Fire Fighting & Safety

Each year, facility fire safety programs help to prevent fires that could have resulted in the loss of lives, damage to facilities and disrupted operations. Those programs that have proven to be most effective are the ones that include three key elements: detection, containment and suppression. Unfortunately, one size does not fit all when it comes to fire safety programs. Differences between the design of different facilities and how they are used makes it impossible to simply copy one successful program design and apply it to other facilities. Programs must meet the specific needs of the facility. Equally important, programs must be updated to meet the changing needs of occupants. Without regular upgrades, fire safety systems will lose their effectiveness. Systems can end up providing protection against hazards that no longer exist or, worse, fail to provide protection against hazards that did not exist within the facility when the fire protection system was originally installed. The first step in developing any fire safety program is to understand the hazards that will be found within the building. When considering hazards, it is not enough to simply examine the components, materials and layout of the building. Consideration must also be given to building occupants and how they function within the space. People fill buildings with paper and other combustible items, allow trash to accumulate, block exits, interfere with sprinkler head operation, disable fire safety systems and close water supply valves. Most building fires are caused by people, not building components. Ignoring people in designing the fire safety program dramatically reduces the system’s effectiveness.