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FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT

CAESAR APPARELS (EXTENSION) (OLDNAME RAHIMA TEXTILES LIMITED)

BISIC INDUSTRIAL AREA, BLOOCK-A, PLOT A/2, TEABOARD, BAIZID

June 15, 2014

Other Factories: Mahanagar Packaging Ltd and Quality FashionLimited

Accord - Bangladesh RMG Fire Safety InspectionCaesar Apparels (Extension) (old nameRahima Textiles Limited)

Fire Safety Inspection ReportCaesar Apparels (Extension) (old name Rahima Textiles Limited)

IntroductionCaesar Apparels (Extension) (old name Rahima Textiles Limited)manufacturing complex was surveyed for fire safety on 6/15/2014 by HughesAssociates, Inc.

The purpose of the survey was to identify significant fire safety issues and toprovide recommendations for remediation based on applicable standardsspecified by the Accord. The scope of this initial fire safety inspection waslimited to the review and identification of major fire safety issues. Theinspection did not include identification of minor deficiencies, which will befurther addressed as part of follow-up inspections.

LimitationsThe information in this fire safety inspection report was obtained during a visitto the facility and during interviews with local factory management. It has notbeen possible to provide independent verification for all the information anddata collected, and, therefore, Hughes cannot accept general responsibility foromissions or errors arising from inaccuracies in this report from the informationobtained.

The findings and recommendations in this report are not intended to imply,guarantee, ensure or warrant compliance with any government regulations.Additionally, the results do not imply in any way that compliance with thefindings or recommendations as stated in this report will eliminate all hazards,risks or exposures or that hazards, risks or exposures not referred to in thisreport do not exist. Compliance with the findings and recommendations statedin this report does not relieve the factory owner from obligation to comply withspecific project requirements, industry standards, or the provisions of any localgovernment regulations.


Factory Building Name(s):Caesar Apparels (Extension) (old name Rahima Textiles Limited)

Factory Address:BISIC Industrial Area, Bloock-A, Plot A/2, Tea Board, Baizid

Points of Contact:Md. Abu Jahed Monju,Manager (HRD & Admin)Caesar Apparels Limited+880 31 682551, 2581047-8 (Ext-116)[email protected]

Abdur Rahim,General MnagerCaesar Apparels Limited+880 31 682551, 2581047-8 (Ext- 103)[email protected]

General Factory Information


General Building Information - Caesar ApparelsNo. of Stories Below /Above Grade

0 / 6

High Rise No

High Rise Comments: The highest occupiable floor is located 16.75 m. above grade.

Occupancy Classification G2 IndustrialF BusinessH2 Storage

Floor Plans Available No

Date Of Construction Construction started in 2007 but still not completed.

Major Renovations No

Other Tenants Yes

Comments Mahanagar Packaging Ltd is on the ground floor and QualityFashion Limited is on the second floor.

Floors Occupied ByFactory

First and third floor

Use

Finishing, Cutting, BoilerSewing, Office, Store

Floor Occupant Load

13

150411

Construction FeaturesNon-Combustible Yes


Fire-Resistive Yes

Building SurroundingsNorth Single storied structure without separation.

South Open space.

East Two storied structure without separation.

West Open space.

Vertical OpeningsStairs Enclosed in Fire-Rated Construction?

Yes

Unsealed Penetrations inStairs

Yes

Unprotected OpeningsFrom Stairs

Yes

Shafts Enclosed in Fire-Rated Construction

Yes

Floors withOpenings/Penetrations

No

Other Vertical Openings No


Egress FeaturesTwo (2) exit stairs serve the building. Egress from the first floor is provided by the East exit stairand an exit on the South. Ground floor is provided by two (2) exits. Each floor, except the thirdfloor, has an adequate number of exits with sufficient exit capacity based on occupant load.The exit capacity of the third floor (271) is insufficient for the maximum occupant load (411). Allexits are remotely located. All exits discharge to the exterior of the building. All exit stairs areopen on all floors due to unprotected openings. The exit discharge path serving the East exit isless than 10 ft wide and is not separated from the generator room.

There is storage located in all the exit stairs on all the floors. There are unsealed penetrationslocated in the East exit stair on the second floor.

Sliding gates and doors are used at building exits, exit stairs and along egress routes. Egressdoors with locking features are present at building exits, exit stairs, along egress routes andexit discharges. All gates and doors are open and unlocked during the inspection. Emergencyevacuation plans are located at the exit stairs and adjacent to exits. Fire drills are conductedmonthly, records are provided during the inspection.

Floor Exit Capacity

13

501271

No. Exits

22

Occupant Load

150411

GeneralExit Number/CapacityAdequate

No

Exits Remote Yes

Exit DoorsSliding Gates/DoorsUsed?

Yes

Egress Doors SwingCorrectly?

Yes

Egress Doors Lockable? Yes


Exit StairsAll Stairs Discharge tothe Exterior?

Yes

Discharge CapacityAdequate

Yes

Handrails on at least OneSide?

