As a business owner, it’s important to ensure that your business and its staff members are safe at all times. This includes keeping the premises safe from the risk of fire. Here are five ways in which you can reduce the chances of having a fire in your business building.
1. Set Up Alarm Systems
As the first step, you should install fire alarm systems and have them checked and serviced regularly to make sure that they’re always working. This could go a long way in ensuring that even if a fire breaks out, it will be caught in time and people in the building will have a chance to get to safety. In commercial buildings, 30% of fire alarm systems don’t work due to having dead batteries or being aged. The cost of getting new batteries and time spent on checking regularly to make sure that the fire alarms work is truly a small price to pay when you consider the extensive damage and loss of finances that a fire could cause to your business.
2. Come Up With a Strategy for Evacuation
The next thing you should do is to get the help of a fire safety expert in coming up with an evacuation strategy. They should have a look at your setup and advise you on the best procedure to follow in order to maximize the chances of everyone being evacuated safely in case a fire occurs. Follow their advice and share this strategy with your employees so that they know what to do in case of a fire. Set up lighted signs as an extra measure and install floor lights as well so that it’s easier for people to find exits and escape routes in the confusion that would ensue if a fire broke out.
3. Use Fire-Proof Materials in Renovations and Remodels
Whenever you need to renovate or remodel your business premises, use fire-proof materials if they are an option for you. Stone coated steel roofing, for example, is fully recyclable, has a Class 4 hail impact resistance, weighs a mere 1.4 lbs per square foot, and has a Class A fire rating. These are all important qualities that would improve the safety of your business premises as far as the roof is concerned. For every single aspect of your building, look for fire-proof materials; it may be the best investment you make.
4. Conduct Fire Drills Regularly
Regular fire drills are another important addition to the steps you take to minimize the risk of a fire. Schedule regular fire drills and have an expert give you a hand to make sure that everything is done right. When your staff has training on what to do and how to do it, they’re likely to stay safe in case of a fire. Also, have training for fire-prevention measures, which will include training staff on the proper use of equipment that poses a fire risk. Remember to show them how to use fire prevention techniques and tools such as fire extinguishers, and they may be better able to fight a fire if one breaks out.
5. Service and Maintain Your Equipment
Well-maintained equipment and machinery are important for improving fire safety in your business premises. This makes it important to have regular inspections, which include fire protection systems. These are required to have regular visual inspections and functioning testing under the NFPA25 Code to ensure that they’re up-to-date and work as they should according to their design. The inspections and tests are done monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, annually, and at intervals of five years and 10 years, according to national recommendations.
Taking time to ensure that your business premises is safe in case of a fire or has minimal chances of having a fire break out in the first place is crucial for your safety and business finances. Prevention will be worth a lot more than cure, so don’t ignore these safety measures.