Building Management Hawaii - April/May 2012 - (Page 22)

Top 10 Fire Fighters By Drew Nagai P reventing fires is a job for everyone, but condo boards and property managers have a particular responsibility. Success is unexciting, but when it comes to fire, the last thing you want is excitement. Not only does success mean that residents and tenants remain safe from fire, it could also translate into lower insurance rates. Tips for property managers and association boards: • Enforce house rules. Stay in touch with owners and residents through regular conversations, meetings, newsletters and postings in elevators and other common areas. • Many condos have growing elderly populations. Stay in touch with elderly residents and be approachable. Also, develop relationships with non-resident family members, who could serve as valuable points of contact and provide assistance in the event a unit assessment is needed. • Consider periodic high-hazard inspections of individual units. Boards have the authority to conduct interior assessments. Fire How to keep fires at bay? It’s not rocket science, but here in Hawaii it can be a little more challenging due to the advanced age of many buildings. As the first state to enact a condominium law, Hawaii is home to many condos built during the boom of the 1960s and mid-1970s. • Remind residents about the risks of unattended cooking, smoking, electrical overloads, etc. • Ensure proper maintenance of electrical systems. In addition to conducting regular self-inspections, hire licensed electricians to perform more sophisticated inspections using tools such as infrared thermography. • Have a process for documenting the results of selfinspections and for tracking what remedial actions are taken and when. • Practice good housekeeping. Keep common areas and electrical distribution rooms clear of unnecessary items; do not use them for storage. • Ensure that trash chute doors are in good condition and have operable fusible links. Deposit doors on all floors should be self-closing and latching. In the event of a trash fire, you want to prevent fire, smoke and superheated air from infiltrating the building. • Ensure the proper storage and use of flammable liquids. • Require contractors performing hot work, such as welding and soldering, to have a Hot Work Permit program in place. Also, request a certificate of insurance from the contractor and have them name the association as an additional insured when applicable. Drew Nagai is the risk & safety management manager at First Insurance Company of Hawaii. In addition to more than 20 years of experience in Hawaii’s insurance industry, Nagai has achieved the chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Loss Control Management, Associate in Premium Audit, and Construction Risk Insurance Specialist designations. Firestopping saves property– and lives! New firestop system for floor and wall penetrations Do you know - the true cost of the work you perform? - the future liability of the work you do? You need state-of-the-art firestopping products and a qualified installer. Call today for a material and/or labor quotation. Firestopping, Thermal and Sound Insulation Contr. Lic. No. C-29675 P. O. Box 29177 Honolulu, Hawaii 96820 Phone: (808) 521-1151 Fax: (808) 521-9493 An Equal Opportunity Employer 22 April - May 2012 BMH www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com http://www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Management Hawaii - April/May 2012

Contents Building Management Hawaii, April/May 2012
DEPARTMENTS: Concrete Restoration
If You’re Not Testing, You’re Guessing. Diagnose your concrete woes to save time and money.
Corroding Rebar and Spalling Concrete. Why zinc can be a spalling solution.
Top Five Fixes for Spalling. Preventing the corrosion of your building.
Trees – Our Green Assets. How not to plant the wrong tree in the wrong place.
Watts Up? Watts Down!. What you don’t know about parking lots could cost you big bucks.
Covered Parking & Photovoltaics: A Symbiotic Relationship. Covered Parking & Photovoltaics: A Symbiotic Relationship
Fire Prevention & Response
Top 10 Fire Fighters. Preventing fires is a job for everyone, but condo boards and property managers have a particular responsibility.
Keep a Clean Chute. Maintainance of trash chutes prevents serious high-rise fires
Stop, Drop & Go Wireless. New technology aids in fast response and saving lives.
Insurance: Do Condo Owners ‘Get’ Your Master Policy?
EDITORIAL: Editor’s Note
Ask An Expert: Epoxy vs. Regular Rebar
Association Updates
Movers & Shakers
Industry News
Resource Guide: Concrete Restoration & Asphalt

Building Management Hawaii - April/May 2012