The country’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector needs to spend over Tk2,410 crore for importing fire equipment- sprinklers and fire doors- to comply with fire safety conditions set by the two retailers’ platforms Accord and Alliance.
Both the two platforms, who have launched their inspection to the country’s RMG factories, are now putting pressure on the owners to comply their factories with the fire safety plan recommended by Accord and Alliance.
“A total of 1,200 factories need to install sprinklers, while 3,000 other factories have to install fire doors as per the requirement of the Accord and Alliance,” BGMEA vice-president ShahiduallahAzim, told the Dhaka Tribune.
Based on sizes and the patterns of the factories, a factory owner, on an average, will have to spend around Tk1.50 crore to install sprinklers including setting-up costs, while Tk6.50 lakh will be needed for the specific fire doors, said Azim.
According to Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), currently BKMEA has 1000 running factories that need to install fire doors while 300 out of 1000 factories have to install sprinklers.
“Chinese fire doors certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) cost Tk2,300 per square feet and a 3/7 sq cost around Tk65,000 including looking glass while 7/8sq will cost Tk150,000,” said M Azharul Islam Khan, chief executive officer of VEGA Trading, a supplier of fire safety equipment.
The price of a sprinkler ranges between Tk1,200 to Tk1,500.
“A factory owner will have to spend about Tk7 lakh to install the fire doors if imported from China, while it will cost Tk15 lakh if imported from American market,” said Abdus Salam Murshedy, Managing Director of Envoy Group which recently imported 130 doors.
Basically, the prices of the doors depend on the sizes of the buildings and also on the product origin.
“I have to spend Tk1.72 croreto install fire safety equipment including fire doors, sprinklers and hydrant pump for an eight-storied building,” Mohammad Hatem, first vice-president of BKMEA, told the Dhaka Tribune.
Meanwhile, a group of factory owners alleged that they are not getting financial support from the buyers to improve safety and security measures.
As per the Accord and Alliance agreement, buyers are supposed to provide financial support for retrofitting or renovation but now they are not paying any heed to their commitments, alleged the owners, whose factory have already been inspected and recommended for further improvement to ensure fire safety.
“Although we are yet to get any specimen on whether the doors should be imported or locally manufactured, however, it has to be clearly certified that it can be able to protect the factories from the fire for 60 minutes to 90 minutes,” said M Rabin, managing director of Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety.
The number of fire doors, however, deepens on the structure of the building. “Approximately 25% factories will need sprinklers,” said Brad Loewen, chief safety inspector of Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh recently.
“For a 150-square feet space, one sprinkler will be needed and if the building is over 23-metre tall, all floors will require it,” Brad said.
The issue of fire and building safety came under the spotlight last year, following the catastrophic incident at the Rana Plaza building collapse that killed over 1,100 workers and Tazreen Fashion fire incident.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
