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Fire Accident Report

This document summarizes a fire accident that occurred at Dusseldorf Airport terminal in Germany in 1995. The fire started from welding work on an access road above the terminal and spread to the polystyrene ceiling insulation. A flashover engulfed 100 square meters of the ceiling within seconds, filling the terminal with thick black smoke. 17 people died and 70 were injured in the 5-hour fire. Structural errors like the lack of sprinklers, fire walls, and proper evacuation routes contributed to the spread and impact of the fire. The terminals were extensively damaged and had to be renovated or rebuilt, costing over $1 billion. Proper fire safety measures and protocols need to be followed to prevent such accidents

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Sakshi Agrawal
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562 views6 pages

Fire Accident Report

This document summarizes a fire accident that occurred at Dusseldorf Airport terminal in Germany in 1995. The fire started from welding work on an access road above the terminal and spread to the polystyrene ceiling insulation. A flashover engulfed 100 square meters of the ceiling within seconds, filling the terminal with thick black smoke. 17 people died and 70 were injured in the 5-hour fire. Structural errors like the lack of sprinklers, fire walls, and proper evacuation routes contributed to the spread and impact of the fire. The terminals were extensively damaged and had to be renovated or rebuilt, costing over $1 billion. Proper fire safety measures and protocols need to be followed to prevent such accidents

Uploaded by

Sakshi Agrawal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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D Y Patil College of Architecture, Akurdi, Pune-44

Year: III Div: A A.Y. 2019-20

Dr. D. Y. Patil College of Architecture, Akurdi, Pune

Academic Year: 2019-20

Class: - Third Year B. Arch- A Batch


Subject: - Building Services IV
(2015 Pattern)
TERM-II (2019-20)

ASSIGMENT II-
DOCUMENTATION ON FIRE ACCIDENTS

Ar. Nupur Chichkhede


Subject Incharge
T. Y B. Arch (A Batch)

Submitted By:
Student Name: SAKSHI
AGRAWAL
T. Y B. Arch (A Batch)
D Y Patil College of Architecture, Akurdi, Pune-44
Year: III Div: A A.Y. 2019-20

Assignment II – Documentation on Fire Accidents I

CASE STUDY : AIRPORT TERMINAL FIRE , DUSELLDORF


PLACE : GERMANY
DATE : THURSDAY, APRIL11, 1995
LIVE LOSSES : 17 LIVES AND 70 INJURIES

INTRODUCTION OF THE BUILDING AND THE BUILDING MATERIALS USED


IN CONSTRUCTION
 This five-level building was the sole terminal for the Dusseldorf Airport and handled
all passenger traffic.
 Passengers claimed their luggage on the ground level, where the baggage conveyor
systems and car rental facilities were located. The height from the floor on this level to
the underside of the concrete deck above was approximately 4.6 m. Adhered to the
underside of this deck above an unprotected void between it and the suspended ceiling
of the ground floor were blocks of polystyrene insulation 8 cm thick. Reportedly, this
void was not used as an air handling plenum.
 The second level of the terminal contained airline ticket desks, shops, restaurants, and
seating areas. Like the ground floor, the second level was 564 m long and
approximately 9.1 m from floor to ceiling.
 Overlooking the second level was the third, or mezzanine, level containing the VIP
lounges, conference rooms, and various administrative offices.
 The fourth level contained a restaurant and the observation deck, and the fifth level
contained another restaurant. A train station was located below the terminal, and a
vehicle service tunnel ran the length of the building. A five-level garage was adjacent
to the terminal area on the south side, and two vehicle bridges connected the roof of
the terminal's third level with the third level of the garage.
D Y Patil College of Architecture, Akurdi, Pune-44
Year: III Div: A A.Y. 2019-20

CAUSES AND SPREAD OF FIRE

The fire was caused by welding work done to an expansion joint on the elevated access road
of Terminal A, which began at around 1:00. Droplets of molten metal
started smouldering inside the polystyrene insulation on the dropped ceiling of the arrivals
hall below.
The situation ran completely out of control at 3:58. A flashover occurred, setting ablaze
approximately 100 square meters of the ceiling within seconds. This was accompanied by an
intense built up of thick, black smoke.

DURATION OF FIRE
5 hours at midnight from 1 am to 6 am.

STRUCTUAL AND HUMAN ERRORS DURING FIRE

1. There was no fire watch during welding (normally obliged).


2. There was no fire walls or traps in the suspended ceiling.
3. There were no smoke detectors nor sprinklers installed in the ceiling.
4. After alarm, somebody started the wrong warning message, which called people to go
right into the burning area.
5. Lifts were not stopped, 7 victims did go by lift from the parking lot on the roof top
directly into the deadly smoke. When the door opened, smoke hindered the light beam
so that the lift doors could not be closed again.
6. Escape ways were not readily available at the right places. 8 victims were trapped at
the Air France Desk, by not having a nearby way out.
7. Unprotected vertica and openings carried fire to upstairs.
8. Insufficient command staff to manage the incident.
9. Sprinkler system was applied partially and again fire was ignited from unsprinkled
area.
10. The municipal fire brigade was called after 30 minutes of fire alarm.
11.Lack of awareness of the building layout. No fire fighter accountability system.
D Y Patil College of Architecture, Akurdi, Pune-44
Year: III Div: A A.Y. 2019-20

STRUCTUAL LOSS
Due to the effects of fire and smoke, Terminals A
and B were rendered unusable, and the total
damage was estimated at DM 1 billion.
Terminal A was extensively renovated, and
Terminal B was demolished completely and
rebuilt; the terminals reopened in 1998 and 2001,
respectively.

SOLUTION FOR CONTROLLING SITUATION


 Adequate communications capabilities between the command staff and the fire
fighting units.
 Awareness of the building layout.
 Sufficient command staff to manage the incident.
 To provide immediate detection and give alarm of fire on its occurrence.
 To prevent the fire spread as well to extinguish the fire at the incipient stage.

CONCLUSION
 To avoid the fire accidents in the building the passive way of safety design, life safety
provisions and the active way of fixing fire fighting appurtenances in the building
cannot assure full safety.
 Type of building, the activities going inside of the building, culture, behaviour of the
people, maintenance of the building, application of good housekeeping , fire risk
management, security management, preparedness, awareness of fire, keeping away the
fire sources from the combustible materials, reduction or elimination of combustible
materials in side.
 Using fire retardant materials, Fire proof coated materials or using of impregnated
manufactured materials in side are few fire safety parameters, if we adopt these
parameters in the buildings, we can avoid the fire accidents and assure the absolute
safety of the buildings in future.

SOURCE
http://www.iklimnet.com/airportfires/dussairportfire.html
D Y Patil College of Architecture, Akurdi, Pune-44
Year: III Div: A A.Y. 2019-20
D Y Patil College of Architecture, Akurdi, Pune-44
Year: III Div: A A.Y. 2019-20

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