Fire Safety at Penn South
Education about fire safety can be a life saver. Make sure everyone in your household knows the best course of action in the event of a fire. Keep the fire safety sticker posted on the inside of your apartment door and make sure everyone in your household reads and reviews it regularly. (If you need a new fire safety sticker, call the Maintenance Office at 212-675-8181.
If a fire breaks out in your apartment:
- Do not try to fight the fire yourself.
- Get out and stay out. Do not try to gather personal possessions.
- Close the door on your way out.
- If smoke is present, exit as low to the ground as possible and keep your mouth covered.
- Call 911 once you reach a safe location.
- If any part of you or your clothing catches fire, do not run or try to put out the fire with your hands. Cover your face with your hands and drop to the ground and roll over and over.
If a fire is happening elsewhere in the building:
Penn South buildings are considered to be "fireproof" construction. This means that a fire will be contained within the area of the building (apartment) where the fire has started, provided that the area is sealed behind closed doors. In your apartment, the walls and entrance door are rated to withstand fire and heat long enough for emergency personnel to bring the situation under control.
Since our buildings are "fireproof" construction, when a fire is occurring elsewhere in a Penn South building, the safest course of action is usually to stay in your apartment. If you go into the hallway or stairway you may be entering a more dangerous situation.
Exiting your apartment is dangerous because stairways and hallways can be filled with heavy smoke, which can be lethal. Seal your apartment entrance door with duct tape or wet sheets and towels to prevent smoke from filling your apartment.
Important note: The information we are providing in this webpage does not apply to all buildings. In a "combustible" or "non-fireproof building" — many of which have fire escapes on the outside — leaving the building is usually the best plan.
In fireproof construction such as Penn South, the New York Fire Department recommends the following:
IF THE FIRE IS NOT IN YOUR APARTMENT, it is usually better (safer) to:
IF THE FIRE IS IN YOUR APARTMENT:
Finally, please remember the importance of smoke alarms. These devices are checked as part of our annual apartment inspections. However, our staff sometimes encounters situations where residents have disabled or removed one or more smoke alarms in their apartment. This is dangerous and illegal. If one of the devices in your home is causing a nuisance with false alarms, do not remove it. Instead, call Maintenance at 212-675-3200 and ask for the smoke alarm to be replaced.
Penn South buildings are considered to be "fireproof" construction. This means that a fire will be contained within the area of the building (apartment) where the fire has started, provided that the area is sealed behind closed doors. In your apartment, the walls and entrance door are rated to withstand fire and heat long enough for emergency personnel to bring the situation under control.
Since our buildings are "fireproof" construction, when a fire is occurring elsewhere in a Penn South building, the safest course of action is usually to stay in your apartment. If you go into the hallway or stairway you may be entering a more dangerous situation.
Exiting your apartment is dangerous because stairways and hallways can be filled with heavy smoke, which can be lethal. Seal your apartment entrance door with duct tape or wet sheets and towels to prevent smoke from filling your apartment.
Important note: The information we are providing in this webpage does not apply to all buildings. In a "combustible" or "non-fireproof building" — many of which have fire escapes on the outside — leaving the building is usually the best plan.
In fireproof construction such as Penn South, the New York Fire Department recommends the following:
IF THE FIRE IS NOT IN YOUR APARTMENT, it is usually better (safer) to:
- Stay inside rather than entering smoke-filled hallways. If the fire is on a floor below your apartment you may be caught by rising heat and smoke in the stairways. If the fire is above your apartment there is less danger in leaving but also less of a reason to leave as the smoke and heat are above you.
- Keep your door CLOSED.
- Seal the door with duct tape or wet sheets and towels. Seal ventilators and any other openings where smoke may enter.
- Turn off air conditioners and fan coil units.
- Unless flames or smoke are coming from below, open your windows a few inches at the top or bottom. Don’t break windows; they may need to be closed later.
