A MOVE to instal mandatory emergency staircases outside all apartment buildings has been rejected.
Housing and Urban Planning Minister Amna Al Romaihi told councillors in writing that Bahrain follows the highest building safety standards, regularly updated by the General Directorate of Civil Defence.
She added the country had not witnessed any incident in which residents died because the current emergency staircases inside buildings were difficult to access during an incident.
“We are not against updating regulations but current safety rules are of a high standard,” said Ms Al Romaihi.
“The General Directorate of Civil Defence closely follows international advancements and regularly inform us with necessary measures that we need to take in existing or new buildings,” she explained, dismissing the suggestion of installing outside hanging staircases, claiming it was not a ‘sensible’ option.
The Southern and Northern Municipal Councils in June unanimously approved two urgent proposals by councillors Mohammed Daraj and Mohammed Al Dossary respectively to stipulate the need for emergency exterior exits.
This came in light of the fatal tragedy in Louzi in May when an elderly couple, their divorced daughter and her six-year-old son were suffocated by smoke when a fire engulfed their government social housing unit. Also under the proposals, water heaters and pumps would have to be relocated from inside buildings to the rooftops.
However, poisonous smoke is often a silent killer and many victims die in their sleep making the location of steps or short-circuited electrical equipment irrelevant in such circumstances.
“The way apartment buildings are designed already take into account special locations for water heaters in line with instructions by the Electricity and Water Authority and Civil Defence,” explained Ms Al Romaihi. Moving all water heaters, as proposed, could also affect the delivery of supplies and water pressure, as well as maintenance and privacy issues, the meeting heard.
The Northern Municipal Council in its first meeting following a two-month recess yesterday contested the minister’s decision to reject the move, saying members would resubmit it following further study.
Should the minister insist on her decision, the Cabinet would have the final say.
“We, as councillors, have to address safety issues that may lead to residents suffering severe injuries and burns or lead to the kind of tragedy as witnessed in May,” said Mr Al Dossary.
“In the case of a fire, escaping through the building can prove difficult. We didn’t say instal staircases outside that makes them an eyesore; things could be done in a visually pleasing way, which also enhances safety.”
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif voiced concerns that the call was rejected, rather than opening the opportunity to brainstorm ideas.
“We understand that due to the limited space in Bahrain, buildings are all built virtually glued to each other, making it very difficult to have suitable escape staircases in each and every building,” he said. “But, that doesn’t mean there aren’t innovative and safe ways to do things – an outright rejection isn’t the right approach.”
In May, a call for an immediate investigation into the safety of government housing across Bahrain was made by Louzi area MP Hanan Fardan who claimed the tragedy questioned government plans to promote a vertical housing building programme.
Following May’s blaze, 52 people were left homeless for three months and they had to be provided with temporary shelter.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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