Protecting Your Business Against Different Types of Fires
Commercial buildings usually have different fire risks from residential dwellings. They have several different types of fire source ignition material and multiple fire causes. Good building management involves identifying potential fire problems and implementing fire protection systems.
All Protect Systems, Inc has been protecting Ontario area businesses from all types of fire danger since 1996. They perform inspections and can service all of your fire protection needs.
What Are the Major Sources of Commercial Fire Dangers?
Commercial fire sources vary according to the activity taking place in the building. According to the Canadian National Fire Information Database (NFID), some of the most common ignition sources include:
- Cooking equipment – Commercial restaurant equipment such as deep fryers, stoves, ovens, smokers, and toasters
- Heating equipment – Space heaters, water heaters, central air, baseboard heaters, and radiant heaters
- Electrical distribution equipment – Electrical wire conductors, fuses, breaker panels, transformers
- Smoking material – Cigarettes, cigars, lighters, and ashtrays
- Open flame – Lanterns, candles, blowtorches, and welding tools
The NFID also compiles a list of the most common causes of commercial fires. These causes are considered acts or omissions that are either accidental or intentional. It also includes building problems that suffer from poor design or lack of maintenance.
- Arson – Criminal act of fire-starting by an individual or group for mischief or vandalism
- Ignition material misuse – Accidents related to smoking, welding equipment, other sources of open flame, accidental fuel spills, or overheating cooking oil
- Electrical or mechanical problems – Broken or defective electrical equipment, engine backfires, electrical short circuits, and manual control failure
- Equipment misuse – Overfueling of engines, lack of maintenance, or unattended equipment
- Installation, construction, or design problem – faulty wiring, flammable materials stored too close to a source of combustion, or other inherent building problems
- Human error – fatigue, lack of training, incompetence, impaired/intoxicated by alcohol, or distraction
How To Protect Against Different Types of Fires?
Proper and thorough fire protection for your business involves a multi-tiered approach. You need to develop a fire safety plan, according to the Ontario Fire Code and adhere to the following guidelines:
- Risk evaluation – Have someone regularly audit your building for any obvious or potential fire hazards. Keep records for all these audits.
- Passive fire protection – Maintain your passive fire protection by ensuring that fire doors remain up to code, penetrations through firewalls are properly sealed, and structural members maintain their fire retardant material.
- Fire Alarm – Install a fire alarm system with fire, smoke, carbon monoxide detectors, and manual pull stations. Test the system in accordance with the Ontario Fire Code, and make repairs when necessary.
- Fire extinguishing equipment – Keep fire extinguishers and fire hoses serviced and in good working order. Have qualified personnel inspect them on the proper schedules, and replace faulty or damaged equipment when necessary.
- Electrical equipment – Check for frayed electrical cords and overloaded electrical circuits. Turn off appliances when they’re not in use.
- Hot items – Keep hot devices like coffee makers, copiers, or motors away from paper or any other combustible material.
What Sorts of Buildings Are Susceptible to Fires?
Fire types are generally dependent on the type of building and how it’s used. Education institutions, healthcare facilities, restaurants, office buildings, and industrial buildings are all susceptible to fire dangers. Sometimes it takes an experienced professional to spot and correct the fire dangers lurking in your building.
The trained and certified technicians at All Protect Systems, Inc., are at your service. They’re a total systems provider that can handle all of your fire protection needs. Call them today to find out what they can do for you!