Fire and Safety Tips for High-Rise Building and Facilities Managers

The most important system in any building is the fire safety system. Other systems including HVAC and electrical are elements that, if they malfunction, are repairable and rarely life threatening. A malfunctioning fire and safety system can be disastrous.

With the presence of high-rises and massive building complexes, building owners and managers are aware that state-of-the-art, high performance fire safety systems are essential to ensure the safety of the occupants within.

For any new construction or remodel, design architects collaborate with expert safety companies like High Rise Security Systems to integrate the best fire and safety systems into their planning.

Designing Safety

During the design of a new building or retrofit, qualified fire safety experts will utilize design software to:

• Identify the right number and placement of the fire detection devices.
• Locate notification devices such as alarms, strobes, and visual indicators.
• Define evacuation routes and alternatives.
• Design precautionary systems for special flammable or potentially dangerous products.
• Include fire suppressant systems.
• Locate central monitoring, control panel, and annunciator locations.

Installation Options

Prior to the installation stage, the building owner and fire safety company will have concluded the specific devices and connectivity that would best fit the design and provide the highest level of safety. Some elements that are important to ensure the security of the building are:

• Control panel with sufficient capacity and connectivity to manage all devices.
• Addressable sensors and alarms that allow for the immediate identification of the location of the outbreak.
• Central monitoring center for trained security personnel.
• Audible alarm systems with bells and loudspeakers for verbal evacuation directions.
• Visual notification systems with strobes and LED instruction displays.
• Smoke, fire, gas, and motion detection devices.
• Closed circuit TV systems.
• Clearly marked evacuation routes.
• Integrating all devices into a single system with backup power capability.
• Connecting the system to external monitoring.

Final Inspection

Before occupancy permits are issued, the entire fire and safety system must be tested. The qualified fire safety company will test and certify the system before local authorities issue the permits.

Ongoing Maintenance and Monitoring

The fire safety company should perform regular maintenance and ongoing monitoring of the system.

High Rise Security Systems in Chicago

HRSS is a supplier of highly sophisticated Notifier by Honeywell fire protection systems. With decades of experience, HRSS is certified by UL® and NICET, National Institute of Certification in Engineering Technologies.