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BANGLADESH FACTORY FIRE SAFETY REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

BANGLADESH FACTORY FIRE SAFETY REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. OVERVIEW B. FINDINGS FIRE PREVENTION ELECTRICAL WIRING CHEMICAL STORAGE FIRE CONTAINMENT SPRINKLERS FIRE ALARMS FIRE WALLS FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ADDRESS IDENTIFICATION FIRE ESCAPE EXIT SIGNS EMERGENCY LIGHTING

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BANGLADESH FACTORY FIRE SAFETY REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

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  1. BANGLADESH FACTORY FIRE SAFETY REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS OVERVIEW B. FINDINGS FIRE PREVENTION ELECTRICAL WIRING CHEMICAL STORAGE FIRE CONTAINMENT SPRINKLERS FIRE ALARMS FIRE WALLS FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ADDRESS IDENTIFICATION FIRE ESCAPE EXIT SIGNS EMERGENCY LIGHTING DOOR HARDWARE STAIRWELLS FIRE DOORS EXITS REQUIRED FLOOR MARKINGS C. RECOMMENDATIONS D. ANALYSIS

  2. OVERVIEW In reviewing the recent tragedies in Bangladesh and conducting an in depth analysis of the causes of the fires, we have separated factory fire safety into three categories: FIRE PREVENTION The main cause for fires in Bangladesh is faulty wiring. Overloaded circuits coupled with dangerous wiring practices must be corrected. Metal conduits, wire connectors and proper protection for wires must be established as a norm. FIRE CONTAINMENT When fire does break out, it is exacerbated by an unsafe environment. Fire rated walls must be constructed to contain a fire in a single area and prevent it from spreading from highly combustible areas such as the boiler room, fabric storage, packing and elevator rooms. FIRE ESCAPE Escape routes must be kept free, open and clearly marked. All obstruction must be removed from fire exits and fire rated doors must be installed and stairwells must be encapsulated to isolate the fire from the escaping workers.

  3. FINDINGS – PREVENTION – ELECTRICAL WIRING • All existing factories had some electrical issues: • 1. Wiring after being spliced was joined back together with only electrical tape, a temporary fix which can heat up and peel off in time.  Wiring must be redone with wire connectors or wire nuts. • 2. Wiring is encased in what seems to be plastic or composite conduit. The conduit should be metal. • 3. In many cases, wiring was not in a conduit, and was spliced and connected with electrical tape. • 4. Electrical wiring needs elbow connectors at bends. • 5. Exposed bare wire in places, mostly at the ceiling where ceiling fans or lights were missing. • 6. Raw ends of wires were plugged into the electrical outlet on ceiling.

  4. FINDINGS – PREVENTION – ELECTRICAL WIRING SLOPPY WIRING SITTING NEXT TO COMBUSTIBLE MATTER CAUSES FIRE.

  5. FINDINGS – PREVENTION – ELECTRICAL WIRING EXPOSED WIRES CONNECTED WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE IS A COMMON AND DANGEROUS PRACTICE

  6. FINDINGS – PREVENTION – ELECTRICAL WIRING

  7. FINDINGS – PREVENTION – ELECTRICAL WIRING

  8. FINDINGS – PREVENTION – ELECTRICAL WIRING

  9. FINDINGS – PREVENTION – ELECTRICAL WIRING EXPOSED WIRES

  10. FINDINGS – PREVENTION – CHEMICAL STORAGE • Chemical storage • 1. Chemical storage area should be isolated from high occupancy areas. • 2. Chemical storage at some places had no doors – this room needs self closing doors. • 3. Chemicals should not be stored under stairwells • 4. Chemicals must be analyzed to determine if they need to be separated from each other because of combustibility when combined. • 5. Proper ventilation should be maintained in chemical storage room.

  11. FINDINGS – PREVENTION – CHEMICAL STORAGE PROPER LABELING AS WELL AS STORAGE IN A FIRE RATED ROOM WITH FIRE DOORS CAN HELP PREVENT FIRE.

