‘Proper party walls can prevent spread of fire’

KUALA LUMPUR: A proper partition, or otherwise known as a party wall, between your house and your neighbours’ could save lives and valuables in the event of a fire.

Fire and Rescue Department Damansara station chief Ramli Harun said the wall should follow specifications as contained in the Uniform Building By-laws of 1984

“Just by investing RM50,000 to a few hundred thousand to ensure that the party wall is built 22cm above the roof and is between 220mm or more in thickness, will prevent this from happening.

“The by-laws also dictate that there should be no wooden bits or rafters, which are flammable, sticking out between the walls to prevent fire from spreading,” added Ramli.

He said despite the by-law coming into effect in 1984, not many homes were adhering to it.

Ramli told the New Straits Times this after leading an operation to put down a fire, which spread to six homes in SS4D, Petaling Jaya here yesterday morning.

He said the fire had spread due to party walls between homes which were not to specifications.

The fire, believed to have sparked from an electrical appliance, had gutted the upper level of four houses.

Ramli said they received the emergency call at 8.06am and the first Fire and Rescue truck arrived on the scene 10 minutes later.

“We sent a message to Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor at 8.18am to alert them,” he said, adding that by 8.29am, additional water supply saw them putting out the fire by 9am.

He said losses incurred by the fire was estimated at RM2 million.