The Importance of having fire protection systems in apartments

admin | April 4, 2022

Fire safety measures are extremely important in housing projects, and their lack is undoubtedly a serious concern in apartments. The fast progress of our cities, along with its land constraints have made modern buildings rise taller, which subsequently makes fire protection services and rescue more complicated than ever.

It’s a pre-requisite that all apartments should have fire protection systems such as fire alarms or detection systems, fire sprinklers, fire extinguishers, fire evacuation routes, etc to save the lives of the building occupants in the unlikely breakout of fire.

Let’s now have a look at the various importance of having such fire safety systems in apartments:

 1. Detect the fire and alert the occupants

Fire basically generates heat, smoke, and flames. Fire detection devices and fire protection systems are therefore primarily designed to detect any of these three elements or a combination of them using sensors or detectors specifically manufactured for the detection of the same.

Ensure that the apartment you choose or are currently living has such detectors in all flats and various levels. Placing them right outside the sleeping area could have the greatest effect as it can help occupants quickly evacuate in case of a fire breakout.

 2. Prevent the fire from spreading using Fire sprinklers

Fire sprinklers systems are brisk fire prevention tools that have the ability to put out fires before they spread and get out of control. Apartments as they are prone to the risk of fire and with human lives in danger should definitely have fire sprinkler systems installed within them.

Fire sprinklers are also the most efficient in minimizing the damages to the property and its various components. They offer protection 24/7 and are very much efficient in reducing water loss significantly, compared to a conventional fire hose.

 3. Extinguish the fire

Do not expect the fire sprinklers alone to put out the fires. Apartment buildings should have other means as well to extinguish the fire such as placing fire extinguishers within the reach of individual occupants on all units and levels.

Along with the location of these fire extinguishers, occupants should also be made aware of how to use them effectively in an emergency situation. Apartment authorities can also make the occupants aware of other alternatives hacks such as using baking soda on flames, thick carpets to cut off the oxygen supply, etc.

 4. Help in evacuation

Having fire evacuation routes planned and clearly mapped at all flats and their floors can help people evacuate an apartment safely and quickly in the unlikely event of a fire. It’s also beneficial to have more fire exit routes mapped and all the occupants should be made aware of it so that they can evacuate faster.

Evacuation plans are best placed in lobbies, beside lifts around notice boards so that the occupants are familiar with them. Clearly marking the safe assembly can also be helpful during emergencies.

 5. Determining the actual cause of the fire

Fires can occur due to a variety of reasons and can have dangerous consequences if not properly attended to. Failure in determining the cause of fire breakouts is a common issue these days and the need for having functional fire safety equipment and detection systems is therefore of huge importance for prevention.

Electricity (short circuit) is one of the most common causes of fire in apartments and residential complexes. Therefore it is recommended to use electronic appliances responsibly and conduct regular maintenance on them.

 6. Checking and maintenance of  fire safety systems are equally important

While having the above-mentioned fire protection systems or devices and practices can prevent fire, it is also important that the apartment association or authority conduct regular inspections to check if these systems are in their best working condition and take the necessary steps to resolve the issues; if there are any.

Carrying out mock drills and alarm testing once in a while, even if it seems like an inconvenience to the occupants, could save lives and aid in rapid evacuation in the unlikely event of a fire breakout.

Veegaland Homes, one of the most reliable builders in Kerala design and build our flats and apartments with state-of-the-art fire safety devices and fire protection systems to ensure a secure living environment for our home-buyers.

Recently, one of our apartment projects in Kochi, Veegaland KingsFort received the safety award for residential apartments, constituted by the National Safety Council. Veegaland Kings Town was awarded the same award in 2020 for facilitating all the necessary safety measures.

For a better understanding of the fire protection systems measures followed by Veegaland Homes during and post-construction of a project, watch this demonstration video:  Fire Protection Systems Demo in Veegaland Homes with Kochouseph Chittilappilly

To learn more about our ongoing and upcoming apartment projects and their safety features, please visit: https://www.veegaland.com/