  12. FINDINGS – PREVENTION – CHEMICAL STORAGE CHEMICALS CANNOT BE STORED UNDER STAIRWELLS OR NEAR EXITS.

  13. FINDINGS – PREVENTION – CHEMICAL STORAGE

  14. FINDINGS – CONTAINMENT – SPRINKLERS • Sprinklers are required per the International Fire Code • Chapter 9 section 903.2.4 • Group F-1 Industrial Moderate Hazard • An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided through all buildings containing  Group F occupancy where one of the following exist: • 1. A group F-1 Moderate Hazard Occupancy – fire area exceeds 12,000 sq feet (1115m squared) • 2. A group F-1 Moderate Hazard Occupancy – fire area is located more than three stories above grade plane • 3. The combined area of all Group F-1 fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines exceeds 24,000 sq feet (2230m squared) • 4. Follow BNBC part 4 Chapter 5 section 5.8 Occupancy (F) Factory: Industrial. Classification for a Garment Factory will be subsection 5.8.3 Occupancy H2: Moderate Hazard Industries • Fire area: The aggregate floor area enclosed by and bound by fire walls, fire barriers, exterior walls, or horizontal assemblies of a building.  Areas of the building not provided with surrounding walls shall be included in the fire area if such areas are included in the horizontal protection of the roof or floor next above. • BNBC part 4 Chapter 4 section 4.3.4.3 • Sprinklers can be retrofitted in a factory. Sprinklers are not meant to put a fire out, they are meant to contain the fire until the fire fighters arrive.

  15. FINDINGS – CONTAINMENT – FIRE ALARMS • Fire alarms are installed, but only local alarms. An interconnected fire alarm system needs to be installed so that when a fire does break out, the rest of the compound will be informed, and elevators should be programmed to automatically go to the ground level.

  16. FINDINGS – CONTAINMENT – FIRE WALLS • Most factories have fire rated walls because of the concrete construction, but fire walls need to be added to separate High Hazard Areas.  Areas of separation needed: • 1. Production should be separated from all other parts of the factory. • 2. Enclose all high hazard areas by 2 hour fire enclosure in high hazard area (walls & floors) • a. Boiler Room • b. Fabric Storage • c. Finishing/Packaging • d. Electrical Rooms • e. Chemical Storage • f. Generator • g. Mechanical • h. Elevator (lift) Machine Room • i. Fire Control Room – (This room is non-hazardous, but should be isolated to protect the room during a fire outbreak.)

  17. FINDINGS – CONTAINMENT – FIRE WALLS HIGH HAZARD AREAS SUCH AS BOILER ROOMS, GENERATORS AND ELECTRICAL ROOMS MUST BE SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER AS WELL AS FROM HIGH OCCUPANCY AREAS

  18. FINDINGS – CONTAINMENT – FIRE EXTINGUISHERS • Fire extinguishers must be maintained: • 1. Fire extinguishers must be inspected annually. • 2. No hydrostatic testing label found on fire extinguishers (In the USA, per NFPA 10 the fire extinguisher cylinder should be hydrostatically tested every 6 years. • 3. Some factories’ extinguishers had lost their charge. • 4. The Fire Extinguisher P.A.S.S method (Pull. Aim, Squeeze, Sweep) should be taught to all factory employees. See the BNBC Part 4 Fire Protection Chapter 4 section 4.17.9. This is a simple acronym for the operation of a fire extinguisher.

  19. FINDINGS – CONTAINMENT – FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

  20. FINDINGS – CONTAINMENT – ADDRESS IDENTIFICATION • Address identification of each building must be in place either numerically or with letters for easy identification by the fire department upon arrival. BUILDING ADDRESS MUST BE EASILY SEEN

  21. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – EXIT SIGNS • Exit signs exist, but are multi problematic: • 1. Roof access should not be labeled as an exit. • 2. Additional signs directing people to the exit are needed. • 3. Currently exit signs are only above the exit doors; signs above some exits need to project off the wall with the word “EXIT” on both sides of the sign. • The word “EXIT” needs to follow the IFC section 1011.6.1 stating: • Every sign shall have a plainly legible letters not less than 6 inches high with principle strokes of letters not less the ¾ inch wide. The word EXIT shall have letter width not less than 2 inches wide except for letter “I”. Minimum space between letters not less than 3/8”. The word EXIT shall be high contrast with the background – sign should illuminate not less than 5 foot candles (54 lux) and battery backup power. Viewing of an exit sign shall not exceed 100 Ft and use universal signs (person walking). • Fire drills should be conducted on a regular basis to educate the workers were • the proper means of egress are. Educating workers on the proper process • limits chaos and panic when a fire does break out.

