The Official RJWestmore Blog

Only You Can Prevent Office Fires

According to data from the National Fire Protection Agency, there were 112,000 non-residential structure fires in 2008 which resulted in 120 deaths and $3.8 billion in property damages.  High-rise buildings are especially at risk as fires can spread rapidly and higher floors are often out of reach of most firefighting aerial equipment.

Building owners should work closely with tenants and discuss potential fire hazards to prevent loss of property or life. Tenants should understand the potential losses of sensitive data or documents that can be destroyed so they should be more apt to listen.

Reducing the incidence of fire in buildings can be accomplished by identifying contributing factors and minimizing risks. Come to think of it, that’s the way to handle any type of risk!

Space heaters:

• Often kept in enclosed spaces near papers, space heaters can lead to fast-moving fires
• Space heaters use a high amount of electricity and multiple users can increase utility bills
• Older space heaters don’t have auto shutoff safety can start fires if tipped over

Office Equipment and Appliances:

• Coffee makers, copiers and computers all need space around them for air circulation
• Papers should not be stacked on or around equipment
• Restrict use of hotplates and other portable heating items

Wiring and Power:

• Older wiring that is mixed with newer wiring can lead to sparking which can turn into fire
• Buildings that do not keep current with electrical code standards are at risk
• Overuse of extension cords and power strips has greatly expanded as offices have more and more electronic devices. Overloaded circuits or power cords routed under combustible carpets can both be fire risks

Combustible materials:

• Modern offices typically have many combustible materials such as file folders, wooden partitions, upholstered furniture, carpeted floors, and wooden doors
• Combustibles can be decreased by choosing metal furniture, installing fire-rated doors, and moving towards paperless record keeping

Smoking:

Don’t forget about cigarettes and cigars! A leading cause of fires is recreational smoking. Even when buildings restrict smoking inside buildings, some tenants may fail to comply. The best way to combat this is to enforce strict no-smoking policies and provide safe alternative outdoor smoking areas. Outside ash containers should be heavy so they don’t tip over. And care should be taken to ensure safe disposal of ash and cigarette butts.

Fire risks can be greatly decreased by establishing and enforcing set policies for all of your tenants. The RJ Westmore Training System can help you mitigate these and other safety risks. Visit www.rjwestmore.com and ask us about the recently released Version 2.0 of our award-winning training program. Choosing our service cuts property management training related workloads by 90% and saves you over 50% compared to conventional training!

Most importantly, IT SAVES LIVES!

Version 2.0 is available to all RJ Westmore clients at no additional charge.

RJ Westmore is proud to announce the release of Version 2.0 of our comprehensive e-based safety building-specific training program. The new system has even more integration and automation that brings together property/facility managers, fire safety directors, floor wardens, occupants and local fire departments. All of the new features showcase our commitment to offer the most user-friendly and complete training system on the market and further our mission to “SAVE LIVES THROUGH TRAINING.”

• Real-time reporting with just one click—
  • Identify tenants that need special assistance to evacuate in the case of emergency
  • Have instant access to a list of primary and alternate floor wardens that is shared with building management and the fire department
    • Automatic email notification to property management and the fire safety directors each time either the special assistance or floor warden list is updated by users.

• Improved fire department access—
  • One home screen allows department access to all RJ Westmore Online Training System companies in the city
  • Departments can monitor individual building testing and training of floor wardens, fire safety directors and all the occupants in the building.
  • Fire Department approved across the United States and compliant with FDNY LL26, LAFD 57.33.19, as well as Federal OSHA and individual State fire codes.

• Automated features—
  • Automatic certificates are sent to each user
  • Employee compliance reports are prepared for each tenant
  • Annual reminders are sent to each user

• Improved confidentiality and system control—
  • Multiple tiers of system access help control the distribution of information
  • Confidential Information Access is granted for resources such as maps and emergency plans

The RJ Westmore Training System, Version 2.0 gives building owners a complete picture of their emergency preparedness. We map out an exterior refuge map with a satellite picture of each building.  A map of the lobby is also created, showing the best exit routes. Elevator banks and stairwells are graphed, to show a comprehensive picture of accessibility and egress.

More info about the Version 2.0 rollout:

• 30-day implementation with a simple monthly fee
• All updates, training, and other resources are provided for no additional fee
• Property managers can easily print and export building training information
• Training and procedures are available for any kind of disaster, be it manmade or natural

If you own or manage a building, or know someone who does, do them a favor. Let them know about the RJWestmore Training System. Choosing our service provides a value-added tenant service that limits property management and individual tenant liability.  Furthermore, it cuts property management training related workloads by 90% and saves users over 50% compared to conventional training! More importantly, it saves lives.

BE SAFE.