ABSTRACT
The fire strategy should be practical in use, reasonable and manageable. If the fire measures are seen to be too onerous, they will be circumvented and their purpose will be frustrated. Safety Fire is combustion producing heat and light. Combustion will occur and continue if three factors are present: oxygen, heat and fuel. The majority of a fire load within a building will be its contents, over which a designer may have no influence. If life safety is the only factor, then residential, assembly and recreational uses are at greater risk from external fire sources and warrant additional safeguards. A firefighting lift can be used as an evacuation lift under management control, but an evacuation lift cannot be used as a firefighting lift. The statutory requirements to provide fire precautions almost without exception relate to life safety and the diminution of fire, although in consequence a degree of property protection is achieved.
