Fire safety is essential for all buildings, businesses, and workplaces. Whether the user's business has an office or a warehouse, and helps to ensure workers and premises are protected from fire by following this guide to fire safety for a business.
What is Fire Safety for Businesses?
Fire safety within a business encompasses both physical measures that detect and prevent fire
Fire safety within a business encompasses both physical measures that detect and prevent fire, as well as education and training to protect workers.
Components of fire safety within a business may include fire alarms, fire blankets, fire extinguishers, hose reels, sprinkler systems, and emergency exit signage and lighting. Requirements differ between business premises due to function, building type, and a variety of other factors, however basic alarm systems and suppression solutions are minimum and often required by law.
Fire safety measures
Fire safety measures for businesses are important for staff survival and asset protection. To ensusers'sers fire safety measures are effective and compliant, consult professionals.
Fire safety measures should be installed to British Standards and maintained in compliance with regulations. A.P.E Fire and Security are certified fire systems providers, as BAFE SP203-1 registered and accredited to install, maintain and design fire systems.
Fire Safety for Business Legislation
The ‘responsible person’ who is accountable for fire safety is someone in charge of the premises
It is a legal requirement for fire risk assessments to be carried out on all premises where people work as part of the 2005 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.
The ‘responsible person’ who is accountable for fire safety is someone in charge of the premises, for example, the facilities manager, premises’ owner, or building manager.
risk assessments
The risk assessments carried out alone or by a professional assessor, identify hazards and people at risk as well as ways to reduce or remove fire risks. The risk assessments must be recorded and regularly reviewed and updated.
To be compliant, businesses and workplaces must have systems for detection and warning, with alarm or detection type depending on building factors. Similarly, there must be equipment for fighting the fire which again depends on the business premises and function.
Fire Safety Tips for a Business
Once users have installed a compliant fire system with all the relevant detection and suppression elements, there are still important factors to consider. Following are some top tips about fire safety for a business.
Test Measures Regularly
It is vital to regularly tusers'sers fire systems such as alarms to ensure they will perform in the event of an emergency. Upkeep and maintenance are critical to the safety of workers.
Plan for Emergencies
Be sure to establish clear emergency plans for users' businesses encompassing a range of potential threats
It’s all well and good having the relevant systems in place, but without preparing staff for an emergency, lives are endangered. Be sure to establish clear emergency plans users' businesses encompassing a range of potential threats and subsequent actions.
Assign staff as ‘fire wardens’ who take charge and lead in the event of a fire. From guiding staff through emergency exits to performing counts, fire wardens are critical to staff welfare. As a busineusersuser should ensure fire wardens receive relevant training for the task.
Have Clear Signage and Lighting
Emergency exit routes and doors should be signposted and lit. In the event of a fire, staff should be able to leave safely following laid-out routes. Make sure emergency lighting works and that signs are clear.
Train Staff in Fire Safety
Staff should have training relevant to fire safety including how to work fire prevention methods such as extinguishers and fire blankets.
Businesses should perform regular fire drills, especially if routes or procedures have changed. This way, staff are confident in what to do when there is a fire, and fear is reduced.
Implement General Good Fire Practice
Remove flammable materials, such as cardboard, within the business premises
Be sure to maintain regular good housekeeping concerning fire safety within a business. Remove flammable materials, such as cardboard, within the business premises. Ensure sockets are not overloaded and therefore at higher risk of fire. Keep emergency exits and routes clear of obstacles.
Make fire safety part of user business policy, highlighting good fire practice to staff as integral to a business. For example, have clear rules on smoking and designated smoking areas to remove the threat of accidental fire.
A.P.E Fire and Security
As accredited fire and security service providers with over 40 years of experience, A.P.E Fire and Security are experts in business safety.
From comprehensive fire services and lifetime servicing to innovative security solutions, our expert team of professionals design, install and maintain a range of vital services across all sectors.
