Proper fire protection is essential for your commercial building. Inadequate preparation for such an emergency can result in extensive financial losses, injuries and even fatalities. In general, you should have a documented plan for fire protection outlining critical details on evacuation plans and emergency responses. Also, you should have fire suppression and extinguishing systems and products installed within your premises. However, this should not be the end of your fire safety strategy. You must invest in continuous protection processes to minimise incidents of fire and to limit losses if a fire does occur. Here are some of the most critical measures for a long-term fire protection plan.

Building Inspection

Regular inspection of your building is crucial as part of your long-term fire protection framework. In simple terms, the assessment of the commercial or industrial space will reveal the potential hazards. Consequently, the problems can be resolved promptly, preventing real disaster. Ideally, you should appoint a fire safety manager in your business. This individual should be responsible for ensuring that proper practices are being upheld. For example, they should make certain that there is up-to-standard housekeeping. Also, they should check the electrical setup for poor usage, minimising the risk of electrical fires. Additionally, you should have a strategy for handling combustible substances in the business environment.

Systems Testing

Some companies suffer extensive losses from fire incidents even though they have installed protection and suppression systems. This problem can be attributed to the fact that business owners and managers do not test the equipment after the initial installation. In some cases, the problem is as small as a closed valve which prevents the flow of water to the sprinklers. Therefore, you should have a schedule for testing your fire control systems. The most critical elements which you should ensure are checked and tested are sprinklers system, the status of the control valves and the ability of the water supply to flow into the suppression network. 

Equipment Maintenance

Finally, you should make sure that your business is keeping up with the maintenance of the fire protection equipment. Typically, these systems need some care even though they are not used on a regular basis. For the best results, you should follow the upkeep practices recommended by the manufacturer of the fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and sprinklers in your premises. Also, you should perform immediate repairs if a problem is identified during testing.

If you have not established an emergency plan for fire incidents, you should consult a protection expert.