This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at 3 de cada 4 ciudadanos reconoce una alta preocupación ante las medidas de seguridad de los edificios públicos españoles

3 of every 4 citizens recognized a high concern to the Spanish public buildings safety measures

21/06/2007

June 21, 2007

According to data from the study "The security in public buildings." January 2007 "of the Observatory for safety, 3 of every 4 people feel highly concerned about the possibility of occurring a serious incident requiring emergency evacuation, 25 percent more than 2005. One of the causes of this increase is the increase in visits to department stores and public places with high concentration of people. Poor measures of security and incorrect maintenance with possible situations of emergency that is equipped with the Spanish public buildings, highly concerned at the Spanish population.

This study conducted by TNS research to 1,000 homes data confirm that they are the clubs and public car parks - with a score of 4 out of 10-, and that repeated for the second consecutive year, the buildings that Spaniards see it as the worst enabled in the face of an emergency evacuation. Residential buildings also suspended. At the other extreme are the hotels and shopping malls, the highest rated. One of the most disturbing data revealed by the study is that 1 of every 4 respondents has witnessed an experience of locking of emergency doors in a public building, with the results obtained in the survey of 2005, where demonstrating the same 1 of each polled 3. Goods placed front of emergency exits, which prevent its correct operation, and in others, more deliberate, you can see from chains until locks that block altogether these systems can be found in many situations.

With such situations, the Spaniards have demonstrated that they positively appreciate the improvement of security in public buildings. Asked if they believe that architects provide adequate attention to the design of emergency evacuation systems, almost 50 per cent of those surveyed responded that no, percentage which increased 8 points since last year.

According to José Julián Isturitz, director of the Observatory of the security, "is must increase the safety culture from the base of our society." The population is gradually assuming the need to increase security measures in their homes. In public buildings, this awareness must be carried out in the same way, by encouraging the development of architectural designs that while they are innovative, respect the needs of security. Similarly, the deliberate blockade of the emergency exits, must be prevented since they would be unused to a serious incident. "Not to be forgotten that these measures can save lives in an emergency situation."