WHEN people talk about fire safety and fire engineering, confusion often sets in.
Over the years, I have met many individuals – from industry players to members of the public – who hold very different understandings of what fire safety truly means.
This is hardly surprising.
Fire safety is not a single checklist or a set of extinguishers mounted on a wall; it is a broad and comprehensive discipline that spans the entire spectrum of safety management, from regulatory authorities to designers, builders and, ultimately, building occupants.
At its core, fire safety refers to fire prevention, limiting the spread of fire and smoke, extinguishing a fire effectively, and ensuring occupants have the opportunity for a quick and safe evacuation.
Fire engineering takes this further by applying scientific and engineering principles to ensure that, during a fire or emergency, occupants can evacuate safely, the fire is controlled or suppressed, smoke does not spread uncontrollably, and the building remains sufficiently intact to allow fire brigade personnel to intervene safely.
Today, it is increasingly relevant to view fire safety through the lens of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations.
The construction and property industry must revisit key concepts, standards, codes of practice and regulatory tools – not in isolation, but in terms of how they relate to one another.
Fire safety compliance is built upon a clear hierarchy: Acts and ordinances provide legal mandates, regulations and standards define requirements, while best practice and technical literature guide implementation on the ground.
A functional fire safety ecosystem relies on five critical components working together: authorities, designers, builders, inspectors and occupiers.
Weakness in any one of these components compromises the entire system.
In Malaysia – and particularly in Sarawak – fire safety design is generally approached through three recognised and well-accepted methods, all acknowledged by the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (Bomba).
The first is the prescriptive method, based on the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) 1984 (amended 2021), Malaysian Standards and selected international standards.
The second is the performance-based approach (PBA), implemented through Fire Safety Engineering Design or Fire Safety Design Philosophy (FSDP).
The third is the risk-based verification method, which evaluates fire risk through systematic analysis rather than fixed prescriptions.
These approaches are supported by established codes and standards, including the UBBL 1984, Sarawak Building Ordinance (SBO) 1994 (amended 2025), Malaysian Standards, BS EN standards and NFPA guidelines.
In particular, fire safety engineering in Malaysia is guided by BS 7974:2019, which outlines a structured framework comprising three main stages: Qualitative Design Review (QDR), Quantitative Analysis (QA) and assessment against defined acceptance criteria.
Through guidelines such as MS 1183:2015 and MS 2780:2023, designers and Bomba inspectors can review proposed building plans systematically.
These frameworks allow us to anticipate future risks based on informed assumptions – essentially enabling us to “fight the fire before it starts”.
During the qualitative stage, factors such as architectural design, building characteristics, environmental conditions, occupant behaviour, potential fire hazards and functional fire safety objectives are assessed.
Trial fire safety designs are developed, acceptance criteria established, and credible fire scenarios identified.
Quantitative analysis then applies fire science and engineering methods – often through deterministic, time-based assessments — to evaluate how fire, smoke, toxic gases, structural response, detection systems, fire brigade intervention and occupant evacuation interact during an incident.
This level of analysis demands experienced professionals: architects, mechanical and electrical engineers, accredited fire engineers and senior fire officers.
Advanced simulation tools such as Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), Smokeview and evacuation-modelling software are increasingly used to support approval decisions for complex developments.
This underscores the growing need for qualified fire engineers in the submission and approval of building plans.
Fire engineering itself is not new.
It emerged in the early 20th century in response to catastrophic fires brought about by industrialisation.
Each tragedy prompted improvements in building codes to better protect lives, property and the environment.
In Malaysia, this evolution continues. Amendments to the Fire Services Act 341 (2025) now empower the Fire and Rescue Department to regulate fire engineers as competent persons under the law.
Accredited fire engineers and consultants today are entrusted with preparing fire safety design philosophies, performance-based designs, fire emergency response plans, fire safety audits, fire and explosion risk assessments, hazard verification analyses and CIMAH compliance documents.
Much of this work focuses on passive fire protection, including fire and smoke barriers, space separation, smoke control systems, emergency exits and fire lifts, as well as understanding human behaviour during fire events.
This is, without question, a complex and demanding discipline – one that directly involves public safety.
That is why the concept of Total Fire Cover is so critical.
It is a continuous strategic and tactical effort to protect life, property and the environment from fire risk, addressing unsafe acts, unsafe behaviour and unsafe conditions – the root causes behind most fire incidents.
With the necessary laws, standards, codes of practice and professional capacity now in place, there is no reason why we cannot fully practise the principles of precaution, prevention and protection to safeguard our communities and ensure business continuity.
Ultimately, total fire safety does not rest solely with authorities or professionals. It depends on all of us – especially building occupants.
When communities understand their role and take ownership of fire safety, real change happens.
That is when we become the true champions of fire safety.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at khirudin.drahman@bomba.gov.my.