Yes

Storage Located inStairs?

Yes

Exit Access From Factory AreasStorage in Egress Paths? No

Egress Paths ofAdequate Width?

Yes

Excessive TravelDistances, CPT, DE's

No

Emergency PlanningEmergency EvacuationPlans Provided?

Yes

Fire Drills Conducted Yes

Records Maintained Yes


Emergency Evacuation Plan

Fire Protection Features

Sprinkler SystemNo sprinkler system is present in the building. Based on the height of the highest occupiablefloor, automatic sprinkler protection is not required.

Fire Hose SystemHose cabinets with 1.5 in. hoses are provided on the West side of the factory floor.Hose Size(s) Provided 1.5 in.

Locations On the West side of the factory floor.


Fire Hose Cabinet

Fire Water SupplyThe fire hose system was supplied by gravity from a roof tank having a reported total capacityof 2,000 L. The tank is fed by an underground cistern, with a reported capacity of 30,000 L.,that is accessed from the North exit stair. There is no fire pump connected to the system.

Source(s) Tank

Location Roof

Capacity 2,000 L.

Fire Pump No

Fire Alarm SystemA fire alarm system is provided in the factory building. It consisted of manual alarm switchesand horn units installed on the factory floors. Reportedly, the activation switches on each floortrigger the fire alarm for the entire building. No functional test is conducted on the systemduring the inspection. There is no fire alarm panel or system supervision present during theinspection. No records or assertions of regular testing or maintenance of the fire alarm systemare provided.

Type of System Manual Fire Alarm System (Audible)


Fire Panel Location None

Visible NotificationAppliances?

No

Audible NotificationAppliances?

Yes

Alarm Annunciation ManualWhole Building

Functional TestConducted

No

Regular Inspection,Testing, & Maintenance?

No

Manual Fire Alarm Switch Fire Alarm Horn Unit

Fire Detection SystemSingle station smoke alarms are located in various places throughout the factory. These smokealarms are not tied into the fire alarm system. In the event they detect smoke, they will providea local alert sound. No records or assertions of regular testing or maintenance of the firedetection system are provided.Type of Detectors Single Station Smoke Alarms



No

Single Station Smoke Alarm

Portable Fire ExtinguishersPortable fire extinguishers, consisting of a mix of CO2 and dry chemical extinguishers, areprovided throughout the building. There is a foam extinguisher located in the generator room.Inspection tags show recent and up-to-date inspections.

Types Provided CO2, dry chemical extinguishers and foam extinguisher.

AdequateNumber/Spacing?

Yes


Portable Fire Extinguisher (CO2 and DryChemical) Portable Fire Extinguisher (Foam)

Manual Fire Fighting EquipmentEach floor has firefighting equipment staged on the factory floors near the East exit stairentrance. Types of manual firefighting equipment provided included: buckets, escape hoods,bolt/lock cutters, shovels, hooks, stretchers, rope and personal protection equipments.Types of EquipmentProvided

Buckets, escape hoods, bolt and lock cutters, shovels, hooks,stretchers, rope and personal protection equipments.

Location of Equipment On the factory floors near the East exit stair entrance.

Other Features

Emergency Lighting & Exit SignsThere are multiple florescent lights that have an alternate “Instant Power Supply” (IPS) locatedinside exit enclosure walls and on each floor. Based on the number and location of emergencylighting units, there does not appear to be adequate illumination of the means of egress. Eachfloor has a number of illuminated exit signs, a mix of directional and non-directional, locatedalong the exit access and at exits. The factory management has reported that these are allserviced by normal electricity as well as by multiple “Instant Power Supply” (IPS) units. Thereare no records or assertions of regular testing or maintenance of the emergency lightingsystem.

Exits and Exit AccessProperly Marked withExit Signage

Yes


Emergency Power IPS

Emergency Lighting forExits & Exit Access

Yes


No

Emergency Light Exit Sign

ElevatorsNo elevator is provided in the building.

GeneratorsA single generator serves the building. It is located in a separate single storied structureoutside the factory building adjacent to the East exit stair discharge. The structure does nothave proper fire-rated separations. Additional fuel storage is not present.Location(s) In a separate single storied structure outside the factory building

adjacent to the East exit stair discharge.

Inside Fuel Storage No


Fire Rated SeparationsProvided?

No

Generator

BoilersA single boiler serves the factory. It is located on the first floor. The boiler room does not haveproper fire-rated separations.Location(s) On the first floor

Fire Rated SeparationsProvided?

No


Boiler

TransformersA single transformer serves the building. It was mounted on the pole outside the building.

Storage AreasThe storage room on the third floor is separated by non-fire-rated construction with unprotectedopenings. Storage is observed to be open to production floor on the first floor.Fire Rated SeparationsProvided?

No

Open to Factory Floors? Yes

Open to Exit Discharge? No

Additional InformationNone


Findings & Recommendations

Table 1 summarizes the major fire safety issues identified during the inspection.Recommendations have been provided to address each issue.

