Planning For Safe Egress From Your Commercial Building In The Event Of An Emegency

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No one wants to plan to have a fire in a building, but the reality is, fires can happen where you least expect them, and if you do not have a plan in please to get people safely out of harm's way, you are asking for trouble. Whether you are planning a new building or working with a preexisting structure, planning for the worst is going to keep everyone safe even if it never happens. If you are not sure where to start, you can get help from local fire officials and building inspectors.

Smoke Control Systems

Most people do not know what a smoke control system is or what it does but in a building with several ways out; it can make the difference between people getting out safely or becoming lost and overcome by the smoke generated by even a small fire. Often smoke control systems are placed in stairwells and near egress points of buildings and use large fans to blow air into the building. 

On the surface, this seems like you would be fanning the fire by doing this and while that may be true to some extent, the fan pushes smoke out of specific areas so that people can move through those areas and out of the building safely. There is a great deal of engineering and planning that go into these systems, but the result is the same. People get out safely.

Planning For Emergencies When Designing A New Building

From smoke control to fire suppression, planning for emergencies is part of the process when a new building is being designed. If the designer or architect were to ignore these things, the building would never get approval from the code enforcement office in your city or town, and it just would not get built. The engineering that goes into the structure of the building is important and taking into account how to keep people safe in the structure is as important as how to get them safely out if there is an emergency. Something as simple as the width of a stairwell can make a difference in the speed and efficiency of an evacuation, so it is important that you take into account how many people will likely be in the building at any one time and give them several ways out if they need to get out quickly.

Small To Large, The Standards Are The Same

It does not matter if you are building a small office space, a medium-sized retail store, or a large building with many floors and offices, business, or leased spaced throughout the building. The standards are the same. You have to provide a safe way out in the event of an emergency. Working with an architect to design the space and a builder who can make it all transfer from the design to the actual building is important. If you are not sure that you have met the requirements, talk with the building inspector or the fire chief and have them look over your plan. They may make adjustments or suggestion to help but remember, they want the same thing you do. Safety for everyone that uses your building.

For more information on smoke control system design, contact your local fire prevention specialists. 


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