Total Fire & Safety Blog

While fire safety in high-rise buildings is always a concern, NFPA fire safety codes for high-rise buildings in the U.S., especially in the city of Chicago, are well enforced. 

In fact, the National Fire Protection Association even reports that the fire death rate per 1,000 fires is generally lower in high-rise buildings than in similar, lower buildings (fewer than seven stories). That is because there is usually a greater use of fire protection systems in high rises, along with features such as sprinkler systems and one-way communication systems which are able to make critical announcements to everyone in the building. In the city of Chicago, standpipes, which help propel water into the floors of the building from the inside, are required for every building over 80 feet tall, and also help to douse fires effectively.

In the city of Chicago, property managers are required to distribute updated fire safety information annually, but the tenant, or employer, is also required to have an emergency fire plan in place and communicate it to their employees. Depending on the size of the company you work in, emergency fire equipment training may also be OSHA-required. Whether or not.  If you work in a high-rise, be prepared for a fire emergency

• Know your employer’s fire safety plan.
• Know where the nearest fire exits are and make sure they are clear of clutter at all time.
• Know several exits in case one or more should be blocked by smoke or fire.
• Attend any required fire safety training offered by your employee.

In the event of an emergency on your floor, remember to remain CALM, which is not just an attitude, it’s an acronym!

C     Someone should call 911 and report the fire from a safe part of the floor, per the floor emergency plan.

A    If applicable, alert other tenants on the floor

L–    Listen for important information from fire officials. Your building may have a PA system that can be used by the fire department to give you instructions to either evacuate or stay in place.

M– If applicable, move to safety as directed by the fire department.

There is no “one size fits all” fire emergency plan for high-rise workplaces because every fire, building and safety condition is different. However, the decision as to whether you should evacuate or shelter in place will be made by the fire department based on the applications of the building and the conditions of the fire.

If you evacuate…

• You should always use the stairs to exit the building…never the elevator unless directed by the fire department.
• Never head to the roof. Smoke, fire and heat rise quickly and you put yourself in greater danger.
• Keep low. Smoke and fire rise. The air is cooler and cleaner below.

If you shelter in place…

• Stuff wet towels around the door and vents to keep smoke out
• Make sure the fire department knows where you are
• Open a window slightly and wave a bright cloth to signal your location
• Do not break windows
• Be prepared to close the window if it makes the smoke condition worse, but you could leave the cloth outside as a symbol
• Try to communicate with the fire department to monitor their progress. Stay calm. It can take time.

You can find out more about high-rise fire safety in this video from the City of Chicago:

Your fire safety in a high rise building is an important consideration, as is your employer’s emergency fire plan. At Total Fire & Safety, our job is to help keep the tenants of high-rise buildings safe with up-to-date fire protection and life safety training and equipment. To find out more, visit totalfireandsafety.com today.