Kevin Meyers from Broward County (FL) Fire Rescue sent in these pictures of an interesting daycare facility he recently discovered during an automatic fire alarm response. Operating in this structure could pose some interesting challenges. Click here for the details
22 thoughts on “Secure Daycare”
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“I wonder what a real fireman would do?” I pondered quietly to myself.
Just curious what the fire code says about this building. It doesn’t look like it’s designed with any thought to getting kids and caretakers out in a hurry.
At least they have an automatic alarm.
I agree with the other poster…who passed them on their inspection? What about panic hardware or alike. My plan would be attack the slide with the saw
How in the name of all that is Holy did this get approved?
Any fire here or just smoke is going to create a major event to deal with. Saws and irons (and what else I can get) will be needed if there is any real chance to save the kids. Kind of reminds me of the RI Station Club in the way that there is really no way out.
At least the access to the meter is not blocked and I can still pull it…
But in all seriousness, WTF?
In all actuality, this building seems to comply to the IFC (don’t know if florida has their own code book like jersey). The only thing that may cause this building to fail inspection or be subject to violations (that i can see) would be that door with the padlock on the inside as it blocks a primary means of egress.
The code states that the building owner can use the padlock like that, but only after business hours or when the building is not occupied.
If that padlock was on there during inspection and the inspector passed it, I’d be questioning that persons’ certification.
Welcome to FL. At least it’s not on a trailer (although prob, easier to get into if it was 🙂 ). If a daycare needs that much security, I’m not sure I’d want to send my kids there in the first place. Probably a good idea to do an in-depth preplan and figure out how things are gonna go before the tones go off. Good eye.
You would be just as well off to send your kid to a dog shelter. At least they let them out to play…
If this was an orphanage I would be a bit more concerned about all the window and door security. In that case the building would be occupied over night.
But in reality as a ‘day care’ facility all they really need is the required amount of unobstructed exits outlined in the local code.
All those barriers are more of a hazard for us when we end up fighting a blaze in this building at 2 am.
Keep in mind that there are 24hour ‘Day Care’ centers out there.
peace out
Actually we should ask the kids how to defeat this. I know mine are already a hell of a lot smarter than I am.
A 24 hour child care facility with beds/cribs for sleeping (rather than ‘just’ napping) would warrant the same concerns I expressed for an orphanage-type setup.
Other than all of the obvious issues… I wonder if the caretakers are trained in evacuation drils and if they actually practice them monthly w/the children. I can understand the issues of keeping the youngin’s in and the perv’s out, but wow can you say OCC!!!??? Although, I think montly drills for the occupants would be a huge benifit for all. This is along w/the local truck companies knowing what to expect and what to complete for the engine companies having exit safeties.
Generally here in FL they have to do regular fire drills. The problem that comes in is that the staff turnover rate is very high and the staff in a given room may only have worked there for a few weeks or days. In a fire you would have to expect that they and the kids will go to the door that they came in though. This is likely to be the same door for most of them (probably the same one we want to go in).
Although the material and anchoring look somewhat lightweight, the additional resources needed to soften up the building increase quite a bit. Not sure about you, but staffing shortages and increased response times certainly are a concern.
Whats up brothers? It looks like DMAN gets to use his Sa’r all over the place. But I came up with a solution to this hullabaloo we have goin on at the kiddy compound. We use a cuttin torch. Sorry DMAN no Sa’r here. The framing square can stay tho guys because that one is ingeneous!!!
Seriously though you Fisties need to take it easy. If this causes such a concern to you why dont you contact the fire inspector and have him investigate it and why it passed or if it even passed.
Come on Brothers think smarter not harder!!
Ryan you have a good point. The problem is that often places get passed on inspection and look like this.
As I made reference to earlier with the Station fire, it did pass inspection before the fire. That did not change or eliminate the need for the FD to deal with it.
If this place ever goes up during working hours it will be preplanning discussions (like we are doing here) that will make the difference between scarred kids and a mass pile of little bodies.
Thank you Captain Obvious.. Yeah, we would report this, but the last time I had to send in a request to the inspector, he didnt show up until the place had already burned…(4 months later) sometimes you must think harder if you want to be smarter.
Nice find again, how this did get approved is beyond me. They mst of had a problem with the kids trying to break in after hours…
I must use this on my daughters windows to keep all the pussifified american youngsters out.
I would call a REAL inspector! One who doesn’t have too much time on his hands.
Telling a department inspector? That is a JOKE!!!
Why are you guys getting upset? This building looks as if its to code, so long as that iron bar door isn’t locked during business hours (if it is, then there is a problem with the inspector, unless there is some sort of panic hardware I don’t see). They can bar up the windows as much as they want, as they are not a means of egress.