Fire Safety Laws That Your Small Business Should Be following

Owning a small business comes with a lot of responsibility and one of those responsibilities is making sure that you are complying to fire safety regulations. This is important because if you are not compliant then you can face fines and could also be held liable if anyone was to get injured or killed on your premises. There are some simple but vital things that all small businesses must have. In this article, we will outline the most important things that you can do to keep your business and employees safe.

Fire Suppression Systems

As a small business, you are required to have a fire suppression system such as an automatic sprinkler system. This will detect a fire and raise the alarm as well as spraying a sprinkler system to try to dampen the fire and prevent it from spreading before the relevant authorities get to the scene.

Evacuation

You must have a written evacuation plan which much show the following:

• A clear passageway to all escape routes.
• Clearly marked escape routes that are as short and direct as possible.
• Enough exits and routes for all people to escape.
• Emergency doors that open easily.
• Emergency lighting where needed.
• Training for all employees to know and use escape routes.
• A safe meeting point for staff.

This plan should be reviewed every 6 months to a year. And you should also carry out regular fire drills to practice the evacuation procedure.

Fire Exits

Fire exits are very important and as a small business, you are required to have at least two fire exits that are not in close proximity to each other. These exits need to be kept clear at all times as well as the routes that lead to the exits. Exit routes must be lit and marked with lighted signs.

Fire Extinguishers

You must have the correct fire extinguishers for your business type and they must be kept in good working order and serviced yearly. Employees should be fully trained in fire safety and how to use a fire extinguisher if they need to. Remember they should only ever use one if it is safe to do so.

Fire Prevention

One of the most important things to do is to have a fire prevention plan so that an emergency can be avoided altogether by following the right procedures throughout the workplace. As a small business owner, you must train your employees in fire prevention regulations and tips. Prevention actions and tips will vary depending on the type of business.

Regular checks need to be put in place to check the following:

• All fire alarm systems are working.
• Emergency lighting is working.
• Record any faults in systems and equipment.
• All escape routes are clear and the floor is in good condition.
• All fire escapes can be opened easily.
• Automatic fire doors close correctly.
• Fire exit signs are in the right place.

If you are unsure what you need to do to be compliant to regulations get in contact with us and we will take into account, the specification, the territory, the market, and the local or national standards so we offer the correct solution.