Information For Apartment Owners In Regards To Fire Safety
Posted on June 4th, 2010
Apartment buildings can be difficult to escape when a fire breaks loose. Apartment complex fire safety rules can vary greatly from the same rules you would use in the average American home. Practicing fire safety in an apartment complex is a mandatory experience upon first moving into the building in question.
Large apartment complexes can house several hundred residents. Those living on the top floors may not hear, feel, or see a fire until it is too late. It should be the responsibility of every tenant to sound any fire alarms the building has in place, if applicable, when a fire is started. That way everyone has a chance to evacuate before it is too late.
You likely have heard that using the stairs in the event of a fire is the best course of action. This is indeed true, as elevators are easily damaged in a fire. If a fire does make its way to the elevator shaft, it can collapse the shaft in just minutes. If residents were in the shaft, they would become trapped and likely suffer major injuries. Know the location of each stair case to plan escape routes.
Although a stair well is a good option for escape, a fire escape route outside the building is the ideal route. These fire escapes are usually positioned outside of a window or patio. Escaping through these routes will give residents the ability to bypass any large fires, debris in the way, and of course the possibility of an internal collapse. As a result, outside escape routes get precedence.
As you move in, make a checklist of things you will need for your own fire safety needs. There should already be smoke alarms in each bedroom of the apartment, as well as the kitchen. The landlord usually provides these free of charge, depending on the ordinances in your city and locale. You will probably have to foot the bill for a fire extinguisher yourself, but consider it money necessary to be spent.
There is no need to lose control during a fire. Apartment complexes that are built with modern safety features will have new firewall technology that keeps the fire from spreading. In the event that it is able to spread, it will do so at a slower pace. That gives residents the time they need to evacuate the building before the internal structure is damaged. One should still leave personal belongings behind, however, and only worry about getting friends and family members out.
Closing Comments
Living in an apartment is something almost everyone goes through- whether it be the young professional or the working college student. Just remember that you are still at risk of fires, and reading up further tips from resources such as MasterGuard Fire Safety or city websites can save your life.
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