Fires can happen suddenly when you least expect them, so it’s important to make sure you are prepared! Use this checklist to help protect your building, occupants, and assets in the event of a fire.
1. Fire Alarms
Fire alarms are the first line of defense against a fire. They quickly alert everybody in the building to the emergency and allow them to escape to safety. It’s important to make sure your fire alarm system is up to code and maintained at least once per year. It’s also important to regularly test your fire alarm system and conduct fire drills to ensure everybody knows the evacuation plan.
2. Emergency Lights and Exit Signs
During a fire, emergency lights and exit signs are required to help guide occupants to fire exit doors and safely out of the building. Even the most familiar building can be confusing to navigate during an emergency, especially in dark and smokey conditions! It is recommended that you conduct a 30-minute test of your emergency lights every month and a 90-minute test once per year. On most models, there is usually a simple “test” button you can press to make sure your lights and signs switch to standby power.
3. Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers provide occupants with the ability to put out small fires and prevent them from spreading into larger fires. They should be placed no more than 75 feet apart and the type of fire extinguisher should match the potential hazards around it. Your extinguishers should be inspected monthly by the building manager and yearly by a trained inspector. It’s also a good idea to make sure everybody in your building is trained on how to use a fire extinguisher.
Learn more about the types of fire extinguishers and extinguisher maintenance.
4. Fire Rated Doors & Inspections
Fire rated doors are made of materials that are designed to prevent the spread of fires. They can help to minimize damage in the event of a fire. Fire rated doors should be inspected annually by a qualified inspector, like the ones at LaForce!
Learn more about fire door inspections.
5. Sprinkler Systems
Some commercial buildings may utilize a sprinkler system to contain and put out fires. Sprinkler systems react to heat, and it’s important to make sure they are in working order so that they deploy at the right time. Control valves should be checked monthly, and the entire system should be checked yearly by a trained professional. It’s especially important to make sure nothing is too close to the sprinkler heads to obstruct the flow of water. The pipes should also be inspected every few years, depending on the manufacturer.
6. Close the Door
Closing doors can help control the spread of the fire within the building, giving others valuable time to evacuate and helping to preserve the building and its contents. Even if the door isn’t fire rated, the simple act of closing it can help block and contain the fire, smoke, heat, and carbon dioxide to certain areas instead. This prevents the fire from spreading freely through openings like it did in this video.
Find out more about the importance of closing doors during a fire.
At LaForce, we are dedicated to providing solutions that protect life safety and building security. Whether you need fire rated doors, exit devices, or fire extinguishers, we can help you find the best solution. Check out our linecard for a full list of the products and services we offer, and give our experts a call today – they can help you make sure your building is as safe and prepared as possible.
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