The Special Risk of Fires at Public Assembly Locations

When someone thinks of New York City, one of the first things that come to mind is the incredible entertainment that is offered here.  Theaters, nightclubs, bars with live music are all part of the most modern and trendy entertainment that can be offered today. However, when these locations are filled with hundreds of people, there are special risks that come with it, and most of which the public is unaware of. Fire safety MUST be a consideration in venues that entertain the masses of the public, and today we will be discussing some of those risks and how we can address them.

While it’s critical for any business owner to have a fire safety and prevention plan in place, owners of large venues such as theaters and nightclubs must go to extra lengths just because of the sheer number of people who are on-site at one time. This is different than just a business that has just office space to worry about. Especially at these locations, it’s not just 1 or 2 safety measures that need to be in place, but rather an entire system of fire prevention and safety.  Multiple layers of protection and safeguards must be accounted for if the public is going to be safe.

The NFPA did a study of several fires that have taken place throughout history in large public assembly locations, particularly in night clubs with a special focus on the recent Station Nightclub fire in 2003.

Because of the inherent dangers of having so many people in one place, special precautions need to be established. After studying these fires, certain recommendations were made for nightclubs and public assembly locations. These include:

1. State and local codes be modeled after national codes, with regular inspections to see that these codes are enforced
2. Mandated sprinkler systems for occupancy greater than 100
3. Finishing materials must be fire retardant
4. Indoor use of pyrotechnics be prohibited
5. Provisions for occupancy limits and emergency egress
6. Portable fire extinguishers
7. Emergency Response Standards for communication, mutual aid, staffing, and command structure
8. Research on human behavior in emergency situations
9. Research on fire spread and suppression
10. Research computer-aided decision tools for fire response

Having these measures in place greatly minimizes the chance of a fire raging out of control and causing mass casualties, similar to the outcome of the Station Nightclub and other public assembly fires. As business owners in this industry, there are greater fire risks present, which require great fire safety measures and protection.

At New York City Flameproofing, we are aware of how devastating a fire can be in public assembly locations. We also know that the practice of flameproofing is extensive in its ability to save both lives and property. Making sure that your flammable items such as curtains, drapes, carpets, upholstery, decorative objects, greenery, scenery, etc. are treated with fire retardants and then are no longer combustible is a huge fire protection measure.

We are here to service all 5 boroughs of New York City as well as the greater Metro area including Long Island, New Jersey, Westchester, and Connecticut. If your business has flameproofing needs, we would be pleased to serve you and add you to our growing list of satisfied customers. Please call today to have your questions answered and to receive a free, no-obligation estimate: (800) 291-0904