Commercial buildings are always equipped with the physical part of fire protection. These include fire alarms, extinguishers, and sprinklers that are used as safety measures in case of an emergency. These need to be implemented in every business and made sure they are working properly at all times. Even though these are a major factor in fire protection and safety, this isn’t the only way to make sure your business and those in it are safe if a fire does occur. Evacuation plans, exit signs, inspections, and maintenance are also fire safety techniques that sometimes get overlooked but are just as important.
Evacuation Routes and Building Access:
A major component in fire safety is to always be prepared and have a plan. Work with your employees to figure out the best evacuation route in case of an emergency and practice these occasionally. Write down the exact route and safe place you all will take to ensure every employee knows and understands the procedures to act quickly in case of a fire. But these evacuation plans will not work effectively if there are obstructions in the way. You are required to keep all doors, windows, and access points in or out of your building to stay clear. The same goes for hallways, stairways, and fire hydrant paths so everyone can get out safely and the fire department can get in safely.
Fire Alarms and Visible Exit Signs:
Keeping the exits of your building clear from obstructions is very important but knowing where to go plays a key part in the evacuation process as well. Make sure every employee knows where every exit is and that they know the quickest way to these points. Every exit sign should be clearly visible and have continuous illuminating lighting. Even in a power outage, these signs should be properly working to where they still are visible with the light. In case these aren’t working, always have backup batteries available to replace them when needed.
Fire alarms are the most important piece to fire safety. A properly working fire alarm gives you the first initial warning something is wrong, and this signal lets you execute the rest of your plan. The job of fire alarms is to detect and alert those in the building that there are hazards in the building, which ultimately signals the sprinklers and other fire safety components to work as well. It is crucial to make sure every fire alarm in the building is working properly to ensure the safety of everyone because fire alarms also can detect carbon monoxide, leaking pipes, and severe weather. These alarms are a big component of keeping everyone safe as soon as possible.
Maintenance and Inspection:
You are never able to predict when a fire might happen. But the safety of everyone around you is a number one priority so that’s why inspections should be done often. These inspections are critical because it allows you to catch faulty systems that could not operate properly when needed. All fire alarms, extinguishers, sprinklers, and detectors should be inspected occasionally to know if any maintenance is needed for these to work in case of an emergency. These inspections also give the opportunity to educate those about fire safety. This is the time where you can be shown how to use certain equipment and how to properly handle a hazardous situation. Not having routine inspections can cause violations and put everyone in the buildings at risk. It is always better to catch problems early before they become bigger issues going forward.
Fire safety is critical in all businesses. It is an essential aspect to keep everyone safe and having a successful business plan. Although physical fire safety parts are important, so are evacuation plans, exit signs, and routine inspections to ensure the safety for everyone in case of an emergency. If you need any education, maintenance, or inspection of your businesses fire safety A Total Solution is here to help. ATS has a complete package for your fire safety needs and certified technicians able to make sure your fire equipment is working properly.
ATS provides service and inspections that comply with all National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes, Agency for Health Care (AHCA), Florida statutes, and local county requirements. ATS’s technicians are certified through FASA/BASA and the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). In fact, 81% of ATS’s technicians have been working in the life safety and critical systems industry for more than 10 years. ATS’s repair services are second to none.
Trust your fire suppression needs to a company with more than 30 years of experience in the security industry. Protecting your property is our job. Contact us today to speak with a certified technician about fire safety for your business available to you.