How to Keep Your Business Safe From Fire Hazards

Protecting your business from a fire is a large endeavor that requires proper planning and foresight. You can easily learn how to keep your business safe from fire hazards, though, by following these simple steps.

Steps

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   Start by taking fire prevention steps within the four walls of your business.

   • Clean up old clutter that is sitting around. Go through old materials like papers or newspapers that could either add more fuel to a fire or hinder the exit of employees in the event of a fire. Clutter also makes your chances of extinguishing a fire yourself more difficult.
   • Have an electrical inspection done on a regular basis to make sure that you are up to code and find out if anything should be fixed.
   • Refrain from having or allowing lit candles in your business. If employees want to have something similar, choose a flameless candle like those offered through Scentsy as an alternative. Open flames can easily and quickly cause a fire if you or an employee shifts paperwork too close or the candle is forgotten and not extinguished before the employee leaves for the night.
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   Install smoke/fire detectors in your business. Your best investment will be a hard-wired fire detection system that is routed to a security company that can dispatch emergency crews remotely.

   • Make sure that your alarms are loud and adequate enough also, though, to alert staff and customers in the event of a fire so that they can safely exit.
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   Purchase fire suppression methods to immediately start to extinguish a fire.

   • Add fire extinguisher canisters to the appropriate walls or hiding spots of your business, and make sure that your employees are trained on how to use them.
   • Install an overhead sprinkler system to put out a fire with water or foam.
   • Think about a carbon dioxide suppression system. Because carbon dioxide does not leave behind an agent, it is great for companies with sensitive equipment. It also allows for faster, easier cleanup, which can get you back to business faster.
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   Take additional steps to protect your business.

   • Back up your computer files on a regular basis, and either keep the files in a fire safe or keep them off site. This step can either make or break a business from rebuilding after a fire, so make sure that you have the electronic files that you need protected and available in the event of a fire.
   • Keep your hard copy documents in fire-safe cabinets. Investing in cabinets that are rated as such can be an additional means to protect your business property.
   • Hold regular fire prevention and fire safety seminars with your staff. Educate them on fire extinguisher use, where the exits are and what information they can implement to reduce any fire hazards at the office.
   • Train your employees how to adequately turn on the alarm system nightly. Your protection services won't necessarily know to alert the proper authorities if the alarm is not set as needed when the last employee leaves.