FOCUS
Building risks
Buildings could be given a time frame in which they would need to register and obtain a B-FLSR.
Challenges to the B-FLSR
It is important to identify the challenges in implementing and applying the B-FLSR, and these include: • once a building has been identified to have a low B-FLSR, there is a risk to the government if they don’t act immediately by applying some form of modification or temporary measure
• a low B-FLSR could create mild panic for those living in low rated B-FLSR buildings
• the potential that the most vulnerable in our communities are forced to reside in the buildings with the lowest B-FLSR
• a building assessed to have a low B-FLSR could see reduced property prices
a part of the risk assessment process applied to each building it insures. Reductions in premiums could be identified for the improvement of the B-FLSR through building modifications.
Fire departments Fire departments could be involved in the process of determining B-FLSRs by acting as an independent assessor. Most already have relationships with the built environment through conducting information retrieval for assisting in operational response. Fire departments such as Queensland Fire and Emergency Services already conduct building fire safety inspections, and identifying the B-FLSR could be a part of this process.
Private certifiers/building surveyors Another option might be to engage private certifiers/building surveyors to determine a building’s B-FLSR, with the council or government providing a review system to ensure that the system is being applied accurately, and that there is no commercial benefit for those issuing higher ratings.
Fire protection companies or private licensed fire safety professionals The fire protection industry could have licenses for issuing a B-FLSR, overseen by council or government regulators for quality control. A privately licensed fire safety professional could issue a B-FLSR in a process similar to the one used for issuing pool fencing laws in Australia.
36 JUNE 2019
www.frmjournal.com
• the cost of housing is already a significant issue in most major cities, so any increased cost pressure would not be a welcome introduction. The reduced ongoing insurance premium could assist to offset the higher upfront costs
• the community may be willing to accept the risk of living in lower B-FLSR buildings in return for cheaper rent
•
financial pressure and viability of building projects could be affected with the introduction of a B-FLSR
Final thoughts
In recent years I have personally had the confronting experience of visiting a number of buildings around the world after they have been involved in a major fire incident. Walking through the remains of the Address Hotel in Dubai after the fire on New Year’s Eve 2015 provided overwhelming insight into the challenges of managing a major incident in a large structure. Walking within the Cathedral Place
Fire in Brisbane in 2013 showed the potential for occupant evacuation to fail in a building of modern design; while my visit to the area around Grenfell Tower in 2017 two weeks after the incident revealed a community in mourning, struggling to deal with the situation, and a fire service deeply affected by the tragedy. The uncomfortable silence that hovered
over the Grenfell community has now echoed around the world, allowing people to ask the most difficult questions. Who is at fault, and what can be done to ensure this doesn’t occur again? The reactive approach starts again. There may be a cost to implementing improved standards and codes with the possibility of
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