This case study focuses on the transformation in the fire service following the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11. The changes seek to avoid another disaster of similar magnitude to the 9/11 attacks. Significant changes include; additional stairways, more space between stairways, stronger walls in stairwells and elevator shafts, reinforced elevators for emergency use, stricter standards for construction materials, better fire-proofing, backup water sources for the sprinkler system, glow-in-the-dark exit signs and radio amplifiers for emergency communications. Through a discussion of these measures, this research points out the efforts placed in preparing for possible terrorist attacks in the future.
Twin Towers
Throughout its history, the fire service has been a discipline oriented at responding to emergencies. As a result, all training and preparation have primarily focused on the response to hazards especially fires. Additionally, they also provide physical rescues and medical aid in emergency situations. In carrying out their mandate, the fire department always operates on codes that reflect the magnitude and the extent of services needed. The fire department has for long been using the same systems and codes in all of its operations. However, following the terrorist attacks that resulted in the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11, the fire service has undergone a transformation in its response to avoid another disaster of this magnitude. Under the jurisdiction of homeland security, leaders in the fire service have recognized the compulsory need to prepare for possible terrorist attacks. In this regard, the International Building Code and the International Fire Code, which serve as the basis for building and fire regulations across the USA had to be adjusted in a bid to cater for future emergencies. Afterward, the International Code Council (ICC) approved additional changes in building and construction.
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Major changes
The adjusted safety regulations require additional stairways in storeyed buildings as a means of enhancing faster access to the building. Furthermore, the new stairways will provide exit routes from buildings and thus reduce the casualties arising from stampedes or entrapment in the building (Corbett et al., 2015). Other than just constructing additional stairways, the adjusted building codes require more space between stairways. This measure seeks to facilitate the movements of people, that is, both firefighters and the civilians ascending and descending the building respectively. Another change in the construction codes requires stronger walls in stairwells and elevator shafts. The additional strength in the walls will reduce their probability of collapsing during emergency situations.
Additional solutions
Regarding elevators in storeyed buildings, the adjusted construction codes require the installation of reinforced elevators for emergency use ( Maluk et al., 2017 . These elevators need to be in operation during emergencies and thus provide faster escape routes for people in the affected building. Further, the code adjustments require glow-in-the-dark exit signs to direct people while exiting the building during emergencies. Similarly, there has been an institution of stricter standards for construction materials. The standardization of construction materials allows for the classification of buildings based on their structural elements. For instance, wood frame refers to any building with wood as its fundamental structural element ( Love et al., 2015) .
Along with standardization is the incorporation of better-fireproofing requirements such as noncombustible exterior walls in buildings to prevent the spread of fire during emergencies (Corbett et al., 2015). Other measures that have been incorporated include the requirement of backup water sources for the sprinkler system. Since water is a prerequisite in extinguishing fires, the importance of this measure cannot be over-emphasized. Equally important is the installation of radio amplifiers for emergency communications. Both the fire service crew and the people in the building need uninterruptible communication during emergencies in facilitating faster rescue operations.
Recommendations
Since all of the above-discussed solutions are feasible, their implementation should be enhanced. One of the ways of improving them is the review of the construction plans for existing buildings to ensure the incorporation of systems for fire protection and routine testing of the same. Along the process, fire load evaluation needs consideration on determining the safety of a building. In this regard, there is the need for regulations on interior decorations that act as agents of fire spread as well as storage of inflammable fluids and solids in buildings. Additionally, the alteration of the arrangements of exit points in storeyed buildings coupled with fire education policies to all building owners will reduce the magnitude of a fire outbreak ( Franssen & Iwankiw, 2016) . Although the buildings may miss some of their beauty aspects, fire safety will be enhanced.
References
Corbett, G. P., & Brannigan, F. L. (2015). B rannigan’s building construction for the fire service (5th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
Maluk, C., Woodrow, M., & Torero, J. L. (2017). The potential of integrating fire safety in modern building design. Fire Safety Journal , 88 , 104-112.
Love, P. E., Liu, J., Matthews, J., Sing, C. P., & Smith, J. (2015). Future proofing PPPs: Life-cycle performance measurement and building information modeling. Automation in Construction , 56 , 26-35.
Franssen, J. M., & Iwankiw, N. (2016). Structural Fire Engineering of Building Assemblies and Frames. In SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering (pp. 1863-1908). Springer New York.