  22. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – EXIT SIGNS EXIT SIGN POINTING IN WRONG DIRECTION. ACTUAL EXIT IS TO THE RIGHT

  23. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – EXIT SIGNS EXIT SIGNS MUST BE VISIBLE FROM THE SEWING FLOOR.

  24. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – EMERGENCY LIGHTING • Additional emergency lighting will be needed in the illumination of the egress path if illumination does not measure at least 1 foot candle (11 lux). • All emergency light should be battery backup. • Use directional arrows as needed to direct to an exit. • Some factories’ packing and fabric storage areas were without electricity, and the workers had emergency flashlights. Here self illuminating Exit signs or markings on floor must be installed.

  25. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – EMERGENCY LIGHTING EXPOSED WIRES EMERGENCY LIGHTING SHOULD BE BATTERY BACKUP POWERED.

  26. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – DOOR HARDWARE • All door hardware should be at least lever hardware i.e. roof accesses, training rooms, etc. installed no lower than 34” no higher than 48” (IFC: 1008.1.9.2) • No sliding latch bolts are allowed (IFC 1008:1.9.4) • No double keyed locking devices are allowed.  The occupant of any space always has to be able to exit it without any special key, tool or knowledge at all times.

  27. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – DOOR HARDWARE

  28. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – STAIRWELLS • 1. All interior exiting stairwell enclosures shall unload directly to the exterior of the building (IFC 1022.1) • 2. All interior exiting stairwell shall have a fire resistant rating of not less than 2 hours where connecting 4 stories or more and not less than 1 hour fire resistant rating where connecting less than 4 stories (IFC 1022.2) 1009.3.1.2 • 3. Security grilles are only allowed on main entrance but has to be open able from inside without special key, tool, knowledge (IFC 1008.1.4.4) • ***On January 29, 2013, the government of Bangladesh notified factories to remove all collapsible gates by February 10, 2013.

  29. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – STAIRWELLS FIRE WALL SHOULD BE ADDED TO SEPARATE ELEVATOR MACHINE ROOM FROM STAIRWELL.

  30. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – STAIRWELLS ALL OBSTRUCTIONS MUST BE REMOVED FROM STAIRWELLS SECURITY GRILLES MUST BE REMOVED.

  31. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – STAIRWELLS

  32. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – FIRE DOORS • Most of the buildings are made of concrete so fire doors added at certain places will improve safety tremendously. (All doors should be minimum 2 hour rated) Doors to these areas need to be self-closing. • 1. At entrance to exits stairwells at each floor (Panic hardware needs to be used on these exit doors) • 2. To enclose high hazard areas i.e. boiler room (with proper ventilation from room to outside) per IFC: This room requires two exits if over 500 sq ft. (46m2) and any equipment exceeds 400,000 BTU (422000KJ) input capacity • 3. Fabric storage areas • 4. Finishing/Packaging • 5. Electrical rooms (all electrical panels should be in a fire rated room in high hazard areas) • 6. Chemical storage (vent outside) • 7. Generator Rooms • 8. Mechanical Rooms • 9. Elevator machine rooms • 10. Fire Control Room (This room is non-hazardous, but should be isolated to protect the room during a fire outbreak.) • All fire doors should have panic hardware so that people can get out and not be locked in.

  33. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – EXITS REQUIRED • Exits that shall be provided from any space per BNBC: • 2 exits 1 to 500 persons • 3 exits 501 to 1000 persons • 4 exits greater than 1000

  34. FINDINGS – ESCAPE – FLOOR MARKINGS • Floor markings leading to exits should be luminous.

  35. FOLLOWING CODE • Follow The Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) – Part 4 Fire Protection with specific reference to: • a. Chapter 5 • b. Section 5.8 Occupancy (F) Factory: Industrial • c. Factories buildings over 20 meters needs to follow BNBC section 5.18 High Rise Buildings • d. Appendix A: Fire Drill and Evacuation Procedure for High-rise Buildings: • e. Appendix B: Fire Alarm System • f. Appendix C: Venting for Fire Protection in Industrial and storage Buildings • g. Appendix D: Provision and Maintenance of Water • 2) The International Fire Code (IFC) • 3) The National Fire Protection Association NFPA 101 Life Safety Code. This code was developed because of The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York in 1911.

