Severe storms in Hawai‘i highlighted how unprepared many buildings are because critical life-safety systems—like emergency generators, smoke control, fire alarms, and emergency lighting—are often poorly maintained, improperly used, or unknowingly compromised. The article emphasizes that these systems are essential for safe evacuation but frequently fail due to neglect, lack of testing, or improper modifications, putting occupants at serious risk. Proper maintenance, regular testing, code compliance, and involvement of qualified professionals are crucial, as these systems will not function when needed unless building owners actively ensure they are in working order.
Emergency Preparedness: It Doesn’t Happen Unless You Do It
The months of March and April of 2026 have been pretty rough on many of the residents of Hawai’i. The heavy rains and high winds raised havoc on the North Shore and many other low-lying areas. The severity of the storm caught most people off guard. It is miraculous that there was no loss of life. There is an old joke that says, “I can’t fix the roof when it’s raining and when it is sunny I don’t need to.” That sounds ridiculous but unfortunately when it comes to our building systems, it often turns out we’re following that advice.
Your building has built-in features to make it safer during an emergency. Some are sophisticated, like fire alarm smoke removal systems. Some are simple, like the area of refuge located in the stairwell. More sophisticated systems require testing and maintenance, but even simple systems can be defeated when changes are made to the building without permits.
Emergency Generator
Many buildings have an emergency generator. This provides power to essential systems during a power outage. The primary purpose is to provide exit and emergency lighting during a power outage. The generator may also be used for other building systems such as smoke control and elevators, but the primary purpose is to provide lighting for safe exiting. Since this is a system with many mechanical and electrical components, proper maintenance and testing is essential. There are many instances of this very important system malfunctioning during an emergency due to lack of maintenance. First, there is the fuel supply. This could be city gas, propane, or diesel fuel, but is most likely the latter. An uncontaminated and fresh fuel supply is required, or the engine will not start. Next is the monthly testing. Many people start their generators every month, but the engine is the most reliable part of the generator. The transfer switch is the component that is more likely to fail. Therefore, a proper test of the generator requires that the load be transferred to the generator every month. This ensures that the engine is properly loaded when running and that the electrical components are also in order.
Emergency Smoke Control
People rarely die by being burned to death in a fire. Smoke inhalation kills long before the fire reaches its victims. The corridor and the stairwell are the only way to safely exit a multi-story building, so it’s essential that smoke be kept out of the corridors and stairwells. For this reason, all unit doors opening to an enclosed corridor must have automatic door closers. But a door closer is not useful if there is a doorstop holding the door open. This is why the unit doors in an enclosed corridor building must be closed unless someone is walking through it. Leaving the door open for ventilation is not acceptable. The same applies to stairwells. Stairwell doors must not be blocked open. Some buildings are equipped with smoke control fans that pump air into the stairway to keep smoke out. Most of these fans are never tested and do not work during a fire. Stairwell fans and other smoke control fans must be tested yearly along with the fire alarm system.
Fire Alarm and Voice Evacuation Systems
Every building over three stories is required to have a fire alarm system. Every building over 75 feet to the highest occupied floor is required to have a voice evacuation system. This is the most basic safety feature a building is required to have. When there is a fire or another emergency, there is only one thing to do, GET OUT. If the fire alarm system is not working or cannot be heard, people will not know they should evacuate and could get trapped in the building. This is why annual testing is required. When this system is not properly maintained, or is disabled, it puts every building occupant at significant risk. Yet many of these systems go untested for years because compliance inspections are rare.
Emergency Lighting
Many buildings have battery-operated emergency lighting in stairwells and corridors. They are connected to the building power system and illuminate when they sense a loss of power. The batteries in these units do not last forever. Inspections often reveal a large number of failed units. These units should be tested monthly and replaced immediately if they fail.
Storage
Storage is not a system, but it is a common problem. Storage space tends to be at a premium, so often that space at the bottom of the stairs or the extra space in the electrical closet looks like wasted space to be utilized. But this space is there for a reason. Any storage in a stairwell is a fire hazard, as well as an impediment to safe exiting. That extra space in the stairwell is likely a place of refuge. Putting a surfboard rack there or other storage is not only a fire hazard, but it is a code violation. Storage within three feet of electrical equipment is also a code violation. It is very important to properly manage storage in the building.
Why Do Systems Fail?
System failure has a number of causes. Lack of maintenance ranks high on the list. Other causes are water infiltration, bug and rodent infestation, poor or unqualified maintenance, system age, poor design, poor quality components, and obsolescence, to name a few. It is essential that each emergency system be maintained by experienced, competent, and licensed personnel. Obsolete systems must be promptly replaced. These systems are not inexpensive, so proper reserve planning is a must.
What Needs to be Done?
Many building operators do not realize they have emergency systems. Many times, inoperable fans and other components are discovered during a major system upgrade. Some of these systems have been inoperable for years without any warning. If a building manager is unsure of what needs to be maintained, it would be wise to enlist the services of a licensed engineer who is an expert in life safety systems. A properly trained engineer should be able to provide an overview of every life safety system in your building and recommend action steps to be taken. Most importantly, do something. Out of sight out of mind is not a recommended strategy for maintaining emergency systems. One thing is certain, if emergency systems are not maintained and tested, they will not do it themselves. Preparedness only happens when you do it.
