Anthony Lee Tee

PETALING JAYA (May 31): Do not make the grave mistake of assuming that your home or property is safe from fire just because you have secured a Fire Certificate, warned Architect Centre Sdn Bhd (ACSB) accredited building inspector and trainer Anthony Lee Tee.

It is more important to ensure that fire fighting and protection equipment are in good working condition in the event of a fire, he added.

Lee was commenting on the Fire and Rescue Department's recent statement that half of the 8,638 buildings listed under the "high-risk" category had failed to meet fire safety standards.

These properties include dormitories, libraries, shops, public halls, schools, nursery homes and (serviced) apartments.

Owners of "designated high-risk premises" as stipulated under the Fire Services Act, must apply for a yearly Fire Certificate. This has been in law since year 2006, said Lee.

However, the Fire Certificate does not ensure that the building meets fire safety standards.

"Let us call a spade, a spade. A "high-risk designated premise" with faulty fire fighting systems IS UNSAFE and UNFIT for occupation.

"It exposes occupants and fire fighters to serious fire risks and death," he said in an emailed statement.

"The paper on which the Fire Certificate is printed will be the added fuel that would burn along with the rest of the property if the fire fighting detection and equipment are not working properly in the event of a fire," he added.

As fire fighting and protection equipment that are provided in buildings are technically complex, usually comprising of fans, ducts, sensors, sensitive detectors, pumps, tanks, pipes and electronic equipment, it will be challenging for residents, a JMB or MC to identify faults in these equipment by themselves, said Lee.

Hence, owners should engage independent professionals to ensure that the fire fighting systems are in good working order at all times, he explained.

"Clear, precise and regular inspections and maintenance is crucial to ensure fire fighting equipment WILL perform as intended when needed," said Lee who was also a judge of EdgeProp Malaysia's Best Managed Property Awards 2018.

He opined that the ACSB team of accredited building inspectors have inspected hundreds of high-risk designated premises which fail to meet fire safety provisions.

Many of these properties, he noted, also have serious deficiencies with electrical installation which can potentially cause a fire, illegal renovations, altered fire escape routes and fixed window grilles.

"Building and fire safety laws have been flouted for years. The current state of apathy and disengagement must stop."

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