What a Fire Servicing and Inspection Should Include at Your Commercial Facility

18 September 2015
 Categories: , Blog


When you manage a commercial facility of any sort, you need to be concerned about fire safety for everyone on the premises. A regular fire inspection and servicing can be needed so that you are aware of fire hazards and also know that your building is as safe as possible. Note a few things included in a fire servicing and inspection so that you will know what to expect from a servicing company before they inspect your facility.

1. Fire lanes

For outside your facility, you should have fire lanes marked and clear at all times. These are areas that would be used by fire trucks in the event of a fire, and they may lead to your building or be located between your building and an onsite fire hydrant. A fire inspection will note if the lanes are easily accessible as they should be, and if the lane itself can support fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. As an example, if the soil is very soft, they may recommend an aggregate or matting be added so that fire trucks don't sink into the ground.

2. Fire hydrants

If your facility has onsite fire hydrants, these should be inspected regularly. You need to ensure that the covers and bolts have not rusted or are otherwise inaccessible, and also that there is proper water pressure in the hydrants. The hydrants also need to be clear of debris, trash, and the like, and be easily visible. If the paint has faded over the years, then you may need to repaint the hydrant so they can be found by emergency personnel in case of a fire. You also want to ensure that employees do not habitually park near the hydrant or leave a dumpster or other items in front of it.

3. Emergency exits and lights

During a fire, the power in your building may fail, and in turn, the lights may go out. Your staff will rely on the emergency exit signs and their illumination to show them the exit doors. These doors must be clear of anything that is blocking them in the front or the back, and they may also be connected to a fire alarm. It's not unusual for employees to stack items around emergency doors that are rarely used, and bulbs in emergency signs may burn out without anyone noticing. All of these should be tested and inspected on a regular basis.


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