Fire safety principles and practices

Fire Safety

I live in an apartment building with 10 floors. Although certain features make the building a relatively low fire risk, there are also factors that could be improved to further reduce the likelihood of injury and death should fire occur, and to reduce the likelihood of fire itself. This can be done by means of several measures, including an improvement in planning and communication, as well as a focus on increasing fire prevention tools such as fire extinguishers.

The building's design is focused upon providing safety for residents, including reducing the likelihood of fire, and providing several escape routes should fire occur, especially from the higher floors. The building has four elevators positioned on either side of the building. Access to and from apartments are also provided by means of three internal staircases, positioned strategically along the hallways linking the apartments. Apartments are therefore proportionately served by internal stairs should fire erupt and make the elevators unusable. Furthermore, two external staircases are provided along the outside of the building, both of which are linked to all the apartments in the building.

Other safety features include two fire hoses and one fire extinguisher on each floor. However, a hazard is that residents are likely unaware of how to use these effectively should fire erupt. The residents have also not been drilled to effect an escape should this be necessary in case of fire.

The Common Floor (2010) Web site suggests that each family in the apartment building should have a fire extinguisher in their homes, and each adult member of the family should know how to use them. This empowers residents to control fires that break out within their individual apartments.

Another important feature to help detect and prevent fires is an alarm and sprinkler system. My apartment building has a sprinkler system in every kitchen, which drastically reduces the likelihood that kitchen fires could get out of control. There are however no smoke detectors or other form of alarm system. Wu (2001, p. 22) suggests that that an alarm system should be of the appropriate volume to alert residents of the hazard and to encourage timely escape.

At the same time, residents should also be aware of the building's evacuation plan (Common Floor, 2010). Current, this is one of the greatest hazards inherent in my building. There is very little communication among the building's management group and the residents living in it. There are no fire drills, nor are residents even aware if an evacuation plan exists. Communication and orderly evacuations are two vital elements in the case of fire, as fire tends to cause panic. Without an effective evacuation plan, panic will cause many more deaths and injuries than is necessary.

In order to improve this situation, the management group must create a platform for communication among residents and management. Currently, the only form of communication between the two groups is by means of hand-delivered notices if problems arise. It is suggested that this system be used as a springboard for communication about fire safety measures and fire drills. It is suggested that a fire drill be implemented once every three months.

Furthermore, residents must receive fire extinguishers and training on how to use fire hoses and extinguishers. Management must ensure that extinguishers are refilled regularly.

Wu (2001, p. 26) also mentions that smoke control is an important element of fire prevention in buildings. Smoke control can occur by means of dilution, airflow, pressurization, buoyancy and compartmentation. In the even of a fire, any of these methods will reduce the likelihood of residents being harmed by smoke inhalation. For my building, a combination of dilution and airflow is likely to be a viable solution.

In the light of the above, one might assess my building's fire safety features as currently mostly relying on its design features. Internal and external staircases, fire hoses, and kitchen sprinkler systems provide features that make the building relatively safe in terms of fire prevention and escape in the event of a fire.

The most significant shortcoming is the general lack of communication among management and residents. This should be improved by regular meetings and fire drills. It is recommended that fire drills occur every three months. Furthermore, communication channels should also be established with local fire houses, where professionals can also be asked to address the residents regarding fire safety and its importance.

Other features to be implemented include fire extinguishers and smoke control systems. These should be provided to each apartment in the building.