Researchers at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have come up with an invention that enables individuals to quickly escape from a building caught on fire.

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The invention is a detachable window that holds glass louvres and metal bars together. An individual is able to move all the listed items at once without having to break the glass louvres in order to escape.

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Professor Divine Ahadzie, the Head of the Centre for Settlements Studies at the Faculty of Built Environment says the invention is in response to clause 90 of the National Building Regulation (NBR) (L.I. 1630), enacted in 1996.

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“The traditional window has been constructed over the years (in a way such that) there is no means of escape for opening.”

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“We looked at it critically and saw that there is the need to be able to fabricate this window to be able to respond to that.”

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The former Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment called on the stakeholders in private sector to invest and produce these windows on a large scale.

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He spoke to Citinews on the sidelines of a 4-day science and technology exhibition as part of KNUST's 70th anniversary.

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Some inventions the school has come up with include a solar-powered traffic light, wireless quiz buzzer, self-driving car using computer vision devices.

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The National Building Regulation (NBR) (L.I. 1630) was enacted in 1996 in Ghana to regulate the erection of buildings, alteration of building structures and execute works or install fittings in connection with any building.

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Regulation 90 of NBR (L.I. 1630) states the following:

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(1) In the event of fire it shall be possible to escape from every habitable room, shop or workroom by means of at least one opening in addition to the door. The area of this opening shall be not less than 0.40m² and neither the height nor width shall be less than 0.45m² in the clear, the bottom shall be not more than 0.75 above floor level.

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(2) An escape opening shall be considered to satisfy this provision —

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(a) where metal bars, expanded metal or louvres are fitted over the escape opening as a protection against burglary and are fixed to a casement which can be opened and where this casement is locked or padlocked shut, the key is kept in a glass fronted box fixed to a wall of the room at least 1.0m from the opening; or

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(b) where glass louvres are used, they must be capable of being quickly smashed or otherwise removed and flyscreen cut or removed without delay.

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(3) The following requirements for air flow and natural ventilation shall apply also —

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(a) where each external wall of the room is not less than 0.30m thick and exerts a stress of at least 4,311 pascals of vertical superficial area, the total area available for airflow and natural ventilation shall not be less than one-fortieth of the floor area of the room provided that nothing in this provision shall require any part of the opening to be less than 2m above floor level;

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(b) where an external wall located between south-east and south-west or an external wall facing between north-east and north-west is shaded from the direct rays of the sun by eaves or other projection which extends at least 1.2m from the outer surface of the wall —

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(i) the total area available for the airflow and natural ventilation shall be not less than one twelfth of the floor area of the room; and

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(ii) the bottom of this opening shall be not less than 1.0m above floor level.

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(4) In all climates where air flow and natural ventilation is through a covered balcony or verandah the area of such an opening shall be not less than one eighth of the combined floor areas of the room and balcony or verandah added together.

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Source: The Independent Ghana

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