Fire safety violations put property and people at risk. They are also subject to serious fines that will cost your business.
Commercial buildings are required by law to follow important fire codes that are in place to keep people safe during a fire. Unfortunately, fire safety violations are common and can result in penalties for a commercial property or business owner.
Blocked Exits
Blocked exit doors are one of the most common fire safety violations in commercial buildings. Doors must be kept clear to allow for egress in the event of a fire. Doors that are only “temporarily” blocked for a brief period of time present a serious safety hazard to anyone who may need to evacuate. Never block an egress door, even for an abbreviated period of time.
Emergency Exit Lighting
All commercial buildings are required by law to have proper emergency exit lighting. These illuminated signs need to be bright and clearly visible in case of an emergency. They lead building occupants to the nearest exit to assist in making their way to safety outside of the building. Not having these signs installed, blocking their visibility, or failing to keep them illuminated is a serious fire safety violation.
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are required to be installed in every commercial building in accordance with spacing requirements set forth in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers. Missing, damaged, or inoperable extinguishers are a serious fire safety violation. While not a requirement, it is also important to send your employees to fire extinguisher training. This will ensure that employees are able to quickly and efficiently use fire extinguishers to stop a small fire from becoming a tragedy. Even if fire extinguishers are properly installed and maintained, they won’t be very useful if no one knows where they’re located or how to use them.
Items Hanging from Sprinkler Heads
Hanging items from sprinkler heads or piping is a frequent fire safety violation in commercial buildings. Even small, lightweight items can impact sprinkler heads because they have the potential to cause an accidental discharge or, worse, prevent them from operating in the event of a fire.
System Inspection and Testing
All fire safety systems, from sprinklers to extinguishers, need to be professionally inspected and tested at regular intervals. This is required by law. This ensures that these systems are operational and in good condition so that they operate properly in the event of a fire. Systems that are in poor material condition or inoperable are a safety hazard to everyone in the building and a major fire safety violation.
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting
people and property from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.