Reduction of fire hazard risk in RMG factories in Bangladesh through design and planning approaches

Abstract

To reduce the fire hazard in RMG we should look into the issue in a holistic approach both from planning and design point of view. Because a well designed factory will not be able to ensure the ultimate fire safety in RMG of Bangladesh. We need to consider the planning approach accordingly. Our survey and analysis represented that the factories in the well planned and designed EPZ, Export Processing Zone have that capacity to reduce the fire hazard risk into that zone and they have very few record of fire hazard where as the factories of Non-EPZ has the devastating hazard record even if the factory was properly designed. Ha-meem factory fire record is the example in this regards. As the factory was situated in the Non Export Processing Zone it had that limitation for fire vehicle access from the nearest fire station (about 6km far from the factory and the travel time is 11 to 13 minutes to reach to the factory by car) it took 25 minutes to reach the location due to traffic jam, narrow and unplanned road network. Thus the emergency response time was increased. In some cases response time increased up one to two hours to reach to the location. Moreover; due to lack of standard fire separation distance between the adjacent building and community, fire spread rapidly and increase causality. According to statistic there are only 101 RMG factories are situated in the DEPZ where as we have 1654 factories are located in the Non-Export processing zone and most of these factories are developed in unplanned way in to the commercial and residential area. Most of them have not the proper facilities, equipment & fire safety practice. This paper has that suggestion to reduce the fire hazard in unplanned and non-designed factories through planning and designing approach. Although it is not possible to ensure the standard planning with same facilities like EPZ factories but it will be possible to improve the existing safety conditions and practice to ensure more safety for the millions of poor workers.