Nightspots lack fire prevention

Nightspots lack fire prevention

JAKARTA (JP): A study has revealed that 64 nightspots in the
city lack fire prevention equipment.

The 64 establishments, mostly discotheques and bars, are
spread across the city and standing on 160 to 8,000 square meter
plots of land. Some incorporate restaurants, nightclubs, massage
parlors, billiard and karaoke facilities.

The city has more than 3,223 nightspots, according to the
public order office.

Fire prevention and management is regulated under city rule
No. 3/1992. However, the report from the fire department did not
detail all requirements outlined in the rule.

It focused mainly on extinguishers, alarms, emergency lights
and exit lighting, which almost all the nightspots were
recommended to install.

Fourteen were found to lack both emergency and exit lighting.

Almost half -- or 31 establishments -- lack emergency stairs,
including the four-story "Top 10" bar, discotheque and karaoke
hall on Jl. Hayam Wuruk, West Jakarta.

The largest site -- the Zodiak in Glodok Plaza -- was reported
to have 54 extinguishers for its bar, discotheque, restaurant and
nightclub. The nightspot can accommodate up to 10,000 people.

The management was advised to move extinguishers to more
visible positions. (anr)