Fire risk assessments can be a helpful tool for identifying potential fire hazards. Using information gleaned from these risk assessments helps business owners implement measures to prevent fire emergencies. In short, understanding fire risk assessments can help protect your business, employees, and customers.
Learn about some steps of conducting a fire risk assessment, including ways of identifying sources of ignition, how to determine evacuation routes, and tips on how to implement preventative safety measures that protect both building occupants and your facility.
Step 1: Identify Fire Hazards
Known as the fire triangle, all fire needs to ignite is a fuel source, heat source, and an oxidizer (i.e. oxygen) to feed the flames. Identifying potential ignition sources, fuel sources, and oxygen supplies that contribute to a fire is step one in conducting an effective fire risk assessment.
Ignition sources and specific fire hazards will vary widely based on your facility and hazards you’re protecting, but understanding some common ignition sources, fuel and oxygen sources can be quite helpful in the beginning stages of a risk assessment.
Some common sources of ignition to be on the lookout for include:
- Electrical equipment (i.e. faulty wiring or overloaded circuits)
- Sparks from mechanical work (i.e. welding)
- Heating systems (i.e. furnaces or boilers)
- Open flames from sources like stoves or other industrial processes
Some common fuel sources to identify include:
- Packaging materials (i.e. cardboard, plastic, paper, etc.)
- Synthetic materials and textiles like furniture, carpets, and curtains
- Flammable liquids (i.e. gasoline, ethanol, cooking oils)
Common oxygen sources to check for include:
- Open doors and windows
- Ventilation systems pulling in outdoor air
Recognizing and identifying these hazards is a critical initial step that businesses can take to reduce the risk of ignition and curtail or eliminate the availability of fuel sources.
Step 2: Identify People at Risk
After you’ve identified fire hazards in your facility, it’s time to evaluate the most at-risk individuals should a fire break out. Think about everyone who enters your building daily. Likely, this includes employees, customers, and other visitors. Consider also individuals with limited mobility. Individuals who work in high-risk areas, such as kitchens or warehouses, may need additional protection. Your businesses’ fire safety measures should account for everyone, keeping in mind specifically anyone who may require assistance during evacuation.
Step 3: Evaluate Fire Safety Measures and Evacuation Routes
It’s essential that you have a clear and well-maintained evacuation route to exit your building so that people can exit both quickly and safely in the event of a fire. Evaluate the following during a fire risk assessment:
- Exit doors and pathways: Emergency exit routes and pathways should be unobstructed, well-marked, and wide enough to accommodate all building occupants.
- Emergency and egress lighting: Ensure that all emergency lighting is functioning properly in the event of an emergency or loss of power.
- Fire doors: All fire doors in your building should close automatically. Make sure none of these doors are propped open or left ajar.
- Safe gathering areas: Designate and communicate gathering areas where people exiting the building can after an evacuation.
In addition to evacuation planning, assess the effectiveness of fire detection and suppression systems, such as:
- Smoke detectors and alarms: These should be installed in all required and necessary areas and tested on a regular basis per local and national fire codes.
- Fire sprinkler systems: Keep up with regular maintenance of your sprinkler system to ensure they’re in good working condition and comply with NFPA standards.
- Fire extinguishers: Check that the right types of extinguishers are in place for the hazard. Make sure extinguishers are easily available and that all employees are trained on how to use them.
Step 4: Reduce Fire Risks with Preventative Measures
Your goal should always be prevention when considering the ways to reduce fire risk. It’s helpful for businesses to be proactive rather than focusing just on managing the devastating aftermath of fire. Take these steps to reduce fire hazards that include:
- Inspect electrical components: Take time to regularly inspect wiring, check outlets, and assess electrical equipment for signs of damage, overuse, or general wear.
- Properly store flammable materials: Store and secure fuels and other flammable materials and liquids in approved storage areas that are far away from any heat sources.
- Control the clutter: Be mindful of any excessive and unnecessary paper, dust, or other flammable waste materials that could easily ignite.
- Train and plan: Schedule regular fire drills for employees. Educate employees on how to use fire extinguishers, respond to fire emergencies, and follow emergency exit lighting and evacuation routes when needed.
Step 5: Record Findings and Review Regularly
Conducting a fire risk assessment should not occur only once. These assessments provide critically important and helpful information and should be an ongoing process. Document findings and review those findings often and as needed. Keep record of hazards or issues you identify during the fire risk assessment. Note safety measures you implement because of those findings as well as fire incidents that have occurred. Maintaining record of all these details helps to ensure and document compliance with local fire codes. It also offers peace of mind that you as the business owner are being proactive should new fire risks arise. Think of the results of the assessment as a blueprint for your building’s overall fire protection plan.
Fire Systems, Inc.
A thorough fire risk assessment can act as an important component to your business’ overall fire safety strategy. Be proactive and take extra steps to conduct your own fire risk assessment. Discuss findings with a licensed, trained fire protection professional. Simply by taking time to identify fire hazards, assess exit and evacuation routes, and implementing preventative safety measures, you as the business owner can greatly reduce overall fire risks and bolster workplace safety for you and your employees.
If you’d like professional guidance and advice on fire protection solutions, contact Fire Systems, Inc. As an Atlanta-based fire protection company, Fire Systems offers expert services to help you stay compliant. With decades of experience in the fire protection industry, we have the expertise, knowledge, and experience to ensure your facility is protected and compliant with local fire codes. Contact us today at 770-333-7979 or visit our website for more information. We look forward to speaking with you.