Fire safety measures are meant to reduce and mitigate a fire outbreak's chances and limit its effects and impact once it starts. Thus, building owners must adhere to the safety regulations provided for by the law. The NFPA reports that, on average, the fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the United States every 24 seconds. While the number of fire outbreaks has been steadily declining, people must still do more to protect themselves against fire damage. Thus, building owners should consult fire protection design services to ensure a building meets all NFPA requirements and is safe for tenancy. Below are some essential services that fire protection design services offer.
Smoke Control System Design
One major problem that tenants always deal with after a fire outbreak is heavy smoke. Inhaling smoke particles from an unwanted fire often leads to respiratory illnesses like asthma and shortness of breath. Thus, building owners must find ways to contain the spread of smoke after a fire outbreak. Section 909 of the 2007 and 2010 International Building Code (IBC) is the United states' primary model building code, and thus provides information for smoke control systems. Fire protection design services are experienced in designing and installing smoke control systems following legal stipulations. The technicians assess buildings to select a suitable design for effective smoke control, mitigating its effects after an outbreak.
Fire Alarm System Design
The National Fire Alarm and Signaling code contains the latest legal stipulations regarding fire detection, emergency communication, and signaling that buildings must adhere to. According to the NFPA 72, fire alarms should detect not only fires but also terrorist events, weather emergencies, biological, chemical, and nuclear events. Thus, building owners should consult experts from fire protection design services. These experts design alarm systems following all relevant applicable laws while accounting for the building's unique features. Fire alarm systems should be designed by competent and experienced experts like those in fire protection design services.
Mass Notification Systems
In addition to preventing the start and spread of fires, fire safety measures aim to equip building occupants with relevant instructions and information after a fire outbreak. Building occupants need communication on the fire outbreak, what exits to use, and the fire assembly points. Fire protection design services design and install mass notification systems that use voice communication and visual signals to let tenants know the cause of action. Thus, building owners should consult professional fire protection design services for reliable and efficient mass communication systems.
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