| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 3, 2016
CONTACT: Kevin Walters
OFFICE: (615) 253-8941
State Fire Marshal Offers Safety Tips for High-Rise Dwellers
Preparation is Key Component to Safely Surviving a Fire
NASHVILLE – As Tennessee’s economy continues growing, cities like Nashville are experiencing record growth that has spawned the construction of many new residential towers. The State Fire Marshal’s Office reminds Tennesseans living in high-rise apartments or condominiums to always be prepared in the event of a fire.
“It is important to know the fire safety features in your building and to work with neighbors to help keep your building as fire-safe as possible,” State Fire Marshal and Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak says. “Being prepared is fundamental to safely surviving a fire.”
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101® Life Safety Code defines a high-rise as a building more than 75 feet in height, measured from the lowest level of fire department vehicle access to the floor of the highest occupiable story. A height of 75 feet translates into roughly seven stories.
High-rise buildings present several unique challenges not found in traditional low-rise buildings: Longer egress times and distance, fire department accessibility, evacuation strategies, smoke movement and fire control. Fortunately, high-rise buildings are more likely to have fire protection features such as sprinklers and fire alarm equipment than other non-high-rise buildings.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office shares the following safety tips for occupants of high-rise residences:
- For the best protection, when considering a building for your home, select one that has fire sprinklers. If your current building does not have sprinklers, ask the landlord or management to consider installing a sprinkler system.
- Meet with your landlord or building manager to learn about the fire safety features in your building (fire alarms, sprinklers, voice communication procedures, evacuation plans and how to respond to an alarm).
- Know the locations of all available exit stairs from your floor, in case the nearest one is blocked by fire or smoke.
- Make sure that all exits and stairwell doors are clearly marked, not locked or blocked by security bars and that they are clear of clutter. Report all hazards, such as piled trash, blocked exits or missing exit lights, to your building manager.
- If there is a fire, pull the fire alarm on your way out to notify the fire department and your neighbors.
- If someone else has pulled a fire alarm, feel doors for heat before opening and close all doors behind you as you leave. If a door is hot to the touch, if possible, use another way out. If it is cool to the touch, leave by the nearest way out.
- If an announcement is made throughout the building, listen carefully and follow directions. The fire department may ask that you stay in your apartment until they come to you. Their responsibility is to provide you with information about whether or not it is safe to exit your floor or apartment
- Use the stairs to get out – never use the elevator.
- Go to your outside meeting place and stay there. Call the fire department. If someone is trapped in the building, notify the fire department.
- If you can’t get out of your apartment because of fire, smoke or a disability, stuff wet towels or sheets around the door and vents to keep out smoke.
- Call the fire department and tell them your location.
- If you can, open a window slightly and wave a bright cloth or a flashlight to signal your location. Be prepared to close the window, if keeping it open makes the smoke condition worse. It is not advisable to break a window. A broken window cannot be adjusted to block smoke from pouring in from other parts of the building, and falling glass from the window can potentially damage fire hoses and injure fire department personnel working below.
- Fire department evacuation of a high-rise building can take time. Communicate with the fire department to monitor evacuation status.
For more information on making your home fire-safe, visit the State Fire Marshal's Office website:http://tn.gov/commerce/section/fire-prevention.
About the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance: TDCI is charged with protecting the interests of consumers while providing fair, efficient oversight and a level field of competition for a broad array of industries and professionals doing business in Tennessee. Our divisions include the Athletic Commission, Consumer Affairs, Tennessee Corrections Institute, Emergency Communications Board, Fire Prevention, Insurance, Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, Peace Officers Standards and Training, Regulatory Boards, Securities, and TennCare Oversight.
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