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Fire Safety: Contemporary Concerns and ChallengesProf. (Dr.) Virendra Kumar Paul

Professor of BEM, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi.Fire risk is an inescapable reality of buildings. Functional use of buildings often

creates conditions that are vulnerable to incidence of fire and smoke. Advances in contemporary fire safety technologies and management initiatives can be effective in reducing the impact of fire incidents. Current estimates put over 20000 fatal injuries and financial losses in excess of Rs.1200 crores annually in India. Delhi Fire Services alone receives approximately 15000 fire calls in a year leading to almost 250 deaths and 1500 persons injured. Certainly, there is a reason to be concerned about and undertake strategic initiatives to implement technical solutions and management practices to ensure life safety as well as contain indirect economic losses. There is no doubt that the fire safety provisions of National Building Code 2005 (NBC) have played a significant role in containing fire incidents, especially in high-rise buildings, due to enforcement of sprinkler systems, alternative means of egress and access around buildings. However, current information on fire incidents suggests that there is a lot that needs to be done.

Fire safety in buildings, as we most often comprehend and undertake efforts to contain the risk, is perceived to be an urban phenomenon. However, the practice of building design, construction and use in India is largely unsafe. Since, most of

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From the Desk of President, FSAI – Delhi Chapter

Dear Friends

I am glad to reach out to you through this inaugural edition of the FSAI Delhi Chapter News Letter.

The Fire & Security Association of India (FSAI) has emerged as the largest and the most progressive trade body in India. The Delhi Chapter has always believed in Raising the Bar and bringing greater value to our members by organizing professional activities.

Just to give you a preview of what’s in the offing… We would be shortly launching ‘Webinars’ as we think this will be the most efficient way to connect with you. It is perceived to be the most effective way for knowledge sharing. We plan to conduct regular ‘Technical Meets’ which will have select speakers to share their wisdom on the latest trends in the field of fire safety and security systems. FSAI Delhi Chapter will conduct an annual Technical Symposium & Exhibition which will have international and national speakers present papers on professional topics interspersed with interactive panel discussions.

Our School Programs shall reinforce our commitment to take the message of safety awareness to the young minds. For the families of our esteemed members we intend to organize Picnics and Movie Shows which will result in forging closer ties.

We are serious about imparting Training & Education in areas of Safety & Security. We will lead in improvising the codes and standards. FSAI will provide an interactive forum to its members for networking, forging better business relations and knowledge sharing.

We also have the mission to influence international associations and societies and have them choose FSAI as their partner. We are in dialogue with NFPA, CTBUH, SPFE, NIST and a few other associations whose goals are similar to FSAI.

At the national level, we have launched our Journal called ‘FACTS’. I also invite you to visit FSAI website (http://www.fsai.in/home1.html) and listen to the FSAI Anthem. I am sure you would find the anthem motivating and a true reflection of the FSAI spirit.

I hope you like our first attempt to connect to you though this News Letter. Any suggestions for improvement are welcomed.

I now look forward to see you at various meetings, technical workshops and social gathering of FSAI and promise you that we will succeed in our mission of making you a ‘Proud Member’ of the FSAI family.

Warm regards

Sandeep Goelsandeep.goel@fsai.in

Vol. 1 No. 1 Inaugural Issue July - August 2011

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High Tech Fingerprint Fraud

Eyeballs, a severed hand, or fingers carried in ziplock bags. Back alley eye replacement surgery. These are scenarios used in recent blockbuster

movies like Steven Spielberg’s “Minority Report” and “Tomorrow Never Dies” to illustrate how unsavory characters in high-tech worlds beat sophisticated security and identification systems.

Sound fantastic? Maybe not. Biometrics is the science of using biological properties, such as fingerprints, an iris scan, or voice recognition, to identify individuals. And in a world of growing terrorism concerns and increasing security measures, the field of biometrics is rapidly expanding.

“Biometric systems automatically measure the unique physiological or behavioral ‘signature’ of an individual, from which a decision can be made to either authenticate or determine that individual’s identity,” explained Stephanie C. Schuckers, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Clarkson University. “Today, biometric systems are popping up everywhere - in places like hospitals, banks, even college residence halls - to authorize or deny access to medical files, financial accounts, or restricted or private areas.”

“And as with any identification or security system,” Schuckers adds, “biometric devices are prone to ‘spoofing’ or attacks designed to defeat them.”

Spoofing is the process by which individuals overcome a system through an introduction of a fake sample. “Digits from cadavers and fake fingers molded from plastic, or even something as simple as Play-Doh or gelatin, can potentially be misread as authentic,” she explains. “My research addresses these deficiencies and investigates ways to design effective safeguards and vulnerability countermeasures. The goal is to make the authentication process as accurate

and reliable as possible.”

