Abstract
Fire safety and prevention is of great concern in the construction of new buildings and the assessment of existing structures in order to prevent hazardous fire situations and consequential loss of human life. Therefore, the causative agents of fires and the ways fires move and spread are key to understanding how to build or improve structures that minimize fire risk and damage. Because basements are often the starting point for fires, the research specifically explores how basement fires start, spread, what construction elements promote fires, basement fire control, equipment for combating fire outbreak, and prevention of future fire outbreaks. Research was conducted through examination of books, journals, and peer reviewed papers concerning basement structures and fire control, visiting hospitals to study building structure to identify potential fire points and causes, interviews with fire department officers, construction workers, architects, and the investigation of the Nayef Building case study. The case study, other literature, and interviewee information showed the importance of applying building codes and the cooperation of construction contractors to ensure that structural components of buildings such as floors, beams, walls, linings, and ceilings are properly resistant to fire. Buildings must also have the proper equipment and spacing to prevent fire from spreading within the building and to neighboring structures. It is imperative that building codes be followed, structural materials are fire resistant, proper combative tools and warning systems installed, escape routes available, appropriate basement layouts used, and ventilation is available in order to prevent or minimize basement fire dangers.
