The fire that destroyed Notre Dame shook the world and did not let go. For many around the globe, historic buildings are at risk of the next detrimental blaze to hit. You can avoid a fire by enlisting the help of a guide filled with ways to improve fire safety in historic buildings.
Electric
Any wiring in an older building is aged, frayed, and requires plenty of upkeep to prevent any overheating from happening. When looking over your structure, hire an experienced electrician to perform an insulation resistance test, which shows any possible problems. You must complete the test once every five to ten years.
Electrical Fire Prevention
An electrical fire can happen anytime, which is essential to consistently maintain its integrity and change any wiring when needed.
Here are other tips to avoid electrical fires:
- Avoid straining the circuits
- Hide wiring in high traffic areas
- Have a professional replace and repair outlets
- Before making repairs, turn the power off
Heat
Heat is one of the biggest triggers of fires. If a room in an aged structure becomes too hot and overcrowded, it can overheat and cause fires. Overheating can happen in any part of your historical building, such as the basement and attic.
Preventing Heat
It’s essential to keep an entire structure at a stable temperature, or you risk issues with the foundation and increase your risk of fires breaking out.
The best ways to prevent any heat from damaging old properties:
- Clean out wood stoves and chimneys
- Avoid smoking inside
- Keep gasoline sealed and ventilated
- Secure vacant areas
Update Sprinklers and Alarms
Updating your sprinklers and alarms is one of the surefire ways of improving fire safety in historical buildings. Without suitable sprinklers and alarms, many risks can go unnoticed. To better improve your circumstances, bring in a professional who can test and recommend replacements to use for future precautions.
A sprinkler system comes on at the slightest hint of smoke that rises, which causes the sprinklers to go off, extinguishing any flames reducing potential damage. The same goes for alarms; if you have others living inside of the historical building, keep alarms nearby so that everyone can get out safely.
Always Update Fire Plan
A fire escape plan is essential, just as it is beneficial for everyone who lives in and around the old complex. Having a strategy can help others remain calm while walking to the emergency exits.
Here’s more on how to make your fire plan strategy:
- Acquire a blueprint of the grounds.
- Mark out the best exits for everyone, including areas that may trap someone.
- Pick a meeting place.
- Make street numbers visible to firefighters.
Not only is this information vital for owners of historical buildings, but also firefighters. When in a crisis, firefighters need the right gear to safely get them in and out of a fire. Keep everyone around you safe by enhancing the safety in and around your historical structure.
