In 2020, almost 400 cases of fire in the first 4 months of 2020 were recorded in Cambodia alone, resulting in 30 casualties. Incidents like these highlight the fact that many developers are still taking shortcuts at the cost of safety despite the existence of new national codes.
In late 2019 a new national fire safety systems code was introduced to the public with the intention of protecting properties and building occupants, which applies to new buildings as well as renovations and extensions of already established buildings. This is crucial given the continuous growth in new high-rise buildings as well as the tendency by property owners in Cambodia to extend existing properties, which without proper fire-safety designs, could also pose a risk to the safety of surrounding properties.
The general consensus by experts is that it’s within the developer’s interest to design safer buildings. After all, safer buildings lead to greater trust in developers, which means higher buyer and investor confidence. This is especially important given the steady increase in mid to high-rise buildings in the Kingdom.
While there are many common and more traditional ways to minimize fire damage through fire safety systems and fire-fighting equipment, there are also innovative and clever ways that developers and designers can adopt fire-management approaches that elevate the design and integrity of their property while reducing the casualty that could result from a high-rise fire.
For one – thoughtful building design paired with careful selection of quality materials can have a significant impact. An example is through greater attention to cladding and façade designs for buildings that incorporate discrete in-built fire protection systems.
Some turn to passive fire safety systems that can be hidden within the building design. One such design solution is provided by Siderise, which can be installed to protect the curtain wall as well as seal the building’s perimeters during a fire. This easy-to-install system prevents the passage of smoke and fire into other parts of the giving, allowing fire-fighting measures more time. It is quick to install and can be pre-cut to fit each building’s specific requirements.
