While there are legal requirements in place to help you maintain good fire safety practices for your business, regulations will only cover the basics. There are a few different fire risks that may not be completely covered by the law.
As a business owner, it’s vital that you guard your property against these four common fire safety challenges:
1. Neglected Fire Sprinkler Systems
Just as you should schedule an annual fire extinguisher inspection in NJ for your business, you should also arrange for a yearly fire sprinkler system inspection. Additionally, the system will need to undergo testing as a part of the inspection. Even though annual inspections are legally required, some businesses neglect or delay them.
Fire sprinkler systems need inspections and testing to ensure they will function properly in an emergency. Since you may go years without needing to rely on the sprinkler system, any type of malfunction might occur in the meantime. The inspection will catch rust, water leaks, and other issues to ensure proper fire suppression when you need it.
2. Poor Electrical System Maintenance
Electrical fires are more common in commercial businesses since they use more electrical equipment than residential homes. While a class C fire extinguisher will help you put out an electrical fire, it’s still important to take steps to minimize these risks. This means scheduling routine electrical inspections for your business.
In addition to inspections, make sure to have your building’s electrical panel updated anytime you add new equipment to your business. From buying a new copier to installing industrial machinery, increasing energy consumption requires changing your building’s electrical system to handle that amount of electrical usage safely.
3. Inhibited Access to Fire Safety Equipment
Having the right type of fire extinguisher in New Jersey businesses is essential, but it’s equally crucial to ensure your employees can get to the equipment in an emergency. While there are legal regulations to keep fire extinguishers, hoses, fire exits, and other safety equipment clear from obstructions, your employees can become lax over time.
Conduct regular visual inspections to ensure there isn’t debris, products, or machinery blocking your fire safety equipment. Make sure your employees aren’t hanging items from the sprinklers or positioning furniture in front of extinguishers.
This includes leaving a clearance of 36 inches around sprinklers and fire extinguishers. The 36-inch rule specifically refers to NFPA 70E, which involves the clearance around electrical panels. However, it’s also a good rule for fire safety equipment as well, and many businesses adopt it for this purpose.
4. Insufficient Employee Training
In addition to maintaining your fire safety technology in good working condition, you’ll want to ensure your employees know how you use it. In particular, make sure your employees undergo annual fire extinguisher training. This will keep the rules for proper use of the equipment fresh in their minds.
As you install new fire safety equipment, you will want to schedule initial training in its use. Familiarizing your employees with new fire safety technology will ensure they feel comfortable using it or interacting with it during a fire.
Schedule routine fire drills as well. Your employees should know your policy for responding to a fire, and they should be familiar with their routes of escape. Regular training and drills will help you avoid chaos when an emergency does occur. It will also help your employees understand that fire safety is a serious concern for your business.
Invest in Fire Safety Equipment You Can Trust
A key part of addressing these common fire safety challenges for your business is installing reliable fire prevention and suppression equipment.
ABC Fire & Safety provides high-quality fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, backflow preventer valves, and other essential fire safety equipment. Browse our selection to find the products you need to protect your business today.
