High-Rise Condominium Fire Safety

High-Rise condominiums have received much attention in recent years from the fire safety community. The multiple floors of a high-rise building require many residents to venture a long path downward from their homes to evacuate, making them especially tricky from a safety standpoint.

A well-known example of a tragedy in a high-rise residential setting is the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017, which killed 72 people because of a lack of fire monitoring and safety precautions. Consequently, condominium managers and owners associations (COAs) must always be genuinely vigilant about fire safety. 

Fire Alarm Systems are Mandatory

Buildings are legally required to have a working and tested code-compliant fire alarm system. As a condo manager or COA, you should also:

●      Consult with a fire protection company to find out what type of sprinklers, smoke alarms, and extinguishers federal, state, and local laws and codes require and where to install them. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 13 dictates regulations for sprinkler systems.

●       Have residents tailor their own escape plan, including exit routes, whether the front door or designated fire escape.

●       Make sure shared areas such as laundry rooms, recreational facilities, and meeting rooms have smoke detectors and are free of electrical issues. Regular testing and maintenance are critical. 

●       Constantly educate staff and residents about fire safety in high-rise buildings. Here's a link to an informative brochure compiled by FEMA on High-Rise Fire Safety.

●       Appoint employees and residents to a committee that meets and discusses fire safety at least two times a year. The committee should distribute information and minutes to residents. 

●      Create a condominium fire safety checklist.  

●      Clean and organize storage areas. Stock flammable materials in the correct places.

Additional Condominium Fire Safety 

Condominium managers and COAs should make sure there is a fire extinguisher on every floor as well as any basements or parking garages. Also, establish a community meeting area once people evacuate the building so residents can account for each other. Although nobody likes them, it is a facility manager's responsibility to conduct fire drills at least once a year so residents are well-versed on the plan should an emergency occur.

Create a Fire Safety Plan for Residents

It is critical to create a fire safety plan that is unique to your condominium regarding layout and residents with disabilities. In addition to some of the things referenced above, your safety plan needs to have condominium building info such as construction type, evacuation, fire safety tips, and info on the building's fire safety system. Managers and COAs should: 

• Provide each resident with one
• Post it in common areas
• Distribute copies to each new resident 
• Make sure the local fire marshal and the fire department have a copy of the plan
  

Keep in mind, some factors can exacerbate a fire emergency. These should be considered in any fire safety plan. They include: 

●        Insufficient water supplies

●        A breeze creating a wind-driven fire 

●        Elderly occupants with a lack of mobility

●        Occupants who panic 

 HRSS Protects High-Rise Buildings and Condominiums

High Rise Security Systems, HRSS, can assist you in ascertaining the best commercial fire alarm system for your high-rise building or condominium with in-depth knowledge of all fire and life safety codes and quality fire safety equipment. Notification devices include audible alarms and flashing lights as well as tailored voice messages to help residents with a quick and safe evacuation. HRSS goes far beyond code compliance to offer the best commercial fire alarm system designed to exceed your unique high-rise building needs.

HRSS provides commercial fire and life safety systems to varius properties, including high-rise buildings, throughout the Chicagoland area.  Our professional fire safety specialists provide decades of experience in offering safe and compliant fire detection and protection for your property, residents, employees, and visitors. Contact us for more information on commercial fire and life safety systems for high-rise buildings.  

This article was originally published at: https://hrsschicago.com/commercial-fire-alarms/high-rise-condominium-fire-safety/

 

The Purpose of Duct Smoke Detectors

 
 

During a fire, the ducts of an HVAC system can serve as a literal superhighway for smoke, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide throughout a commercial building. In addition, the airflow from an HVAC system feeds a fire oxygen, supercharging the process. It is essential and may be required by commercial fire alarm code regulations to have a functioning duct smoke detector in your building. 

How do Duct Smoke Detectors Work?

Duct smoke detectors test air currents to determine if fumes or smoke are present in air handling equipment. The detection system will stop blowers and fans, close dampers, and trigger a visible and loud signal at the fire control panel if anything is detected. Code requirements may vary based on the governing code in your jurisdiction, however, duct smoke detectors are most common in buildings with 5-ton plus HVAC units, if 2,000 cfm (cubic feet per minute) or more are processed through the supply side of air handling units, or if the return side exceeds 15,000 cfm and serves more than one building floor. 

A duct smoke detector is a perforated pipe affixed to a smoke detector. The pipe extends into the duct and is placed so that duct airflow passes through it. The pipe then pushes the air it gathers into the smoke detector. A return pipe moves the air back into the duct.

Duct smoke detectors are connected to a circuit board. The detector notifies the circuit board when the airflow sampling process identifies smoke. The board then sends a signal to activate the fire alarm, which shuts down the HVAC fan, and damper closure begins.

