Addressing Fire Safety: Lessons from Gothenburg's Swimming Hall Fire
The State Accident Investigation Board has identified a faulty electrical coupling welding as the probable cause of the devastating fire that occurred at a swimming hall in Gothenburg last year. Lukas Svärd, CEO of the Swedish Fire Safety Companies (SVEBRA), stresses that this incident was not unexpected and underscores the pressing need for clearer regulations regarding fire safety in construction.
The fire erupted during the final stages of the swimming hall's construction. Reports indicate that a plastic pipe, which was too short for proper welding, was improperly joined, leading to glowing wires in the electrical coupling weld igniting and the blaze spreading rapidly. Svärd emphasizes that this incident was not solely the result of individual negligence, but rather a symptom of broader systemic failures in the regulatory framework governing fire safety.
"Instead of pointing fingers, we aim to reform the system where it’s evidently failing," Svärd asserts. He points out that both inadequate training and poor preparation practices significantly contributed to the occurrences leading up to the fire. Alarmingly, the temporary fire alarm intended to alert workers during construction was inactive, further exacerbating the risks.
The broader construction industry faces parallel issues, with a persistent lack of clarity around responsibilities in larger projects often leading to confusion. Clients frequently designate a main contractor who, in turn, hires multiple subcontractors, but this can lead to a situation where no one is sure of their responsibilities, putting safety at risk. Svärd advocates for more decisive management and coordination by the main contractor to streamline fire protection work.
"When everyone assumes that someone else is responsible, accountability gets lost," says Hasse Bergkvist, an expert at SVEBRA. He highlights the need for properly assessing all tasks that could pose a fire risk, particularly in circumstances that might not be categorized as 'hot work'.
The absence of systematic fire protection protocols also contributed to this fire. Known as Systematic Fire Protection Work (SBA), these are structured methods for planning, implementing, controlling, and reviewing fire safety measures. Unfortunately, its application was insufficient in this case.
"With effective SBA, monitoring during welding could have flagged the fire as it began to smoke, potentially averting the disaster," Bergkvist points out. Yet, the current legal landscape presents additional challenges. The Act on Protection Against Accidents (LSO) specifies that a building owner must take preventive measures against fire, but it lacks clarity regarding responsibilities during the construction phase, often leading to critical lapses in safety measures.
There’s a significant gap between existing regulations, such as LSO, AMA, and AFS, creating confusion and leaving responsibilities nebulous, particularly as construction nears completion. This gap contributes to the concerning trend of fires occurring in the final stages of construction, where responsibility is most ambiguous.
Bergkvist advocates for modifications to legislation to establish clarity around fire safety responsibilities. All fire risks should be thoroughly assessed and managed, regardless of the perceived risk level of ongoing work.
SVEBRA is actively working to elevate awareness around these critical issues, pushing for a reassessment of fire safety regulations. They aim to partner with those responsible for developing regulations to establish a more coherent and practical approach to fire safety within construction.
Svärd emphasizes, "We cannot afford to postpone these changes. Encouraging dialogue among regulators and practitioners will help create effective solutions in reality. A clearer regulatory framework is essential to minimizing the risk of such incidents in the future."
In conclusion, the tragic fire at the Gothenburg swimming hall serves as a crucial reminder of the need for clarity in fire safety regulations and the importance of adopting systematic safety measures across all stages of construction.
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