Fire can be a dangerous thing. When used properly, fire can help humanity with cooking, heating and industrial purposes, but out of control, fire can be devastating. Every year homes are lost, people have been killed and property has been destroyed in lieu of a blazing inferno. A majority of this loss could have been prevented if the fire safety code was observed.
Fire safety code provides the measures and steps designed to prevent and end fires. These rules are made to help protect people and property by alerting of danger, leading occupants out of a burning building or providing means to put out a fire. These codes are established in two ways. First, they are set in place with new construction. Second, they are enforced in current buildings through a maintenance and inspection phase.
Fire codes differ between local municipalities, state regulations and national guidelines. However, there are some basic parameters to be observed. The obvious is the concern of occupied buildings. There must be a noted maximum occupancy posted. There must also be appropriate fire escapes and exits to accommodate safe removal. Plus, there must be adequate fire extinguishers for the amount of square footage of the building. There must also be exit lights in public buildings to direct occupants out, in lieu of discontinued electricity.
Other areas affected by the code deal with the proper storage of hazardous materials. Frequent inspections are made by a fire Marshall to determine compliance. Some buildings are required to have installed fire alarms and sprinkler systems in the event of a fire. Some buildings are instructed to have regularly scheduled fire drills to keep occupants and employees aware of safety routes and procedures.
Although these precautions may be time consuming and expensive, they never can compare to the loss of property and life.
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