Brief History of Building Fire Protection in NYC
Want to know a quick history of building fire protection in NYC? Some of the most common imagery we associate with New York City is yellow taxis, subways, and skyscrapers. Not to mention, the fire escape is also a common sight in New York City. When you are moving around in NYC, you will notice fire escapes on almost every building. Fire escapes provide a safe route to exit in case of a fire. Having enough of these escapes means that New York has seen enough fire emergencies in the past.
In the 1800s, European immigrants settled in New York City in search of opportunities. Many of those immigrants started low-paying jobs in the numerous factories that occupied early New York. They started living in notoriously cramped tenements and crowded apartment buildings. Because of overly crowded areas, fire emergencies were a common occurrence.
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Deadly Fires and Fire Protection
Due to the rise in fire emergencies in New York City, authorities passed a law in 1860 regarding fire protection. The law was passed soon after an incident that took place in a street-level bakery and killed 20 people. According to the law, building construction companies were responsible to build fireproof exits in a building with eight or more families. However, there were numerous challenges in installing a fireproof staircase inside the building. Major challenges included the cost of building interior staircases. Furthermore, it also reduced rental space. Soon authorities released new building codes that allowed landlords to install exterior staircases made with wood or iron.
However, after new regulations, building management didn’t follow the fire safety code and the poor fire safety went on for 50 years. The authorities made building safety precautions mandatory after the death of 146 garment workers at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company. That day, about six hundred workers were locked in a building. The factory only had two exits, but one of those exits was locked by the management to avoid theft. When the fire broke, people weren’t able to escape the building easily.
After this tragic incident, more than 80,000 people protested at Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. The government passed Sullivan-Hoey Fire Prevention Law in October 1911. This law enforced the installation of fire sprinkler systems through factories and buildings in New York City. The New York City Fire Prevention Bureau was founded after this new law.
In 1927, the government introduced Building Exits Code that made it obligatory for newly constructed buildings to build fireproof interior stairs. The developers started making fire escapes in every building until 1968. After that, factories and residential buildings started installing sprinkler systems as it is one of the most efficient ways to prevent fire damage and save lives.
Top Fire Protection for Residential Buildings in NYC
Here are some safety measures that every residential building in NYC should take:
1. Emergency Evacuation Routes
Every building should have open spaces as it helps take appropriate safety measures. According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Fire Protection Association, it is important to keep windows, doors, and other access clear for entering and leaving the building. This enables residents to easily escape the building, while the fire department can enter inside. Buildings should also include unobstructed fire doors, pathways, windows, stairways, and have other fire hydrant paths.
2. Fire Alarms and Sprinkler System
Fire alarms and sprinkler systems are also important in case of fire emergencies. Fire alarms warn the residents to evacuate the building. On the other hand, a fire sprinkler system controls the fire while the fire department is on the way. Fire alarms and sprinklers contain sensors that immediately sense a fire and protect the building from life-threatening and property-damaging hazards. Furthermore, it is essential to keep these systems 100% functional. Are you looking for a company to design a fire sparkler system? You can get in touch with F2M Fire & Drafting Designs Inc. for the best fire protection system design services in NYC.
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3. Prevention and Maintenance
It is important for building management to take care of their occupants. They need to inspect the building and take preventive fire measures. They should check fire alarms and sprinkler systems along with improving faulty systems. If you don’t take preventive measures, you have to pay hefty fines for not abiding by the NFPA 72 inspection standards.
4. Fire Protection Companies
This may sound unusual, but you can hire fire protection companies with 24/7 emergency services. These services also fix water supply and fire equipment systems after a leak or malfunction.
History of Building Fire Protection in NYC: Conclusion
At F2M Fire and Drafting Designs Inc., we have professionals and trained technicians with extensive experience. They inspect commercial buildings and create fire sprinkler system designs for platinum level, to code, fire protection.
Call us to discuss your fire protection design project today at (718) 928-3009.
