Are fire safety and sustainability at odds?

Most facility managers strive both to keep occupants safe from fires and to limit their building’s impact on the environment, according to an article on the FacilitiesNet website from Building Operating Management magazine.

While not always easy, it’s usually possible to work toward both goals simultaneously. Indeed, some sustainability initiatives complement fire safety efforts, said Brian Koshley, global director of interior architecture with Carrier Johnson + CULTURE. 

For instance, cleaning substances that are environmentally responsible should emit fewer hazardous fumes, should a fire occur.

Moreover, fire safety systems, by containing fires, reduce the damage conflagrations can wreak on the facility and surrounding environment. “That definitely helps promote sustainability,” said Victoria Valentine, director of professional qualifications and industry alliances with the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.   

Read the article.