Fire and Life Safety Approaches in Hospitals

A significant increase in fire incidents was observed in the past few decades for intraoperative fires in Indian hospitals. This is primarily due to Oxygen (O2) enrichment of air and unsafe practices of storing flammable and combustible liquids in basements furthermore unprotected areas of hospitals without any compartmentation or protective measures. In Oxygen Enriched atmosphere (OEA), it becomes easier for a material to get ignited with the small source of ignitions. The central air conditioner and most split air conditioners are pretty vulnerable to fire due to the presence of various parts that support combustion. In addition to poor maintenance of this system, particularly clogged, dirty air filters make it easier to produce more smoke, leading to poor visibility and difficulty in evacuation, especially when the hospitals have critical occupants at risk who are partially or entirely incapable of self-preservation. In accordance with the prescriptive and performance-based requirements of NFPA codes and standards, Indian hospitals must make several changes to the organization of their equipment and procedures for handling Oxygen, as well as raise awareness among hospital staff, physicians, and administrators.