10 Essential Fire Prevention Tips for Commercial Properties

As a commercial property owner or someone who runs one, you must prepare for many things. While fires can still occur despite your proactive steps to mitigate them, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take preventative action.

At BluSky, we have learned a thing or (100) about fires and the destruction they can cause to commercial properties across the United States. That’s why we feel so passionate about fire prevention. Today, we want to share our Top 10 fire prevention tips with you so you can exercise necessary caution and protect your commercial property.

1. Make Sure You Have an Updated Fire Alarm System

Generally speaking, most commercial properties today have fire alarms installed. After all, it’s a liability not to have them, and in many cases, a code violation in many jurisdictions. That being said, older commercial properties, including those that aren’t routinely maintained, may have alarm systems that need to be updated or fixed.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) outlines the types of fire alarm systems that commercial properties need, so check in with them to ensure your systems are up-to-date and according to their guidelines.

2. Hold Fire Drills and Address Fire Safety

You know those fire drills you always seemed to be doing in middle school? As a commercial property owner, you’re going to want to follow suit.

Fire drills are key to ensuring your staff can safely exit the building. They also offer ample time to identify problems with escape routes. Fire drills also help remind everyone how to identify a fire. While smoke and flames are the most obvious signs, so is increased temperature, which is much less talked about but can make a difference in ensuring everyone’s safety.

The more signs you cover in your fire safety lessons, the easier it will be to recognize fires, get everyone out to safety, and call for help before the situation gets out of hand.

3. Enforce Designated Smoking Areas and Protocol

If patrons and staff can smoke on your property, ensure they do so only in a designated area. Industry experts agree these designated smoking spots should be at least 25 feet from the commercial property, including any windows and exits.

Enforcing these policies is crucial, as most fires in commercial properties, including apartments and office buildings, result from cigarettes.

4. Don’t Overload Electrical Outlets

Like cigarettes, overloaded electrical outlets are another common source of fires in commercial buildings. As a general rule of thumb, only have a few things plugged into one outlet at a time. Furthermore, if a wire to a computer or printer (for example) is frayed, do not plug it in. That could lead to a fire!

Be cautious about what you plug in and where. Items that produce heat, such as toasters, space heaters, and coffee pots, should be plugged into a single outlet rather than a surge protector.

5. Inspect All Appliances Before Leaving

While we’re on the subject of heat-producing appliances, ensure that they’re all turned off before leaving for the day. You’d be surprised by just how many people accidentally leave the coffee maker on overnight, not realizing it until the next day – or worse, after a fire has broken out.

Maybe you want to take on this responsibility yourself, or if there are multiple employees, have staff rotate it either daily or weekly.

6. Regularly Inspect Your Fire Alarm Systems

Perhaps the most important fire prevention tip on this list is to get your fire alarm systems regularly inspected. Most inspections are required annually. During these inspections, your technicians will check the system’s functionality, including looking for any signs of damage, such as cracks, leaks, or other issues.

If you find that the alarm is not working as it should or is showing signs or problems, like the lights not working, call to get it inspected and fixed by a professional. Hold a fire drill each month to ensure these elements work correctly outside the annual inspection window. As mentioned above, this will let you catch any problems ahead of time.

7. Keep Flammable Items Away From Heat Sources

Ideally, you’ll want to keep flammable items at least three feet away from heat sources, but feel free to extend this to your comfort level or based on what the manufacturer recommends. This means keeping records and other paper products away from heaters. If you cook on-site, make sure that grease is contained so it doesn’t get on a hot surface and ignite a flame.

The same applies to items kept near furnaces, boilers, and other combustible heat sources.

8. Have Updated, Working Fire Extinguishers On Hand

You’ll also want to have an updated fire extinguisher on hand. Technically, you should have a Class A fire extinguisher for every 3,000 square feet of space. This means that a fire extinguisher will be available to building guests approximately every 75 feet.

Fire extinguishers are great tools for putting out small fires, and OSHA requires commercial properties to have them on site. However, you shouldn’t rely on them entirely, as fires can quickly get out of hand. Remember, your safety is paramount. Don’t try to extinguish a fire if the fire extinguisher doesn’t seem to be doing the trick. Instead, call 911 immediately and vacate the premises.

9. Test Your Sprinkler System

Like fire extinguishers and alarm systems, commercial buildings are required to have a sprinkler system installed. These systems are essential for helping to tame the fire while emergency personnel are called.

Industry experts recommend sprinkler systems be installed in commercial properties exceeding 5,000 feet. However, even if your building is smaller, it’s still advisable to install one. According to the NFPA, sprinkler systems and fire alarms have decreased fire-related fatalities by over 80 percent.

As professionals in fire damage restoration, we agree that you should have these sprinkler systems installed. The benefits of having one far outweigh the initial costs of installation.

10. Conduct Routine Inspections

Last but not least, the best way to prevent a fire is to conduct regular inspections. This includes inspections of your fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, evacuation routes, safety plans, and one of the more overlooked inspections: clutter.

In a fire, clutter can be the difference between a building where everyone exits safely and one that ends in tragedy. Remember, in cases of a fire, the fire department must be able to enter the premises quickly. The more they have to move out of the way, the more challenging it is for them to address the fire quickly.

If things are out in the hallway, piles of paper are stacked high in the office, or boxes and storage are scattered in a warehouse, make a plan to move and store them properly.

Regularly inspecting potential threats to patrons’ and buildings’ safety is paramount in preventing a fire in any commercial property, regardless of industry.

Don’t Face the Aftermath of a Fire Alone! Contact BluSky for Trusted Commercial Fire Damage Restoration Services Near You Today!

While you can’t always avoid a fire, there are some important steps you can take to mitigate the risk. However, if you do experience a commercial building fire, reach out to BluSky for help.

We have years of experience restoring commercial properties throughout the United States, including Phoenix, San Francisco, Boston, and Toledo. We will conduct thorough assessments to develop a remediation plan and keep you posted on the progress so you know what to expect in terms of a timeline of completion.

Facing a fire is scary. Dealing with the restoration needed shouldn’t be. At BluSky, we’re here to mitigate the damage…and your concerns. Contact us today to speak with a member of our team about our fire damage restoration services.