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Fire Prevention: 3 Industries Most Common Causes of Fire
Fire Prevention in the Workplace
Bringing people and products together is the basis of commerce worldwide, but it also brings responsibility and liability for personal and property safety. Local governments have a considerable history with fire safety and establish safety codes for each building and business type. Responsible business owners or managers participate in fire safety guidelines and inspections.
But each type of business has specific fire risks associated with that business and will need to take added precautions based on the most common causes of fire in that business. Here is a rundown of major fire risks for business types.
Industry and Manufacturing Fire Prevention
Municipal fire departments respond to an average of 37,910 fires annually, the lion-share of commercial fires. Twenty percent of these fires are structural fires, while 71% are unclassified or outdoor fires.1
- The leading cause of industrial fires is electrical distribution/lighting equipment. However, electricity is the contributing factor, along with,
- Combustible materials, such as dust coming in contact with electrical sparks. Keeping the facility clean is not just desirable, but also reduces fire hazards.
- Combustible gases or liquid coming in contact with electrical spark also contributes to fire risk.
- The use of tools that use flame or intense energy, such as cutting torches, plasma cutters, or welders also increases the risk of fire.
Fire safety guidelines for Industrial and manufacturing facilities include several layers of emergency preparedness plans, sophisticated fire suppression equipment, and both audio and visual emergency notification warnings. Participating in inspection, testing, education, and training of staff is the best preparation to minimize the risk of fire at such facilities.
Eating and Drinking Venues Fire Prevention
Approximately 7,410 structural fires start in the commercial kitchens of bars and restaurants every year; 3 of 5 of these fires involve cooking equipment. The two leading fire sources are food being unattended during cooking and electrical fires.2
- Train kitchen employees concerning extinguishing grease and electrical fires: neither should be extinguished using water. Provide the correct fire extinguishers and put them in the proper locations.
- Adhere to clearance requirements to keep space between fire sources and combustible materials.
- Maintain, clean, and test hood vents and fire suppression equipment.
- Cleaning away the accumulation of grease is not just desirable, but also reduces fire hazards.
Fire safety guidelines are fairly monitored in commercial kitchen settings. Consider the requisite cleaning and safety inspections a benefit, not a hassle. Schedule inspection visits during off-peak hours.
Retail and Office Spaces Fire Prevention
Fire departments respond to an average of 3,340 fires in office spaces and retail destinations; the number of fires in office spaces has dropped in recent years.3 The major cause of office fires is . . . electrical distribution or lighting coming in contact with combustible materials, such as paper.
- Avoid unsafe electrical practices, such as using long extension cords or overloading power strips.
- Avoid clutter and provide appropriate storage locations for records and files.
- Avoid using mechanical closets with electrical components for storage, especially the storage of combustible material.
- Personal comfort items, such as desk candles or personal space heaters present significant fire risk and should be prohibited.
Most office spaces have smoke detection devices and sprinkler systems. Comply with inspection and testing visits to protect your most valuable assets—your staff and customers.
Have questions about Fire Prevention?
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1 https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/Building-and-Life-Safety/Fires-in-US-Industrial-and-Manufacturing-Facilities
2 https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics-and-reports/Building-and-life-safety/oseating.pdf
3 https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/Building-and-Life-Safety/US-Structure-in-Office-Properties