How To Ensure Fire Escape Safety And Protect The Safety of Occupants

Los Angeles fire fighters responded to a report of a high-rise apartment building fire in the 11740 Wilshire Boulevard in Koreatown. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Katherine Main, flames and smoke were seen coming out of the windows on the west side of the building.

Firefighters also responded to reports of persons trapped in a stairwell on the 10th floor. At least one person was treated for smoke inhalation and three others were transported to hospital for minor injuries. LAFD reported it took 71 minutes to fully extinguish the fire

Recent US statistics (Hall 2011) show that an average of 15,700 fires was reported in high-rise buildings per year in the USA, causing a total of 53 deaths, 546 injured, and $235 million in direct property damage per year. The multiple floors of a high-rise building create the cumulative effect of requiring great numbers of persons to travel great vertical distances on stairs in order to evacuate the building.

In this panic-charged environment where everyone is literally running for their lives, all building exits are critical, and fire escapes facilitate safe and reliable evacuation for occupants as well as fire fighting and rescue operations.

According to Section 1104.16.5 of the Fire Inspection Code, Fire escape stairs and balconies should be examined for structural adequacy and safety by a registered professionals every five years.

If you’re a building owner, it’s important to adhere to this code to ensure that your fire escape is always in perfect condition in case of an Emergency. Apart from the periodic inspections obliged by the law, you should also have regular testing and maintenance checks to ensure that no rust has riddled the ladder and any necessary repairs to hand rails steps, and other parts are done as well.

We provide one of the most top notch fire escape installation, maintenance, testing, evaluation and repair service in the country. We will give you with the best advice when it comes to any necessary work and explain the current state of your fire escape in detail. Where possible, we’ll strive to carry out repairs instead of replacing the fire escape altogether.

Fire escapes are one of the most vital tools in building fire safety. Ensure your fire escape is ready with proper maintenance and inspections. Contact us today and we’ll work with you to ensure that your building meets the highest fire escape safety standards possible.