Tiger Disco Fire: Styrofoam Decor May Have Fuelled Inferno

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Tiger Disco fire: Styrofoam decor may have fuelled inferno

Phuket Gazette

The highly-flammable polystyrene foam used to create much of the decor in Tiger Discotheque did not conform to a recent change in building safety regulations. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Building inspector Wasawat Kritsiritirapak said that any information learned from the investigation will be used in making recommendations to change to the Building Control Act. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The highly flammable polystyrene foam used in making the Tiger Discotheque’s iconic decorations has been named by building inspectors as one of many possible fire hazards that contributed to the deadly fire last Friday.

The news came yesterday as officers from the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning, the Association of Siamese Architects Under Royal Patronage (ASA), and the Building Safety Inspectors and Office Association (BSA) inspected the gutted remains of the building.

“The decorations on the second floor were made from polystyrene foam, which is similar to what was used in the Santika pub,” said Pol Lt Col Bundit Pradubsuk, chairman of the ASA's Security Architecture Committee.

The Santika pub in Bangkok suffered a devastating fire on New Year’s Eve 2009, when a blaze swept through the nightclub, killing 66 people and injuring 222 others. The ASA and the BSA were involved in investigating the tragedy.

BSA Vice President Wasawat Kritsiritirapak yesterday explained that, following the Santika fire, new regulations were put in place this year to restrict the use of such highly flammable materials inside buildings.

Mr Wasawat called for action to be taken to enforce the new regulation. “It is necessary to have entertainment venue owners across the nation make the changes in order to fall in line with the new regulation,” he said.

Lt Col Bundit said that Tiger Discotheque had eight fire exits with signs, which was within the required limits. The investigation team also measured the width of the fire-escape ladders, and found that those too met with regulations.

However, the inspection team will recommend that the building be torn down, but that the bars on the ground-floor level can stay.

Mr Wasawat explained that the entire nightclub was severely damaged by the fire.

“I don’t think the building can be used any more,” he said.

Mr Wasawat added that the inspection team had yet to confirm whether or not the elevated mezzanine sections inside the club were approved additions marked on the structural plan.

“The information we have collected will be handed to police and used in making recommendations for changes to the Building Control Act,” he added.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle16707.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-08-20

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

BSA Vice President Wasawat Kritsiritirapak yesterday explained that, following the Santika fire, new regulations were put in place this year to restrict the use of such highly flammable materials inside buildings.

I suppose one question is, what did that supposed new regulation say about existing buildings...as opposed to newly developed ones?

Were existing buildings grandfathered in under the law, given some time to comply, or obliged to comply immediately?

The news report, of course, addresses none of that.

[webfact]

Fire-gutted pub in Phuket to be partially demolished

PHUKET, Aug 21 - The controversial Tiger Pub and Discotheque in Thailand’s southern resort island of Phuket will have to be partially demolished after it was badly hit by a fire which killed four people and injured many others on Aug 17.

A team comprising the Phuket governor, an architect, a building inspector, a civil engineer and a provincial electricity official inspected the scene on Monday finding that most steel bars on the second floor were badly damaged by the heat. The pub is 15 years old.

Phuket Governor Tri Akkaradecha, said entertainment venue were inspected nightly to ensure safety and see that operators abide by the law on operating hours, drugs and arms possession.

Since Phuket is a world famous attraction among tourists, authorities have been instructed to strictly enforce the law on construction and renovation of buildings, the governor said.

Police said an initial inspection found that the building was fitted with required emergency exits, extinguishers and exit signs.

The pub was built before the law on fire-resistant construction materials was enforced, police said. About 20 per cent of the construction materials in the building were not resistant to fire (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-21

[steelepulse]

Phuket Governor Tri Akkaradecha, said entertainment venue were inspected nightly to ensure safety and see that operators abide by the law on operating hours, drugs and arms possession.

Nightly inspections huh? I thought all tea money was paid just once a month.