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The following harm reduction guide is an open source document contributed to us by a remarkable community of DIY/lived experience to credentialed professionals in architecture, fire rescue and prevention, disability justice, and many other fields. Please visit our friends at https://D-I-Y.fyi for more information.     ︎


FREE BUILDING &
SAFETY MODIFICATIONS

FIRE SAFETY



Ensure all major exit path infrastructure is made of

fire-safe material.


This includes hallways, doors, stairs.
Especially if you have "decorative" or private stairs, lofts, ladders, poles.

Note: standard, single layer drywall is designed to withstand a fire for only 30 minutes, though it is possible to purchase materials and design walls to last for up to 1 hour in a fire.

Code compliant exit stairs are typically rated for 1.5 to 2 hours.
For detailed diagrams, go here - free registration required.





Store

flammable / combustible / hazardous

material properly

solvents, gasoline, kerosene, spray paint,solvent soaked or oily rags, and more.

Use appropriate individual containers,
flammables cabinets, etc


These can be bought for$300 or less from lab/office supply liquidators.
The blue hazmat cabinets typically offer the same fire protections as the
yellow flammables cabinets, and may be cheaper. 

Keep a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for all hazardous
materials onsite in an easily accessible location.





Do not allow

large installations or dividers of fabric,
paper, flammable wood, etc.


Unless the materials are known to be flame retardant and/or the space has working sprinklers.  

Require all existing large installations or dividers made of flammable material to be fireproofed. There are cheap, low-cost methods as well as standard products, and they vary for different flammable materials that can be found by searching online.

Note that some fireproof materials can (when there isn’t a fire) cause adverse reactions in people with chemical sensitivities.




OBTAIN AND Install

battery operated exit signs

with integral strobes as not all visitors can hear a fire alarm.

This will also help with the location of exits in instances of crowd panic.



Obtain and install

functional smoke AND
CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

30 feet apart in common areas
 
One in each enclosed room. Consult the manual of your individual detector for testing
frequency, but if you don’t have the manual, test the batteries at least every 6 months.

More information from FEMA about smoke detectors can be found here.




Obtain, install, and clearly label 

non-expired fire extinguishers

75 feet apart in common areas.

If your space has contained studios or bedrooms, include a fire extinguisher in each.

Check the fire extinguishers annually: verify pressure is in the green area on the dial,
and make sure there aren't any obstructions
in the nozzle. 

Dry chemical extinguishers (like most multi-use extinguishers) should be inverted and shaken about once a month to prevent the powder from compacting at the bottom of the container.
A Multi-Purpose Fire Extinguisher labeled for Type A, B and C fires will cover many types
of fires (paper, oil, electric) and costs approximately $55 for a 5lb extinguisher.

If you have specific risky conditions (flammable material; complex/extensive electrical wiring) place the appropriate extinguisher nearby. 
Have fire extinguishers professionally serviced annually, and replace it if it has been used or if the hose or nozzle is cracked, ripped, or blocked; the locking pin is missing or unsealed; or the handle is wobbly or broken.

High-quality extinguishers can often be
picked up used at low cost.

Recertifying is a $10-20 investment if
the extinguisher is not too old.


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