Blaze leaves 19 dead at Doha's Villaggio Mall

Posted by: Javier
29 May 2012
Sad, very sad news, specially because most of the victims are Children. May they rest in peace. That a public place can catch fire so quickly can only lead to one conclusion: The fire safety system (smoke detectors, sprinklers) did not work properly and moreover the materials used for the building did not comply with FR (Fire Retardant) regulations. FR It is a very underestimated subject that is often looked over as these systems & materials (carpets, leathers, curtains, flooring, etc, etc) are much more expensive that the ones which do not have the properties and certification that they should. Not only in malls, but also in Hotels and restaurants you will get materials which will literally "flame up" when in contact with fire in contrary of what they are suppose to do: Not to propagate fire. It's scary to see that all these "Exclusive, VIP, High-end, Luxury" public places are often built using these kind of materials as there is no clear regulation and control for FR material specification which have to be used when implemented in a public place. Bottom line for all the people involved in the constructuion is mostly: Build fast, cheap and it must look nice. Security is rarely a major subject. The UAE had to see a few malls and hotels go up in fire before a real and clear law was implemented, which is only randomly and scarely controlled. Saudi does not make this kind of news very public. The builders and owners of such enviroments should be taken to court and convicted for not guaranteeing the safety of their guests. That would be the only way of reaching a better degree of security for us and moreover for the most precious thing we have in life: Our children !!