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fire prevention week

Fire Won’t Wait, Plan Your Escape

Conner Wolff-Torres · Oct 10, 2022 ·

NFPA Fire Prevention Week

No matter what kind of building you manage, you must maintain multiple safe and efficient means of egress for your occupants. Egress is essential to protecting your occupants from harm when they need to exit your building in a hurry. That is why it is the focus of the National Fire Prevention Association’s Fire Prevention Week this year – “Fire won’t wait, plan your escape.” As a building manager you will need to know what means of egress are, how they become obstructed, and how to maintain safe and efficient egress out of your building.

What Are Means of Egress?

Egress is the action of going out of or leaving a place.  It is used in International Building Code (IBC Chapter 10)  to refer to the means by which somebody can exit a building. “Means of egress” are continuous and unobstructed paths of travel from any point in a building to an exit out of that building. For example, a fire escape is defined as a “means of egress” because that’s how somebody can get out of a building in the event of an emergency. Fire safety and evacuation plans shall be provided for occupancies and buildings where required by the International Fire Code (IFC Sections 401.2 and 404). Occupancy load determines means of egress by specifying measurement requirements based on the type of occupancy. While occupancy load is based on the floor area, the function of the space also plays a part. Most businesses are designed with this in mind. Occupants should never walk through a kitchen, storeroom, restroom or any tight, secluded spaces to reach an exit.

Egress often becomes obstructed when the exits are poorly maintained, or the path to the exits is not well lit. Additionally, if exit access and exits themselves are not designed and arranged to be recognizable, egress can be severely impeded. 

Maintaining Safe & Efficient Egress

Develop an Evacuation Plan

Anytime is a great time to create and practice your escape plan. Having a plan in place will decrease confusion and panic when a real emergency occurs. If occupants know where the nearest exits are, what their means of egress will be, and the protocol during an emergency, they will be able to exit with greater speed and safety.

First, you need to provide at least two ways out in case one escape route is blocked. Next, you will need to post emergency egress signage near exits and in assembly areas showing all doors and windows of your building. In addition, each egress map should designate two assembly areas that are at least 500 feet away from the building where staff should assemble upon evacuation as a “Main Assembly Area” and an “Alternate Assembly Area”, in the event the Main Area cannot be used. Once your plan is complete, you will also need to educate occupants about the plan and conduct drills on a regular basis to learn and maintain awareness of exit routes and best efficiency practices. 

Keep A Clear Path to All Exits

Do regular checks to ensure egress pathways do not have litter, clutter, and debris that could stand in the way. In some cases, obstructions can’t be easily moved, like pillars and standpipes. Mark these obstructions with luminous egress path markings so occupants can avoid injury during emergencies. Luminous markings are ideal because they keep the obstruction visible in dark or low-light environments. They work by absorbing light from external sources, which keep them lit when all other lights lose power.

Emergency Lighting

During emergencies, buildings sometimes lose power. This can increase panic while the lack of light might cause difficulty for emergency responders. To ensure everyone gets out safely, your exit pathways must be lined with adequate emergency lighting. This includes signs marking directional changes in your egress path.

If you manage a high-rise building, international building, fire and life safety codes require luminous egress path markings. These markings must be installed along the egress pathway and on step edges, handrails, and exit doors. As discussed above, luminous markings must also be placed on any exit path obstructions.

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Clearly Mark Your Exits

The final key to maintaining safe and efficient egress is to ensure all exit doors are marked and easy to see. Remember to remove any obstructions or decorations that block your exit markings. And you must place “not an exit” on any doors that your occupants could easily mistake for a way out.

Your exit markings should be large with strongly-contrasted letters stating “Exit.” Exit signs leading to the exit doors will have arrows indicating the egress path. Additionally, your final exit doors – the last doors an occupant passes through before exiting – should have the emergency exit symbol.

Need your exit lights tested to ensure they are visible and up to code? Contact us to get on our schedule.

Need your exit lights tested to ensure they are visible and up to code? Contact us to get on our schedule.

Schedule Now!

Now you know how to maintain safe and efficient egress out of your building. With this knowledge, you can create an even safer and more prepared environment for your employees.

The next step is to implement these strategies. It can be difficult to know which markings to purchase, where to place them, and how to properly install them. You’ll also need to ensure you’re following all national and local emergency exit requirements every step of the way. Let APFP help you install and maintain emergency egress lighting and markings tailored to your building’s exact specifications and unique needs.

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Fire Prevention Week 2021

Conner Wolff-Torres · Oct 4, 2021 ·

Fire Prevention Week 2021

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LEARN THE SOUNDS OF FIRE SAFETY

This week is Fire Prevention Week! This year’s FPW campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!” works to educate everyone about the different sounds fire protection systems make. Knowing what to do when an alarm sounds will keep you, your business and your employees safe. When an alarm makes noises – a beeping sound or a chirping sound – you must take action.

