FRGS15-192-0433: Identifying the minimum invasive active fire protection measures for Malaysian heritage buildings towards better preservation of the built heritage

In the case of a heritage building, until today, no proper legal requirements have been endorsed to protect historic contents and structures from fire. According to many international fire experts, fire safety systems in heritage buildings must be sympathetically designed in order to minimise the impact on the historic character (authenticity) of the buildings. Nevertheless, although many lessons have been learned and approaches to fire safety in heritage buildings have grown more sophisticated, one simple fact remains: most fires occur as a result of human action or negligence. Special considerations should be applied in upgrading fire safety systems in heritage buildings. Not only must the systems aim to comply with the relevant standards and provide the intended levels of protection, but additionally their impact on the building and its fabric must meet a range of tests. Furthermore, it is essential that full consideration be paid to the risks of potential damage to original fabric as well as the aesthetic impact fire systems might have on heritage buildings. Any changes to a listed building must not only address fire protection needs but must fully comply with the law in respect of listed building consent. The main objective of this study is to identify and evaluate active fire protection (AFP) measures in heritage buildings that able to provide an acceptable level of safety for both people and property with minimum invasive into the historic fabrics. Other than literature reviews, a series of observations, interviews with fire experts and case studies will be employed to provide primary data in this study. At the end of the study, a practice guidance in selection and installation of active fire protection measures in Malaysian heritage buildings has been recommended

Architectural photogrammetry for the recording of heritage buildings: an overview

In heritage documentation, recording techniques can be divided into two broad categories, namely photographic and non-photographic methods. Photographic methods include a photographic image is fundamental to the whole recording process, such as computer-rectified photography, photogrammetry and laser scanning. Whereby, non- photographic methods are including hand survey and theodolite-based measurements. Three main criteria should be considered when making decisions about the specification of the recording: the cost, technical considerations or logistics and, finally, whether the survey will fulfil the technical and academic requirements and be understood by the end user. Moreover, the choice of the most appropriate and reliable recording methods will depend on the scale and type of building, level of accuracy, and level of recording needed. This paper discusses the application of photogrammetry techniques in the recording of heritage buildings. The principles, accuracy and challenges of the technique are also described

Fire Safety And Protection Measures In Heritage Buildings With Special Consideration On Museum Buildings In Malaysia

In Malaysia, a number of priceless heritage buildings were badly damaged or burnt down by fire including the People Museum, Melaka (2001), Pak Ali’s House, Gombak (2003) and the Sarawak Club, Kuching (2006). Indeed, fire is one of the greatest threats to heritage buildings not only to the buildings’ occupants but also to the buildings’ fabrics and contents. Heritage buildings are irreplaceable, in addition to being vulnerable to fire due to several factors: large scale buildings, flammable priceless contents, and weak existing structures to fire resistance. Unfortunately, until today, there are no sufficient legislations or guidelines on fire safety for heritage buildings in Malaysia

Fire safety management in heritage buildings: the current scenario in Malaysia

In Malaysia, there are many heritage buildings with an architectural and historical significance that influenced by several architecture styles including a traditional Malay architecture, the Portuguese architecture, the Dutch architecture, and the architecture styles brought by British (e.g. Moorish, Tudor, Neo-Classical and Neo-Gothic). Most of them are worthy to be listed as Heritage Buildings or National Heritage Buildings under the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645). The Malaysian government is undertaking many efforts to promote conservation and preservation of heritage buildings in the country. Some of the buildings have been changed to different functions from its original (adaptive-reuse) such as into museums, libraries, offices or hotels. It is however, in the past few years there are few priceless heritage buildings were badly damaged or burnt down by fire includes the People Museum, Melaka (2001), Rumah Pak Ali , Gombak (2003) and Sarawak Club, Kuching (2006). In one case, it was given a total loss approximately up to MYR 5 millions. Fire is one of the greatest threats to heritage buildings not only to the building’s occupants but also to the building’s fabric and contents. Heritage buildings are irreplaceable but vulnerable to fire as there is a combination of several factors: large scale buildings; flammable priceless contents; large numbers of visitors; and existing structures weak on fire resistance. Unfortunately, until today, there are relatively no sufficient legislations or guidelines on fire safety for heritage buildings in Malaysia. In fact, the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (FRDM) stressed the safety of life is the ultimate principle of fire safety in a building. Property protection which includes protection to building’s fabrics and contents of heritage buildings is not really been prioritised. The purpose of this research is to investigate the current fire safety management in heritage buildings in Malaysia through a series of interview and observation surveys. In this research, thirty seven heritage buildings have been surveyed as a building sampling. The finding found that most of the buildings are still having a poor fire safety management. From the survey, seventeen leading fire safety management problems in the buildings have been identified

