BETHESDA, MD – February 14, 2011 – A nationwide survey conducted by Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) revealed that 70% of Americans feel safer from fire at home than in a commercial high-rise building and another 24% feel no difference in their safety.
“I understand how people would feel safer in an environment they control, but the opposite is actually true,” said SPFE Engineering Program Manager, Chris Jelenewicz. “Systems that are designed to protect people, property and the environment from fire are more common in high-rise buildings.”
Federal government statistics confirm that in 2009 there were 356,200 residential fires resulting in 2,480 deaths and 12,600 injuries. In the same year, there were 89,200 fires in non-residential buildings resulting in 90 deaths and 1,500 injuries. High-rise building fires make up a small fraction of these non-residential building fires loses.
With respect to fire, high-rise buildings have unique risks. For example, fire department ladders cannot reach the upper floors of a high-rise building and it takes more time for people to evacuate a high-rise building during an emergency.
Because of these unique risks, fire protection engineers analyze how high-rise buildings are used, how fires start, how fires grow, and how fire and smoke affect people. They use this information to design systems that control fires, alert people to danger and provide means for escape that make high-rise buildings safer from fire.
The results of the 2011 survey are similar to the results from a 2007 survey, which indicated 65% of Americans felt safer at home and another 24% felt no difference. For those who feel uncomfortable in high-rise buildings, Jelenewicz offers these fire safety tips.
- Situational awareness is important – know and understand what is happening around you. There many cues that alert people to fire emergencies in a building. These cues can include being notified by the building’s fire alarm/emergency communication system, hearing other people in the building, seeing the fire, smelling smoke, hearing unusual noises or hearing the fire department.
- If you do think there is a fire in the building, immediately take actions to exit the building or find a safe area of refuge.
- Always follow the directions that are given by the building’s emergency notification system and/or the building staff.
- If you regularly occupy a high-rise building, take steps to fully understand the building’s emergency plan and participate in evacuation drills.
In commemoration of Engineers Week, February 20-26, 2011, SFPE hopes to draw attention to fire safety and the important role fire protection engineers play in making our world safe from fire.
“Our goal is to educate the public about the risks from fire and help them understand they can feel at ease when inside a high-rise building,” added Jelenewicz.
The SPFE survey was conducted online within the US January, 2011 among 1,000 adults. Respondents for this survey were selected via a systematic random sample from among those who have agreed to participate in Synovate Panel surveys. The Synovate online panel is composed of over 840,000 adults who have been recruited to regularly participate in Synovate’s online surveys. Data were weighted by age, race/ethnicity, sex, and education, to reflect population proportions. The complete survey is available at www.sfpe.org/SFPETools/MediaPress.aspx.
What is a Fire Protection Engineer?
According to the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, a fire protection engineer applies science and engineering principles to protect people, homes, workplaces, the economy and the environment from the devastating effects of fires. Fire protection engineers analyze how buildings are used, how fires start and grow, and how fires affect people and property. They use the latest technologies to design systems to control fires, alert people to danger, and provide means for escape. Fire protection engineers also work closely with other professionals, including engineers of other disciplines, architects, state and local building officials, and local fire departments to build fire safe communities. Fire protection engineers are in high demand. The number of available jobs far exceeds the supply.
About Society of Fire Protection Engineers
Organized in 1950, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) is the professional organization that represents engineers engaged in fire protection worldwide. Through its membership of over 5,000 professionals and 65 international chapters, SFPE advances the science and practice of fire protection engineering while maintaining a high ethical standard. SFPE and its members serve to make the world a safer place by reducing the burden of unwanted fire through the application of science and technology. To become a member, go to www.sfpe.org.
