Martin Cramer, CPP

High-Rise Life Safety for

Property Managers

Martin Cramer, CPP

Presentation Outline

• Legal Liability • Fire Safety Director• Fire Plan• Fire Wardens• Fire Brigade• Fire Evacuation Drills• Life Safety System Maintenance• High-Rise Fire Lessons Learned

Martin Cramer, CPP

Legal Liability

• Premises owner has a duty to protect tenants and visitors from harm.

• Premises owner may hire property management, and security companies to fulfill this requirement.

• Those firms must provide tenants with a life safety program approved by local fire code including training and drills.

Martin Cramer, CPP

Fire Safety Director• Organize building employees and

tenants into a trained fire brigade.

• Distribute written copies of applicable parts of the fire plan to all tenants.

• Maintain written record of fire system maintenance, checks and fire drills. Dallas Fire Code

Martin Cramer, CPP

Fire Plan

• Emergency Procedures• Evacuation Procedures• Training Program• Floor Plans• Fire Drills• Fire Wardens• Disabled Persons List

Martin Cramer, CPP

Fire Warden

• Fire Warden designated for each floor

• Familiar with Fire Plan• Ensure Emergency Team is trained• Direct evacuation of floor• Notify Fire Safety Director of

persons who require assistance.

Martin Cramer, CPP

Fire Brigade

• Key building personnel are organized into a trained Fire Brigade that may include engineering, security and management.

• Fire Brigade responds to fire location to report on situation, assist with evacuation and extinguish fire if possible. Dallas Fire Code

Martin Cramer, CPP

Fire Drills• Emergency relocation drills shall be

held with sufficient frequency to familiarize building occupants with drill procedure.

• Written records of drills are maintained on premises for inspection by fire dept.

• Written critique of fire drill is distributed to drill participants. NFPA 101

Martin Cramer, CPP

Life Safety Systems

• Fire alarm system tested annually.

• Emergency generators and emergency lights tested at 30-day interval.

• Stairwell egress, intercoms, lighting, exit signage tested at 30-day intervals.

• Written record of testing is maintained on premises for inspection by fire department.

NFPA 101

Martin Cramer, CPP

Cook County Fire

Martin Cramer, CPP

Cook County Fire

• Fire Brigade not trained• Delayed Call to Fire Department• Stairwell Doors Locked• P/A Announcement Problems• Massey Fire Plan locked in Security

Desk • Security Officer not licensed• 6 Dead

Martin Cramer, CPP

One Meridian Plaza

Martin Cramer, CPP

One Meridian Plaza

• Fire Brigade not trained• Delayed Call to Fire Department• Stairwell Doors Locked• Fire Plan Inadequate• 3 Dead• 4 Billion Dollars in Civil Damage

Claims

Martin Cramer, CPP

First Interstate Bank

Martin Cramer, CPP

First Interstate Bank

• Fire Brigade not trained• Delayed Call to Fire Department• Sprinkler System disabled• Fire Pumps shut down• Fire Plan Inadequate• 1 Dead (Building Engineer)

Martin Cramer, CPP

Lessons Learned

• Fire Brigade Training (Security & Engineers)

• Tenant Life Safety Training• Test Fire & Life Safety Systems Monthly• Practice P/A Announcements• Fire Drills on every floor• Fire Department Liaison• Approved Fire Plan