Hospital Fire Safety: Protecting Patients and Staff

Hospitals face some of the most complex fire safety challenges of any occupancy. Patients may be immobile, dependent on electrical equipment, or unable to evacuate without assistance. The fire safety strategy must address all these variables simultaneously.

The acronym RACE guides hospital fire response: Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish/Evacuate. Staff move patients in immediate danger first, activate the alarm, close doors to confine smoke and fire, and use extinguishers only on small, contained fires.

Hospitals are divided into smoke compartments by fire-rated walls and doors. These compartments provide protected spaces where patients can shelter in place when full evacuation is not necessary or possible.