Fire Prevention Week 2024: How to Protect Your Small Business From Fires

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Here are 12 recommendations for business property owners to consider to try to minimize the threat of fire damage:

1. Install and Check Fire, Smoke, and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Your business property should have functioning fire, smoke, and carbon monoxide alarms that are regularly tested and maintained. Smoke and fire alarms should be installed in areas like kitchens, storage rooms, and near electrical panels.

2. Test and Maintain Fire Sprinkler Systems

If you don’t have a sprinkler system installed inside your commercial property, it’s worthwhile getting one installed. These systems automatically activate if a fire ignites and help control or extinguish it before it spreads. If you have a sprinkler system, conduct regular maintenance and inspection twice annually.

3. Have an Electrician Inspect Your Electrical Systems

Hire a certified electrician to conduct an inspection of your property’s electrical wiring and appliances. Overloaded circuits, faulty wiring, and old equipment can easily trigger a fire.

4. Store Flammable Materials Safely

If your business stores and sells flammable materials – chemicals, fuel, cleaning products – ensure they’re stored in fireproof cabinets and containers and kept isolated from heat sources.

5. Ensure There Are Fire Extinguishers in Accessible Locations

It’s recommended that your business has easily accessible fire extinguishers located in visible areas every 22 metres (75 feet), and they should be inspected monthly to check if the pressure gauge is in an operable position.

Moreover, it’s worthwhile to purchase multi-purpose ABC fire extinguishers. You can buy ABC fire extinguishers and all classes of fire extinguishers from hardware stores like Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, and Home Depot. Fires are grouped into classes: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class K. 

Class A fires are the most common, and almost every business property is at risk of a Class A fire. These fires involve combustible materials, like wood, paper, cardboard, rubber, plastic, and fabric.

Class B fires involve flammable liquids like gasoline, oil, alcohol, gasses, and propane.

Class C fires involve fires caused by faulty electrical wiring and devices.

Class D fires involve combustible metals such as magnesium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.

Class K fires involve combustible cooking materials, like vegetable oil and animal fat.

6. Limit or Avoid the Use of Space Heaters

It’s best to avoid using space heaters, but if you use them in your office or shop, keep them away from flammable materials and turn them off when not in use.

7. Routinely Conduct Fire Risk Assessments

Periodically assess your property for potential fire hazards and correct them immediately. Look for risks such as blocked exits, damaged or dysfunctional fire alarms, cluttered storage areas, and overloaded electrical sockets.

8. Have a Fire Drill and Safety Plan

Create a fire safety plan and ensure your employees understand it and what procedures to follow if there’s a fire. Also, routinely conduct fire drills with your staff to ensure everyone knows what to do if there’s a fire. Consider appointing a fire marshal at your company. A fire marshal is responsible for assessing fire risks, identifying and reporting fire hazards, maintaining records of inspections, assisting with evacuations of a burning building and taking an employee headcount after exiting the building.

9. Keep Exits and Escape Routes Clear

Make sure all exits and routes are labelled and clear of clutter and obstacles for quick evacuation in case of a fire. Ensure emergency exit doors are unlocked during business hours.

10. Prohibit Smoking on the Premises

Don’t allow employees or customers to smoke anywhere on your business property. If you permit smoking in designated areas outdoors, ensure those locations are far from any flammable materials and provide cigarette disposal receptacles for smokers to properly extinguish their cigarettes.

11. Ensure There’s Ventilation Near Heat-Generating Equipment

Poor ventilation in areas with heat-generating equipment, such as kitchens, can increase fire risk. Proper ventilation of these areas helps prevent heat buildup.

12. Fireproof Outdoor Areas

The outdoor spaces around your commercial property should also be fireproofed. Garbage and recycling bins should be kept at a distance from the building. Also, ensure gutters and eavestroughs are free of dried leaves and debris. Establish a safety zone around the property by hiring a landscaping contractor to ensure trees and shrubs are at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from the building.

Fire Prevention Resources for Small Businesses

Here are additional fire prevention resources for business property owners to use:

• FireSmart Canada
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
• Canadian Fire Safety Association
• Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association
• Canadian Fire Alarm Association

How to Protect Your Business Property From Fire Damage

Commercial property insurance includes coverage for damages and losses caused by fire. It also covers damages to your business property and contents caused by water, natural disasters, theft, and vandalism.

Zensurance can get your business the low-cost commercial property insurance coverage you need.

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Our knowledgeable brokers will shop over 50 insurers to get the coverage you need, customize it to your specifications, and provide you with a certificate of insurance and your policy documents in 24 hours or less.