- Call the Fire Department with your apartment number and description of the conditions in your apartment. Firefighters will be directed to your location.
IF THE FIRE IS IN YOUR APARTMENT:
- Get everyone out. Stay low as you go.
- Use the closest most accessible exit.
- CLOSE YOUR APARTMENT DOOR AND OTHER DOORS IN YOUR APARTMENT as you leave.
- DO NOT USE THE ELEVATOR.
- Call 911 once you reach a safe location
Finally, please remember the importance of smoke alarms. These devices are checked as part of our annual apartment inspections. However, our staff sometimes encounters situations where residents have disabled or removed one or more smoke alarms in their apartment. This is dangerous and illegal. If one of the devices in your home is causing a nuisance with false alarms, do not remove it. Instead, call Maintenance at 212-675-3200 and ask for the smoke alarm to be replaced.
New:
Lithium-ion Battery Ban for Personal Mobility Devices Takes Effect September 1, 2023
Click here for full information about the lithium-ion battery ban and how this relates to fire safety.
Lithium-ion Battery Ban for Personal Mobility Devices Takes Effect September 1, 2023
Click here for full information about the lithium-ion battery ban and how this relates to fire safety.
Smoke Detector Information
Smoke Detectors are Life Savers and Should Never Be Removed or Disabled
A working smoke detector may be the most important tool in saving lives and preventing injuries in the event of a fire. According to a 2021 study by the National Fire Protection Association, the majority of residential fire deaths in the U.S. occur in homes where there is no smoke detector at all (40 percent) or where the device fails to operate, typically because it not getting power (eg. the battery expired or was removed.)
In accordance with local laws, all smoke detectors in Penn South apartments use non-removable 10-year batteries. However, our efforts are undermined when people remove the devices in their homes. If one of your smoke detectors is causing problems, it needs to be fixed or replaced, and should never be removed without replacement.
What to Do if Your Smoke Detector Goes Off Too Frequently
If one of your smoke detectors becomes a nuisance by going off too frequently, do not remove it.
Sometimes false alarms can be cured by a simple cleaning of the device. Dust, dander, and insects in the device may cause false alarms, so shaking the device and dusting it off is a good thing to try first.
If your device is clean but remains prone to false alarms, call the Penn South Maintenance Department at 212-675-8181 and we will dispatch an employee to inspect it and either correct the issue or replace the device.
Smoke Detectors for People Who Are Hard of Hearing
For cooperators with hearing difficulties, special smoke detector systems can alert people to a possible fire through methods other than noise. Multiple companies manufacture these systems, and the co-op carries the Silent Call brand devices in our Stock Room.
These systems are comprised of multiple products, including:
The system can also be used in conjunction with landline telephones and special doorbells to alert a person to calls and visitors using the same flashing lamps or strobe lights.
We strongly encourage the installation of these systems in all households where there is a person hard of hearing. Multiple manufacturers sell products of this type. The housing co-op has a system made by Silent Call available for purchase at our Stock Room
Smoke Detectors are Life Savers and Should Never Be Removed or Disabled
A working smoke detector may be the most important tool in saving lives and preventing injuries in the event of a fire. According to a 2021 study by the National Fire Protection Association, the majority of residential fire deaths in the U.S. occur in homes where there is no smoke detector at all (40 percent) or where the device fails to operate, typically because it not getting power (eg. the battery expired or was removed.)
In accordance with local laws, all smoke detectors in Penn South apartments use non-removable 10-year batteries. However, our efforts are undermined when people remove the devices in their homes. If one of your smoke detectors is causing problems, it needs to be fixed or replaced, and should never be removed without replacement.
What to Do if Your Smoke Detector Goes Off Too Frequently
If one of your smoke detectors becomes a nuisance by going off too frequently, do not remove it.
Sometimes false alarms can be cured by a simple cleaning of the device. Dust, dander, and insects in the device may cause false alarms, so shaking the device and dusting it off is a good thing to try first.
