Fires are potential threats to any facility. Comprehensive security solutions should address fire prevention. Here are some fire prevention tips for commercial buildings:

1. Work to address the common causes of fires in commercial buildings.
2. Upgrade the fire detection system.
3. Install fire-extinguishing systems.
4. Provide fire extinguishers.
5. Create clear emergency evacuation routes and egress.
6. Train your staff on fire prevention and safety.

1. Work to Address the Common Causes of Fires in Commercial Buildings

One of the biggest fire prevention tips for commercial buildings, and for any facility, is to identify the common causes of fire and take specific measures to address them. This can cover a lot of ground and often involves a mix of safety measures and policies for both prevention and risk reduction.

Common Causes of Commercial Building Fires Include:

• Overworked Heating Equipment
• Faulty or Low-Quality Electrical Equipment
• Cooking Accidents
• Careless Smoking Practices
• Poor Disposal of Smoking Materials
• Arson

Address Common Causes and Reduce Fire Risk By:

• Using Effective Storage Practices and Minimizing Clutter
• Properly Securing and Storing Flammable Liquids and Materials
• Securing Shelving to Prevent Toppling and Spilling
• Regularly Inspecting and Cleaning Storage Areas
• Properly Disposing of Combustible Waste
• Ensuring Proper Installation and Maintenance of Electrical Wiring
• Regularly Checking Electrical Sockets, Cords, and Wires
• Following Fire Safety Protocols in Kitchens and When Cooking
• Creating Dedicated Smoking Zones
• Providing Clear Disposal Procedures For Smoking Materials
• Using Access Control to Prevent Unauthorized Access
• Installing Security Cameras to Help Deter Bad Actors

Regular maintenance and upkeep can help reduce the risk of fires caused by equipment failures or quality issues. Training and policies for people within the building can help prevent fires caused by negligence or ignorance. Security policies and systems can help reduce risks associated with bad actors and improve commercial building security.

The details of what these action items look like will vary depending on specific buildings and situations. But, similar to a building vulnerability assessment, identifying these areas for improvement and coming up with some specific ways to address them is a good start for fire prevention and improving overall security.

2. Upgrade the Fire Detection System

Although a fire detection system may not be able to prevent a fire from occurring entirely, it is essential in protecting people and property. In addition to saving lives, a good fire detection system can alert the local fire department, allow for rapid response, and reduce the damage a fire can cause. Fire detection technology continues to evolve, and systems continue to become better at environmental monitoring, detection, and more.

3. Install Fire-Extinguishing Systems

Fire detection systems and fire-extinguishing systems go hand in hand. Modern commercial buildings often have built-in fire-extinguishing systems, usually in the form of sprinkler systems. When fire detection systems are triggered, they can also trigger the fire sprinkler systems to start containing and putting out a fire while firefighters are still on their way.

4. Provide Fire Extinguishers

Every building should have up-to-date fire extinguishers available. Although it’s not recommended to try to fight a fire on your own, making sure staff are trained and fire extinguishers are accessible can help manage small fires that may pop up.

Just make sure you have the right class of fire extinguishers to deal with the fires you may have. There are different fire extinguishers with different ratings, and it’s important to have the right ones for your needs.

For example, multi-purpose ABC fire extinguishers are common in homes and businesses and are made for smothering fires caused by cloth, wood, paper, grease, and electrical. There are also extinguishers that are specifically Class A, Class B, or Class C instead of a combination.

Class K fire extinguishers are common in commercial kitchens and are made for extinguishing wet chemical fires. Class D extinguishers are often found in factories and are made for extinguishing fires caused by flammable metals.

5. Create Clear Emergency Evacuation Routes and Egress

As much prevention as you have in place to reduce the risk of fire, you must still be prepared in the event of one. In addition to safety training and procedures, you also need to make sure you clearly establish multiple emergency evacuation routes and ensure a means of egress during emergencies. This is an essential component of an emergency plan.

There are several types of egress devices available to help you make sure there are ways out of every room and to help you establish efficient and clear emergency evacuation routes from the building. Egress devices can also often be integrated with access control systems and other security systems for better overall building security and emergency response.

6. Train Your Staff on Fire Prevention and Safety

Having the right security products and systems in place goes a long way in creating comprehensive security. Additionally, it’s essential to make sure your staff is properly trained on fire prevention and safety for your building.

Just as your team needs to be trained on your security systems, they also need to be trained on your safety policies and procedures. As much as possible, you want to create a culture of security in your building and instill a sense of responsibility in your staff. This includes fire prevention, initial training, and regular refresher sessions.

Implement Fire Safety Measures in Your Commercial Building

Fire prevention and safety are not addressed by an individual action or a single alarm; it is an ongoing process. These fire prevention tips for commercial buildings are a good start and should be part of the commercial security solutions for your building. If you need to update or upgrade your building security, contact NEPPS at 1-800-736-1456.