We recommend that you leave the major equipment inspections to qualified professionals, but there are things you can do to make and keep your building safe in between those inspections. These are simple measures you can take to make your facility safer for you and your employees.
- Stage periodic fire drills.
Review the emergency exit strategy with your employees.
Rehearsing what needs to happen during a fire emergency is the best way to ensure that all employees egress safely and can be accounted for should an actual fire occur. Have a designated gathering spot(s) outside the building and take roll to ensure all have exited the building. - Fire extinguishers.
Are they in place and secure in a bracket or hanger? Are they charged; is the arrow in the green zone on the gauge? Are they accessible in an emergency; not blocked or hidden behind doors? - Are all exit signs and emergency lights in place and functioning properly?
- Remove obstructions from all exits and paths of egress.
- Make sure-fire and exit doors completely close and latch. They should also be kept closed but never chained or key-locked. All fire exit doors should be equipped with panic-bar hardware to allow for ease of opening in an emergency.
- Sprinkler head clearance should be at least 18 inches.
There should not be anything stored, stacked, or installed within 18 inches of a sprinkler head from any direction. - Inspect electrical circuits and installations periodically.
Circuits and outlets should be monitored to make sure they are not being overloaded. Only a licensed electrician should attempt to fix any frayed wires or other electrical problems. - Flammable materials.
Make sure any chemicals are in their proper containers and safely stored. Any flammable waste should be properly disposed of. - Are all of the areas in your building designed and authorized for their given purposes?
This includes labs, kitchens, storage rooms, etc., all of which need fire protection systems specifically designed for their unique environments. - Make sure emergency exit plans are posted on every floor and are current.
If your building has undergone many renovations, the emergency evacuation plans throughout the entire building need to be updated to incorporate the changes to the floor plan.
If your inspections above reveal any shortcomings, contact Keystone Fire Protection Co. Keystone offers commercial and industrial fire protection solutions for businesses, including early warning detection systems. Visit our website today to browse our services by industry or by type of life safety system technology required.