When business owners and managers weigh up their main business risks, the possibility of fires rarely rates a mention, but such incidents can be devastating for the business and its employees.
The first step towards alleviating the risk of costly commercial fires is to identify the most common causes of blazes. Here are five of the biggest risks.
1. Cooking equipment
Cooking stations are to blame for a high proportion of building fires. In commercial kitchens, in particular, fires typically start in the kitchen, where deep-fat fryers, cooking ranges and cooking grills, duct and plenums are the main cause. Highly-flammable cooking oil or grease can build up in hoods and ducts of fryers and lead to a blaze. In such an environment, fire-suppression systems that incorporate the latest wet chemical technology work by reacting with the hot oil, causing the saponification process.
2. Arson
Sadly, fires that are intentionally started are very common and often cause the most damage and result in more civilian injuries and deaths than other fires. The fallout tends to be so severe because they are planned events rather than random fires and, in most cases, are lit late in the afternoon or at night when response times can be longer.
A key way to minimise the impact of such attacks is to install security cameras and fire alarms and to deploy fire-suppression systems which can douse fires quickly and minimise any damage.
3. Human error
People make mistakes, from improperly discarding cigarette butts and accidentally leaving heaters too close to flammable objects to overloading power points with too many cords. Education of staff about such risks is essential.
4. Boilers, furnaces and water heaters
Not surprisingly, heating appliances represent a significant threat to commercial buildings. Correct installation and maintenance of equipment such as boilers, furnaces and water heaters is a must. Boiler rooms, for example, are often used as storage areas, increasing the risk of fire, so be sure to move any flammable materials and furniture away from such heat sources.
5. Electrical faults
Electricians often cop the blame in the aftermath of an electrical fire in a commercial buildings, but they are rarely at fault. The real risk comes from overloading systems or using a building contractor who violates electrical codes during the construction phase. Other problem areas are simple things such as frayed power cords, misused extension cords and overloaded and daisy-chained surge protectors.
So play it safe …
With all of the aforementioned causes of fire, having a proper fire-suppression plan in place can save lives and property. Fire-safety professionals can advise commercial building managers on an array of fire alarm systems, portable fire extinguishers and an arsenal of delivery systems, ranging from firefighting monitors, gaseous suppression systems and foam concentrates.
Treat it as an insurance policy.
Delta Fire Australasia specialises in the fire protection of high-risk environments such as commercial buildings. Visit www.deltafire.com.au for more details.