Schuckers’ biometric research is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Office of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. She is currently assessing spoofing vulnerability in fingerprint scanners and designing methods to correct for these as part of a $3.1 million interdisciplinary research project funded through the NSF. The project, “ITR: Biometrics: Performance, Security and Societal Impact,” investigates the technical, legal and privacy issues raised from broader applications of biometric system technology in airport security, computer access, or immigration. It is a joint initiative among researchers from Clarkson, West Virginia University, Michigan State University, St. Lawrence University, and the University of Pittsburgh.

Fingerprint scanning devices often use basic technology, such as an optical camera that take pictures of fingerprints which are then “read” by a computer. In order to assess how vulnerable the scanners are to spoofing, Schuckers and her research team made casts from live fingers using dental materials and used Play-Doh to create molds. They also assembled a collection of cadaver fingers.

In the laboratory, the researchers then systematically tested more than 60 of the faked samples. The results were a 90 percent false verification rate.

“The machines could not distinguish between a live sample and a fake one,” Schuckers explained. “Since liveness detection is based on the recognition of physiological activities as signs of life, we hypothesized that fingerprint images from live fingers would show a specific changing moisture pattern due to perspiration but cadaver and spoof fingerprint images would not.”

In live fingers, perspiration starts around the pore, and spreads along the ridges, creating a distinct signature of the process. Schuckers and her research team designed a computer algorithm that would detect this pattern when reading a fingerprint image. With the

new detection system integrated into the device, less than 10 percent of the spoofed samples were able to fool the machine.

Addressing potential problems before they can occur is one of the goals of Schuckers’ biometrics research. “As security systems based on biometrics continue to develop, it is important that people are reassured that their privacy is protected,” she said. “How confident will someone feel giving his/her fingerprint over a public communication channel, such

Compiled by Nikkhil Krishen

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as the Internet? The technology needs to be solid and reliable and offer adequate privacy protection before biometric security systems will be accepted by the public.”

Schuckers is also a member of the Center for Identification Technology, a cooperative research center headquartered at West Virginia University that brings together the NSF, industry and government agencies, and university researchers. She is director of the Biomedical Signal Analysis Laboratory at Clarkson. Schuckers joined the faculty of Clarkson in 2002. She received her doctoral degree in electrical engineering

building activity in India is outside the ambit of NBC, the scenario is far from satisfactory. Unfortunately, there is also an extremely low access to the technical expertise available to the majority of the building stakeholders to make any positive impact.

ConcernsConcerns of fire safety can be expressed in three broad

areas, namely; prevention, life safety and protection. Of the three areas, prevention is relatively less emphasized. Prevention begins with safe building design wherein the risk of occurrence of fire is abated by isolating fire loads from the sources of ignition. Prevention and life safety are best addressed within the framework of

“Passive Fire Safety” approach. In this approach, the role of key building designer, the Architect, is very crucial. Building design is configuration is centered around functional needs. However, the issues of safety and security of functional performance need to be considered as fundamental principles for establishing spatial relationships. Segregation, compartmentation and isolation are the focal strategies for Passive Fire Safety. Domain knowledge for Passive Fire Safety includes: process of fire development and growth; fire performance of building components; very early detection and warning of incipient fires; egress design principles; understanding of occupant load, mobility and behavior during egress; and, analytical capability and tools to anticipate building facility use in deviance from the plan.

Fire protection is the best-known face of fire safety in buildings especially in India. Fire suppression installations including hydrants, sprinklers, mist, clean agent etc. Mostly, guided by NBC requirements, they are often considered as the last word in fire safety. While technological advances have added to their reliability, their actual performance validation is subject to manifestation of a number of design assumptions, installation tolerances, system maintenance and use of building rendering system ineffective.

ChallengesThe role of design team led by Architect is very

critical in ensuring fire prevention and life safety. In addition to the basic architectural design capability, the understanding of aspects of fire risk and capability of fire protection systems to mitigate residual fire risk are essential competencies. Since, the knowledge of fire safety and technological solutions are always evolving for superior performances, the interface of professionals, industry and the academia is imperative. Domain of fire protection is essentially led by the industry, the synergetic interaction between the professionals and the industry is very important. Education of fire safety is the binding element between the professionals and industry to ensure objective relationship. Academic interest keeps education focused on the application through dissemination and research. The challenge, thus is to foster an interactive alliance between professionals, industry and academia.

ConclusionsThe challenges of fire safety call for enormous efforts.

