High Rise Buildings Saftey

The attack on the World Trade Center created a catastrophic collapse of both towers. While this tragedy will be reviewed and evaluated for a long time to come, we still recommend you follow the safety guidelines presented below.

A fire in a high-rise residential building usually can be confined to the apartment where it starts. However, smoke and heat can travel throughout the building, especially upward.

High-rise residential buildings are constructed to be fireproof. Most of what is inside the buildings, including your furnishings and belongings, can burn and produce a tremendous amount of heat and smoke.

Ways to Keep your Apartment Safe

• Never keep rubbish in the hallway. Make sure it is stored properly and collected regularly.
• Don't put items in the trash chute that are too big and may get stuck. Things caught in the chute easily can turn a fire in the basement into a fire on your floor.
• Be careful not to overload electrical circuits. Short circuits are the cause of many fires.
• Cook with care. Keep baking soda handy to smother stove fires.
• Never smoke in bed and make sure that there are no smoldering butts when you empty ashtrays.
• Test smoke detectors weekly and replace batteries twice a year (the beginning & end of Daylight Savings time).
• Make sure that your apartment door is tight fitting and complies with the fire code.
• Inspect your exit stair doors. They must be self-closing, snap shut and unlock from both sides. If they don't meet this standard, report it to the superintendent or the Fire Department.

If The Fire is in Your Apartment

• Get everyone out. Stay low as you go out. Close but don't lock all doors in the apartment as you leave.
• Alert others on the floor by knocking on doors. Activate the fire alarm if there is one.
• Go down the nearest STAIRWAY, holding the railing.
• Call the Fire Department from a floor BELOW THE FIRE or from a street fire alarm box outside.

If the Fire is NOT in Your Apartment

• Stay inside rather than entering smoke-filled hallways, especially if the fire is above your apartment.
• Keep your door closed.
• Seal the door with duct tape or wet sheets and towels. Seal ventilators and any other openings where smoke may enter.
• Turn off air conditioners.
• Fill your bathtub with water. If the front door gets hot, wet it down.
• Unless flames or smoke are coming from below, open your windows a few inches at the top or bottom. Don't break the windows; they may need to be closed later.
• Call the Fire Department with your apartment number and a description of the conditions in your apartment. Firefighters will be directed to your location.
• If you feel you are in grave danger, open a window and wave a bed sheet for firefighters to spot you.

Planning Ahead Can Save Your Life

Things to know:

• The layout of your floor.
• The location of stair exits.
• The number of doors between your apartment and the exit stairs. This is essential knowledge to find the exit in the dark.
• Where your apartment key is located. Take the key with you if you are forced to evacuate.
• The location of fire alarm boxes (if your building has them.)

Things to Do

• Keep flashlights ready and in a handy place.
• Install and maintain smoke detectors. Owners of high-rise buildings are required by law to install one detector in each apartment, but its maintenance is up to you.
• Report fire hazards to your superintendent. Blocked exits, piled-up trash, missing exit lights and open fire doors are violations of law. If your superintendent doesn't correct them call the Fire Department (718) 999-2541, and report the condition. Your life may depend on getting the violations corrected.

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