If you are a member of a church, you may not have thought much about what would happen in the event of a fire at your place of worship. By talking to your clergy and congregational council, you can make sure that your church reduces its risk of spreading fire, while also ensuring that if a fire does break out when the congregation is gathered, people can easily move to safety.
Construction of Seats
If you are part of a church that has not yet defined its worship space or is in the process of making significant renovations, you may want to suggest that the church think about investing in new seating that is more fire resistant. Particularly if your church uses old wooden pews, but even if you have alternative chairs that are not up to fire code, switching to a type of seating that is more fire retardant is not a bad idea.
One of the most important components to look at when examining your old seating is the cushions. If your church's seats have very soft cushions, not only are they more likely to disintegrate quickly, but they also were more likely built with fabrics that are less flame resistant. Chair upholstery ought to conform strictly to fire safety guidelines. Some excellent guidelines to go by, used as industry standards, are fire codes TB 133 and 117 in the state of California.
Seating in the Sanctuary
The actual distribution of people in a sanctuary can be at least as important for maintaining fire safety as ensuring the construction of fire-resistant seats. A church sanctuary, like any other building, should hold a maximum number of people as authorized by a fire inspector. If your church sanctuary is continually filling up to and over that mark, you may want to discuss with your church leadership the possibility of adding additional worship services to accommodate the large numbers of congregants in a safer atmosphere.
Within the worship environment, though, there are some things you can do to improve safety in the event of a fire. Make sure that all available exits are easy to see; if not, put up some sort of sign that subtly draws attention to their location without disrupting the worship space. Encourage people to distribute themselves evenly throughout the sanctuary so that, in the event of a fire, the entire congregation is not fighting to get out of the same exit. Finally, make sure that all exits are easily accessible, by removing any objects that may inhibit safe and quick passage from the sanctuary. If you can make sure these standards are met, your church will be a safer and more inviting place for people to come and worship.
Tags: your church, event fire, make sure, sure that, church sanctuary, fire safety