Integrating Fire Safety Strategies to Enhance Occupant Safety in Mixed-Use Buildings in Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract

Access to adequate fire safety remains a significant challenge for many mixed-use buildings in Kaduna, Nigeria, where systems are often compromised by generator-dependent power, informal retail layouts, and low municipal water pressure. This study evaluates the integration of fire safety strategies in such buildings to enhance occupant safety and promote resilient design. A mixedmethods approach was adopted, combining quantitative data from 50 architectural and engineering professionals with qualitative case-study observations and photographic documentation. Nine fire safety strategies were examined, including compartmentation, pressurized stairwells, fire-rated doors, refuge floors, protected means of escape, zoned detection with battery backup, solar-powered detection, gravity-fed hose reels, and dry-pipe sprinkler systems. While compartmentation and pressurized stairwells recorded the highest knowledge levels (Means = 3.82 and 3.56 respectively), overall integration remained low across all strategies (all Means < 3.0). Cost implications and developer priorities emerged as the strongest barriers (Means = 4.72 and 4.64), whereas occupant safety and regulatory enforcement ranked highest among success factors (Means = 4.94 and 4.68). The study recommends strengthened code enforcement, capacity building on passive-first and context-adapted systems, and demonstration projects that quantify life-safety and lifecycle benefits. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on fire safety in tropical urban contexts and provide practical guidance for architects, engineers, and policymakers seeking to enhance occupant safety in mixed-use buildings.