An implementation schedule shall be developed by the factory to remediate each of thefindings. The specific timing of improvements, including any requested extensions due todesign / installation constraints, shall be submitted to the Accord for approval.

Accord - Bangladesh RMG Fire Safety InspectionCaesar Apparels (Extension) (old name RahimaTextiles Limited)

No. Category Finding RecommendationRemediationTimeframe

Table 1. Findings And Recommendations

Fire RatedConstruction

The exit stairs are notseparated from workareas and other spaceson each floor by fire-rated construction.

Provide minimum 1.5-hr firerated doors and seal allunprotected openings toseparate the exit stairs fromwork areas and other buildingspaces on all floor levels.Ensure that the fire doors areself-closing and positivelatching and that they areprovided with fire exit (panic)hardware where servingproduction floors.

If fire doors are required to beheld open for functionalreasons, provide automatic-closing devices tied to the firealarm system.

Within 3months

F-1



Unsealed penetrationsand openings arelocated in exit stairenclosures.

Seal all penetrations andopenings in exit stairenclosure walls to maintain thefire separation.

Within 3months

F-2



The boiler on the firstfloor and generatorroom outside the factorybuilding adjacent to theEast exit stair dischargeis not separated by fire-rated construction dueto openings, non-rateddoors and penetrations.

Separate the boiler andgenerator room by a minimum2-hr fire-rated construction.Seal and protect all openingsto maintain the required fireseparations.

Within 3months

F-3


Storerooms used forcombustible storagesare not separated byfire-rated constructionon the third floor.

Provide dedicated storagerooms separated by minimum1-hr fire-rated construction.

Within 3months

F-4



Areas used forcombustible storagesare open to the factoryfloor on the first floor.

Provide dedicated storagerooms separated by minimum1-hr fire-rated construction.

Where separate storagerooms are not feasible,provide defined storage areasand limit the storagearrangement as follows:- Maximum height of 2.4m andmaximum area of 23m2.

Separate areas of unenclosedcombustible storage by aminimum clear distance of 3m.

Within 3months

F-5



The exit discharge pathserving the East exit isless than 10 ft wide andis not separated fromthe generator room.

Seal all penetrations andopenings to the generatorroom along the dischargepath, up to a height of 10 ft., toprovide a minimum 1-hr fireseparation.

Within 6months

F-6


Egress Exit capacity (271) is notadequate for theoccupant load (411) onthe third floor.

Reduce occupant load to notmore than available exitcapacity (271).

In future, provide additionalexits to increase occupantload.

ImmediateF-7

Egress Egress doors and gateswith locking features(padlocks) are providedat building exits, exitstairs, along egressroutes and exitdischarges. All gatesand doors are open andunlocked during theinspection.

Remove locking features fromall egress doors and gates.

If locks are required forsecurity reasons, utilizespecial door locking featurescomplying with NFPA 101.

ImmediateF-8


Egress Storage was located inall the exit stairs on allthe floors.

Remove all storage from exitstairs and egress paths.

ImmediateF-9


Egress Collapsible gates andsliding doors areprovided at buildingexits, exit stairs andalong egress routes.

Replace all gates and slidingdoors along the means ofegress with side-hinged,swinging egress doors.

If locks are required forsecurity reasons, utilizespecial door locking featurescomplying with NFPA 101.

Within 1month

F-10


Fire Protection The fire alarm system isantiquated, not a listedsystem, and does notprovide alarm andnotification featuresconsistent withacceptable standards.

Replace the fire alarm systemwith a new, listed addressablefire alarm system inaccordance with NFPA 72.

Designwithin 4months,install

within 9months

F-11

Fire Protection Inspection, testing, andmaintenance for the firealarm system are not inaccordance with NFPA72.

Inspect, test and maintain thefire alarm system, and keepwritten records on-site, inaccordance with NFPA 72.

Within 3months

F-12


Fire Protection The building is equippedwith single-stationsmoke alarms. Smokealarm activation soundsonly a local alarm anddoes not provideautomatic fire alarmnotification ofoccupants.

Remove single station smokealarms. Provide automaticsmoke detection throughoutthe building in accordancewith NFPA 72.

Within 6months

F-13

EgressLighting

Inspection, testing, andmaintenance for theemergency lightingsystem are not inaccordance with TheACCORD Standard.

Inspect, test and maintain theemergency lighting system inaccordance with TheACCORD standard. Keepwritten records on-site.

Within 3months

F-14

EgressLighting

Based on the numberand location ofemergency lightsobserved, adequateillumination levels arenot anticipated alongegress routes on thefactory floor and theNorth exit stair.

Test the emergency lightingsystem on each floor andprovide additional emergencyfixtures to provide adequateillumination along the meansof egress. Provide a minimumillumination of 10 lux at thefloor level within exit stairs andexit discharge paths andminimum 2.5 lux along exitaccess aisles.

Within 3months

F-15

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