Basics of Fire Safety for Your Business

Here are the top five recommendations from Lloyd Industries for keeping your business safe from fire:

• Start with building construction
• Install proper fire safety equipment
• Avoid risky situations
• Hold fire safety drills
• Conduct regular assessments

 

Fire Safety in Business Construction

The first step in keeping your business safe from fire and other emergencies is to evaluate your office’s construction. Different industries have specific requirements about the fire safety products your building must include. Regardless of your industry, there are a few essentials that you should consider:

Fire dampers:

In an emergency, a fire damper is one of your business’s first lines of defense. During construction, your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor will install ductwork throughout your business to provide heat and air conditioning. If you choose, the contractor can install a fire damper within the HVAC unit and ductwork simultaneously. A fire damper prevents flames from spreading through the HVAC by using metal fans to section off the ductwork from the fire source. Since ductwork runs throughout the building, fires can be extra dangerous if they can utilize the HVAC ducts to spread from room to room. A fire damper can prevent additional damage as well as help give your employees additional time to evacuate.

Access doors:

Preventing a fire from accessing critical components of your building’s networking systems, electronics, or other areas can save large sums of money and ensure your fire safety equipment isn’t damaged during the fire. A contractor can install your access doors when your building is under construction. Many business owners choose to utilize access doors to protect their fire safety equipment, including the electrical controls for their smoke alarms, sprinkler systems, and HVAC controls. By installing an access door, you can ensure that you protect your critical electrical systems in an emergency.

 

Smoke dampers:

Like fire dampers, smoke dampers are a must-have for your fire prevention plan. Smoke dampers work like fire dampers by using metal fan blades to open and close the air ducts. Believe it or not, smoke kills more people than flames during fires because of smoke and chemical inhalation. Smoke dampers are an essential part of a proactive fire plan because they help prevent smoke damage and give employees additional time to evacuate in an emergency.

Fire-rated walls:

If you work in an industry that handles chemicals or other dangerous substances at a higher risk of combustion, using fire-rated walls is a fantastic way to be proactive against emergencies. Manufacturers make fire-rated walls to withstand exposure to flames for a specific amount of time. If your business deals with hazardous materials, containing specific spaces within fire-rated walls can help prevent the spread of fire and smoke in an emergency. Another widespread use of fire-rated walls is between apartments or townhouses. In a fire, the fire-rated wall will prevent the damage from spreading.

 

Best Fire Safety Equipment

In addition to dampers and other products, installing devices that you and your employees can use in an emergency is critical to creating a comprehensive fire safety plan. Equipping your office with the best fire dampers, smoke dampers, and other fire safety equipment possible can be the difference between life and death. The highly qualified staff at Lloyd Industries recommend installing fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and sprinklers within your business to create an active and passive fire protection plan.

 

Hold Fire Safety Drills

One of the most critical aspects of creating a successful fire safety plan is to train your employees on how to respond in an emergency. Although many people believe they know how they would act, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to being prepared. Here are the ways that Lloyd Industries recommends preparing yourself and your employees through fire safety drills:

• Designate someone as a fire safety officer. The fire safety officer will be in charge of keeping fire prevention plans up to date, planning escape routes and meeting places, and ensuring all equipment is up to date.
• Create an evacuation plan. It’s essential to create an evacuation plan, especially in larger buildings. Make sure to post these plans in noticeable locations and train employees on how to respond. Always remember to avoid elevators in an emergency.
• Maintain a first aid kit. Having a first aid kit is vital for everyday accidents and injuries, as well as larger emergencies. In the event of a fire, a first aid kit is helpful for minor cuts and burns and other small abrasions that don’t require more advanced medical attention.

 

How Often Should A Business Inspect Fire Equipment?

Maintaining a consistent and frequent fire inspection schedule can help prevent accidents and allow you to avoid worst-case scenarios if an emergency does happen. The fire dampers and other fire safety products sold by Lloyd Industries all require different periods for inspections. Many cities and state governments also require inspections to occur in specific industries’ offices on a set schedule. For example, a fire inspection every three years. 

However, it never hurts to walk through your business regularly and examine anything that causes concern. Be sure to check the dates on your fire extinguishers, make sure your smoke alarms have batteries test them once a month, and change the air filters on your HVAC unit. At Lloyd Industries, we operate under the assumption that it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to fire protection.

 

Lloyd Industries is a fantastic place to start if you’re searching for the best manufacturer of fire dampers and other fire protection equipment. The company has over 35 years of experience in the fire protection industry, and experts are on hand to answer your questions. For more information about the products offered by Lloyd Industries, visit their website or call 215-412-4445.