Make a Fire Escape Plan for Your Office or Business

6/7/2021 (Permalink)

It is crucial that every workplace establishes a fire escape plan. This plan should be posted throughout a building and shared with all occupants.

Evacuation Routes

Use an accurate floorplan to determine evacuation routes from every room in the structure. It is a good idea to do the following:

Identify primary and secondary routes
Ensure that routes are reasonable for occupants
Obtain equipment such as an escape ladder
Secondary routes may be less than ideal, but they should still be practical. Keep the age and physical condition of occupants in mind. Post the emergency escape plan at strategic locations.

Maintain Fire Detection and Suppression Equipment

Many commercial properties are equipped with advanced detection and suppression systems. The fire escape plan should include regular tests to ensure the functionality of detectors and sprinklers. Hardwired alarm systems should have battery backups, and it is important to replace batteries that function as a main or backup power source. Make sure that fire extinguishers are of the appropriate class and filled with suppressant.

Keep Track of Occupants

Every business should maintain a current contact list. This list should include these details:

• Names
• Contact information
• Departments

Keep this list in a location where it can be accessed remotely or physically removed in the event of a fire. Every business should have a safe location where employees can gather outside. This place should be far enough away from the structure without being downwind.

A fire in a commercial building can be devastating for many reasons, be sure to keep safety training up to date to prevent further tragedy in the case of a fire.