JUMP TO: 6 Tips to Protect Your Business From Fires | Secure Your Workplace With Lloyd Security
As a business owner, you have a lot on your mind. While an unexpected fire might not be high on your radar, its effects can be devastating. An office fire can cause structural damage to your building, ruin your equipment and data and put you and your employees in danger.
Structure fires in Minnesota cost public and commercial buildings $31.8 million in 2018. Around 10% of insured small businesses file a fire-related claim each year.
You’ve worked hard to build a name for yourself and a presence in your community. Fire prevention and mitigation should be at the top of your business security priorities list.
6 Tips to Protect Your Business From Fires
Commercial fire safety involves common sense, smart company policies and dedication to vigilance. Follow these fire prevention tips to protect your business:
1. Know Your Risks
Small businesses in different industries will have varying degrees of risk from distinct types of fires. A manufacturing facility working with combustibles is more at risk for chemical fires, and a restaurant is more at risk for grease and kitchen fires.
By conducting a fire risk assessment for your business, you can learn what you’re most at risk for and take steps to prevent it. During your inspection, review your national and local fire codes and identify and remove potential fire hazards in your workplace. If you spot any threats that can’t be removed entirely, take steps to reduce their fire-causing potential. Once you’ve completed your assessment, document your findings.
Follow up any fire assessments with an updated emergency preparedness plan. Educate your team on their assigned exit routes and meeting places. Assign a safety officer and ensure everyone at the office knows their responsibility.
In Minneapolis and St. Paul, you’ll be subject to fire inspections from the city. Conducting an internal fire safety assessment ensures you’ll pass your next inspection while also creating a safer workplace.
2. Install Fire Protection Equipment
Having sprinklers and alert systems in place can mitigate many damages a structure fire may cause. While it’s important to take preventive steps to protect your property, a reliable alarm system is an effective safety net to catch fires before they spread. For this reason, a quality fire alarm is a critical investment.
A complete fire protection system will encompass both fire alarms and sprinklers. Fire alarms are required in all office buildings, retail centers and shopping malls. State and municipal codes will determine precisely how many you need and where depending on your building and industry. Today’s sophisticated systems offer many exclusive benefits to provide additional security and peace of mind.
Sophisticated fire alarms can integrate with security and access control systems, allowing you to receive remote alerts in the event of an after-hours fire. Monitored alarms may also immediately alert the fire department when a fire is detected. These alarm systems are often called addressable or “intelligent” fire alarms. You can monitor your automatic and manual fire alarms throughout your building and see when they need maintenance.
Fire alarms will include detection components to sense heat, flame or smoke. They may also include manual devices such as pull stations, buttons or break class stations. The system will also have bells, strobes, horns, chimes or other devices to alert occupants in the case of a fire.
Sprinklers also offer many options to protect your business from fires. Wet sprinklers, which spray water, are the most common. You might also consider a dry sprinkler system for unconditioned areas that may fall below 40 degrees. A foam sprinkler system will eject a fire suppressing foam, which is extra effective against flammable liquid fires.
The city of Minnesota requires fire protection permits before you can install fire sprinklers, alarm systems and a variety of other fire protection units. Alarms hardwired into the structure’s electrical system must undergo an inspection to ensure they comply with all applicable building and fire codes. The inspection applies to any work that requires a permit. It will verify the detectors are properly wired into the power supply, and the necessary battery backup is available. It will also ensure all sensors are interconnected, so the alarm will sound throughout the structure when one of the units detects the presence of smoke.
If your business is in St. Paul, you’ll need to obtain a fire alarm system electrical permit before installing your alarm.
3. Clean up Your Paper
Paper near appliances and heating systems is a fire waiting to happen. Trash, boxes and other flammable items should all be organized, away from possible fire sources. Recycle or dispose of anything your office no longer needs. Going paperless is one way to protect against paper-fueled fires. If you decide to go this route, though, remember adding more technology and office equipment can increase your risk of electrical fires.
4. Protect Your Kitchen
The largest cause of commercial fires is cooking, and 26% of Minnesota’s 2018 store and office fires originated in a kitchen or cooking area. If your office has a kitchen — even just a microwave and a coffee pot— take extra precautions. Keep a fire extinguisher at the ready. Post signage reminding employees to monitor the microwave while in use, and never leave cooking food unattended. To prevent electrical fires, replace fraying cords as needed and kitchen appliances at least every 10 years.
It’s also crucial to periodically clean out the refrigerator and microwave. All that forgotten food, leftover crumbs and spills can cause a fire. Remind your team to clean up after themselves and plan times to do a thorough cleaning.
5. Heat Your Building Responsibly
Portable space heaters present a fire risk for commercial buildings. The risk increases if employees are storing jackets or paper files near space heaters. Section 604 of the Minnesota State Fire Code offers a few regulations on space heaters to prevent fires. It states all portable electric space heaters used in commercial buildings must:
- Be listed and correctly labeled.
- Be plugged directly into approved outlets.
- Never be plugged into extension cords.
It’s crucial to keep space heaters away from all combustibles, including paper, briefcases, shoes, coats, lunch boxes, shopping bags and curtains. Consider instituting a policy for employees to unplug space heaters at night and when not in use. Ensure all space heaters and their cords are in good condition with plenty of room to vent.
6. Beware of Office Equipment and Electrical Circuits
Copiers, desktops, laptops and the like all have the potential to overheat and cause an electrical fire. Any appliance from the coffee maker to the printer can create heat and eventually start a fire around combustible materials like paper. Frayed, pinched or damaged cords are also fire hazards. They can be especially dangerous around carpeting. As you decide where to plug in appliances, equipment and other electrical cords, avoid overloading any circuits. Inspect cables regularly for damage and turn off equipment when it’s not in use.
Secure Your Workplace With Lloyd Security
Make sure to follow these fire-prevention tips to keep your business hazard-free. For extra protection, trust Lloyd Security’s reliable fire alarm systems — we’re dedicated to your safety. Lloyd Security has the expertise needed to meet the complex engineering challenges of fire and smoke detection in large commercial facilities. In the past, our team has provided sophisticated smoke detection systems for office buildings, retail stores, warehouses, schools and other commercial properties.
To learn more or request a quote, contact us today.