First Responders and Building Safety

Building owners and operators recognize their top priority is the safety of all those in or near their building. Healthy, safe, and secure building design and construction is a primary goal to prevent injuries and illnesses and to improve compliance with laws and regulations. Providing information about, access to, and control of a building system to first responders can improve crucial response times and save lives.

New technologies help first responders by giving them building information ahead of time. This can eliminate on-the-spot reconnaissance and decision-making, preventing a need to scramble to find people who know about a building and its systems. Crucial building information can be transferred to the first responders while they are en route and once they arrive. Staying connected during an emergency is critical, and smart buildings ensure there is the capability to communicate anywhere in the building during an event.

In this chapter...