Resident Education in Fire Safety goes Virtual: Five Areas of focus for residents of high-rise buildings
Historically, a significant challenge for residential high-rise property managers is the engagement of residents to participate in emergency preparedness initiatives. This brief article will focus on five areas of information every resident should understand.
As fire statistics in Ontario climb, proactive Property Managers have recently hit this challenge head on, by bringing in high-rise safety experts to present brief – but powerful building fire safety seminars. These unique sessions provide opportunities for both residents & building staff to uniquely understand their own roles & responsibilities in the event of an emergency.
Both building owners, building staff AND residents have a role in fire safety and it is not only vital for both parties to understand each other’s roles, it is important for residents to understand that the decisions of others (other residents) also have an impact on their safety.
National Life Safety Group is the industry leader in this practice, and the program is being delivered successfully throughout the GTA at high-rise buildings. Understanding each other’s roles, and following the building’s approved fire safety plan, allows for seamless response and quick action to emergencies. The practice of holding resident information evenings, where occupants have an opportunity to review building procedures, and of course, answer the infamous question “Do I leave when the fire alarm goes off at 2:00 AM?” has rapidly become the gold standard in ensuring residents understand the procedures in your building.
Typically, this session allows property managers to document communication of these important procedures - required by fire code, providing for documented compliance, but also allows the resident to truly understand critical information like;
1) Residents need to understand the varied Life Safety features & systems in their building, and understand how they impact resident safety - not all buildings are the same.
Residents need to also understand the vital role that building operations and security personnel play when a fire alarm goes off. Why - Because residents already flood the security desk with calls when the alarm goes off - asking what do to do? Is the alarm Real ? It is this evidence that tells building Owners we have a breakdown in the awareness of the roles and responsibilities.
2) Understand that the decision to leave a suite during a fire alarm is that of the resident, after reviewing evacuation procedures found within the buildings approved fire safety plan, including discussing human behavior in fires, challenges to the fire department response in high-rises, as well as emergency preparedness for Persons Requiring Assistance during evacuations. This allows residents to make informed decisions at time of a fire alarm. The only way to achieve this, is to communicate the residents roles and responsibilities in advance of an emergency.
3) Understand PRA Programs in your Fire Safety Plan. Persons Requiring Assistance during a building evacuation may be described as anyone who has reduced mobility, a speech, hearing or visual impairment, or a cognitive limitation. In Ontario, the building Owner is required to work with residents, in developing a list of Persons who may require assistance during an evacuation, and ensure those residents are aware of their own roles and responsibilities, procedures in the building’s approved fire safety plan.
In the event of a building evacuation, the PRA List, along with a copy of the building’s fire safety plan is made available to municipal emergency services upon their arrival.
4) Residents should be comfortable in understanding options in the event they cannot leave due to smoke and / or fire, explaining common terminology “Defend / Shelter In Place”, and ensuring the resident understands; to go or to stay when the fire alarm goes off.
Each option involves a major commitment on the resident’s part, and their choice will depend on the circumstances at the time of the emergency, each option with its own consequences. Residents need to make informed decisions. As a property Manager, your simply allowing an opportunity for them to be reminded of those options every year during these resident information sessions.
5) Residents need to understand that it may be safer for them to stay in their building in the event of an exterior building emergency, and have confidence that building staff are aware of how to isolate the building air intakes, and the procedures to inform and protect residents.
6) Residents in high-rise buildings need to understand the current trends derived from post fire investigations, lessons learned and fire prevention. This affords a resident an opportunity to learn from the actions / inactions of occupants / staff in other high rise fires and how that knowledge can strengthen their own families emergency preparedness.
National Life Safety Group virtual resident education sessions allow residents and building staff to both participate in a question and answer opportunities, and its a great way to connect with your community on an ongoing basis. The resident sessions comply with the Ontario Fire Code requirements, and provides answers to such questions as;
· What’s in my building and how does it better protect me ?
· Understanding: To stay or go when the fire alarm goes off at 2:00 AM?
· Evacuation or Shelter In Place Fire Alarm Procedures
· Persons Requiring Assistance During Evacuation
· Understanding Fire Prevention & Code Compliance
· Typical Challenges found during evacuation.
· Property Management roles and Concierge responsibilities
· What are each Resident responsible for – Required by law?
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These session(s) may be scheduled 24 hours per day in order to meet both your property operations and resident’s needs.
At National Life Safety Group our goal is to provide a holistic solution to our valued clients, and we offer technical advisory services, code compliance reviews, and assessment and general inquiries. We are professional, accountable and passionate in what we do, and we encourage the development of best practices, integrating the principals of emergency management, into your property operations. www.nationallifesafetygroup.ca