How will you know if a fire starts, and how quickly can you respond? That, essentially, is the role of fire safety equipment: Even if you can’t smell smoke, the alarm tells you and your family members or coworkers to head to the closest exit and escape a potentially hazardous scenario.
Whether you’re updating your residence or business location, create a fire safety checklist covering the following essentials:
Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors play a vital two-in-one role: They sense when the air contains a high percentage of smoke or combustion gases and sound an alarm telling you to take action.
For residential properties, NFPA 72 requires every level to include at least one hardwired, interconnected smoke alarm with a battery backup. Detectors must be placed in front of sleep areas and in locations where all members of your household can hear the alarm.
Realize that smoke detectors aren’t a set-it-and-forget it solution. You’re advised to test the alarm monthly, replace the batteries at least one per year and replace the alarm system every 10 years.
What about businesses? Smoke detectors perform the same role. For a couple of considerations:
- Make sure your systems are interconnected. This way, once one sounds, all sound, which gives your full staff time to evacuate.
- Consider installing heat detectors in areas with higher concentrations of dust or steam, or ionization detectors for flames that could potentially spread quickly.
- Pair your smoke detectors with fire alarms, which alert your staff with a louder, all-encompassing warning.
- Concerned about elevated levels of hazardous gases? Install carbon monoxide alarms in the same spots where you have your smoke detectors.
Sprinklers
While not required for residential properties, automatic sprinklers are recommended for one key reason: While smoke detectors warn you of a fire, they don’t control it. In an ideal scenario, these two systems work together to get your household to safety and extinguish the flames — potentially even before the fire department arrives.
For businesses: To comply with local fire codes, businesses are required to have a fire suppression system in place. Sprinklers that deliver water or foam are the most common solution. For a few considerations:
- Commercial systems use either a dry pipe, which activates water from a sprinkler head with compressed air or nitrogen, or a wet pipe, which stores water until the system senses heat.
- Your workplace may require a specialized fire suppression system: Common solutions include kitchen hood fire suppression systems, carbon dioxide for enclosed areas and FM-200 systems for electrical equipment.
- OSHA requires businesses to perform an annual drain flow test and open the test valve every two years to ensure the sprinkler is ready to operate in an emergency.
Fire Extinguishers
Also optional for homes but required for businesses, fire extinguishers act as secondary suppression systems. They’re one-time solutions that release water, foam or a chemical agent to put out small fires.
For a few points to consider:
- Fire extinguishers should be in an accessible cabinet or mounted location situated near an exit and away from heat sources.
- Have your extinguisher serviced once per year to ensure sufficient pressure and a charge.
- Only use the extinguisher on small fires, as the solution will run out in about eight seconds. Make sure to call the fire department first, and see that everyone in your home or business is outside before using the extinguisher.
- Know which class of extinguisher your household or workplace needs. Class A-B-C is sufficient for residential use, while commercial kitchens need a Class K extinguisher to control fires involving fats and cooking oils. Learn more about the different classes of fire extinguishers.
Other Solutions
Also consider having these on hand:
- A fire escape ladder: Escape ladders provide a backup evacuation solution for those on your home’s second or third floor, should flames make hallways and stairwells impassable.
- Stovetop fire suppression units: This automatically activated solution releases baking soda to extinguish a fire forming on your stovetop before it has a chance to spread.
- Fire blankets: These perform a similar role as fire extinguishers. You’ll throw the blanket over the fire, which cuts off oxygen to prevent the flames from spreading to other flammable materials.
- A fireproof box or safe: Concerned about losing key personal documents? Store them in a box or safe built to withstand temperatures up to 1,000° F.
- Signage and lights: These essential business fixtures indicate where exits are and the paths for reaching them, as well as fire extinguisher locations.
- Fire doors: Another business must-have, fire doors create a barrier to contain fires potentially started by machinery or flammable materials.
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