If your device is clean but remains prone to false alarms, call the Penn South Maintenance Department at 212-675-8181 and we will dispatch an employee to inspect it and either correct the issue or replace the device.
Smoke Detectors for People Who Are Hard of Hearing
For cooperators with hearing difficulties, special smoke detector systems can alert people to a possible fire through methods other than noise. Multiple companies manufacture these systems, and the co-op carries the Silent Call brand devices in our Stock Room.
These systems are comprised of multiple products, including:
- Bed shaker. This item is placed underneath a mattress. When the smoke detector senses a possible fire, it sends a signal to this device, which then shakes the bed to wake a person up who is sleeping.
- Lamp lighter: Put one of these in every room of the apartment and plug a table lamp into each device. When the smoke detector is triggered it sends a signal to flash the lamp in a specific pattern to alert the person to a possible fire. Lights on the device indicate the specific nature of the alert.
- Strobe light: This works similar to the lamp lighter, but the brightness and unique light it gives off may get a person's attention more quickly.
- Smoke detector with transmitter: The above devices are triggered by a special smoke detector that includes a transmitter that will send a signal to the associated devices.
The system can also be used in conjunction with landline telephones and special doorbells to alert a person to calls and visitors using the same flashing lamps or strobe lights.
We strongly encourage the installation of these systems in all households where there is a person hard of hearing. Multiple manufacturers sell products of this type. The housing co-op has a system made by Silent Call available for purchase at our Stock Room
Fire Safety Guidelines
from the FDNY:
Never use an extension cord with large current appliances such as a space heater, air conditioner or refrigerator. Extension cords can cause home fires by overheating due to overloading the outlet.
Never smoke while lying down, especially if drowsy, medicated or have been drinking. Completely douse cigarette butts with water before discarding. Smokers are seven times more likely than nonsmokers to have a fire in their home.
Stay in the kitchen while cooking and wear short or tight fitting sleeves. Unattended cooking accounts for thirty-three percent of home fires.
A working smoke alarm will reduce your chances of dying in a fire in half. Install alarms on every floor and in bedrooms for extra protection. Seventy percent of fire deaths occur in homes with an inoperable smoke alarm or no smoke alarm present. The majority of the deaths are children and older adults.
Plan and practice a fire escape plan. Do not attempt to fight the fire yourself. Get out and CLOSE THE DOOR. Call 911 from a safe location. Smoke and fire kills! You may have less than three minutes to get to safety.
Store matches and lighters out of reach and sight of children. Provide close continuous supervision of children. Toddler fire deaths are most often due to children playing with matches or utility lighters.
Never leave burning candles unattended. Half of the people killed by candle fires in the home were younger than 20 years of age.
from the FDNY:
Never use an extension cord with large current appliances such as a space heater, air conditioner or refrigerator. Extension cords can cause home fires by overheating due to overloading the outlet.
Never smoke while lying down, especially if drowsy, medicated or have been drinking. Completely douse cigarette butts with water before discarding. Smokers are seven times more likely than nonsmokers to have a fire in their home.
Stay in the kitchen while cooking and wear short or tight fitting sleeves. Unattended cooking accounts for thirty-three percent of home fires.
A working smoke alarm will reduce your chances of dying in a fire in half. Install alarms on every floor and in bedrooms for extra protection. Seventy percent of fire deaths occur in homes with an inoperable smoke alarm or no smoke alarm present. The majority of the deaths are children and older adults.
Plan and practice a fire escape plan. Do not attempt to fight the fire yourself. Get out and CLOSE THE DOOR. Call 911 from a safe location. Smoke and fire kills! You may have less than three minutes to get to safety.
Store matches and lighters out of reach and sight of children. Provide close continuous supervision of children. Toddler fire deaths are most often due to children playing with matches or utility lighters.
Never leave burning candles unattended. Half of the people killed by candle fires in the home were younger than 20 years of age.