How can you design a commercial building to minimize the risk of fire?

1 Fire safety codes

The first step in designing a fire-safe commercial building is to comply with the relevant fire safety codes and standards in your location. These codes specify the minimum requirements for fire prevention, detection, suppression, and evacuation systems, as well as the materials, construction, and occupancy of the building. You should consult with the local authorities and fire experts to ensure that your design meets or exceeds the code requirements and follows the best practices.

2 Fire risk assessment

The next step is to conduct a fire risk assessment for your building, which involves identifying and evaluating the potential sources of ignition, fuel, and oxygen, as well as the vulnerability and exposure of the people and property inside. A fire risk assessment helps you to determine the level of fire hazard and the appropriate measures to reduce it. You should document your findings and recommendations, and update them regularly as the design progresses or changes.

4 Fire evacuation design

The fourth step is to design a fire evacuation plan for your building, which ensures that the occupants can escape safely and quickly in case of fire. This plan should involve providing clear and visible exit signs and emergency lighting to guide the occupants to the nearest exits, designing sufficient and accessible exit routes and doors that lead to the outside or a safe place, avoiding dead ends, obstructions, or bottlenecks that can hinder the movement of the occupants, as well as training and educating the occupants on how to respond and evacuate in case of fire. Furthermore, regular drills and exercises should be conducted.

5 Fire resilience design

Considering the fire resilience of your building is the fifth step, which refers to its ability to withstand, recover, and adapt from a fire event. This can minimize the impact of fire on its functionality, performance, and sustainability. When designing for fire resilience, you should incorporate passive or active fire resistance systems to protect the structural integrity and stability of the building. Additionally, choose materials and finishes that are durable, easy to clean, and aesthetically pleasing after a fire. Planning for post-fire restoration and reconstruction of the building is also important, as well as evaluating the environmental, social, and economic implications of the fire event. Seeking feedback and improvement opportunities can help ensure that your building remains fire resilient.

6 Fire safety review

The final step is to review and evaluate your fire safety design, and ensure that it meets the objectives and expectations of the stakeholders, such as the owners, users, regulators, and insurers. You should also test and verify your fire safety systems and components, and ensure that they are properly installed, maintained, and operated. You should also monitor and audit your fire safety performance, and identify and address any issues or gaps that may arise.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?