There is usually a higher risk of fires in commercial spaces. As such, it is important to follow the proper guidelines so that you can prevent such a tragedy from occurring. Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to reduce this risk. Here are your top options:
Know the Main Hazards
The first thing that you need to be aware of is where a fire is most likely to take place in the building. This could be somewhere where flammable liquids or products are being housed. Or, it could be an area with a greater chance of electrical fires.
If you are having trouble pinpointing the high risk areas, make sure to bring in a fire marshal or another expert. They will be able to examine the building for you and point out any issues that you should be especially aware of. With this information you will now how to mitigate the major risks.
Choose the Right Fire System
As you may be aware, there are numerous commercial fire protection systems for you to choose from. Thus, one of your first tasks will involve figuring out which one is just right for your commercial building. Start by considering the size and layout of the building. The larger the space is and the more complex the layout, the more sophisticated the system needs to be.
Larger buildings will require addressable fire systems – these can pinpoint the exact location of the fire. Smaller spaces can get away with conventional systems. Here, the alarm can identify the zone but not a specific spot. Naturally, you will also need to take your budget into consideration when making this decision.
Consider a Fire Suppression System
The issue with commercial spaces is that fires can spread pretty quickly through the building. And, if you are in a remote location, it can take a while for the fire brigade to get to you. Due to this, you may want to consider some kind of suppression system – this will put out the fire or at least prevent it from spreading.
Not all suppression systems will be suitable for your commercial space, though. If there is a lot of tech or valuable items here then a water sprinkler setup will cause quite a bit of damage. You may need to consider a gas or other kind of product to put out the fire in this case.
Test and Maintain the System
Installing a system is only half the battle, it also needs to be maintained on a regular basis. It is just as important to test it frequently to make sure that it will function as needed in an emergency situation. There is often a schedule that you need to follow.
Set reminders for yourself or the department that is in charge of fire safety to make the necessary appointments. After all, there is little use in spending so much money on a protection system if you aren’t going to take care of it.
These are the top tips to follow to ensure that fire safety is maintained within a commercial space. Stick to these and you should be able to greatly reduce the risk of fires.
