safe,” says Femi Young, Executive Director, safety Solutions and Consultants Limited.

“The NFPWA conference combines riveting, cutting-edge educational sessions that will get you up to speed on the latest in prevention, response, and monitoring technology. Intriguing presentations will deal with everything from eyes in the sky, to new tools for the front line that can be used to improve fire and disaster response.  Particular emphasis will be placed on risk assessment, system design and specification for compliance, functionality, adequacy and reliability. We are NFPWA, an organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss through safer practices,” Roland Ngong, Vice President, organising committee of NFPWA said.

John Campbell, Chief Engineer at NRG Fire Consulting describes the objective for conference, saying, “We are here to help expand NFPA in west Africa. One of the things that have been talked about is fire protection awareness and this programme is accomplishing that. One of the things that we are here for is to help expand the knowledge base around the world. There is strong will and dedication to fire protection here in Lagos and I think it will only get better afterwards.”

Tracey Bellamy, Chief Engineering Officer at TELGAN Corporation on his part noted that, “this course we offered on fundamentals of life safety code is the first step; it opens up the door in understanding how to use the whole document (for safety codes). The only way to understand the standard is to use it. You will learn the standard by using it, and I hope the knowledge we have shared will open up the passion for the (practitioners) to read the standard and use it.”

 

CALEB OJEWALE