Maintenance is Very Important for Duct Smoke Detectors

NFPA 72 states that duct smoke detectors must be visually inspected twice per year. These inspections should be performed by qualified staff or a trained fire safety professional. It should ensure the following: 

●        The Circuit board has no apparent signs of damage

●        Remote annunciators are working properly

●        Airflow through the duct near the detector is not affected by any holes or cuts 

●        Trouble signals on the control unit are clear

●        Sampling system fittings and piping are airtight 

●        The sampling pipe is marked in a visible spot, and samples are clear of debris

●        Filters are clean

●        The detector is securely mounted to the duct and shows no damage  

Like all commercial fire alarm systems, duct smoke detectors must have an annual inspection and testing performed by a qualified fire safety professional. NFPA 72 requires the following steps for duct smoke detectors:

●        A test to make sure smoke can enter the sensing compartment of the detector

●        A test to verify that the pressure differential between the sampling pipes is within the manufacturer’s specified range

●        Sampling pipe testing to ensure that the duct airflow follows the manufacturer’s recommendation 

Fire alarm technicians may use compressed air, a vacuum cleaner, or dry nitrogen to remove debris and dust if sensors require cleaning. The proper local authorities should be notified the system will be down when the testing takes place. 

Duct Smoke Detectors Important Part of Commercial Fire Alarm Systems 

A duct smoke detector is an important part of many commercial fire alarm systems. If the HVAC unit is not working, the duct smoke detector will not detect smoke by design. Duct smoke detectors should be considered another component of a comprehensive fire and life safety system. A commercial building still requires area smoke detectors to meet local, state, and federal fire safety regulations. 

Duct smoke detectors are an excellent investment in protecting your people and property and provide added protection in a building where regular smoke detectors either may malfunction or were not maintained properly.

HRSS provides high-quality commercial fire alarm system equipment from the leading manufacturers in fire safety.  We offer advanced fire alarm systems that monitor safety conditions throughout a building or complex with quality fire alarm equipment, including detectors, initiators, visual and audible alerts, and remote features with full integration.  Contact us to learn more about when and where duct smoke detectors are required in your commercial fire alarm system.

This article was originally published at: https://hrsschicago.com/fire-alarm-and-life-safety/the-purpose-of-duct-smoke-detectors/

Why Elevator Recall is Important

 

An elevator recall ensues when a fire alarm system triggers and commences to automatically send the elevator cab and its occupants to the building’s primary or pre-determined floor. If the smoke detector that set off the alarm is on the primary floor, the elevator will recall to an alternate floor.

Keeping People Safe is the Primary Goal

The idea is to get people in the elevator to safety as quickly as possible. Elevator shafts can fill with smoke and fumes exceptionally quickly in a fire emergency. A recall also tells firefighters that fire could be in the machine room or shaft and to not use it.

Since elevators require inspection and testing of recalls, it is critical for building managers to educate themselves on the fundamentals of the process.

Maintenance and Testing are Critical 

For a facility’s elevator to receive certification, it must go through annual testing and inspection of elevator recalls, among other things. Trained elevator and fire alarm technicians should be the ones to test how the recall functions.  Both the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (fire department) and the local elevator inspection department are tapped with administering the regulations.

There are varied code requirements, including the Chicago Building Code, International Building Code, standards issued by the National Fire Protection Association, and more affecting businesses in and around Chicago.  This makes it complex to understand which regulations apply to your company and your property.  Working with an experienced fire alarm and life safety professional will ensure that your elevators are tested and properly maintained.

The Regulations That Guide Elevator Recalls

 There are general regulations found in NFPA 13, 70, 72, 101, and ASME A17.1 that detail the requirements for elevator recalls and fire alarm systems. 

Here are a few highlights:

●        Smoke detectors are prohibited in the shaft without sprinklers.

●        Just heat detectors may be acceptable in a parking garage elevator lobby where smoke detectors may not be required. 

●        Only automatic detectors located in elevator shafts, elevator lobbies, and machine rooms are permitted to initiate the recalling of elevators.  An elevator should never be recalled by a manual pull station or by detectors in other facility areas unless specified by the AHJ.

●        Many older fire alarms comply with code and may be appropriate for elevator recall, while some systems may require an upgrade of fire alarm technology. 

●        Many fire departments may mandate a complete overhaul of the building’s fire safety system to achieve code compliance. 

A building manager’s essential function in fire alarm system and elevator recall testing is to organize the process and its multiple moving parts. Scheduling a time for the testing and inspection that works for fire alarm and recall technicians is a big part of the role. 

After hours when few or no tenants are in the facility is the best time to test and inspect elevators. Businesses should notify occupants in advance of the testing. Posting signs that indicate necessary testing is occurring and not just “out of order” will help avoid some frustration and let occupants know you are working for their safety. 

High Rise Security Systems Provides Elevator Recall Assistance

 High Rise Security Systems, HRSS, can assist building managers in meeting all code regulations regarding elevator recall and provide documentation to the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). We ensure that your facility’s fire alarm system meets all code regulations such as NFPA 101 Life Safety Code®, NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, and other applicable code regulations. HRSS also provides businesses with updated commercial fire alarm modifications based on changes in the demands of society and technological innovations.

HRSS offers the latest in commercial fire alarm code compliant technology, including elevator recalls. We provide full-service AutoCAD design of commercial fire alarm systems and service from field-trained, NICET certified technicians. Contact us to learn more about protecting your properties with code complaint commercial fire alarms and elevator recall service. 

This article was originally published at: https://hrsschicago.com/fire-alarm-and-life-safety/why-elevator-recall-is-important/