Digital construction refers to the use of digital technology to streamline processes and improve efficiency. With the construction industry’s digital transformation in full swing, we’re seeing a lot of exciting developments in construction technology. One of these trends is next-gen fire safety and inspections at construction sites.
A number of associations and inquiries in property, real estate, and construction have highlighted the significant risk to health and safety in recent years, ranging from resident’s associations to fire engineers to government regulatory bodies. It is clear that building fire safety must improve dramatically in order to reduce risk and protect occupants, particularly those working in high-rise building sites.
The good news is that this issue is now receiving more attention, and significant progress is being made. While the industry already has the necessary experts, they are driving an agenda that will bring new solutions to this problem. The construction industry’s recent increase in digital adoption is at the heart of these advancements.
In this article, we’ll be focusing on how technology is improving fire safety and inspections at construction sites.
The need for a well-defined fire safety protocol
A clear, comprehensive and compliant fire safety protocol is a key part of any construction site. It’s important to have a clear, well-defined set of protocols in place so that everyone on the team knows exactly what their responsibilities are in the event of an accident or disaster.
A well-defined fire safety plan will help you do the following:
● identify potential hazards and risks
● understand potential consequences if these risks aren’t addressed
● determine how to respond when these risks occur, including evacuation procedures and emergency response team assignments
In addition to identifying potential hazards and making sure your team knows how they should respond in case of an accident or disaster, it’s also vital that you perform regular inspections at each stage of your construction project. This way you can make sure all industry regulations have been adhered to and transparently recorded during every step of its development, before moving on to another phase.
Risk assessments and fire safety in 2022
Fire safety is a critical part of construction site management. Risk assessments are a key part of fire safety, and they help identify risks and mitigate them. The challenges the construction industry faces today related to fire safety have evolved, largely due to new technologies entering the market. These new technologies are allowing contractors and their subcontractors to conduct inspections in more efficient ways than ever before, which has made it easier for them to comply with evolving government safety regulations, as well as improve their overall efficiency onsite.
For example, cameras can be used to find hotspots in buildings that aren’t visible from the ground level—or even from an aerial view using drones! Similarly, mobile apps now allow field staff members at multiple sites across cities or countries (or even continents) to connect remotely so that everyone knows what’s happening at any given time without having face-to-face contact all day long.
These new technologies are also making it easier for contractors to stay compliant with regulations, which helps them avoid fines and other penalties that can be costly. In addition to the benefits of using technology in construction site management, there are also some risks involved. For example, if your field staff members don’t have access to the right tools at critical times—such as when an emergency occurs—it could lead to accidents and casualties.
For example, digital fire safety software platforms like PlanRadar allow you to incorporate construction fire safety procedures at your sites. To understand, assess, and plan for fire safety, you can try the app for free or contact us here.
Using digital technology to improve construction fire safety
Construction fire safety is a shared responsibility. Digital technology can help to improve construction fire safety by making it easier for everyone involved in the process—from managers to site supervisors to workers—to keep track of what’s happening at their work sites and make smart decisions about how to prevent dangerous fires.
Digital technology enables better risk assessment and helps with record keeping, so you can prove compliance with regulations that require extensive documentation. It also makes it easier for construction companies and site managers to complete inspections quicker, which reduces downtime on-site.
Digital technology can be used by construction companies to improve construction fire safety by providing:
● A real-time overview of each project through mobile apps, dashboards, and data analytics tools that are easy to use on any device
● Data-driven insights into what kinds of fires are most likely on your projects as you work with subcontractors who use different materials or equipment (for example, if there’s a lot of electrical wiring involved)
● Quick access to information, including photos and videos from your site supervisors’ safety inspections, which can help you assess whether there are any fire hazards or safety risks on a project
● The ability to share information with your subcontractors and suppliers as soon as it’s available, which means they’ll know what their specific responsibilities are for each project and can plan accordingly (for example, if the fire alarm system needs to be installed before the drywall goes up)
● The opportunity to use digital technology to improve the way you manage construction projects, from initial planning through completion
The future of fire protection on construction sites
As digital technology continues to develop and improve, digital fire safety protocols on construction sites will become more comprehensive and data-driven. As a result, we can expect to see more comprehensive risk assessments that are supported by an abundance of information from digital tools.
In addition to these benefits, there are also several reasons why it makes sense for site managers or contractors to consider implementing digital fire safety protocols into their workflow:
● Digital inspections make it easier for construction crews to monitor their compliance with safety regulations; this reduces the need for constant inspection by external parties (such as government agencies).
● Digital data is easier—and faster—to access than hard copies of paper documents that may be stored offsite or in the field.
● Digital reporting makes it possible for managers at all levels within an organization (including those outside its geographic boundaries) to quickly respond when issues arise on a project site so as not only to reduce potential liability but also to increase efficiency overall.
Beyond this, these digital fire safety and inspection tools reflect something even more valuable in the long term: peace of mind. Individuals are now more likely to be held personally liable for safety failures and incidents, so those in charge can be confident that relevant and in-depth fire safety checks have been regularly performed, with the certainty of complete and accessible digital records to prove it at any time.
Conclusion
As highlighted in this article, digital technology is rapidly transforming the fire safety industry. Fire safety protocols are getting more sophisticated, risk assessments are getting more accurate, and fire safety protocols are being implemented on construction sites.
Digital technology is helping to improve fire safety on construction sites by enabling new insights into how fires start, how they grow and spread through a building, and what kinds of materials burn best in different situations. This allows for an increased level of control over these processes during the planning stages of construction projects.
Want to get started with digital fire safety planning for your construction sites? You can start your 30-day free PlanRadar trial here.
