Innovative Strategies for Fire Control and Evacuation in High-rise Buildings

Ensuring fire safety management is crucial because a fire accident may occur at any time. However, the implementation of appropriate fire management strategies can help save many lives. This is the core principle of fire control and evacuation.

High risk in high-rise buildings:

In high-rise buildings, many floors are there. Naturally, we assume the number of people living there will be more than in mid-rise or low-rise buildings. High-rise buildings also stand at a larger risk of resource loss since fire spreads vertically. Stairwells, corridors, and facades of high-rises are crucial areas, not only from the congestion perspective but also concerning fire spread. If the elevators are secured, it may significantly aid in the evacuation of people during emergencies, highlighting the importance of fire service. Evacuation is an integral aspect of comprehensive security solutions, emphasizing the need for prior precautions and ongoing maintenance in high-rise buildings.

A few key points in fire safety for high-rises:

Regular fire drills have to be conducted periodically to reinforce fire safety management. Besides this, there are a few other strategies that have to be followed to minimize the effects of a fire outbreak. These are as follows:

• Fireproofing the building: The building can be fireproofed by using non-inflammable materials. During construction, coating the building material with certain chemicals like ammonium phosphate helps. Fire-resistant materials like brick, concrete, aluminium, and asbestos cement can be used. 
• Design and spacing: An adequate number of fire exits with sufficient space is of paramount importance, especially in India. Broad passage exits ensure that more people can be evacuated. Also, the exits should be obstruction-free with enough lighting.
• Smoke infiltration: To curb smoke from spreading on stairs, smoke extraction systems have to be installed. They are very useful even in the absence of a fire outbreak as they are a good source of ventilation and eliminate toxic gasses.
• Fire extinguisher installation: Fire extinguishers along with water sprinklers and fire alarms have to be installed on all the floors including emergency exits.

Types of evacuation plans:

As discussed earlier there are 3 key components of fire control and fire safety. These are emergency exits, fire extinguishers and a solid evacuation plan. Various types of evacuation plans may help in moving people from the place of fire to safety. Depending upon the severity of the fire, people are evacuated. These can be classified into the following categories:

1. Simultaneous evacuation: When all the people are evacuated from the place of fire at the same time. It starts in case of severe fire and the process of evacuation starts as soon as the fire alarms are heard.
2. Phased evacuation: Floor-by-floor evacuation happens in this case. The floor where the fire has broken is removed foremost.
3. Silent alarm evacuation: In every highly crowded area like a shopping centre, this type of alarm is used. This silent alarm alerts only specific people. So that stampede doesn’t happen.

S&IB offers total security solutions along with fire control services. Connect with them if you have a high-rise building and would like to ensure its safety.