CHALLENGES TO FIRE SAFETY MANAGEMENT IN MULTI-STOREY STUDENTS’HOSTELS

Abstract

Fire safety management plays an important role in enhancing the safety of buildings against fire outbreaks. The persistent increase in fire related issues amongst students’hostel accommodations calls to mind the role hostel management and occupants can play in order to ensure complete safety of lives and properties. Controlling fire outbreaks is associated with a lot of challenges. This study presents the results of a questionnaire survey which sought to assess the perceptions of students on challenges to fire safety management in multi-storey students’ hostels around the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology campus. The findings from the study revealed that ‘problems with electrical wiring and installations’, ‘inadequate water distribution systems’,‘inadequacies in the fire departments’, ‘passive attitudes of owners/management towards housekeeping and maintenance’, and passive attitudes towards personal fire protection’ are the five critical challenges to effective fire safety management in the hostels. The results further showed that ‘fire insurance policies’, ‘fire evacuation plans’, regular maintenance and housekeeping’, ‘fire safety policies’ and ‘sanctions against those who disobey fire regulations’, are all measures which when put in place can mitigate the outbreak of fire. Identifying the challenges to effective fire safety management and implementing the measures to control such challenges should assist in the control of fire outbreaks in students’ hostels and other buildings.