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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.     ︎



SECONDARY / HIGHER-COST

BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS
AND INFORMATION



“Once you get to this level, you are almost certainly going to need to consult with professionals - what should be understood is that everything below could be seen as prescriptive, and some things are not necessary if you do sprinklers. Dampers and fire doors typically occur at rated assemblies;
like between storage rooms and the assembly space…”



Your venue should have

at least
two exits

Venues hosting 1-500 Occupants typically need a minimum of 2 exits.
In multi-story venues, most city codes require two points of egress on each floor
(typically, the main exit stairwell and a fire escape on each floor.)

The exits have to be separated by a min distance, which may vary based on location.
One at each end of building is a good first pass.






When possible, keep performance spaces

on the ground floor

or same floor as building exits.







Post floor plans

Post floor plans of the space in visible areas, with rooms (including “private/staff only” sections) doors, stairs, windows, bathrooms, any hazardous materials storage,  and fire extinguishers clearly marked. These can be simple, informal, and hand-drawn.



Replace
DIY walls

that don't have proper
insulation and sheetrock.

Wood panel walls with hollow cavities in the center are fire hazards. Consider the space’s use and
your needs when choosing how to build a wall. Metal studs are relatively inexpensive and don’t
add to fire risk, but they are less environmentally sustainable than wood studs, which do add
to a structure’s “fire load.”  

Not all sheetrock is created equal! “Type X” sheetrock is recommended. If you live somewhere where earthquakes are a concern, there are additional seismic issues related to wall building.






Check your corridor length:

Ideally, dead end corridors shall not exceed 20’ in length.





Keep heat-generating

lighting equipment
to a minimum.


Use LED or fluorescent bulbs whenever possible, as they generate significantly less heat. While LED bulbs are initially more expensive, incandescent floods can overheat, becoming dangerous to the touch and potentially combustible.

Avoid any lighting that uses  tungsten/halogen  lamps (like old stage lights)  they run *very* hot and need proper handling since the oil from your fingers on the bulbs can catch fire.  





Use flame-retardant fabrics

and materials for sound absorption / isolation
(eg, curtains, fiberglass panels).

Do not use bedding or packing materials.






Install EMERGENCY

LIGHTING

along your exit or
egress paths.



Include 1-2 fixtures on each path, with battery backup in case the power goes out. If you install exit lighting, signage it may help to install it low (1-2 feet up) to the ground.

When there is smoke, you likely can’t see and
will be moving low to the ground.

Install a secondary emergency generator that emergency lights for pathways and exits are connected. Test this system periodically.


Install

sprinklers

if you are able and empowered to do so.


It is possible to install a DIY residential sprinkler system, but it is ideal to to hire a local fire protection contractor to handle all drawings, installation and fire inspection. 
It’s more feasible to do a DIY addition to an already-sprinklered building. 

You can often do the heavy work yourself or with
a regular plumber, and only hire the certified
crew to do the final inspection and connection
to the system.

Note that sprinklers are intended only to
delay a building burning down long enough
for people to exit.

Install

fire doors

and dampers equipped
with panic bars!



Install fire doors and fire dampers (equipped
with panic bars!) to reduce the spread of fire
and smoke through multiple rooms and
(HVAC) ducts.

These two investments will be a plus for
future inspections.



Building Upgrade Required,

Prickly or Uncertain Owner?arm yourself
with information.
 
Get an estimate for design and installation of a sprinkler system including inspection fees. 

If in Oakland, KIVA Oakland provides micro-loans up to $5000.  KIVA operates in several cities - research if this applies to you. The City of Oakland will work with groups to arrive at compliant solution.  But before approaching the City, show commitment by investing in extinguishers and emergency exit signs (you bought them, you own them).  Get the space spic-and-span to show commitment to order.  Approach KIVA with loan application (but do not submit); Approach City of Oakland with upgrade intent (conversation only). Once Oakland and KIVA give verbal blessing, approach landlord with desire to upgrade and that you will invest in the sprinkler but wish a 5-year lease with no rent increase during that time.  The agreement should include if the owner sells, the owner is obligated to pay back the cost of the sprinkler.  If down the road the owner does not repay for sprinklers, file a lien on the property.  This will prevent the sale until repaid. (The cost of a fire sprinkler system for a small to mid sized warehouse is probably going to cost $50,000 to $100,000 or more).


Strive to use

best practices

in your approach to everything safety related.


If you can’t afford a particular solution,
or are otherwise prevented from implementing it 
consider options that mitigate the risk as best possible.

If you can’t implement all of the safety measures,
do what you can do.



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