ABSTRACT
The occurrence of disasters and emergencies has increased in frequency and intensity in the last decade, especially recent times. Rapid population growth, urbanization and social political issues compounded by ethnic plurality has been resulting in fierce competition for scarce resources leading to deteriorating livelihoods, social marginalization, crime and general insecurity. Traditional markets amongst others experience the manifestations of these which is revealed in the growing rate of fire outbreaks amongst other negative things. Fire outbreaks in markets has led to a wanton loss of lives and properties worth billions of naira across Nigeria, this ugly sinister isn't mostly due to natural causes but man-made. Eventually Architects during the conceptual design stage had barely paid attention to prevention and control strategies that could minimize fire outbreaks and spread in cases of emergencies. The aim of this study is to evaluate fire prevention and control strategies in the design of markets in Nigeria. For the evaluation of fire prevention and control strategies in markets case studies were conducted on some selected markets. Data was collected through interview and a checklist was designed and in each of the cases. The results obtained from the cases studied showed that the markets are not properly zoned with regards to fire. Also, fire prone areas and the non-fire prone areas were not clearly defined and the devices and strategies provided are inadequate. Furthermore the research shows how fire could easily be spread through ducts and voids that have not been careful treated especially through roof spaces.
The findings were considered in the proposal of an ultra-modern market in Kafanchan, the design demonstrated key fire prevention and control strategies that could minimize fire spread and outbreak.
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