We are constantly reiterating the importance of passive fire protection inspections in healthcare facilities and universities, but it’s critical to also stress its equal significance for residents safety in nursing homes and extended living facilities. With recent fire tragedies involving senior citizen care facilities, it is crucial to make sure these facilities are able to protect those who can no longer protect themselves. Making sure all aspects your passive fire protection system, including fire and smoke dampers, fire doors, and firestop installation, are in good working condition allows you to best protect your elderly residents in the event of a fire.
If these components of your passive fire protection system are working properly, it will help to compartmentalize the fire to its area of origin. By containing the fire to one area, facility personnel and first responders can guarantee their residents safety by evacuating those residents that can’t get out by themselves. While waiting for staff or first responders to reach them, residents are able to defend in place until they are assisted out of the building. Also, compartmentalization creates a protected means of egress for people exiting the building.
According to FEMA, in 2011 alone there were 85,400 fires in nonresidential buildings, including nursing homes. As a result of these fires there were 80 deaths, 1,100 injuries, and around 2.5 million dollars worth of damage. If your passive fire protection system isn’t properly maintained, fire and smoke can quickly spread and consume neighboring rooms or hallways in your facility.