MNO2603
Assignment 3 Semester 1 2025
Unique #:
Due Date: 30 April 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, QUESTION 1
The primary cause of the Bank of Lisbon Building Fire was an electrical fault.
The fire originated in the electrical supply room on one of the upper floors of the
building, which was later confirmed as the source of the blaze (Nkuna, 2024;
SowetanLIVE, 2023).
QUESTION 2
The electrical fault in the Bank of Lisbon Building contributed significantly to the
rapid spread of the fire due to the combination of system failures and structural
weaknesses in the building. Once the fire started, there were no effective early
warning or suppression mechanisms in place to contain it at its origin. Several
key factors contributed to the spread of the fire:
1. Lack of Fire Suppression Systems:
The building lacked basic fire suppression systems such as sprinklers and fire
extinguishers. Without these systems, the fire could not be quickly contained in
its early stages, allowing it to spread rapidly across multiple floors (Nkuna, 2024).
2. Inadequate Fire Detection and Alarm Systems:
There were no functional fire alarms or smoke detectors in place to alert
occupants or emergency services in time. The delayed detection of the fire gave it
more time to escalate before a response could be initiated (SowetanLIVE, 2023).
3. Obstructed and Inadequate Emergency Exits:
.Clogged stairwells and defective emergency exits severely hampered
evacuation efforts. Not only did this delay the safe exit of occupants, but it also
restricted firefighters' access, reducing their ability to fight the fire effectively and
safely (IOL, 2023).
These three factors—lack of suppression systems, poor detection, and blocked
escape routes—demonstrate how structural negligence and non-compliance with
safety standards can dramatically increase fire risk and impact.
Varsity Cube 2025 +27 81 278 3372
Assignment 3 Semester 1 2025
Unique #:
Due Date: 30 April 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, QUESTION 1
The primary cause of the Bank of Lisbon Building Fire was an electrical fault.
The fire originated in the electrical supply room on one of the upper floors of the
building, which was later confirmed as the source of the blaze (Nkuna, 2024;
SowetanLIVE, 2023).
QUESTION 2
The electrical fault in the Bank of Lisbon Building contributed significantly to the
rapid spread of the fire due to the combination of system failures and structural
weaknesses in the building. Once the fire started, there were no effective early
warning or suppression mechanisms in place to contain it at its origin. Several
key factors contributed to the spread of the fire:
1. Lack of Fire Suppression Systems:
The building lacked basic fire suppression systems such as sprinklers and fire
extinguishers. Without these systems, the fire could not be quickly contained in
its early stages, allowing it to spread rapidly across multiple floors (Nkuna, 2024).
2. Inadequate Fire Detection and Alarm Systems:
There were no functional fire alarms or smoke detectors in place to alert
occupants or emergency services in time. The delayed detection of the fire gave it
more time to escalate before a response could be initiated (SowetanLIVE, 2023).
3. Obstructed and Inadequate Emergency Exits:
.Clogged stairwells and defective emergency exits severely hampered
evacuation efforts. Not only did this delay the safe exit of occupants, but it also
restricted firefighters' access, reducing their ability to fight the fire effectively and
safely (IOL, 2023).
These three factors—lack of suppression systems, poor detection, and blocked
escape routes—demonstrate how structural negligence and non-compliance with
safety standards can dramatically increase fire risk and impact.
Varsity Cube 2025 +27 81 278 3372
