Exploring Fire-Resilient Design Strategies in Public Administrative Buildings in Rivers State
Abstract
Public administrative buildings in Rivers State had experienced recurring fire outbreaks that disrupted government operations, affected public service delivery, and endangered critical administrative records, thereby demonstrating the need for improved fire-resilient architectural planning. This study aimed to identify public administrative buildings that had experienced fire outbreaks in Rivers State, examine the nature of these incidents, and determine the architectural design strategies that could improve their resilience to fire. A qualitative multiple case study approach was adopted, using thematic cross-case analysis of five public administrative buildings with documented fire incidents to address these objectives. The study found that the selected buildings were affected by both electrical faults and deliberate arson, with recurring vulnerabilities including inadequate fire compartmentation, weak protection of critical government functions, vulnerable building services, insufficient fire detection and suppression systems, and poor emergency preparedness. The findings showed that conventional fire safety measures alone were inadequate and that integrated fire-resilient architectural planning was required to minimise operational disruption and support the recovery of governance functions. The study contributed to knowledge by developing a context specific Fire-Resilient Design Guideline Framework that translated recurring vulnerabilities into practical design considerations for the planning, retrofitting, and management of public administrative buildings in Rivers State. It was concluded that implementing the proposed framework would enhance life safety, protect critical government assets, and strengthen resilience, while the study recommended the adoption of integrated fire-resilient design strategies, improved emergency preparedness, routine maintenance, digital archiving, and strengthened policy enforcement.