As a business owner, you might be cautious about many risks that may put you out of business but remember to not overlook the importance of fireproofing your business. While you know that there’s a chance fire will break out in your workplace, it may not seem like a huge threat. However, it is and can cause massive damage. Fire can cause the loss of important business records, building merchandise, and in the worst-case scenario, the death of a customer or worker.
Even small fires can cause enough damage to disrupt the operations of your business. Therefore, you should do everything you can to prevent fire from occurring on your watch. Read on to learn some ideas on automating your business’s fire protection.
1. Consider Establishing a Fire Control and Safety Plan
Depending on the intensity of a business fire, putting it out with a fire extinguisher might not be possible. So, the next line of defense in controlling fire is installing a fire suppression system. By setting them to go on automatically, it can put out the fire before the arrival of firefighters.
Regular testing is also essential because, under the NFPA25 Code, such a system should undergo functional testing and visual inspection to confirm it works efficiently. It’s also crucial to perform such tests quarterly or yearly, or in up to 5 to 10-year intervals. In addition to the fire suppression system, consider installing automatic fire alarms to detect and alert everyone of a fire outbreak quickly. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in strategic locations throughout your facility for additional protection.
You must also implement a safety and evacuation plan and inform your employees about them. Such procedures should include evacuation routes they can follow in case of a fire outbreak. Most importantly, your employees should receive training on fire evacuation and safety.
Additionally, regularly checking and repairing or replacing broken, fraying, or cracked wiring is among the best ideas for improving safety in your business. You should also instruct your employees to use a single cord per outlet and closely follow the manufacturer’s recommendation while using a power strip to avoid a power surge that might cause a fire outbreak.
2. Consider Installing Fire-Rated Doors
Fire can spread rapidly across different rooms in your workspace, but you can avoid significant damage by installing a fire-rated door. Besides preventing the spread of fire, using such doors on emergency exit routes ensures safe evacuation before the inferno takes over the paths. Steel should be among your top choices when selecting the right door for your business. Facts Crush says they aren’t just fireproof but offer up to 10 times better protection against intruders.
If you’re planning to install a fire-rated door in your business, inspecting their door letter or time-based rating is one of the ideas to ensure proper selection. As for letter rating, the fireproof doors are classified from Class A to C, with A offering the greatest resistance and C with the lowest fire resistance. In the time-base ratings, doors have 60, 90, and 180 minutes labels, indicating the material tolerance level when exposed to fire.
3. Keep Your Work Spaces Clutter Free
Keeping papers near appliances and heating systems is one of the major causes of workplace fire outbreaks. That said, you should keep flammable items and trash as far as possible from fire sources. You can also minimize huge piles of paper by recycling anything you don’t require. Alternatively, consider automating your business processes. Remember that business automation will improve your business efficiency and ensure it runs 24/7.
If your business uses flammable materials during operation, be cautious of where you store them. When you carelessly handle and expose them to heat, they can ignite, resulting in an inferno. Among the best ideas to avoid such issues is to store such items in a dry room with proper ventilation.
Fire can result in significant damage to your business. The ideas shared in this guide can help you fireproof your business. Did you find this article helpful? Check out our website for more informative content on different niches.