Fire Safety in High-Rise Buildings: Is the Stay-Put Tactic a Misjudgement or Magnificent Strategy?

Andrew Oyen Arewa,Chizaram Nwankwo,David J Edwards,Abdullahi Ahmed

doi:10.3390/buildings11080339

Abstract

Historically, fire incidents in high-rise buildings reveal that Fire and Rescue Services frequently rely on the stay-put tactic (i.e., occupants of high-rise buildings should remain in their apartments) during an inferno. Recent fire occurrences in high-rise buildings reveal that there are two opposing viewpoints on the stay-put tactic. First, the understanding that the stay-put tactic is a beneficial practice used to protect, control, and facilitate smooth evacuation of occupants during fire incidents. Second, the argument that the stay-put tactic is a misjudgement and futile strategy that leads to fatalities, particularly in high-rise buildings. The aim of this study was to provide awareness and understanding of fire and rescue services use of the stay-put tactic in high-rise buildings. We attempted to answer the questions: is the stay-put tactic a misjudgement or magnificent strategy? The study adopted phenomenological research strategies with various focus groups consisting of seasoned firefighters and survivors with first-hand accounts of stay-put instructions in high-rise buildings. The study also scrutinised three case studies of fire incidents in high-rise buildings in two countries. The study revealed that the stay-put tactic is obsolete; with the potential to cause catastrophic misjudgement, mostly during conflagrations in high-rise buildings. There is a need to advance research on the use of artificial intelligence communication systems and infrared image detectors camera to enhance quick and smooth fire evacuation in high-rise buildings.

Highlights

Studies about fire incidents in high-rise buildings reveal catalogue of weaknesses and inconsistencies; the use of the stay-put tactic as a fire safety action plan during emergency decision-making [1]
Researcher question: Question 1a: As an experienced fire and rescue officer what is your view about the stay-put instruction when dealing with fire safety in high-rise building? Responses from interviewees
“ . . . my work experience tells me that stay-put tactic is a good strategy . . . that is dependent on the nature of fire and building . . . it is a suitable approach if the fire is contained within a short period of time say five to 10 min . . . ” —Firefighter II Officer in UAE

Summary

Introduction

Studies about fire incidents in high-rise buildings reveal catalogue of weaknesses and inconsistencies; the use of the stay-put tactic as a fire safety action plan during emergency decision-making [1]. The Grenfell Tower fire in London 2017, Sao Paulo Brazil Tower fire in 2018 and many other disastrous fire incidents in buildings have one thing in common; “building occupants were given directives to stay-put in their apartments during the inferno” [2]. Though the twin towers incident was a terrorist attack, Xin and Huang [4] argued that building occupants who obeyed the stay-put directive suffered high casualties and those who evacuated the building immediately survived the disastrous incident. Other examples of ineffective fire safety decision making relating to the stay-put tactic include the 2005 Spain Torre Windsor tower fire and 2009 Beijing Television Cultural Centre inferno [1]

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