'We all need to be much more daring in asking questions!'

In recent months, architects and designers seem to have become more interested in the topic of fire-safe construction. Of course this is a good thing, says Leo Oosterveen, branch manager at association Brandveilig Bouwen Nederland (BBN), who now also sees these target groups emphatically in the registrations for BBN's webinars. "But I honestly say that at the same time I don't know exactly why this interest has grown so much. However, it is not nearly enough. In fact, I still find it baffling that fire safety is not a leading and prioritized issue everywhere. What matters is the safety of building occupants!

Oosterveen's appeal is clear: "Awareness of fire hazards must rise. Take a look at architectural schools, for example. I have signals that only 2 hours of attention is paid to fire safety there. Far too little. I also appeal to building owners, for example. They too often do not seem to have all the necessary knowledge in house while they do bear the (legal!) responsibility. A solution to stimulate the chain is therefore not very complicated: many more clients than is currently the case should base their choice of architect on the criterion: does the architect pay well-founded attention to the fire safety of his design?"

On the other hand, however, Oosterveen understands very well that an architect has to think about many more things. "The materialization, the climate requirements, of course the functionality, the in's and out's of a location ... Yes, I do understand that the dynamics are very great. But I don't understand that 'fire safety' in that context is too often seen as 'extremely cost-increasing and as a danger to design freedom'. Yet that too can be countered: because if you put 'fire safety' on the agenda much earlier in the preliminary process - i.e. with the designers and the architects - then you will actually make a profit later on in the process. In other words: I advocate paying much more attention to fire safety and continuing to ask questions about it. Even an architect can think about how quickly you can get down from the twentieth floor if there is a fire. Can you predict possible smoke development? How is the building compartmentalized? Last but not least, will the building remain standing? And, for how long?"

"They are - as far as I am concerned - all logical questions to ask. So; we should all be more daring to ask more. Let's just use our common sense a little more often. Maybe we should want to be a little less opportunistic. After all, we can't afford that "easy behavior" precisely when it comes to a matter of life or death, can we? After all, left or right: when we design and build, we do so for real people."  

On Wednesday, Oct. 6, BBN is hosting a webinar "Fire Safety of Facades. Participation is free of charge. And architects and designers in particular are invited to participate. Registration is via www.bbn.nu 

By the way, a webinar challenging building owners to ask questions is also scheduled for Nov. 25. More information at www.bbn.nu