In the case of a fire, a high-rise building can be more challenging to evacuate than a single or double-story property due to longer evacuation times and closely-situated living spaces. It is crucial not only that your high-rise building is fire-safe and adequately equipped for a fire, but that occupants are familiarised with the building’s emergency fire evacuation plan.
HOW SAFE IS A HIGH-RISE BUILDING FROM FIRES?
By adhering to safety procedures and regulations specific to high-rise buildings, a high-rise building can be fire-safe.
Typical features of a fire safe high-rise building include:
- Firefighting equipment, including fire extinguishers and fire hose reels on each level
- A certified fire-resistant front door for every office or apartment
- Several working smoke alarms in each apartment
- Unblocked and well-lit fire stairs
- Illuminated green and white exit points
- Clear ‘In case of fire, do not use lifts’ signage
Equally important is knowledge on how to reduce fire risk. For instance, hot materials (like cigarette butts), oily rags and flammable liquids (such as acetone) should never be thrown down a garbage chute, and nothing should ever be hung on fire sprinkler heads.
The final piece of the fire safety puzzle in a high-rise building is knowledge on how to proceed in the case of a fire, including:
- How to use the fire extinguishers and fire hose reels in your vicinity, and familiarity with where they are situated.
- A practiced home escape plan with your family or flatmates
- Awareness that you should close all windows and doors in your apartment in a fire to reduce the amount of smoke that enters
- Knowledge that the number 000 is who you call immediately for assistance in a fire emergency
WHAT TO DO IN THE CASE OF A FIRE IN A HIGH-RISE BUILDING
You want a large number of people in your building – be it 50, 500 or in the thousands – to be able to evacuate swiftly. Automatic fire sprinkler systems are crucial for high-rise buildings, helping control a fire so to reduce the number of people who have to evacuate from the building at once – ideally enabling occupants to evacuate via the fire stairs in stages.
If the fire spreads rapidly, leaving you unable to exit via the fire stairs, STAY CALM. Situate yourself in an enclosed area, keep the door closed, and seal the cracks under the door with a large shirt or jumper. Jumping from windows might be something we see in the movies, but is an ill-advised action to take for several reasons, including that that smashing the windows will let more smoke in and potentially damage the fire evacuation equipment. It is important that you call 000 to inform them of your location, and then that you follow their instructions while they are en route.
Fire Safe ANZ can help!
From creating customized Emergency Evacuation Diagrams and thorough Emergency Response and Emergency Evacuation Plans to providing Fire Safety and Awareness Training for your building’s occupants, Fire Safe ANZ will ensure all required fire safety measures are in place.
Contact us today to be sure that your property is safeguarded, and that its occupants will know to proceed in an organized manner in the case of a fire emergency.