  36. RECOMMENDATIONS • ELECTRICAL HOUSEKEEPING • Factory wiring must be redone by professional electricians. • All electrical tape must be removed and replaced with proper wiring. • Fuse boxes and conduits must be replaced with proper metal conduits. • FIRE WALLS AND FIRE DOORS • Encapsulate stairwells firerated construction (minimum two hours). • Compartmentalize all hazard areas with minimum two hour fire rated enclosure. • Replace all security grilles with two hour fire rated doors. • All fire doors need to be equipped with panic hardware. • 3. INTERCONNECTED FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS • Install interconnected fire alarm systems in all factories. • SPRINKLER SYSTEMS • All new factories over three stories in height should have sprinklers. • Exceed 12,000 sqft per fire area • Exceeds 24,000 sqft all fire areas or floors combined

  37. ANALYSIS A BRIEF HISTORY Although the Bengal province was important historically under the British Raj, regulation practices were not passed down to, nor were they adapted by the Bengalis. Left to fend on its own, the region developed politically and administratively independent of western laws and standards. It is important to remember that Bangladesh has only been an independent nation for 42 years. Bangladesh remained underdeveloped deep into the 20th century. By the time the 1971 declaration of independence and subsequent war occurred there was little industry, few factories and an urgent need to feed its population. A building code was not high on the list of priorities. Indeed, the Bangladesh National Building Code was not written until 1993, and it was not made a legally binding document until 2006. Blame for the present state of unsafe factories should not be attributed to “bad owners,” or a cultural lack of values. This is a result of unfettered growth during the boom period of the 1990’s, a lack of practical electrical education and practices and the absence of a legally binding building code. Abandoning Bangladesh as a country of production would only bring harm to a people who have already suffered so much.

  38. ANALYSIS OUT OF ADVERSITY COMES TRIUMPH The Bengali people have endured a bloody civil war, deadly cyclones, earthquakes, floods, and multiple famines in their short history as a nation. Adversity is in the blood of the Bangladesh people, and as the indomitable Bengali spirit has overcome past disasters, they are determined to overcome the tragic heritage of factory fires. In 2009 the United States department of labor declared Bangladesh’s Ready Made Garment Sector free of child labor. This was a deep rooted and serious problem in the Bangladesh garment industry, but with the help of the international community and pressure from brands and retailers this blight was stamped out. It is with the same determination that Fire Safety must be prioritized and enacted. On March 25, 1911, an horrific fire in New York caused the deaths of 146 garment workers. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was a terrible tragedy, but it was also the catalyst for labor reform. As a result of this fire, sixty laws were passed having to do with worker safety and the American Society of Safety Engineers was founded. The time has come for Bangladesh to step up its safety efforts, and to ensure the victims of the past ten years have not died in vain.

  39. ANALYSIS THE FUTURE Bangladesh was named by Goldman Sachs and economist Jim O’Neill as one of the “Next Eleven,” having high potential to become one of the world's largest economies of the 21st century. In 1978 the first Ready Made Garment export was made from Bangladesh, worth $12,000 USD. Today garments account for 78% of Bangladesh’s exports—close to $20 billion USD. The apparel industry will play a huge roll in Bangladesh’s emergence as an economic power, and we must share in the responsibility of keeping the workers safe. The silver lining is that as new buildings are being built, there is a consciousness to build them correctly. World Wide Apparel Resources envisions that over 85% of its Bangladesh production for Target will be made in newly built facilities by the end of 2014. Retrofitting and rewiring entire factories is neither feasible from an economic nor a practical standpoint. The only way for Target to ensure that goods will be produced in safe factories is to commit to doing business exclusively in newly built facilities where the factory is conceived from the pouring of the cement foundation with fire safety as a priority. WWAR is committed to continue to use the expertise of Senior Fire Code Official Don Ayscue in the building and modification of our business partner’s facilities. We are committed to establishing a blue print for “Safe Factories,” that can be followed by all factory owners when building new facilities in Bangladesh.

  40. BANGLADESH READY MADE GARMENTS EXPORT VALUES IN BILLIONSUSD 2011-12 Source: EPB RMG EXPORTS TOTAL EXPORTS

  41. GROWTH OF READY MADE GARMENTS INDUSTRY IN BANGLADESHVALUES IN THOUSAND FACTORIES 2011-12 Source: BGMEA

  42. PROPRIETARY STATEMENT This report and the information contained within is the property of World Wide Apparel Resources. Such proprietary information may not be used, reproduced, or disclosed to any other parties for any other purpose without the expressed written permission of World Wide Apparel Resources.

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