Assessment of Design Method on Fire Prevention Strategies for High Rise Buildings in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

High rise buildings are popular structures with improved construction activities and technology that help in reducing land scarcity, urban density and accommodate large families in lesser space. Fire outbreak is one of the risks associated with high rise buildings because the buildings consist of multiple floors which create a cumulative effect that require many people to travel through vertical distances. Fire outbreak in high rise buildings is always terrible as population of occupants in building make escape difficult or tedious. This study, therefore, assessed the design methods used to prevent the spread of fire in High Rise buildings in Lagos State. Qualitative research method was used with purposeful sampling technique employed; the researcher analysed 11 high rise buildings in Victoria island Lagos the findings show a high percentage of high-rise buildings in Lagos state adopt fire prevention strategies, however there is a clear lack of fire escape in most of the buildings. In conclusion, the paper suggests design ways of preventing the spread of fire in high rise buildings to avoid of loss of life and properties.