Currently, Fire Services Departments of the Government are generally charged with the responsibility to regulate implementation of fire safety norms in buildings. Considering the status of fire safety in built environment, it is important that the responsibility to make the building safe is undertaken by not just the Fire Services Departments, but also by the academia, building professionals and the fire safety industry. To synergize their efforts, a common platform, such as FSAI, has a vital role to play to ensure synergy of collective efforts. With the pan-India presence, an opportunity has been created by FSAI, the next step would be unveil programs for education for creating competencies, implementing current industry solutions, undertaking research for appropriate solutions, laying down standards for fire safety and, finally, evolving design management processes so that fire safety is intrinsic to building design. ¨

from the University of Michigan in 1997.

Clarkson University, located in Potsdam, New York is a private, nationally ranked university with a reputation for developing innovative leaders in engineering, business, the sciences, health sciences and the humanities. At Clarkson, 3,000 high-ability students excel in an environment where learning is not only positive and supportive but spans the boundaries of traditional disciplines and knowledge. Faculty achieve international recognition for their research and scholarship and connect students to their leadership potential in the marketplace through dynamic, real-world problem solving. ¨

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Fire Safety: Contemporary Concerns and Challenges

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How To Protect Yourself From Identity TheftIdentity theft is the fastest growing criminal activity

in the 20th Century, replacing illegal drug sales. How BIG is this Problem? Banks, credit card companies and businesses that house

servers storing passwords or other sensitive information all report “break-ins” through Trojan viruses or other online hacking methods - resulting in the loss of millions of pieces of information. Instances of lost information are employees selling it and other lax security measures resulting in thieves having access to your identity.

Thieves Want- Your Name- Date of Birth - Home Address - Phone Numbers- Credit Card Numbers- CW2 Security Code (the number on the back of your

credit card) - ATM Cards- Telephone Calling Cards- Lease Details

Where Are They Getting Your Information? - Banks- Credit-Reference Agencies- Retailers- Credit Card Networks - Data-Brokerage Companies - Payment Processing Companies - Phone Companies - Your Employer - Doctors, Clinics and Health Departments- Government Agencies

There are other effective methods:- Mail Theft- Retail Theft - “Phishing”/pretexting/pretending- Purse/Wallet Theft

What are Thieves Using Your Information For? - Making charges to your existing credit cards - Opening new credit cards in your name- Withdrawing money from your existing bank

accounts

- Employment purposes- Business or Personal loans - Health care - Auto loans - Using your ID when caught committing a crime

How Can You Protect Yourself?- Keep a photocopy of your credit cards, bank account

numbers and investment account numbers in a safe place

- Keep your credit card receipts - If you apply for credit and the card doesn’t arrive on

Speakers Profile“Fire Life Safety & Egress Systems”

Mr. Gaurav Chopra, Vice President & Director,HKS-South Asia Region

Speakers Profile:

11 years of multi-disciplinary experience in architecture.•

Worked on all phase of complex projects from conceptual •planning through construction administration within India and the United States.

Specialization in project delivery using modern tools and •techniques adopting the best practices prevalent in the industry.

“C3 – Control, Command & Communication”Mr. Rizwan Ali, Senior Regional Security Manager,Microsoft Global Security – South West Asia Region

Speakers Profile:

Part of the most adore organization of the country – The •Indian Army, commissioned into the Grenadiers Regiment in 2000 and had attained the rank of a Major.

Noted contribution is in the Revenue Influence (RI) •space which has been the game changer for Security at Microsoft.

Specialization in event security, property assessment, •Investigations, emergency preparedness, hotel audits and background verification program.

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time, call the card issuer

- Choose difficult PIN numbers or passwords. (Don’t use birth dates, your mother’s maiden name, etc.)

- Never give personal information to anyone who sends you an email, a letter or calls you asking for it

- Shred personal information

- Don’t use the ATM machine if someone is watching you

- Pay attention to what’s going on around you

- cell phones often have cameras in them. If someone is standing by you with a cell phone while you’re entering a PIN number, block their view

- Review your bills each month. If there’s something you don’t remember, call the creditor.

- Store or destroy your cancelled checks safely.

- Don’t leave your purse in plain sight when driving

- Keep your valuables locked in the trunk or glove box when driving

- Make all personal information on your computer password protected

- Don’t carry information about your PIN numbers, passwords and account numbers in your purse or wallet

Warning Signs that Your Identity Has Been Stolen:- A loan application is denied, or you’re refused

extended credit requests - You are contacted by a debt-collection agency - Your purse or wallet has been stolen, or your house

broken into

What to do if it Happens to You: - If your purse or wallet is stolen, call the police- Contact your bank, credit card and other credit

extending companies and report the theft- Close accounts - Have fraudulent activity removed immediately and

monitor your credit report every 90 days for the next year

- Put everything in writing - File a report with the Police- Change passwords on your existing accounts and

create new ones for new accounts Identity theft is real. There are no guarantees you can keep your information safe, by taking proactive steps to protect yourself, you can minimize your chances of having an “identity crisis”. ¨

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Events, Happenings & Glimpses

Bangalore, April 29, 2011 – FSAI National Management Meet

Mumbai May 21 2011

A Workshop on Fire Alarm Systems- Installation and Cabling Standards was held on

Saturday the 21st May 2011at Mumbai. The training was delivered by Mr. Vinayak

Sane, Mumbai Chapter President.

