A large fire at a shingle recycling plant serves as an important reminder to inspect your fire protection systems.
In December, an explosion occurred at a recycling facility in Marengo, Iowa. The facility, called C-6 Zero, used substantial amounts of chemical compounds to break down roof shingles and recycle the material. Unfortunately, an explosion lead to a large fire that left 15 people injured and a sizable portion of the building in charred ruins. Why was this fire so devastating and why did it take 200 firefighters to extinguish it? None of the building’s fire suppression systems were operational.
Protect Lives
First and foremost, fire suppression systems exist to protect human lives. Fires can spread quickly and leave people trapped with no way to safety. A person can suffer burns, struggle to breathe due to smoke inhalation, and get hit by falling debris. The point of fire suppression systems is to stop a small fire before it becomes a large disaster. If those systems aren’t working properly, everyone in the building is at risk if a fire breaks out. In the case of C-6 Zero, 15 people were injured with one in critical condition. While everyone survived the fire, that is not always the case. Even in this situation, some lives were permanently altered due to the incident.
Mitigate Damage
To some degree, fire suppression systems protect property in order to protect human lives. Ultimately, these systems need to be appropriately designed and operational to mitigate as much damage as possible. These systems protect lives, but they also protect property and even the business. A large-scale fire that damages or destroys all or part of a building is going to be a devastating blow to any business. The fire at C-6 Zero destroyed a portion of the building, which could result in the closure of the business due to financial distress.
It is Required By Law
A commercial building like C-6 Zero is required by law to have operational fire suppression systems, and criminal charges can be brought against the owners of a business who don’t properly maintain fire protection systems. Devastating property loss on top of fines and fees is enough to sink almost any business.
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.