8 Basic Fire Protection Code Compliance Tips

When it comes to staying in compliance with local fire codes, lots of business owners feel overwhelmed and confused.

And frankly, there’s no substitute for having a trusted fire protection partner you can rely on to keep you both safe and within compliance guidelines.

But there are some simple things you can do to give your business a head start and help make sure that your employees, customers, and property stay safe and within compliance guidelines.

8 Simple Fire Protection Code Compliance Tips

Keep storage areas and hallways clean and organized.

Clutter can fuel a growing fire or block access to emergency exits. Make sure you’re taking steps to remove any objects in your facility that could prevent a hazard in a situation where you need to evacuate quickly. These objects present unnecessary risk and will immediately be flagged by a fire marshal. Remove them early to stay safe and compliant.

Dispose of combustible materials properly.

For example, you should discard oiled rags and cooled ashes in a sealed metal container. Any other objects that present a fire risk should be properly contained and disposed of quickly so that they don’t present a continued fire safety risk to your business.

Provide fire extinguisher training for all new employees and repeat training once a year.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve got the best equipment in the world - if the people in your business don’t know how to operate your fire extinguishers and other fire protection equipment effectively, it doesn’t do you any good. Make sure your team is properly trained so that they know how to respond in the event of a fire emergency.

Lock up your building at night to help prevent arson activity.

The more steps you take to keep your business inaccessible during non-business hours, the more likely it is that criminals will avoid your business. Arsonists, like burglars, often look for the path of least resistance when choosing targets. Make sure your business is secure when no one is on the premises.

Report any electrical hazards and equipment malfunctions to the proper authorities.

Even better, take proactive steps to address these issues beyond simply documenting and reporting them. The sooner you remove unnecessary hazards and repair equipment malfunctions, the more likely you are to avoid emergencies in the first place.

Make sure employees only smoke in designated areas.

Providing a designated area with proper protective measures ensures that smoking will present minimal risk to your facility and employees.

Create an evacuation plan and post escape route information in public areas on each floor of your building.

When your employees and customers are clear on what to do in the event of an emergency, they’re more likely respond appropriately. Posting evacuation routes and routinely reviewing your emergency evacuation plan will give your employees confident that you are prepared no matter what situation arises.

Post emergency contact information next to all telephones for quick access if a fire breaks out.

Proper communication channels are critical in order to limit the damage to property and risk of injury if a fire occurs. Posting emergency contact information at critical points throughout your facility ensures that your team are able to notify the proper authorities of any emergencies.

Next steps

The best thing you can do is to bring First-Line Fire Extinguisher’s technicians to your business for a free walkthrough and compliance check. We’ll help you make sure you’re in compliance and up to code.

If you’re interested in a more detailed look at what it takes to remain in compliance, a great place to start is with our Fire Marshal Inspection Checklist.