Proper fire safety methods are very important to practice on college campuses. How people follow fire safety guidelines could be the difference between life and death. This article will provide you five crucial steps you need to take to reduce false fire alarms and improve campus safety.
Campus Safety Magazine has recently received its annual fire survey results. False fire alarms are one of the top four major fire safety challenges.
Here are some examples of false fire alarms:
Ø Burned Popcorn
Ø Shower Steam
Ø Poor system design
Ø Pranksters playing practical jokes
Ø Lack of maintenance
When these false fire alarms happen, campuses are at risk of wasting valuable public safety resources and false fire alarms could result in lives being lost during a real fire, as well as, property being destroyed beyond repair.
Here are five ways to reduce the number of false alarms, while saving lives and property:
Discipline Pranksters
Yearly 8.5 percent of false fire alarms in the United States happen because of mischievous pranksters. By addressing this problem, you could make a big impact on decreasing the number of false alarms your college campus has annually. Fair, clear discipline policies should be in place and visible to all at your business or campus. Make sure everyone knows the penalties that come with being pranksters by conducting a zero tolerance approach. A zero tolerance approach means anyone guilty will be dealt with by the judicial affairs on campus. It will make the community work more effectively during fire drills and during real fires.
Discourage Bad Behavior By Using Peer Pressure
The most successful campus strategy for eliminating malicious false alarms is implementing a reward program for students who self-police campus. It makes campus life more productive for learning and exam taking when time is not wasted on false fire alarms.
Conduct Fire Safety Training Programs
Another great way to reduce false fire alarms is to educate the community about why fire safety is so important. Fire education programs on campus often decrease the likelihood of false fire alarms.
Students will learn many methods on how to prevent false fire alarms while cooking, working in science labs or using hair spray in dorm rooms by participating in a fire education program.
For example, most dorm fires start in the kitchen so students knowing how to use an exhaust fan over the stove could help reduce dorm false fire alarms drastically. Most students do not know how to turn an exhaust fan on. This should not be an issue. This needs to become common knowledge.
Add Video Surveillance
When people know that security cameras are around, the number of false fire alarms decreases. Video surveillance cameras catch everything and make it easier for authorities to find who pulls a fire alarm and when.
Place Fire Detectors in the Right Locations
Never place smoke detectors too close to kitchens, cooking appliances or bathrooms because these areas are more inclined to accidentally activate fire detectors by the natural smoke and steam that can result in these locations. Be sure to read about fire codes in your community to learn where fire detectors should be properly placed.
It is recommended that you use detectors that can sense heat and smoke to reduce false fire alarms. Also, alarm verification detectors are good to have in buildings as well because these alarms wait 10 to 30 seconds to go off after sampling air to determine if smoke is present. If smoke is still present, fire alarms will activate.
But for best fire alarm reductions, properly maintain your fire system. This is the number one fire safety challenge. Clean detectors regularly at least once a year and make sure facility personnel are trained to operate building control panels for fire safety.
One exceptional college campus that has reduced its number of false fire alarms is Towson University, in Maryland through Fireline Corporation’s products and services.
Fireline provides campus wide fire alarm and sprinkler inspection and testing services at Towson University. Fireline has replaced over 20 fire alarm systems throughout Towson University’s campus. Also Fireline networked all new and existing systems including designing, furnishing and installing a campus wide mass notification alerting system.
Towson University is projected to be the first fully sprinklered university in the United States. To date, over 90% of the campus is equipped with sprinkler systems.
Create your clear safety and security plan with Fireline Corporation today for effective fire safety strategies.
The Fireline Corporation is a Maryland corporation founded in 1947 by John S. Waters. Fireline remains a pioneer in the fledgling fire equipment distribution business. Fireline has grown to encompass all facets of fire protection. Our Totally Integrated Protection Solutions provide you with a wide variety of services. We can design, install, inspect, or service any type of fire protection system. From fire alarm to fire extinguisher, we do it all.
If you have any questions about fire alarms, fire equipment, or other Fireline products and services, contact Fireline by calling 410.247.1422 or click here today!
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