A fire alarm is the best way of ensuring you and your colleagues are alerted as soon as possible if a fire occurs within the commercial environment. Employers are legally obliged to protect the people who work within their premises from the threat of fire, and one of the best ways to do this is to have a fire detection system in place to alert all persons of the event of a fire outbreak. There should be at least one smoke detector fitted per floor, although for larger environments more alarms will be needed to ensure everyone within the premises is…
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The ability to operate a fire extinguisher is an important skill to have should you ever be faced with an uncontrolled fire. If you are likely to be required to use a fire extinguisher at work due to responsibilities as a fire marshall or where you are located in your workplace, it is recommended that you receive professional hands-on training first. However, if you do discover a fire that looks out of control, the first thing you should do is call the emergency services. You can then tackle small fires with an extinguisher but know that, if you cannot put…
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If you’re a business owner, then your top priority undoubtedly is to keep your commercial premises safe from electrical fires. Electricity is one of the major causes of accidental fires in commercial and residential buildings in UK, as each year over 10,000 electrical fires which are caused by faulty wirings or appliances occur. As we use electricity every day, it’s important that it is used correctly to avoid any dangerous consequences. So, here are some simple tips you should follow in order to prevent an electrical fire. Don’t overload power sockets Overloading sockets is one of the most common errors…
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In commercial settings, fire safety is of paramount importance to ensure all staff and visitors are protected in the event of a fire. Our accredited team at Protect & Detect specialise in providing first class fire safety services to all commercial premises, ensuring they are as safe as possible from the threat of a fire. Our company ethos is to make sure all businesses are fully prepared in the case of an emergency. With this in mind, our experts have put together a guide to the different skin burn levels and the most efficient ways to treat them so emergency situations…
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Fire can occur in any company at any time and the duties of a responsible fire marshal can be vital. Their role is to assess risks which could lead to a blaze starting and take appropriate action if one does; in worst case scenarios, the actions of the marshal can be the difference between life and death. If you are thinking about becoming a fire marshal for your company, you must fully understand your duties and work within the framework provided by the organisation. The key requirements of a marshal are to: identify and report risks assess potential hazards fight fire…
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Fire alarms and smoke detectors are usually things that we take for granted. Most of us have these useful life-saving devices installed in our homes and places of work, and although we rely on them to work when we need them, few of us actually know much about fire alarms and smoke detectors. Here at Protect & Detect, we want to make sure all property owners are fully informed about the fire alarm systems in place so here is a little about their history to get you started. Fire Alarms In the old days, fire alarms were very low-tech. Members of…
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As a legal requirement, all business, industrial and commercial environments must have a clear fire procedure and fire evacuation route in place to avoid risk of injury or fatality. A fire emergency evacuation plan (FEEP) is a written document which includes the action that must be taken by all staff in the event of a fire and the arrangements for calling the emergency services. The general fire notice for small premises typically takes the form of a simple fire action sign posted in areas where staff and relevant personnel can read it and make themselves familiar with its instructions. In light…
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An assessment for fire risk is a mandatory undertaking that has to be carried out in all places of work, commercial premises, and anywhere the general public have access to. The ‘responsible person’ is legally liable for fire safety, and if you are the owner or landlord, or in some cases the occupier, then this will be your responsibility. The penalties for non-enforcement are very serious, and you could face a fine or be imprisoned if you do not conform. The assessment itself is a very detailed process, and the ‘responsible person’ has to carry it out in the first instance,…
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According to official government statistics, in 2012-2013 there were 22,500 fires recorded in commercial and industrial buildings, such as retail units and industrial manufacturing plants. 65% of deaths which occurred in non-dwelling building fires were caused by no smoke alarms being installed in the property. In this day and age, it is astonishing to believe that many commercial buildings do not have the correct measures in place in the event of a fire, leaving many lives at risk as a result. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to have a fire alarm installed, preferably on every level of…
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Having the correct fire safety equipment in top working order is a legal requirement for any commercial environment to ensure everyone within the building is protected from the threat of a fire occurring in the property. There are 5 main types of fire extinguishers, each designed to target specific fires so that any potential breakouts can be dealt with effectively. For further information, also take a look at our article on how to correctly use a fire extinguisher. Firstly, it is important to take note of which category the nature of a fire belongs to: Class A: these fires consist…
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