Fires on your commercial property can wreak havoc, causing devastating damage to your assets and building and potentially endangering the lives your yourself, your employees, and clients or customers. Whether you run a small business or manage a large facility, it is essential to have prevention measures and know how to respond to fires on your commercial property.
At Liberty Restoration, our team understands how devastating it can be to deal with fires on your commercial property. It can impact your ability to maintain daily operations and undermine your bottom line. If you want to protect yourself from fires on your commercial property, keep reading to learn about how to prevent them and what to do if they occur.
How Can You Prevent Fires on Your Commercial Property?
There are several steps you can take to prevent fires on your commercial property. If you want to ensure your property is fire-safe, consider incorporating each of the following workplace fire safety steps into your routine:
Conduct Regular Inspections
To prevent fires on your commercial property, it is important that you perform regular inspections of its electrical, heating, and ventilation systems. You should also inspect any flammable materials on the property. Identify any potential problem areas and make any necessary repairs to keep yourself safe from avoidable fires.
Educate Your Staff
When training new employees, it is important to review all appropriate fire safety procedures. Ensure that your employees understand how to operate a fire extinguisher and where to evacuate in the event of fires on your commercial property. You should also conduct regular drills to reinforce this knowledge.
Install Fire Detection and Suppression Systems
If you want to keep yourself safe from fires on your commercial property, you should consider investing in a high-quality fire detection system. These systems may include smoke detectors, heat sensors, and fire alarms. Additionally, consider installing a fire suppression system, such as sprinklers or fire extinguishers strategically placed throughout the property. These safety measures will ensure fires may be addressed promptly.
Maintain Cleanliness
Keep your property clean and as clutter-free as possible. An accumulation of debris or waste can fuel fires, making it incredibly dangerous to your space. Dispose of flammable materials properly and store any hazardous substances in designated areas with appropriate precautions. These materials should be stored or thrown away as soon as possible, as fires can occur quickly, and removal will ensure there is no kindling for the fire.
Secure Electrical Systems
Faulty wiring and overloaded circuits are common causes of electrical fires. If this property is new to you, you might want to consider investing in an inspection from a qualified electrician. They can make any necessary repairs to your property’s electrical systems and maintain these systems throughout the years. This maintenance will ensure there are no unpleasant surprises or sparks that may lead to devastating fires.
Store Flammable Materials Safely
If your business deals with flammable substances, it is essential that they are stored in approved containers and in well-ventilated areas away from potential ignition sources. This proper storage should be discussed with employees as well to ensure they are always following appropriate safety procedures.
Addressing Fires on Your Commercial Property
While there is a lot you can do to prevent fires on your commercial property, some fires are entirely unavoidable. If a fire starts on your property, there are a few things you can do to protect it from excess damage and ensure you can return to the space as soon as possible, including:
Stay Calm and Call the Authorities
If you experience a fire on your property, your first priority should be to ensure the safety of everyone on the premises. Stay calm, alert your employees to the fire, and immediately contact emergency services to report the fire.
Evacuate Safely
After you have contacted the appropriate authorities, follow any established procedures and ensure that everyone leaves the building safely. Designate assembly points outside where your employees can gather to be accounted for.
Use a Fire Extinguisher if Safe
If the fire on your property is small and contained, and you have been trained to do so, you may attempt to extinguish it using appropriate fire extinguishers. However, you should never jeopardize your safety or the safety of others to combat the fire. If the fire grows more quickly than you can address it, you should prioritize evacuation.
Shut Down Utilities
If it is safe to do so, shut off utilities such as gas and electricity to prevent further fueling of the fire. While these might not seem like they can make a significant impact on the fire, they can make the fire much larger than they may initially see, leading to substantial damage.
Contact Restoration Professionals
If you’ve dealt with a fire on your property, fire damage cleanup on your own may be difficult. That is why you should contact restoration professionals as soon as possible. They can help make necessary structural repairs and ensure the space is safe enough for your employees, clients, or customers.
Fire Restoration for Every Space
Whether you’ve dealt with fires on your commercial property or are experiencing another emergency, our team at Liberty Restoration is here to help. Our team has two decades of experience providing home and business owners across Utah with reliable restoration services, making us the perfect choice for your restoration needs as well. From fire restoration to mold remediation, water damage restoration, and much more, we provide a variety of services to ensure your space is perfectly restored after any emergency. If you have experienced fires on your commercial property and would like to schedule restoration, don’t hesitate to contact us today.