In order for any business to legally trade, it must ensure that their fire system installation has been signed off by the local authorities. There are a number of requirements which businesses have to meet here, and the equipment that they house will very much depend on what the business deals with, and what materials and risks are present on-site. Gaining the fire safety certificate is the first step, but beyond that it is critical that fire equipment is regularly checked, as part of a robust maintenance plan.
When you draw up your fire safety maintenance plan, here are the various pieces of equipment which will have to be checked.
Exit and Directional Signs
In the event of a fire, staff and customers will rely on signs which will tell them where their nearest exit point is, and which highlight the exits themselves. Not only should these signs be visible at all times, but they will also light up in the event of a power outage. This is one of the checks which you should do when testing equipment, as they are critical to helping people get to safety.
Fire Alarms
Fire alarms can stop working for all kinds of reasons; in some cases they are only guaranteed for a number of years, in others they can malfunction and some can even become less sensitive over time. This is an absolutely critical aspect of any fire system installation, as they are often the first warning that a fire has broken out. When you check the equipment it is essential that you test every single alarm in the building.
Fire Extinguishers
There is a range of fire extinguishers tigard or which you will have in the building, and each chemical within them is designed to fight a certain type of fire. The use of extinguishers is critical in controlling smaller fires, so that they do not grow and cause any more danger. With this in mind it is essential that these are regularly checked, and they must be checked by experts. There are many companies which offer this service and they should be called upon when you are carrying out your fire safety maintenance. Once checked, the extinguishers will be tagged with the date and time of their check.
Training Cards
Your staff’s training cards may not be considered as equipment, but checking them as part of your maintenance is going to be essential to keeping people safe. Each member of staff must have had their fire safety training and their regular refreshers. If your staff know what to do in the event of a fire then they are going to be highly important at making sure that others are safe, and that they can deal with a small fire to prevent it from growing. When you perform the maintenance, ensure that your staff remain fully trained, and that nobody has fallen through the cracks.
The hope is that you never need any of this equipment of course, but in the event that you do, it is going to be crucial that you have ensured that it is all in full working order.