Life Safety
The Life Safety Code had its origin in the work of the Committee on Safety to Life of the National Fire Protection Association, which was appointed in 1913. In 1912 a pamphlet titled Exit Drills in Factories, Schools, Department Stores and Theaters was published following its presentation by the late Committee member R. H. Newbern at the 1911 annual meeting of the association.
Life-safety system, any interior building element designed to protect and evacuate the building population in emergencies, including fires and earthquakes, and less critical events, such as power failures. Fire-detection systems include electronic heat and smoke detectors that can activate audible alarms and automatically notify local fire departments. For fire suppression, hand-operated fire extinguishers and, often, building sprinkler systems are provided. Smoke is as dangerous as fire, so protective measures include the automatic shutdown of ventilating systems and elevators and the division of the building into smoke proof compartments. Occupants evacuate through protected exits (which include exit corridors and stairways in smoke proof enclosures in multistory buildings) leading to the exterior.
Maintaining life safety drawings
Updates and accuracy are keys to managing living documents and successfully performing facility inspections. The job of a health care facilities manager is multifaceted and complex. Renovation projects, environment of care rounds, mock surveys, local fire marshal visits, state department of health inspections and accreditation surveys are all realities of this position.
The success of any inspection can greatly depend on the accuracy of life safety drawings. They provide the roadmap for the life safety features of the building. At a minimum, they should include locations of all fire and smoke barriers, shafts, exit stairs, passageways, horizontal exits, suite boundaries, smoke compartments, hazardous areas, sprinkler protection and occupancy separations, such as for health care, ambulatory care and business.
When life safety drawings show a storage room as a hazardous area with a 1-hour fire barrier enclosure, the surveyor will expect to see a compliant 45-minute-rated door and walls that go to the structure with all penetrations properly sealed. If the drawings show a 2-hour rated fire barrier, the surveyor will expect to see a compliant 90-minute door and a fire damper. In areas not identified as suites, the surveyor will expect to see a clear 8-foot corridor, with the exception of permitted wheeled equipment.
This is why it is so important to keep the drawings updated and accurate.
Living documents
Life safety drawings are living documents that must be continually updated as areas change use, walls are moved, doors are installed or removed, or the facility is altered in other ways. Most people will update the drawings during an addition or renovation project; however, failing to keep the drawings updated with smaller changes can cause problems down the road.
Standard requirements
The National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 170, Standard for Fire Safety and Emergency Symbols, offers a national standard for architectural symbols and includes the line types for the list of fire and smoke barriers. Source of Data: NFPA
Fire safety
Fire safety is one of the most important considerations for any employer, school, college, or university, mall, theatre, or management personnel. Fire dangers are the most hazardous of all because, if a fire breaks out in a building, it will not only destroy that portion but quickly spreads, possibly resulting in death. Though few fire incidents are avoidable and predicted early, the majority are not; thus, fire safety precautions are necessary.
Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured every year as a result of fire hazards.
Why is fire safety important to individuals?
Whether it’s an organization or a residence, a group of individuals or a single person, if fire disasters occur at a very serious level, the consequences will be disastrous.
We do not place a higher priority on fire awareness or fire-related issues since we do not believe they are mandatory or necessary.
Do you have any idea how many children are impacted by fire accident each year? Each year, approximately 500 children under the age of 14 are killed by fire. Residential fires are the most common cause of death or injury among children. As children are not developed enough or have not been trained how to deal with fires, they do not know how to react in such dangerous situations. The lack of a fire alarm system in the residence is also a factor.
Cooking appliances, cigarettes, unmaintained cylinder tubes, and non-maintenance of fire-prone places, among other things, are all likely to cause major house mishaps. People need to be aware of fire-fighting devices and how to use them, as well as evacuation procedures, in order to avoid or protect themselves from flames.
Why is fire safety important in the workplace?
To safeguard employees
Life is more important than anything else on Earth because there is nothing more valuable than life. Fire safety classes teach us about the devices that aid in fire prevention, the various processes that are involved in handling such fire disaster circumstances, and how to safely exit the building during a fire.
This fire safety training helps in reducing the risks. A fire can occur at any moment and in any location. It could be caused by an electric fire, lamps, candles, electric space heaters, or any other flammable item, etc. in an organization. Lack of personnel training could result in significant property and human life loss. Fire safety training is required in both the domestic and corporate sectors.
For example, electric space heaters that keep rooms warm might cause fire accidents in warehouses if they are left unattended or if they are not handled correctly. As you can’t predict when a fire will happen, proper staff training would be beneficial in dealing with a potentially dangerous situation. Fire safety classes are always beneficial since they deal with the rescue of people and property in danger, which can occur at any time.
To increase productivity and profit
As mentioned earlier, a safe and healthy environment would result in an increase in the productivity and profit of any organization. A safe workplace has lower absenteeism, higher turnover, and lower employee injury and illness cost.
The importance of fire mock drills in Safety
What is a fire mock drill? Fire mock drills include mock sessions or demonstrations like raising fire alarms, using fire extinguishers, rescuing trapped people, rescuing people from different floors, etc. It helps learners to react and plan things quickly during an emergency, to learn evacuation methods during an emergency, and it creates confidence for learners.
Source of Data Self & Online Resource portal
