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Andrew Oyen Arewa1,*, Abdullahi Ahmed2, David J. Edwards3 and Chizaram Nwankwo

1 Engineering and Construction Department, School of Architecture Computing and Engineering, Docklands Campus, University of East London, London E16 2RD, UK

2 Building and Civil Engineering Department, School of Energy Construction and Environment, Faculty of Computing and Engineering, Coventry Campus, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK

3 School of Engineering and Built Environment, Faculty of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B4 7XG, UK

4 External Quality Assessment Services, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London NW9 5EQ, UK

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Buildings 2021, 11(8), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11080339

Received: 21 May 2021 / Revised: 19 July 2021 / Accepted: 27 July 2021 / Published: 6 August 2021

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Buildings and Fire Safety)

Abstract

Historically, fire incidents in high-rise buildings reveal that Fire and Rescue Services frequently rely on the stay-put tactic (i.e., occupants of high-rise buildings should remain in their apartments) during an inferno. Recent fire occurrences in high-rise buildings reveal that there are two opposing viewpoints on the stay-put tactic. First, the understanding that the stay-put tactic is a beneficial practice used to protect, control, and facilitate smooth evacuation of occupants during fire incidents. Second, the argument that the stay-put tactic is a misjudgement and futile strategy that leads to fatalities, particularly in high-rise buildings. The aim of this study was to provide awareness and understanding of fire and rescue services use of the stay-put tactic in high-rise buildings. We attempted to answer the questions: is the stay-put tactic a misjudgement or magnificent strategy? The study adopted phenomenological research strategies with various focus groups consisting of seasoned firefighters and survivors with first-hand accounts of stay-put instructions in high-rise buildings. The study also scrutinised three case studies of fire incidents in high-rise buildings in two countries. The study revealed that the stay-put tactic is obsolete; with the potential to cause catastrophic misjudgement, mostly during conflagrations in high-rise buildings. There is a need to advance research on the use of artificial intelligence communication systems and infrared image detectors camera to enhance quick and smooth fire evacuation in high-rise buildings.

Keywords: fire and rescue services; high-rise buildings; stay-put tactic; fire safety