Theater Fire Safety: Preventing Mass Chaos

Subject: Steps to take towards a safer Regal Cinema

Dear Regal ManagersTo whom it may concern,

Here at Regal Cinemas, we take pride in knowing that all our occupants will return home safe
and unharmed due to our rigorous life safety plan. All the measures are put into place to
prevent and diminish fires, were they to spark up. After looking into Regal’s history with fires I
have learned that despite our great efforts their tends to be a trend of mass chaos among the
occupants. This then tends to cause more damage than the fires themselves. Because of this, I
am writing you to provide some simple solutions so that our occupants can safely and calmly
exit our theaters when hazards pop up.
I have come up with a few ideas that I believe will prevent chaos from ensuing. First, the design
and layout of our theaters should be done so that all the emergency exits lead to a safe
location. Whether it be in the lobby or in the furthest screen room, all exits should have simple,
quick access to a safe location. Next, when fire alarms are tripped their needs to be an audio
recording that can give the occupants directions in a calm manner. Loud, blaring alarms can be
the cause for chaos to ensue, and a collected voice can help ease the tensions. Lastly, the
sprinkler systems and fire alarms should have zones that they run in. If the popcorn machine
were to catch fire, then that specific zone should be notified and turned on. This will allow
occupants in other zones of the theater to stay put and not cause others to freak out.
All these solutions to the problem of chaos would be beneficial for all hazards. Scared and
confused people can create more problems for everyone and cause others to act and follow
their actions. With these solutions implemented in all our theaters we can ensure that our
customers will come and go with minds at ease.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic and if you agree that these implementations
would better help this company and our future customers. Please let me know if you have any
questions or would like any more information pertaining to fire safety. Feel free to reach me at
my work phone number anytime during Regal business hours
Thank you for your time,
Lakelan Rutland
Regal Safety Director (832-000-1234)
Date: April 7, 2022
To: Regal Cinema Life Safety DirectorManager
From: Regal Cinema Life Safety DirectorEmployee
Subject: Theater Fire Safety: Preventing Mass Chaos
Distribution Group: Safety Professionals that are affiliated with Regal Cinemas
When looking at successful companies, they always have an outstanding safety plan and quality
safety professionals that run and implement those plans day in and day out. Specifically, fire
safety throughout our company, Regal Cinemas, has seen great success when looking at our
past experiences. Here at Regal, we have gone out of our way to ensure that our occupants go
home safely every time they visit. The one factor we can not control is how others react when
faced with a dangerous situation. I am going to provide some ways that we can create a safer
environment, were a fire to break out.looking to shed some light on how we, Regal, can ease our
customers minds.

Summary
The current fire systems installed in our theaters are very beneficial and they do the job that
they are expected to do. The only problem is that the reaction of the occupants ensues chaos
for all others. To mitigate this problem, I have come up with a few design changes that would
create a cooler environment in the heat of danger. Quieter fire alarms, easier paths of egress,
and zoned sprinkler systems will allow us to provide a safer theater for your occupants.Quieter
fire alarms that are equipped with voice automated instructions would greatly benefit people’s
reaction of panic. Easier paths of egress would allow the occupants to exit quicker and safer.
Lastly, zoned sprinkler systems would allow the necessary areas to receive the help that it
needs.

Preventative Maintenance for Chaos

Fire Alarms
Alarms for many years have been made to be extremely loud and annoying, this is so that all
occupants, regardless of disabilities, can sense that they need to act and get out of the building.
These alarms are the cause of many problems and accidents that have nothing to do with the
emergency at hand. A quieter alarm with automated voice instruction would be beneficial for
keeping the occupant’s reactions to a minimum. Flashing lights would be used, quieter alarms
would be used, and voice automated instructions would create smooth and calm exits were an
emergency to occur.
Simpler Egress
Another problem that can arise is that the emergency exits that the occupants are meant to use
are no safer than being inside the building itself. The design and layout of the building needs to
be done so that every room and theater has a safe exit that goes to a safe location. Many times,
there are hazards located in the path of egress or the exits lead to unwanted places
surrounding the theater. Paths must be easily accessible, must be hazard free, and must lead to
familiar areas for the occupants.
Zoned Sprinkler Systems
Sprinkler systems are crucial to fighting fire, and codes require that they can meet all
requirements for the building at hand. One thing that Regal would benefit from are advanced,
zoned sprinkler systems. When a system is set off, whether it be from smoke or the heat of the
fire, they need to only go off in that specific area. This will allow all other areas of the theater to
remain dry.

Conclusion
With these three changes implemented into our Regal theaters, we have gained the upper hand
in safety against all other cinemas. When you have a safety plan that you know and trust, you
gain confidence in the future of your business. These simple changes, updated fire alarms,
easier paths of egress, and zoned sprinkler systems can do just that. A successful approach to
hazards in our cinemas will allow our company to continue for many generations to come.
Providing many more lives with the art of theater.

Recommendations
The easier way to implement these ideas is in the design phases of new theaters being
constructed. The design will be able to go in and draw everything so that it fits perfectly into
the building. Changing existing theaters will be the biggest challenge. It would require for
locations to be shut down, or at least parts of the building, for the demolition and construction
that would be required.