Do you know the components of an active fire protection plan for a commercial building? Unless you’re a building owner, business owner, or facilities manager, the answer may be no. Even if you are in one of these roles, the full answer to this question may be trickier than you think.
What are the components of a commercial fire protection plan?
The major components of a commercial building fire protection plan are:
- Fire sprinkler system
- Fire suppression
- Kitchen hood suppression system for restaurants
- Fire alarm system + fire alarm monitoring
- Emergency lighting
All of these components work together to protect your business from a fire emergency. The type of sprinkler system, suppression system, and fire alarm system will vary widely by industry type, building size, hazard type, etc. Work with your fire protection company to assess your needs and ensure you have a complete fire protection plan.
How are fire protection requirements determined for my commercial building?
There is national, state, and county wide requirements for the required components of a commercial building’s fire protection system. When compiling your fire protection plan, these fire codes are going to be the guiding principles. If you have a fire protection company you’re already working with, they should be able to help you navigate these fire codes. Don’t try to do it on your own.
The National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, is the national organization that sets fire code requirements for the U.S. There are over 300 of NFPA’s codes and standards. These national fire codes and standards dictate the exact fire protection requirements for any commercial building, from offices to restaurants and everything in between. NFPA also provides trainings, public outreach programs, and a number of resources on fire safety information for fire protection professionals, building owners, the general public, etc.
The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is another national organization that sets fire code requirements for U.S. businesses. Fire safety is addressed in specific OSHA standards for record keeping, general industry, maritime, and construction. This organization also provides references that may aid in recognizing and evaluation hazards in the workplace.
Finally, your local Fire Marshal’s office will also have their own fire code requirements for your specific commercial building. It’s essential to work with local code enforcement when compiling your commercial fire protection plan. You can find information on these specific codes on your city’s Office of the Fire Marshal website.
How do I schedule inspections of my fire protection system components?
Each component of your fire protection plan will have varying frequencies of inspection. This can be overwhelming for some building/business owners or facilities managers. Work with a fire protection company that can keep track of required inspections for you. To schedule inspections, call your fire protection company or set up a schedule with the company to take out the guess work.
Here is a helpful chart by Protegis that includes information of required inspections of a your fire protection system:
What happens if I need a repair for a component of my fire protection system?
Working with an all-services fire protection company is a seamless way to get repairs done fast. If you work with a fire protection company only providing one or two services, like sprinkler and suppression or just suppression, repairs can be time consuming and pricey for you. If you need repair for any component of your fire protection system (sprinkler, suppression, alarm, etc.), an all services company like Fire Systems has you covered. You will save time but may also save money with bundled services options.
Another important thing to remember when scheduling repairs is to make sure the repairs are done right and properly filed to the Fire Marshal. Whether the damage was found by a fire protection tech or by a Fire Marshal, the repair should be properly documented and reinspected to maintain your compliancy as a commercial business.
Contact Fire Systems, Inc. today for your free estimate. We provide installation, inspection, and repair of all aspects of your commercial fire protection plan. We can even help you create and implement a plan based on your business’ individual needs and local fire codes. Choosing a local company is a great idea, choosing a local company with decades of experience in fire protection is an even better idea. Fire Systems is well known in the Atlanta area as a knowledgeable and highly skilled fire protection company with over three decades in business. Visit our website for more information or call us at 770-333-7979.
