Protecting Your Business: How to Prepare for a Fire Emergency

4/17/2023 (Permalink)

A fire is a rapid oxidation reaction that releases heat and light. It can be caused by many things, including electrical wiring or equipment, combustible materials like paper and wood, or even human error.

Fire is one of the most common disasters in the world today. In fact, it's responsible for more deaths each year than any other natural disaster--and it's not just homes that are at risk; businesses need to prepare for fires as well as they would earthquakes or tornadoes.

If you own or manage a business that stores flammable materials like chemicals or paints (or just has lots of computers), there are extra steps you'll need to take before an incident occurs--and then again after one does occur!

Identifying Fire Hazards

Identifying potential fire hazards in the workplace Flammable materials, such as paint and solvents, are common in many workplaces. Some examples of flammable liquids include: Gasoline, Kerosene, Paint thinner, Turpentine, Wood stain (water-based only) Electrical wiring can also be a fire hazard if it's not properly maintained or installed by an electrician.

Creating a Fire Safety Plan

Outline the steps to take in the event of a fire, such as evacuating the building, notifying the fire department and shutting off power. Make sure that all employees know where to go if there is an emergency and make sure they have been trained on how to use their exit routes effectively.

Installing Fire Protection Equipment

Fire protection equipment is essential to the safety of your business. The most common types of fire protection equipment include:

Fire extinguishers, which are designed to put out small fires before they spread or become dangerous.

Fire alarms, which alert you when there's smoke or heat in an area of your building that shouldn't have either one (like a kitchen).

Sprinkler systems, which automatically spray water on a fire as soon as it starts up again after being extinguished by a sprinkler head or hose line attachment point.

Training Employees

In addition to the obvious, like installing fire extinguishers and making sure they're in working order, you should also consider training your employees on how to use them. This will help ensure that everyone knows what their role is in the event of a fire.

It's also important for employees to know how best to evacuate the building in case of emergency--and this can vary depending on where your business is located. For example, if there are multiple exits from which people can leave safely and easily (like an office building), then it may be best for everyone involved if all employees exit through one particular exit point so that they don't get stuck behind each other trying to get out through different doors or stairwells. 

Test Equipment Regularly

In addition to having a fire extinguisher on hand, it's important to regularly test the equipment in your business. For example, if you have a fire alarm system or sprinkler system in place, make sure that it works properly by periodically testing it. In addition to checking for any malfunctions in these systems and making repairs as needed, this will help ensure that they're working at full capacity when they're needed most--and can alert everyone in case of an emergency.

Developing an Emergency Response Plan

Developing an emergency response plan is the first step in preparing your business for a fire. This plan should include:

Outlining the steps to take in the event of a fire, such as evacuating the building and notifying the fire department.

A list of important items that must be saved from each room, including computers, files and other documents that may be stored electronically on hard drives or flash drives (make sure you have backup copies).

Shutting off power at breakers if possible; otherwise use shutoff valves at individual fixtures like sinks or water heaters.

Give SERVPRO a call if your business suffers from a fire loss anytime, 24/7/365. Protecting your business is an essential part of being a business owner.