The number of natural disasters globally has increased tenfold since the 1960s, and a National Climate Assessment in the U.S. found that events, such as heat waves, heavy downpours and major hurricanes have not only increased in frequency, but in intensity. Today, many climate events that were once deemed outliers are now more commonplace. As we continue to grapple with the consequences of a changing climate on a national and global level, it is critical that we prioritize disaster-resilient structures to minimize the loss of life, property damage and environmental destruction caused by these events.
Unfortunately, our efforts to fortify against disaster are often more reactive than proactive. More than three decades ago, the devastation of Hurricane Andrew prompted Florida to finally address relaxed building code implementation and inadequate inspections. In February 2023, when Turkey was struck with the deadliest earthquakes in history, it was revealed that, for years, the government had allowed contractors to ignore critical safety regulations, specifically designed to make buildings more resistant to earthquakes. This, of course, contributed to the high death toll and property damage.
These are just two examples spanning broad time frames and locations, but the lessons learned are universal. At a foundational level, constructing and maintaining resilient buildings starts with adhering to building, fire, and life safety codes and standards. But resiliency is not a set-it-and-forget-it initiative, and facility managers and contractors must invest in routine inspection, testing and maintenance (ITM) alongside proactive emergency response planning to uphold the highest standards of fire and life safety.
Staying Ahead of ITM, Planned Response and Education
ITM is a standard component of any program designed to keep fire and life safety systems operating properly and allows facility managers and contractors to quickly identify and resolve issues. By performing ITM on a continuous basis, facility managers can help ensure structural integrity, prevent building fires harmful to the environment and community, and keep the lights on and systems running during an extreme weather event. Therefore, it’s critical to invest in ITM by regularly engaging high-quality contractors and training internal staff to handle necessary tasks responsibly.
Additionally, it’s important to be proactive about the larger emergency response ecosystem. To mitigate the impacts of disaster, staff training and education are just as important as routine inspection in ensuring this ecosystem thrives. A skilled workforce and educated public are the backbone of effective response during and following an extreme weather event. Weak ecosystems will fail faster during natural disaster and create additional difficulties in recovering and returning to normal operations, so it’s critical to be proactive year-round.
By making critical code content more accessible and interactive, facilitating collaboration between all stakeholders involved in emergency preparedness and investing in innovative education models, we can hold our own against catastrophe. Resiliency requires us to always be one step ahead—in maintaining our structures, training our workforce and leveraging cutting-edge technology. Evolving our fire and life safety approach alongside an evolving climate is the only way we’ll keep our communities safe.