Sprinklers, emergency lights help firefighters control blaze

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Firefighters managed to quickly control a blaze in the Le Concorde Office Tower in Bangkok's Huai Khwang district thanks to the building's efficient firealarm system, the district's director said.

The fire crew was able to put the fire out half an hour after it broke out at 11.30am because the firesafety system included sprinklers and emergency lights, Chumpon Chaokoh said.

Since the building is in the compound of the 25storey, 400room Swissotel Le Concorde, guests and staff ran out in panic, making the traffic on the already congested Ratchadapisek Road even worse.

Hotel staff Dujduen Tienampai was rushed to Rama IX hospital due to breathing problems caused by smoke inhalation.

Initial police investigation revealed that the fire had started inside a storage room in the basement of the office tower, leaving the hotel unaffected.

Huai Khwang police chief, Pol Colonel Boonsong Namkorn, said the fire may have been caused by a spark from tripped circuit, which set fire to the inflammable items stored in the room. The cost of the damage has yet to be estimated.

-- The Nation 2012-05-12

Do the editors feel that it is more important to note the traffic congestion caused by fleeing guests and employees than to cite the number of injuries and/or deaths? Was the manager suffering from smoke inhalation the only injury? That would be great, but doubtful.

Good to see a building with working fire control systems installed, I wonder if the rest of the highrise commercial building operators will sit up, take notice and check the workability of the fire safety systems in the rest of Bangkok? A little bit of staff training with regard to proper evacuation and mustering procedures might help, and perhaps the city administration could help companies with fire training for some of thier staff.

A potentially nasty fire and associated injuries avoided because the building has the correct gear - excellent!

Sorry to hear that one of the staff required hospitalisation, but I trust they are recovering.

I agree that staff do need proper training to follow correct procedures when dealing with fires, and the evacuation of their fellow staff and guests - but these are all steps in the right direction.

To the fire-fighters - well done!

Do the editors feel that it is more important to note the traffic congestion caused by fleeing guests and employees than to cite the number of injuries and/or deaths? Was the manager suffering from smoke inhalation the only injury? That would be great, but doubtful.

Maybe with a good system in place there were no injuries or deaths to write about. Do you have some information that shows that they are hiding something?

Glad to hear no lives were lost.

As a Fire Systems Technician i have been horrified with existing sytems in shopping centres&major building complexes most of which are non complient or redundant.

I hope the government will look into these issues.

How refreshing to read that not all things Thai are a disaster or one in the making. Kudos to the architects, builders and owners of the building. All others take note.

On a side note, an awfull lot of fires in the last 2 months in high rises!

W

While it's nice to see the fire suppression gear worked, I have to wonder about a storeroom for flammables which also has a circuit breaker board (which should be in a sealed steel cabinet anyway). Of course it was only surmise from Pol Colonel Boonsong Namkorn trying to sound intelligent.

Normally, in Thailand, the flammables store is fitted with a vent fan - the cheapest piece of garbage available - which invariable burns out setting fire to the whole building.

Glad to hear no lives were lost.

As a Fire Systems Technician i have been horrified with existing sytems in shopping centres&major building complexes most of which are non complient or redundant.

I hope the government will look into these issues.

2nd that

I also am involved in safety systems and have overseen the design & commissioning of projects in the Middle East, SEAsia & Europe over the last 30 years. Thailand was always a major concern. I also am glad to hear the goodnews that no lives were lost & that the systems were in good order & worked for a change. I hope the people responsible for the design/maintenance etc. of these systems will take note.

How refreshing to read that not all things Thai are a disaster or one in the making. Kudos to the architects, builders and owners of the building. All others take note.

Isn't Swissotel Le Concorde Swiss?

Indeed. Just seen this article and for once we can all praise Thai standards of building.

To those who still complain, how about going home?

It is remarkable that a working fire sprinkler system is the focus of a news story. It speaks volumes about normal fire safety standards.

Indeed. Just seen this article and for once we can all praise Thai standards of building.

To those who still complain, how about going home?

Please read post #11.

If this is a photo of the room, why on earth is a working compressor in the same rom as (in)flammable liquids. The basic rule is that you do not have ignition sources in the same room as volatile flammable liquids. Lighting etc is flame proof. That stops the fire ever starting in the first place! And why did everyone RUN out? the first rule of a safe exit is to walk ,not run. Did the staff have fire wardens? were there assembly points? When was the last test of the fire alarm and when was the last practice evacuation? I bet I know the answers to most of these questions!

And why did everyone RUN out?

Oh get real, this is Bangkok and a hotel on fire full of guests ! How many of them went on fire fighting courses like you did before checking in? People are going to run.

Edited May 12, 201214 yr by Digitalbanana

And why did everyone RUN out?

Oh get real, this is Bangkok and a hotel on fire full of guests ! How many of them went on fire fighting courses like you did before checking in? People are going to run.

I am real, you train the the staff to control the guests. Not Rocket Science. The report implies the staff ran as well

Just to add I checked that staff in a chain of hotels in the UK WERE trained to escort guests and check no one was left. Standard practice in properly run hotels. The smoke was confined to the basement, the hotel was not 'on fire'. Panic is not the best option in such circumstances

Edited May 13, 201214 yr by msg362