When managing a commercial property, companies need to ensure that safety is absolutely paramount. There’s no room for cutting corners, especially when it comes to fire management.
Residential fire extinguishers tend to be cheaper and easier to get their hands on, but commercial properties require a fire extinguisher that is compliant and can deal with fires that might arise.
Current fire safety laws
The Regulation Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 covers all fire safety legislation
The Regulation Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 covers all fire safety legislation for commercial buildings.
All regulations that govern the use of fire extinguishers are covered in the Order and aside for a few circumstances, practically all commercial buildings fall under these regulations.
The Regulatory Reform Order places responsibility on a named Responsible Person who will carry out a risk assessment, identifying any possible risks and ensuring that people on the premises can evacuate safely.
Risk of fire
An assessment will also help determine areas that are at a higher risk of fire, therefore requiring a fire extinguisher close by.
The Responsible Person needs to make sure that everyone working at the premises knows where the fire extinguishers are and how to use them.
The proper steps need to be taken to ensure a safe and compliant environment. If workers aren’t properly trained in the equipment and knowledge needed in the event of a fire, this could result in serious injuries or even death. In this case, most insurance companies won’t pay for any damages on grounds of negligence.
Residential and commercial fire extinguishers
Size
The main differences between residential and commercial fire extinguishers are the size and durability. Commercial properties are more susceptible to large-scale fires and therefore need a fire extinguisher that can cope with defusing a larger fire.
Residential fire extinguishers are better suited for handling small fires that originate as a result of wood, cloth, paper, fuel, or electrical shorts. Buying a residential fire extinguisher online or in a shop means users are not completely sure if it’s the correct equipment or up to code. Having the wrong fire extinguisher, or one that can’t cope with a larger fire, can be fatal.
Dependability
With a commercial fire extinguisher, companies have peace of mind that they’re maintaining compliance. When having fire extinguishers installed by Total Fire Group, users can rest assured that they are getting safe and high quality fire extinguishers that are in line with regulations.
All extinguishers are kite marked to BS EN3 and CE approved, and all of their engineers are BAFE qualified, and the extinguishers they provide are fitted to BS5306 Part 8. Residential fire extinguishers might not be up to this spec, and when it comes to fire safety, they want to be absolutely sure that users are getting high-grade, dependable fire extinguishers.
Installation
Do users know where the ideal spot is to keep fire extinguishers in their building? Getting it wrong can lead to disastrous consequences. UK British Standards (BS5306) state that users should never be more than 30 meters away from a fire extinguisher on any given level of the premises.
They should also be attached to a stand or fixed to a wall to ensure people don’t move them unnecessarily. To have complete peace of mind that one is remaining compliant, a professional fire safety specialist is needed. Fire extinguisher installation is extremely serious, and it’s imperative to remain compliant. Not only to abide by the law, but to keep employers and other people in the building as safe as possible.
Service and maintenance
Ensuring users have fully serviced fire equipment is a vital part of the fire protection duties
Ensuring users have fully serviced fire equipment is a vital part of the fire protection duties, and part of that is choosing the right company to carry out the fire extinguisher service and maintenance.
Total Fire Group knows how important it is for both businesses and people to have confidence in the quality of their fire extinguishers.
That’s why they provide a complete range of fire extinguishers, all kite marked to BS EN3 and covered by a 5-year warranty. Additionally, if users need fire extinguisher installation, they can provide that too.
Basic service
Users must have their fire extinguishers serviced every 12 months with what’s known as a “basic service.” These fire extinguisher checks must be done in accordance with BS 5036-6, and users should always get their service carried out by a third-party accredited fire extinguisher technician, with the correct tools, training, and experience.
Fire extinguisher servicing not only ensures that users are complying with regulations, it ensures that their fire extinguishers are ready and in full working order – whenever users might need them.