Disaster Risk Reduction
Abiding by safety standards imperative
Savar tragedy: Human induced disaster.
Individuals or commercial constructors build homes for private abode or commercial accommodation. In all cases safety of dwelling is important. It is builder's or contractor's responsibility to construct complying with the standard engineering requirements and building codes set by the respective authorities. But the responsibility of government does not end with the setting of codes. One believes that the government should always be there to strictly enforce the building codes, and in case of non-compliance, the authorities should take maximum punitive measures. Since non-compliance cannot only cause hazards to the owners, but more to the dwellers to the extreme extent -- costing life. The recent Savar building collapse painfully proves the case -- more than 500 lives lost.
The building codes are regulatory requirements concerning safety and quality of construction, use of space and others. For example, in an earthquake-prone area the buildings should not be very high and the design and structure must consider the points of higher earthquake resistance. Big and tall buildings (i.e. academic building, hospital, hotel, industrial and commercial offices) require dilatations every 15-20 meters so that in a heavy earthquake, only part of a building collapses not the whole.
Moreover the quality of materials used in construction and electric wiring and gas connection should pass at least the minimum safety standards. Adequate entry-exit facilities, and emergency exits, fire extinguishers are also very important in establishments like factories, hall rooms, discos, party centres. In case of wooden or wood panelled house, wood must be coated with fire-resistant paint. In large apartments, office buildings, hall room and lobbies of hotels, fire-barriers made of rubber and steel should be used to prevent spreading of fire. In areas of frequent hailstorm, skylights must not be used, and if used, must be protected with steel shutters.
Many constructors often tend to ignore even the minimum safety requirements to minimize cost which jeopardises people's life. Many private home builders do not know details of the responsibility of the government to disseminate such essential information and monitor the compliance by builders, developers and contractors. However, builders cannot avoid their responsibility anyway.
In conclusion, as elsewhere in modern world, the government is ultimately responsible for its entire citizens' safety and good life. It is government's responsibility to enforce strict building code. So that the negligence of government agencies does not jeopardise people's life like the Savar tragedy any more.
The writer is librarian, BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT), Uttara, Dhaka. atik@bift.info
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