Fire Safety in Construction: Lessons from Gothenburg's Pool Fire
The major swimming pool fire in Gothenburg last year, attributed to faulty electric socket welding, has raised significant concerns regarding fire safety regulations in construction. Lukas Svärd, CEO of the Swedish Fire Safety Companies (SVEBRA), has emphasized that the fire was not an unexpected event, but rather a result of systemic flaws in the regulations surrounding fire safety. Rather than pointing fingers, SVEBRA advocates for a systematic overhaul of the existing regulations to foster improved safety practices.
The incident occurred during the final stages of the water park's construction when improper welding practices ignited a fire after a plastic pipe was incorrectly joined. The ensuing blaze highlighted not just the immediate dangers of negligence, but also pointed to a larger issue: the lack of adequate training and preparation for such tasks, a situation SVEBRA argues stems from the inadequacies in regulatory frameworks.
Adding to the severity of the situation was the dismantling of a temporary fire alarm during construction, leaving workers without a vital safety net. 'We see similar challenges in several construction projects. It is a recurring situation that needs a solution,' Svärd noted.
One crucial aspect of preventing such incidents, according to SVEBRA, is clarifying roles and responsibilities within multi-contractor construction projects. The current practice often leads to confusion about who is responsible for fire safety, particularly when multiple stakeholders are involved. A main contractor should ideally oversee and coordinate fire safety efforts to mitigate risks effectively.
Hasse Bergkvist, a fire safety expert at SVEBRA, underscores the potential consequences of blurrier accountability. 'There is a great risk today that we do not have control over who does what. And when everyone thinks someone else is responsible, then no one is,' he stated.
While electric socket welding was identified as the specific cause of the Gothenburg fire, Svärd and Bergkvist argue that this method should be regarded as a fire risk and conducted according to stringent guidelines. The systematic fire protection work (SBA) should be a constant practice throughout construction, irrespective of perceived fire hazards — a standard that was found lacking in this case. A fully functioning SBA could have potentially identified early signs of a fire, enabling timely intervention.
However, the current legal landscape contributing to fire safety during construction projects is characterized by ambiguity. The Law on Protection Against Accidents (LSO) stipulates that property owners should adopt preventive fire measures. Yet, it falls short by not classifying structures under construction as 'in use,' creating uncertainty about which safety regulations apply.
Bergkvist further notes that many fires occur during the transitional phase when a construction project is nearly complete but has not yet been handed over. This time period poses risks as responsibility for fire safety often remains undefined. The SIPA framework, focusing primarily on fire-sensitive hot work, lacks adequate coverage of the systematic protection measures that should be in place.
Now more than ever, according to SVEBRA, there is a pressing need for regulatory clarity. With calls for cohesive coordination among existing laws, the organization aims to influence opinion and accelerate the necessary reforms within the fire protection framework. "The systemic flaw must be addressed. We need coordination so we can start talking to each other and create something that works in reality," Svärd urged.
SVEBRA continues to advocate for the rightful position of systematic fire protection within legislation, highlighting its importance in preventing future incidents like the Gothenburg fire. An effective legislative overhaul could empower contractors to better navigate their responsibilities, ultimately leading to safer construction practices for everyone involved.
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