Sustainable Fire Safety Equipment That Every Business Should Have

Each year, fires are responsible for 3% of workplace injuries. They can leave businesses devastated and employers and employees in the lurch. Ensuring that your business or organisation is compliant with fire safety regulations may seem like a tedious process, but it is essential to keep your people and property safe. 

Below are five types of sustainable fire safety equipment your business needs to invest in: 

Fire Alarms

A good fire alarm system can save lives as it detects a probable fire early on, ensuring it has less time to spread and threaten the safety of your employees and your business. Modern business fire alarm systems can also be linked directly to a monitoring centre or emergency services, resulting in firefighters being dispatched to your location when the system detects a fire. 

Emergency Lighting

Emergency lighting is powered by a power source separate from the main electrical system, guaranteeing that it will function even if the main power is turned off. It takes many forms, from an exit sign above a fire exit door to LED lights on the floor that operate as a trail to fire exits during an evacuation. 

Fire Extinguishers

Portable fire extinguishers are highly effective against small fires, with some surveys estimating that extinguishers stop them with 95% success. Since extinguishers can only control fires in their earliest stages and because fires can spread fast, they must be placed in an easy-to-access location, along hallways, in meeting rooms, near exit doors, and in other common locations, with the label facing out. The number of extinguishers will depend on the size and spread of the property and the number of floors in the building. 

Public Address & Voice Alarm Systems (PAVA)

PAVA is recommended for all public and multi-storey buildings over four storeys according to most building rules. In case of an emergency, PAVA systems aid in protecting employees or residents of a building by verbalising vital information such as the nature of the hazard or the safest and closest escape path. Such communication is especially crucial in large, fragile, or complex facilities, such as retail centres, transportation hubs, hospitals, schools, and workplaces. Some people may be unfamiliar with emergency protocols and departure options. 

Sprinkler Systems

Sprinkler systems are the most cost-efficient and effective technique to stop a fire from spreading. According to the National Fire Protection Association, when sprinklers were present, fires were restricted to the room of origin 97 percent of the time. Sprinklers are also known to cut greenhouse petrol emissions by 97.8%. 

There are nearly 20,000 commercial fires in the UK each year, demonstrating the importance of taking fire prevention measures on business premises. The best way to eliminate fires is to eliminate the risk of a fire, which is possible with an effective fire safety plan. At FLR Fire & Security, we can offer you a fire safety plan compliant with the relevant British standards and range from simple one-piece systems to fully integrated and bespoke installations. Learn more about FLR Fire & Security.

Sources: 

www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Staying-safe/Safety-equipment/Home-fire-sprinklers

www.ifsecglobal.com/fire-news/fire-extinguishers-legal-obligations/