Fire in Bursa State Hospital

Members of the Turkish Union of Chambers of Architects and Engineers (TMMOB) have identified multiple faults at the Bursa State Hospital where a fire broke out yesterday (26 May).

Eight patients from the intensive care unit died, either because the electricity cut caused their life-support systems to shut down, or because of smoke inhalation.

The delegation read a report in front of the hospital at 1 pm today. The experts said that the part of the hospital where the fire broke out had been added at a later stage, but that electrical and mechanical changes had not been made. In addition, no precautionary measures against a possible fire had been taken.

Erdal Aktuğ, secretary of Bursa's TMMOB coordination board, said that the architecture, static, electricity, fire and mechanical installations had not been inspected by the relevant professional chambers.

Regulations ignored, no precautions

The delegation's initial findings have been:

• The batteries for the fire sensor system were not charged
• The cables used for the electrical system were not fire-resistant. There was no fire sensor system in the installation shaft or in the suspended ceiling.
• The ventilation system in the intensive care and neo-natal units lacked necessary equipment.
• The cable shaft contained both electrical cables and supply tubes for flammable gas like oxygen.
• There was no fire insulation between the cable shaft and the floors.
• There were no fire compartments or inhibitors which could have stopped the spread of fire and smoke.
• Access to the cable shaft was covered by inflammable covers.
• The access to the shaft was from the intensive care unit, which was wrong.
• The electrical systems for the operating theatres and the intensive care unit did not conform to regulations.
• There were no emergency regulations for the electricity control rooms.

The TMMOB said that relevant engineers had to be employed full-time at such complex and technological buildings to ensure work safety and operating safety. In addition, the relevant professional associations had to carry out yearly inspections at such public and private buildings in order to prevent loss of life.

One recommendation in the report was that buildings used by many people be inspected immediately. Aktuğ also said that work places should be inspected by professional chambers when they started out. (BÇ/AG)