Industrial fire protection is a unique challenge because industrial businesses inherit a lot of fire risk with so much space and heavy equipment. While many industries come with their own unique fire risks, it is vital to have a fire protection system and plan customized to your industrial fire protection needs. However, we do have some advice for protecting your employees, facility, and equipment.

Organize Workspaces

One element of industrial fire protection that you might not think of, is organization. Firstly, workspaces should be kept in order, to avoid too much flammable material open to feed the flames. In particular, workspaces near sparks or open flames like welding stations should be extra cautious of what they keep out in the open. Make sure employees know where to properly file papers or dispose of any waste. Additionally, employees should also be able to spot any equipment in disrepair. Keeping an eye out for damaged electrical cords or overloaded outlets can help avoid electrical fires in the future.

Safety Training

Industrial businesses especially, should have safety training for their employees. This includes those working in the warehouse, on the manufacturing floor, and in offices. Not only should it include safely using equipment, but you should include industrial fire protection and safety training as well. Absolutely include things like locations of fire extinguishers, fire exits, and how to use fire protection systems. Also, requiring employees to wear protective clothing (proper PPE) when working in areas with sparks or excessive heat is a great idea for reducing the risk of injury or fire.

Fire Protection Systems

It should be noted, many facilities are required to have fire protection systems in place. These are your fire sprinklers, special hazard fire protection systems, alarms, and extinguishers. All of which, are your first line of defense in a fire and can often be the difference between life and death. Without a doubt, they protect your facility and your employees between the fires start and when the fire department arrives. You will need a qualified fire protection engineer to design the right industrial fire protection system for your facility.

Evacuation Plans

Last but not least, the safety of your employees should be the number one priority. That is why it is essential that they know what to do in case of an emergency. With such large facilities, having so much equipment, it can lead to confusion and accidents. Do not leave anything to chance when it comes to protecting your employees. Have a plan that directs employees in all areas of your facility to the nearest and safest exit. Not only will this help to decrease panic and maintain order in the event of a fire, but should also give you peace of mind.

Obviously, this does not cover everything you need to know about industrial fire protection, but it is a good place to start. Industrial businesses should do everything they can to reduce the risk to their property and employees. Give Valley Fire Protection & Plumbing a call today, and we can help you get the right fire protection system or repairs you need.

Related Topics: Industrial Fire Protection

By: Tom Hartel

I acquired my expertise by directing day-to-day operations of the business for over 20 years. Continuous hard work helped me become a nationally recognized speaker and expert on fire protection, fire sprinklers, special hazards, and plumbing systems. In this blog, I share my knowledge that will hopefully help you make better decisions for your projects.