Page 8 - New England Condominium December 2020

8 NEW ENGLAND CONDOMINIUM -DECEMBER 2020 NEWENGLANDCONDO.COM www.RiskStrategies.com Specializing in Insurance and Risk Management Services for: For more information Contact Thomas Shields | Producer E: TShields@risk-strategies.com P: 781-961-0314 A: 15 Pacella Park Drive, Suite 240, Randolph, MA 02368 Bernie Gitlin | Executive VP E: Bgitlin@risk-strategies.com P: 781-961-0330 C ondominiums C ommunity A ssoCiAtions HoA C ommunities C ooperAtives www.RiskStrategies.com Specializing in Insurance and Risk Management Services for: For more information Contact Thomas Shields | Producer E: TShields@risk-strategies.com P: 781-961-0314 A: 15 Pacella Park Drive, Suite 240, Randolph, MA 02368 Bernie Gitlin | Executive VP E: Bgitlin@risk-strategies.com P: 781-961-0330 C ondominiums C ommunity A ssoCiAtions HoA C ommunities C ooperAtives www.RiskStrategies.com Specializing in Insurance and Risk Management Services for: For more information Contact Thomas Shields | Producer E: TShields@risk-strategies.com P: 781-961-0314 A: 15 Pacella Park Drive, Suite 240, Randolph, MA 02368 Bernie Gitlin | Executive VP E: Bgitlin@risk-strategies.com P: 781-961-0330 C ondominiums C ommunity A ssoCiAtions HoA C ommunities C ooperAtives Greater Boston’s Full Service Condominium & Property Management Firm 617-202-3815 admin@yifmanagement.com www.yifmanagement.com | • Competitive Customized Rates! 100% Transparency! • • No Unnecessary Fees! Guaranteed Communication! • safety plans in Massachusetts are the re- sult of local ordinances—not state require- ments,” says Scott Wolf, a managing partner at Brigs, a real estate management firm lo- cated in Boston. “The extensiveness of the report varies by municipality. Regardless sification as a ‘semi-fireproof’ building,” of requirements, we believe a safety plan says Bullock. “Rather, buildings are classed is necessary to insure the lives of the resi- dents. Fire safety is your biggest concern; most substantial difference and concern in it’s life safety, and that’s the biggest thing residential building fire safety is whether a you’re looking at.” James Bullock is a former firefighter and ble. The size of the building doesn’t really the president of New York Fire Safety, a con- sulting firm that provides FEPGs to co-ops and condominiums, as well as other types than five or six stories, explains Bullock— of properties throughout the tri-state area. usually, they’re no more than five stories. In “These plans contain perhaps three pages a non-combustible, or ‘fireproof’ building, on fires themselves,” he says. “The other 30 safety depends on where the fire is, because pages or so deal with information on fire that makes a difference in what actions resi- safety. There are other informational sec- tions that deal with your building systems, not near your unit, don’t leave the building, exit, stairs, etc. and how and what to do in he says. It’s safer to assess the situation, stay the event of both fire and non-fire emergen- cies, like hurricanes, or a steam or gas leak. tions from first responders. That’s because Basically it’s ‘what to do’ instructions, like: by definition, a fireproof building has fire take your keys and close the door, don’t use walls between units that prevent flames elevators, and so forth.” Bullock adds that from extending beyond the unit in which different states and municipalities have dif- ferent requirements for drafting and post- ing an FEPG, but “as a fire safety profes- sional, I certainly recommend having one. smoky hallway, you run the risk of harm Multifamily buildings...should have them from smoke inhalation. You can prevent regardless. It is critical for residents to know smoke from coming into your apartment by what to do in case of a fire.” Who Creates the Plan? Interestingly, Bullock says that even though a given city may require an FEPG to be done for each building, it may not specify who has to do it. Technically, a board or manager could draw up their own, but according to Bullock, “The plan should be written by a fire safety professional. I have completed over 3,000 of these guides, and frankly, I’ve found that when done by someone other than a fire safety profes- sional, 85% of the plans are incomplete or incorrect. For example, supers often do FEPGs incorrectly. That’s not an accusation against supers—it’s just that they don’t nec- essarily have the same knowledge base as a fire safety professional. Anyone can do it, but it’s clearly better to work with a profes- sional.” Wolf concurs with Bullock on the im- portance of working with an experienced, qualified fire safety pro in mapping out your individual plan, adding that in New England, “There are many companies that specialize in developing these plans for in- dividual properties. They always should be done by a professional. We do not do them in house.” “The fire plan is far too important to be done by an amateur,” adds another manage- ment pro. “There are an excessive amount of fire safety codes, and they change contin- uously. You need an expert who knows and understands all the changes. The companies that perform this service know the rules and regulations, egress issues, and how to make sure a building complies with the fire code. These companies are often run by for- mer fire officials, and they stay on top of all fire safety related issues.” Building Types & Fire Safety Plans First things first: “There is no such clas- as combustible or non-combustible. The property is combustible or non-combusti- matter.” A combustible building won’t be more dents should take in the event of a fire. If it’s in your apartment, and wait for instruc- they originated. These barriers are meant to contain an actual fire—but if you leave the safety of your apartment and go into a putting a towel in the gap under the front door. Of course, if the fire is in your unit, you should leave the building immediately. By contrast, if you are in a combustible, non-fireproof building, you should evacu- ate the building immediately at the first sign of a fire. And no matter what the size or classification of your building, always be aware of and follow your FEGP instruc- tions—and most importantly, never get into an elevator during a fire. “Don’t use eleva- tors unless instructed,” says Bullock. “They aren’t used in a fire at all. Do not enter an elevator during a fire, ever.” Fire safety should be one of the primary emergency plans your co-op corporation or condominium association prepares. Once done, it’s done—though it may re- quire updating from time to time, and resi- dents should be regularly reminded of your building’s FEGP. Check with management to confirm that your building has one. If it doesn’t, lobby your board to get one in place. It may be a cliche, but when it comes to fire safety, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure. n A J Sidransky is a staff writer/reporter for New England Condominium, and a published novelist. FIRE SAFETY... continued from page 1