NFPA | firepreventionweek.org

This week we will be going over the different sounds of fire safety on our social media channels, and what to do when you hear them. As a business, you should schedule faculty training and establish staff responsibilities for the following:

  • Fire Alarms
  • Carbon Dioxide Alarms
  • Fire Bells
  • Water Gongs
  • Panel alarms

Don’t miss out!

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ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance in 1925, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. During Fire Prevention Week children and  adults alike learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. You probably remember it from when you were a kid and firefighters came in to teach you about stop, drop and roll and maybe you even got to see a real firetruck.

Fire Prevention Week is observed every year during the week of October 9th to commemorate the  Great Chicago Fire. The Chicago Fire began on October 8, 1871, and killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

The Great Chicago Fire | Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.

IMPORTANCE OF FIRE PREVENTION

In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Teenagers, adults, and business are also at risk in fires, making it important for every member of the community to take some time every October during Fire Prevention Week to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COMMERCIAL FIRE PREVENTION

Fire Prevention vs. Fire Protection

Fire protection and fire prevention are both essential to keeping you and your business safe, but what is the difference between them. Fire prevention involves proactive steps taken to reduce fire hazards so that a fire does not have a chance to ignite. Fire prevention requires inspection, testing, and maintenance of systems to ensure they are operating properly and they are effective during a fire. Systems need to be periodically inspected for mechanical deficiencies, proper function, valve actuation, water flow, sprinkler clearances, etc., Fire prevention also involves eliminating the risks that may cause fire to occur.

These steps are guidelines to overall fire prevention:

  • Perform regular risk assessments, and identify the weak areas to improve safety.
  • Identify and resolve deficiencies sources within the facility that emit heat or are combustible, flammable, or make the building more susceptible to fire.
  • Adhere to fire regulations and NFPA standards.
  • Perform regular fire drills. Keep building owners, operators, occupants, and emergency personnel up to date regarding operation of fire protection systems.
  • Regularly train staff on fire prevention practices.
  • Keep systems in top working order with preventive maintenance contracts.
  • Utilize diagnostics and system analytics that can help predict trouble before it occurs.

On the other hand, Fire protection systems are a series of components that work together to detect fires and mitigate the negative impacts. Fire protection includes alarms, suppression systems, sprinkler systems, extinguishers, and any technology that allows you to alert people or monitor the fire. A P Fire Protection is dedicated and passionate about protecting your property and employees. We test, inspect, install and repair all fire protection related devices.

A full-fledged fire protection system includes:

  • Fire Suppression Sprinkler Systems (wet, dry, preaction, deluge, antifreeze, and fire pumps)
  • Special Hazards Fire Suppression Systems (foam, low and high pressure CO2, as well as clean agent systems)
  • Fire alarm detection system (control panel, flame detectors, heat detectors, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors)
  • Mass notification (notification appliances, pull stations/call box points)
  • Emergency Exit Lights
  • Fire extinguisher, fire hydrants, and backflows
  • Fire alarm monitoring
  • Integrated security, access control, and video surveillance systems for appropriate actions from each system

The point of fire protection and fire prevention is to be proactive. This means implementing and monitoring a fire safety regime to reduce disruption and protect staff, visitors, and other occupants.

Why You Need Both Fire Protection and Prevention

Do you know the last time you checked the fire extinguishers? If so, you are neglecting your fire protection and require fire protection services. Do you feel confident your building is up to code on the amount and location for fire alarms and sprinkler heads, but your staff hasn’t been trained on fire prevention strategies? If so, you are missing an integral component of fire safety. Both fire protection and prevention are necessary for your business’s safety and security. Fire prevention is essential to limit risks and reduce hazards that could potentially start fires yet not all fires can be prevented because risks are almost never eliminated entirely. For that reason, fire protection is also necessary. Fire protection can lessen the damage of fire once it has ignited. Fire protection services such as a fire suppression system and routine fire protection system maintenance are integral parts of an effective fire protection strategy.

COMMERCIAL BUILDING SERVICES WE PROVIDE

Fire prevention and fire protection are extremely important but can also be complicated with so many moving parts. That’s why it’s important to choose a fire protection service provider that is knowledgeable and experienced.

Here are some of the services we provide:

  • Fire Alarm Systems & Monitoring
  • Fire Sprinkler Suppression Systems
  • Emergency Exit Lights
  • Backflow Preventers
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Kitchen Hood Fire Suppression Systems
  • Fire Hydrants
  • Fire Hoses
  • Fire Doors
  • CO2 Monitoring System

At A P Fire Protection we know the importance of providing quality service to the customers we work with. We make sure to work directly with you, answering any questions you may have so that your commercial buildings are compliant with Fire Code Standards. We ensure that all of your Fire Safety Systems are properly maintained and serviced.

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Source: NFPA Fire Prevention Week

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7612 N 71st Ave
Glendale, AZ 85303

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