Hyderabad June 7, 2011 - FSAI launched ‘FAcTS’, its quarterly Journal

Mumbai, June 4, 2011 – Training Workshop on Gas Detection Systems.

The technical training was delivered by Maj.Prakash Kapade.

Bangalore, 14-20 April 2011The recent Fire accidents in trains prompted FSAI & Karnataka State

Fire & Emergency Service to conduct Safety mock-drill in Bangalore

City Railway Station. A meaningful ending for Fire Service Week!

Mumbai, June 24, 2011 – School A

wareness Progra

mme. Educating

the young minds on fire sa

fety.

FSAI Mumbai Chapter members celebrated the occasion of having

reached the milestone of 200 members by cutting a grand cake

specially designed for the occasion. Well done Mumbai Chapter!

Bangalore, May 7 2011 & Mumbai 24 June 2011

Video Analytics workshop

Bangalore -March 8. 2011 - Industry Captains attend the CEOs Meet

Mumbai, June 17, 2011 - “Technology Networking Meet on

Biometrics – A New Line of Defence” The workshop was sponsored

by Ingersoll Rand

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Publisher of:

Corporate Members

1 Nityrti Associates Mr. Nikkhil Krishen 9811017809 nikkhil@nityrti.com

2 Came Automation Solutions Pvt Ltd Mr. Chander Gujral 9212184148 cgujral@came.in Mr. Binod Kumar-Dy Manager 9212135369 finance@came.in

3 V S Kukreja & Associates (Pvt) Ltd Mr. Bikramjeet Kukreja 9811858550 vskukreja@gmail.com

Individual Members

1 Mr. Vineet Shukla 9910493331 vineet.shukla.112@gmail.com

2 Mr. Narinder Pal Singh 9810125269 narinder@promengg.com

3 Mr. Mahendra Karakoti 9899600243 mahendra.karakoti@nsn.com

4 Mr. Vivek 011-26284042 vivek@jazzcon.com

5 Mr. Vishal Saraf 9810079950 vishal@windowstechh.in

6 Mr. Jitender Pratap Singh 9818479577 info@rajprojects.com;

7 Mr. Ratan Dabral 9810080819 rd@neiljcontrol.com;

New Additions to FSAI Delhi Chapter Membership

Engineering a Safe & Secure India 4th International Seminar

BANGALORE

26th August 2011 | Hotel Lalit Ashok

The seminar is about the key issues of interest to the public, Design professionals, Building managers and those with an interest in Architectural openings that pertain to life safety and security.

for information & registration log on to:

www.fsai.inANNOUNCEMENT

Webinar@FSAIFSAI shall launch its Webinar Series shortly. Webinar or Web conferencing refers to

a service that allows conferencing events to be shared with remote locations. The service allows broadcast of the Presentation / Information to a large group of people, across geographically dispersed locations in near real-time.

The Webinars shall initially be as a “free” log-in service to FSAI Members and the contents of the broadcast shall be a Technical Presentation on topics of Fire, Life Safety and Security. FSAI Members shall be provided with the date, time, topic, detail/ profile of presenter and log-in details of the Webinar. The participant/ audience would be required to log-in at the date and time of broadcast to avail of the service. The planned time for the webinar is 10 p.m. to ensure that the audience is able to log-in from the comfort of their homes and free from other professional commitments at work. The session will last for 30-45 Minutes.

The Webinar has been the dream project of Mr. Sandeep Goel and he has received complete support from FSAI – DWC (Delhi Working Committee) and National Committee in fulfilling his goal to bring value to the FSAI Members. This would be the first such broadcast by an Indian protection industry association and we hope that this attempt will prove to be the most efficient and effective way for knowledge dissemination. Stay tuned to get the details of the Webinar Date/ Time and Topic.

You may e-mail your suggestions to delhichapter@fsai.in

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Edited, Printed & Published by GB Singh on behalf of Fire & Security Association of India - Delhi Chapter. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements appearing in this News Letter are those of the authors or advertisers and do not necessarily reflect those of the publication, or of its publishers. Letters to the Editor may be emailed on gbsingh9@gmail.com.