Common Commercial Property Fire Hazards That Can Cost Big

Owning your own business is a lot of responsibility. You are in charge of an entire commercial property, a team of employees, and the safety of any customers on site. That’s a lot of pressure. Trust us, we know firsthand as a local restoration company.

As a business owner, you owe it to yourself and to everyone to prevent fire damage by eliminating the common hazards. First, you need to understand the hazards that surround you each day. Believe it or not, there are many. So, if you wish to avoid the need for fire & smoke damage restoration, discover the fire hazards you can eliminate.

Common Causes of Commercial Fires

To prevent a dangerous fire in or around your business, let’s explore the most common causes. This way, you can keep your business and employees safe year-round.

• Cooking Equipment – A lot of commercial fires begin and end right in the kitchen. In fact, it’s said that nearly 30% of all nonresidential fires were because of cooking equipment. That’s around 1 in 4 offices fires. Often, it’s because a piece of equipment was improperly used or neglected.
• Arson – That’s right – a good portion of commercial fires are caused by arson. An intentional fire typically results in more injuries and death than any other type, though they often begin between 3 p.m. and 12 a.m. Most intentional fires in a business setting are started in a bathroom, trash bin, or a garage.
• Human Error – It’s impossible to prepare for a careless act or human error. A lot of commercial property fires are caused by a careless act, such as leaving a space heater or heating equipment turned on, or discarding lit cigarettes carelessly, or overloading an extension cord or socket.
• Heating Equipment – During the winter, you need a functioning heating system to keep everyone comfortable. If your system is not properly cleaned and maintained regularly, it could be a fire hazard. Nearly 9% of all commercial fires are caused by heating equipment failures.

Preventing Commercial Fires

Besides eliminating the most common commercial fire hazards, we have a few tips to help you reduce your fire risk at the office.

• Fire Extinguishers – Every office, garage, and restaurant should have a functional fire extinguisher nearby at all times. You should keep one in the kitchen, especially.
• Fire Alarms – A lot of times people overlook fire alarms. Don’t. On occasion, test your company’s fire alarms and swap out the batteries as necessary.
• Fire Sprinkler System – A commercial fire sprinkler system can save lives. If installed properly and functional, such a system can eliminate a potentially damaging and deadly commercial fire.

Prevent a commercial fire by eliminating the hazards we’ve noted. If all else fails, call Restoration 1 of Mohave County at 928-235-4193 for top-rated fire & smoke damage restoration.