In This Post:
– Safety Tips during a Fire
– Safety Tips during an Earthquake
– Safety Tips during a Storm
– Safety Tips for Children
Property developers in Pakistan are now focusing on building apartments and high-rises to accommodate more people in a small area. The shift in the trend has brought a significant change in the property market of Pakistan. You can now see apartment complexes in most of the housing societies. Owing to the tremendous benefits of having vertical cities, the city’s skyline has transformed significantly in recent years. Most homebuyers are concerned about safety measures in skyscrapers and can’t decide whether they should invest in a tall building or not? In this blog, we will talk about the safety measures for high-rise buildings.
Safety Measures for High-Rise Buildings
If the area you are planning to buy an apartment is prone to earthquakes, floods or fire accidents, then you would be concerned whether you are making the right investment choice or not. However, with the latest technology being used in the construction industry, most high-rises come with a detailed safety plan and are usually well-prepared for any natural calamity – making them quite a safe option for investment. For your convenience and to have a better understanding of the topic at hand, we have divided our blog in 5 segments. Let’s take a look:
- Safety Tips during a Fire
- Safety Tips during an Earthquake
- Safety Tips during a Storm
- Safety Tips for Children
We shall now discuss each of the above headings in more detail
Safety Tips during a Fire
Following are some key safety measures to consider before moving into an apartment
- Does the building have a sprinkler system? If not, then you should request your landlord to install a sprinkler in the building which can extinguish a fire in case it erupts in the building
- It is always a good idea to go through the evacuation plan of a building. You should know where the exits are in case of a fire emergency in a high-rise apartment.
- Know all about the different safety features installed in the building: Voice communication, sprinkler system, fire alarms and how to respond to them.
- One of the most important safety measures for a high-rise building that you should take is to know the locations of all available exit stairs from your floor. In case a fire erupts, you know which fleet of stairs to take for a safe exit from the building.
- Take a tour of the building and inspect the exit points. Make sure they are not blocked by security bars or sealed
- Most high-rise buildings have an evacuation plan where you have to go to a safe area inside the high-rise and stay there waiting for instructions. You must follow as per the instructions and stay where you are
- If the fire broke out and you can’t find your way out of the building, it is advised to stuff wet towels around the door and keep all vents open to let the smoke out. Inform the fire department about your whereabouts. Open a window slightly and wave a bright cloth to let them know about your location. In a high-rise building, the evacuation process takes a long time. Be prepared for it and keep in touch with the fire department of the building.
- Take a look at this comprehensive fire safety guide if you are living in a bungalow.
Safety Tips during an Earthquake
Multi-storey buildings are usually well-equipped to deal with any natural calamity like earthquakes. Seismic safety is very important when it comes to determining the safety of a building. Here are some useful safety measures to take when hit by an earthquake.
- Base isolation is a rubber structure lying in the foundations of the building that ensures the building doesn’t collapse to the floor. It would sway on the spot for a while, but will not come to the ground. Ask your landlord what kind of seismic construction standards have been used in the building and how earthquake resistant your building is.
- Most people ask what to do if you are in a tall building during an earthquake. The answer is to take immediate cover when hit by an earthquake. In tall buildings, it is quite unlikely that you will be able to come out of the building during an earthquake with moving ground and falling debris. It is recommended to hide under a table so that even if falling façade materials such as bricks and glass fall, it doesn’t hurt you.
- If God forbid, the building collapses, a piece of furniture like a sturdy table or a bathtub can provide you the void space that lets you stay safe until the rescuers are able to scoop you out
Safety Tips during a Storm
High-rise buildings are usually engineered to withstand high winds, such as storms, hurricanes and tornadoes. When it comes to preparedness and safety in a high-rise building, you must have a plan and know the fastest routes to the nearest safe area. Let us take a look at some key factors and safety tips in a high-rise building during a dangerous storm.
- Ensure your building has a safety exit in case your building suffers any damage due to a powerful tornado or hurricane
- Keep a storm survival kit ready and take it with you when evacuating or moving to a safer place within the building
- The storm survival kit should include: non-perishable food, bottles of water, emergency light, torch with batteries, a radio, first-aid box with gloves, bandages, band aids, ointment etc.
Safety Tips for Children
Make sure the skyscraper you are planning to invest in is child-safe, especially if you have inquisitive toddlers living with you. Here are some safety tips for children in an apartment.
- Check out the railings in your balcony. How wide they are and is the height of the railing easy for your child to climb through? It could be potentially dangerous. Balconies should at least be one or more metres high. The gaps between the railings should not be more than 4 inches. If the railing is too far apart, then talk to your landlord and building’s management to install safety grills
- It is advised not to keep any furniture in a high-rise building on the balcony. Children are inquisitive and can climb on the furniture for a better view. They could fall off the railing which can cause fatal injuries. You can bring chairs whenever you have to entertain guests in the balcony, but don’t let the furniture be there at all times.
- Be extra sure of locking the balconies and doors when leaving your child unattended in the room. As a general practice, keep it locked at all times. Add an additional lock just to be sure that your child can’t easily open it up.
So, these were some of the best ways to ensure safety in a high-rise building. You can also take a look at the factors to consider before moving into an apartment. If you are still weighing down the options between a house and an apartment, then read our detailed piece on: Buying a house or a flat – Which is the better option? Subscribe to the Zameen Newsletter appearing on the right hand side of the page. Make sure to write to us at blog@zameen.com and we will surely get back to you. Stay tuned to the best real estate and lifestyle blog in Pakistan.
