Fire Protection Systems for Businesses

Fires can cause devastating damage to equipment, products and people. They can also lead to lost productivity, reduced profits and lengthy downtime, all of which can be expensive to recover from. This is why fire protection systems are crucial to a business’s safety and survival.

While a business can take a range of measures to prevent fires, there are also many ways that they can protect themselves in the event of a fire. Fire suppression systems are an important part of this, and they come in a variety of forms to suit different spaces. These include fire alarms, sprinklers, and smoke detectors, as well as fire safety signage, evacuation plans and exit stairwells. They can also include passive fire protection measures such as compartmentation, which helps to keep heat and smoke contained within a room or area. This is achieved by implementing solutions like fire doors, cavity barriers and fire protection boards that don’t shrink or conduct heat and help to restrict smoke movement. These are often used to seal around service penetrations, which can be a common point of fire spread.

Once a fire is detected, these fire suppression systems are designed to release a substance that extinguishes the fire and limits the damage caused. The exact nature of this depends on the environment the system is designed to protect, with options including carbon dioxide, chemical inert gases and a range of liquid and dry suppression agents. There are also a number of clean agent options, such as Ansul INERGEN that uses nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide to reduce oxygen levels in a room, inhibiting combustion and eliminating the fire. These systems are often used in areas with electronic equipment, control rooms and flammable liquid storage.

In addition to these systems, it’s also important for businesses to ensure their fire safety equipment is regularly serviced and maintained. A regular inspection can help to identify any potential issues before they become serious, allowing them to be dealt with quickly and efficiently in the event of an emergency.

A fire can spread very quickly, so it’s vital that a business has an evacuation plan in place for its occupants to follow in the event of a fire. The evacuation process should be as quick and easy as possible, with a clear evacuation route and fire-resistant escape routes. It’s also important to communicate the building’s evacuation strategy and procedures with all employees and occupants, as well as ensuring that they know where to find fire safety information, such as fire exits, fire extinguishers and their evacuation route.

Remember that smoke is as dangerous as the flames, so it’s important to stay as low as possible and crawl on your hands and knees to avoid inhaling the toxins. If you are trapped in a building, use the exit stairwells and close any doors behind you. You should also shut windows and turn off any gas appliances if you can safely do so.