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Fire safety is a vital aspect of building construction, and using fire-resistant materials plays a crucial role in safeguarding the lives of occupants and property. Fire-resistant materials are designed to withstand intense heat and resist burning in fire emergencies, thereby preventing or delaying the spread of flames and reducing their potential loss and damage. This article explores the significance of fire-resistant materials in building construction and highlights their crucial role in enhancing fire safety measures. The impact of fire in a building can cause severe consequences. Fire can rapidly engulf its surroundings and facilities, causing structural collapse, endangering occupants, and significant property damage. Common causes of building fire include faulty electrical appliances, heating systems, cooking accidents and arson. The impacts of fires can be devastating. Therefore, practical fire safety measures, including the use of fire-resistant materials in building construction, should be emphasised. Fire-resistant materials are classified into various classes and ratings according to their effectiveness against different severity of fire exposure and the resistance of flame spread, respectively. These materials include fire-resistant glass, fire-retardant-treated wood, fire-resistant coatings, and fire-resistant insulation. They may be used in various building components such as walls, doors, windows, ceilings, roofs and insulation systems. Fire-resistant materials play a significant role in multiple aspects of building construction. Firstly, they assist in preventing and containing fires by impeding the spread of flames in a fire and limiting the emission of smoke and toxic gases. Meanwhile, they contribute to the structural integrity, avoiding the collapse of buildings during fire. Additionally, they minimise the loss and damage of property, reducing the potential financial burden and psychological impacts of the fire accident. Moreover, they provide additional escape time to occupants, enhancing occupants’ safety and reducing fatalities. In addition, fire-resistant materials must undergo various strict standard and regulatory testing procedures, such as submitting the materials into a furnace or chamber that simulates a real-fire scene regarding temperature, pressure and ventilation. Fulfilling the requirements ensures their effectiveness and credibility, putting users at ease.

Emergency evacuations are critical operations that require efficient planning, coordination, and execution to ensure the safety and well-being of people affected by disasters. While fire drills are not routine exercises, they play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of individuals in schools and offices when a fire emergency threatens life. These drills raise awareness of fire hazards, familiarise occupants with the evacuation process, and prepare them to respond swiftly and effectively to evacuations in case of emergencies. One of the primary objectives of fire drills is to ensure that everyone is safe. By conducting regular evacuation exercises, individuals will be more aware of potential fire hazards and learn how to respond by identifying emergency exits and routes of evacuation. Quick and orderly evacuation helps minimise panic and injuries during an actual fire incident; by practising, individuals can evacuate the premises calmly and organise. Furthermore, fire drills help schools and offices to comply with regulations and standards. Due to legal requirements and building codes, fire drills are mandatory to ensure occupants’ safety. Institutions and organisations conduct fire drills to avoid penalties and possible legal consequences while the well-being of their staff and students is prioritised. Fire drills also contribute to the preparedness and training of group coordination during an emergency. Schools and offices can effectively handle emergencies by practising in groups and reducing potential loss of life and property damages. In addition, drills can help identify vulnerabilities and room for improvement in emergency routes and plans after repetitive evaluation or trial and error. For instance, according to UNICEF, a tragedy struck the school “Ecole Pays-Bas” in the capital Niamey in Niger on the 13th of April 2021; 21 children died in the fire. The classrooms had been built out of straws and thatched for roofs to hug two walls on each side. The school accommodated 1,250 of the nearly 3,000 students at the time. The lack of proper building materials and overcrowding have a heavy contribution to the tragedy; those problems and risks can be addressed if appropriate financial support and management of the problematic situation are made. Although building materials and finance may not be the problem in well-built cities or countries, our complex building structure has made evacuation routes more complicated and has underlying loopholes or issues. Thus, addressing the shortcomings and necessary amendments can enhance the preparedness and response capabilities of occupants regardless of the location of the premises. In conclusion, fire drills must be integrated into schools and offices to create a safety culture. Safety should be fostered as the top priority of an environment; it can be done by instilling a sense of responsibility and preparedness among individuals. Schools and offices must conduct regular fire drills and encourage active participation to safeguard lives and defend against fire-related risks. References: https://www.unicef.org/niger/stories/school-fire-accidents-are-tragic-reminder-

Emergency Evacuations can have profound psychological effects on individuals, extending from short-term stress and anxiety to long-term trauma. In fact, according to the Effect of evacuation and displacement on the association between flooding and mental health outcomes: a cross-sectional analysis of UK survey data (Munro et al., 2017), in high-income countries such as the UK, besides immediate deaths from disasters the most significant burdens on health is none other than mental illness. Occupants are distressed due to the sudden change and uncertainty of the surrounding environment and the urgency to leave the premises during emergencies. Some obvious short-term psychological impacts include fear of imminent danger and uncertainty of the situation, inducing intense anxiety and panic in evacuees. It is possible to fear the unknown, concern for loved ones and worry about personal belongings left behind. Evacuees may also feel loss and grief with or without witnessing distressing events, injuries and fatalities during evacuation. Evacuees may also experience long-term psychological impacts such as disorientation and loss of control due to the disruption of daily life and routines; this causes cumulative distress. Another repercussion may be Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a severe, persistent psychological condition characterised by hyperarousal, flashbacks and nightmares—resulting in difficulties coping with new lives and processing daily activities. In a population-based survey on the psychological symptoms of evacuees a year after the 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfires, 38% had a probable diagnosis of either post-traumatic stress, major depression, insomnia, generalised anxiety, substance use disorder, or a combination of these. They show the prevalence of psychological disorders caused by catastrophes on survivors. Recognising emotional challenges due to emergency evacuations can help with the future preparedness of emergency planners and responders to design more compassionate and supportive procedures, such as collaborating with organisations that may provide ongoing support and counselling to help those struggling to recover. In addition, emotional challenge recognition should be included in emergency response planning for more all-rounded emergency responses to safeguard disaster survivors’ physical and psychological well-being.   References: [1] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.655357/full