Investigating the state of fire protection systems at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (2022–2023)

Abstract Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) is known as ‘Bara’ and is the largest public hospital in Africa and the third largest in the world, with approximately 3,200 beds. It has 407 buildings and operates on a 24-h basis. Hospitals have experienced hazardous fires, which can result in loss of life, pollution, and property damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current fire protection systems at CHBAH to determine whether they can protect the hospital community during fire outbreaks. The research questions for the study are as follows: 1. What is the current state of the hospital regarding fire protection systems? 2. What is the current international practice of safety at hospitals? 3. What is the best practice regarding the maintenance of the fire protection system at hospitals? 4. What are the perceptions of hospital staff about hospital fire protection systems? This study used a mixed-methods research approach with cross-sectional analysis. The population consisted of the hospital community, which included top management, specialists, doctors, nurses, administration staff, and general workers. The sample comprised 280 respondents, 130 observed buildings, and six interviews from top management at CHBAH. Methods used to collect data: questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and observations. The results from questionnaires, observations, and interviews indicated that the maintenance and functionality of fire protection systems at CHBAH were compromised, related to hospital fire safety and compliance with South African National Standard Codes, the City of Johannesburg Bylaws, and other relevant codes to the hospital.