M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal — Owners, Developers & Managers — July 22 - August 18, 2022 — 3C
www.marej.com
O wners , D evelopers & M anagers By Casey Murphy, CID, HF Planners, LLC Emergency Preparedness: Plan for the worst, expect the best
I n today's current climate, an emergency can come in many forms: fire, extreme
This ensures everyone enter- ing the building has a valid need to be there and tracks the "who" and "when." Surveillance can come in the form of badge tracking and video cameras. Cameras will allow police and building management to work together to understand the situation entirely. MNS en- able communication with large groups in the shape of loud- speakers, cellular text mes - saging, electronic displays, and wireless duress buttons. These response systems are often color-coded in blue instead of the well-known red associated
with fire safety devices. For many facilities, a critical emergency preparedness mea- sure is ensuring that access to your Information Technology (IT) is physically protected. Beyond software or malware protection programs, a facil- ity manager is responsible for ensuring that the IT team has a safe place to work and that servers and equipment can con- tinue to run in an emergency. In this case, HF Planners, LLC would recommend a "Crisis Room," sometimes called "War Rooms" or "Situation Rooms," for the workplace. This is an
annex office or conference room that can be electronically and physically remote from the rest of the office. In the case of active shooter drills, surveillance systems and a mass notification system (MNS) can be incorporated into the building's security mea- sures. Start at entryways to control access to the workplace. This ensures everyone enter- ing the building has a valid need to be there and tracks the "who" and "when." Surveillance can come in the form of badge tracking and video cameras. Cameras will allow police and
building management to work together to understand the situation entirely. MNS en- able communication with large groups in the shape of loud- speakers, cellular text mes - saging, electronic displays, and wireless duress buttons. These response systems are often color-coded in blue instead of the well-known red associated with fire safety devices. For many facilities, a critical emergency preparedness mea- sure is ensuring that access to your Information Technology (IT) is physically protected. continued on page 12C
weather, ac- tive shooter, and, as we now know, viral out- breaks. Prep- aration is key to mitigating the poten- tial risks and
Casey Murphy
damage caused by an emergen- cy. FEMA's approach to dealing with an emergency, no matter the type, is prevention, pro- tection, mitigation, response, and recovery. The breadth of responsibilities resting on a facility's safety becomes para- mount when preparing for the unexpected. While we should all hope never to face the ter- rors of an emergency, a facility ready for anything will allow work to continue in some ca- pacity and, more importantly, protect its employees. Clear wayfinding is a simple but critical aspect of protecting life safety measures in an emer- gency. This means correctly placed exit signage, emergency lighting along egress routes, and unencumbered paths of travel that never lead to "dead- end corridors." This system of preparedness is essential for fire/smoke emergencies. When creating a new space or interior fit-out, a poorly placed sign or extremely long corridor can create a potentially deadly scenario if occupants cannot clearly find their way to the nearest exit. Evacuation floor plans should be posted at stra- tegic locations throughout the facility, such as stairwells and large assembly spaces, to direct personnel out of the building. A facility's infrastructure should also include sophisticat- ed emergency response systems to maximize safety and reduce response times. The workplace's fire emergency response system will ideally have sprinklers, alarms, and fire strobes, all tied back to a central station so that the local fire station is called immediately upon detection. If the building "knows" there is a fire before the facility manager, it will only decrease response times, which is always the goal. In the case of active shooter drills, surveillance systems and a mass notification system (MNS) can be incorporated into the building's security mea- sures. Start at entryways to control access to the workplace.
3322 US22W, Suite 1005 • Branchburg, NJ 08876 908.393.9984 • www.hfplanners.com Facility Planning | Facility Design | Facility Management
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