Natural disasters like floods or fires can cripple a business, but we don’t always spend enough time trying to protect ourselves against them. Fires are the most common natural disaster that businesses have to deal with, and in some cases, they are a direct result of poor health and safety practices, which means that they could have been avoided.
The cost of fire damage can be incredibly high and even if your insurance covers the cost of the damage itself, you will still lose a lot of money because the business will be closed until the office is fit for use again. If your business is still relatively new or you are already having some financial issues, a serious fire in the office could be the final nail in the coffin, which is why it’s so important that you protect yourself. The good news is, there are some simple ways that you can reduce the chances of a fire in your office. These are the most important steps that you need to take.
Test Electronics Properly
Electrical faults are one of the more common causes of fires in an office, which is why health and safety regulations dictate that all appliances must be tested and signed off before they can be used. It’s vital that you follow these rules to the letter, but there are some situations where things can slip through the net. For example, it’s becoming more common for people to use their own personal devices in the office instead of using company computers. There are a lot of benefits to this, but it does cause a safety issue because those devices may not be safety checked. It’s important that any electrical device that is used in the office is safety tested, without exception.
Install Fire Curtains
If a fire does break out, it’s important that you can contain it as much as possible and limit the damage that is done to the office. This will make it a lot easier for the business to recover afterward. Installing fire curtains is one of the best ways to manage fires and stop them from spreading. They will block the fire and smoke, and they have a built-in failsafe so they still operate if the power is out as well.
Install Fire Resistant Walls
Fire resistant walls are one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of fire in a building, and it’s something that you should always ask about when you are choosing an office space. However, if you are already in an office that doesn’t have fire resistant walls, you should consider investing some money to integrate fire resistant materials because it will limit the damage of fires in a big way. If you speak with the landlord, they may be willing to pay for some or all of the cost.
It’s important that you invest time and money in protecting your office building from fire damage. It only takes one disaster to put your business, and your employees at risk, so don’t take any chances.
