Valentine’s Day is Thursday, which means you will probably be spending a lot of time showering your loved ones with chocolates, flowers and all kinds of luxuries. However, one area you don’t want to go without some attention this year is a building’s fire and life safety protection systems, especially for loved ones in a nursing homes.
As a facility manager, you may already know healthcare facilities are “Defend in Place” facilities. So, in the event of a fire, many residents in nursing homes are unable to be moved or are too sick to move quickly enough to escape danger. This is why compartmentalizing your facility with passive fire protection systems will help prevent the spread of fire and smoke, while also protecting those who have little to no mobility. So how does compartmentalizing your facility help keep your loved ones safe during a fire emergency?
Fire and Smoke Barriers & Partitions – are fire-resistant walls, floors and ceilings that compartmentalize a facility into sections. Firestopping is the use of fire-resistant materials used to seal and maintain these barriers and prevent the spread of fire and smoke from one section to the next. This allows for those who would not be able to evacuate to continue to receive medical care while being protected from danger.
Fire Doors – if kept shut, help compartmentalize a facility while allowing a safe evacuation route for those occupants who can quickly and safely evacuate from danger.
Fire & Smoke Dampers – are used in the ventilation system of a building to help prevent the spread of fire and smoke within the ductwork. This also helps to protect patients and residents by preventing fire and smoke from traveling from one room to the next through the ducts.
Photoluminescent Egress Path Markers and Exit Signage – will glow a bright green in dark or smoky conditions to help you navigate your way through the building to safety. Egress signs should be placed in key locations, such as hallways and stairwells throughout the facility to indicate the safe areas in which residents can exit to.