A fire suppression system is an essential part of fire safety for businesses and their employees and assets. Typically, they are made up of things like fire sprinklers, different types of suppression and fire alarms, but there are many misconceptions surrounding these tools.
In this article, we look at some of the top mistakes that businesses can make with fire suppression systems and find the best ways to avoid them in order to keep your business and everyone in it as safe as possible.
1. Lack of a comprehensive fire risk assessment
Every business must undertake a fire risk assessment as part of its fire safety planning. This means identifying all potential fire hazards within the business and evaluating what level of risk each one poses. Once you understand this, it is possible to determine what the appropriate fire safety measures will be for each specific building or site.
Whilst all businesses are required to carry out a fire risk assessment, not all of them do it in the comprehensive way that is needed. They do not take the time to understand the different risks involved or which fire suppression systems will be most effective for each hazard.
It can be easy to think that fire alarms and sprinklers will solve most problems, but there are a number of types of fires which could be made worse by pouring water on them. It is therefore essential that a comprehensive fire risk assessment is carried out by a professional fire safety consultant in order to fully understand the risks and the best ways to deal with them.
2. Water based suppression systems are the only option
We all tend to think of pouring water on a fire as the best possible solution, but this can actually make some fires worse. Water based fire sprinklers are the most common option available, but they are not the only one.
For example, server rooms and data centres carry a lot of electrical equipment that does not mix well with water. Spaces like this will benefit more from gas-based suppression systems that use clean agents like carbon dioxide to extinguish fires without any water damage.
In industrial and chemical facilities where liquid fires are a risk, foam suppression systems tend to be the better choice, whilst dry chemical suppression systems are used in commercial kitchens to combat grease fires more effectively.
3. Fire suppression systems are only needed in high-risk industries
Of course, high risk industries need to take their fire suppression needs extremely seriously, but this concern is not exclusive to them. It is important to remember fires can occur in any setting, including offices, retail stores, restaurants, warehouses, and even holiday homes and caravans. All of these are at risk from electrical malfunctions, kitchen fires, and the ignition of flammable materials which means suppression systems are an important safeguard in any type of business.
If a fire occurs in any of these environments, it can be devastating both for the infrastructure of the business and the risk to human life. This means every business needs to take their fire suppression needs extremely seriously to ensure that any fires are dealt with as quickly as possible.
4. Fire suppression systems are too expensive
Looking at the cost of a full fire suppression system can be off-putting at times. It can involve a lot of different equipment and installation which means many businesses keep their fire suppression investment at a minimum.
However, it is important to remember that the cost of fire damage will be far greater than the cost of any suppression system that you could install. If a fire breaks out in your business, you risk losing your premises, your property and lives.
It also means that your business will be unable to function for days, weeks or even months until the damage has been dealt with, so you will be left counting the cost for some time to come.
Fire suppression systems do not need to be as expensive as you might think, if you make the right choices. Choosing the right ones for your business and looking at some of the smaller solutions that can be fitted into high-risk small spaces such as above boilers and stoves can be more cost-effective.
It is also important to remember that many insurance providers will offer reduced premiums for buildings that are equipped with adequate fire suppression systems providing you with another saving.
5. Fire alarms trigger sprinklers
There is a common misconception that when a fire alarm sounds, it will automatically activate the fire sprinklers, but it is important to remember that fire alarms and sprinklers are actually two independent systems. The fire alarm will go off when it detects smoke in order to alert the occupants and allow them to evacuate the building as quickly as possible. However, sprinklers will respond to heat in the affected area and then go off, but they are not linked to alarms usually.
It is advisable to have both systems in place as they can allow for early detection, effective suppression and safe evacuation, but you should not rely on one activating the other. You also need to look at what will trigger your fire suppression systems and make sure you choose something that will be activated early enough to minimise any danger and damage.
Choosing the right fire suppression system is about protecting your people, your property, and your future. Even the best systems require regular maintenance checks and updates to ensure they are still fit for purpose as your business grows and changes, and staff need to be properly trained to understand how the suppression systems in your business work, when they will be triggered, and what to do if a fire occurs.
Fire suppression systems need a healthy investment as well as a good understanding and regular maintenance to ensure that your business is fully protected. If you do not fully understand the suppression systems on offer and what your business needs, it can lead to some very costly mistakes.
Protect Your Business Today
Want to ensure your business is fully protected against fire risks? Get in touch with a member of our team today to discuss the right fire suppression system for your premises and make sure your people, property, and future are safe. Alternatively, you can browse our fire suppression system via our online shop.