Fire safety management in heritage buildings: a case study in Malaysia

In Malaysia, there are few heritage buildings with an architectural and historical significance that may classified into several categories, namely traditional timber Malay houses, pre-world war shop-houses, colonial office buildings, institutional buildings and religious buildings. Many of them are worthy to be listed as Heritage Buildings or National Heritage buildings under the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645). However due to poor fire safety management, many priceless heritage buildings were badly damaged or burnt down by fire e.g. Muzium Rakyat, Melaka (2001), Rumah Pak Ali, Gombak (2003) and Sarawak Club, Kuching (2006).It is widely accepted that fire is one of the greatest threats not only to the building’s occupants but also to the building’s fabric and contents. Nevertheless, in term of fire safety approach, a heritage building requires relatively more sensitive approach compare to a new building; a high standard of fire safety management is required, not only to protect people but as well as to protect historical contents, fabrics and structures of the building. This paper suggests some recommendations to provide a satisfactory level of fire safety management in a heritage building

Active fire safety measures in the heritage timber buildings in Malaysia

Malaysia has a significant amount of heritage timber buildings located in every part of the country. The buildings symbolised the origin of the country’s vernacular architectural style as well as the historical representation of the local community culture and its surrounding context. However, due to the combustible nature of timber, these heritage timber buildings are highly exposed to the risks of fire. Currently, there are no proper fire safety guidelines specifically for heritage buildings which can act as a good reference for the building owners or conservators in safeguarding the heritage buildings. The purpose of this study is to identify existing active fire safety measures in selected heritage timber buildings in Malaysia. The study was conducted through literature findings and observation of four selected heritage timber buildings. The study had identified that all four heritage timber buildings were equipped with very basic active fire safety measures

A preliminary review on design conservation of Mughal mosque architecture in Dhaka: a case study between Khan Muhammad Mridha mosque and Rasulullah’s (PBUH) prototype mosque in Madina

Mughal architecture reigned supreme in the Indian Sub Continent including Bangladesh for over five and half centuries from 12th -18th Century. Home to the fourth largest Muslim population in the world of about ninety percent of the total population, the Mughals had left many relics including mosques for the Muslims. The capital city of Bangladesh, Dhaka, is studded with mosques of Mughal Period and aptly regarded as ‘the City of Mosques' as the same level as Cairo or Istanbul [2]. However, majority of these mosques have disappeared, in ruins, preserved or repaired by giving a modern look, thus giving an impression that conservation of this invaluable 400 years mosque heritage of Dhaka has always been ignored. This paper analysed the current state of architectural conservation of Mughal mosque architecture in Dhaka through a historical review of existing literature with Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque as the conservation case study. The prototype mosque of Rasulullah (PBUH), the An-Nabawi, in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, is used as a reference for this study to provide guidelines on the extent of conservation to historical mosque-in-use in the light of needs to accommodate the worshippers with the modern requirements. With the limitation of written literature on Dhaka's architectural history and access to sites, the study had identified characteristics of Dhaka's Mughal mosque architecture as heritage traits and had compared them to newly conserved Mughal mosques of its authenticity. Findings on design authenticity of the conserved mosque denote the absence of essential details and characteristics of the Mughal. Constant debate in deciding what needs to be conserved and what had to adapt to meet modern needs between conservators and as practicing Muslim never ends. This preliminary study provides recommendations as a balanced guide for conservators and architects in dealing with heritage mosque as modern buildings