Fire and Life Safety
In order to be adequately prepared for a fire, each tenant should provide Property Manager with the following:
- A copy of your emergency evacuation plan.
- A list of your disabled or persons requiring assistance and where they are located in your offices and their assistants.
- A completed Tenant Contact Form.
- Area of Refuge location (inside)
- Assembly Area location (outside)
- List of Floor Wardens and their team.
The buildings are equipped with modern fire detection and annunciation (speaker) systems, smoke detectors, fire pull stations, speakers, and strobe lights on all floors of the buildings. These devices work together to detect smoke or fire, and quickly sound an alarm. The sprinkler system throughout the building responds to heat from a fire, and extinguishes it rapidly.
During an alarm event you will hear the bells and see the strobes flashing to notify you of an emergency. Please gather your personal belongings and evacuate the building via the closest stairwell. All tenants are required to leave the building when the fire alarm is activated.
It should also be noted that the buildings have a high rise package which means that when the fire alarm is activated, only the bells and strobes on the affected floor as well as the floor above and below will be activated. If you don't hear the bells or see the strobes on your floor but see and hear them elsewhere in the building, you can evacuate as a precaution.
Preparation
Every occupant needs to be familiar with exits and fire apparatus in the building. Fire drills are conducted at least once per year. There are fire pull stations located at the entrance to the stairwells.
Review the floor plan which shows the locations of stairwells so your organization can develop its own emergency evacuation plan – especially how to evacuate persons requiring assistance and your organization’s place to assemble and check in after exiting the building.
Stairwells in all the buildings lead to the first floor (main lobby). Familiarize yourself with these stairs by walking down them at least once so you know where you will exit the building.
Remember, in an emergency you may NOT use the elevators, you must use the stairs. Elevators automatically return to the first floor, discharge any passengers, and are then reserved for use by the fire department.
Fire Alarms
If you hear the fire alarm bells and see the strobe lights, please follow your organization’s fire evacuation plan and quickly and quietly leave the building. Go to your organization's designated assembly place.
During a fire alarm, unless you have something to report, please do not call the Property Management Office, since they need to attend to the situation, whether it is a false alarm or a true emergency, and telephone lines must be kept clear in the event of an emergency.
Fire Prevention Tips
- Do not accumulate quantities of discarded files or other paper trash in your office or storage area. Pay special attention to housekeeping in departments that produce quantities of debris, such as copy rooms, mailing and receiving rooms.
- Where potential for fire is especially high, such as supply rooms, tenants may wish to consider installing additional fire extinguishers.
- Flammable materials are not permitted in the building at any time. If, for any reason, you have any materials necessary for the operation of normal office equipment which requires special care, they must be stored in safety containers and you must notify the Property Management Office.
- Space heaters or fans of any kind or size are not permitted.
- Use of extension cords in lieu of permanent wiring is never recommended. If used, extension cords should be sized and grounded according to the load.
- Appliance connections and cords should be kept in good repair.
- Smoking is strictly prohibited in all areas of the building.
- Your office’s wiring was designed to carry a normal electrical load. Appliances that have greater than normal electrical requirements shall not be used without the prior approval of your Property Manager.
- Water should never be used on electrical, oil, gasoline or grease fires. Your building is equipped with fire extinguishers on each floor, which are located near the main elevators. Please check the hallways to become familiar with the locations of extinguishers. These extinguishers are designed to be used on all types of fires.
- Anyone spotting potential fire hazards in the building is asked to report these conditions to the Property Management Office immediately.
- When furnishing an office, consider the fire potential of materials used in large amounts, like overstuffed chairs, settees, couches or anything that could become a combustible item. Such furnishings should be flame proof.