Essential Fire Safety Equipment And Devices In An Office

In a recent article that I wrote, I listed five essentials for planning a modern office

. Of course, that list is not exhaustive or definitive and as expected many people have different views on that.

While I included security systems as essential to a new office, I missed out on another critical aspect which I believe to be increasingly important for ensuring the safety and security of both humans and materials. Recent incidents around the world, particularly one at government offices in the commercial capital of India, Mumbai, have highlighted the need for an effective fire prevention and fire protection system in offices. It may not be the responsibility of an individual office owner/ tenant to ensure these systems are in place as one would expect building managements to take care of these; ideally these should be regulated by appropriate laws. For instance, having fire sprinklers installed at appropriate points or a good fire alarm system should ideally be a mandatory requirement for facility managers to take care. However, each office should take some basic steps to ensure that they are well equipped to respond immediately to any fire emergency.

I list below some of the basic considerations for offices in terms of fire safety and protection.

Fire Extinguishers An office must keep at least one or two portable fire extinguishers handy. Equally importantly, staff in the office must be briefed and educated about how to use these extinguishers in case of an eventuality. Placement of the fire extinguishers at an easily accessible location is equally critical.

Smoke Detectors Theres certainly some merit in paying heed to that age-old maxim, theres no smoke without fire. A good smoke detector will be useful in giving advance warning to the occupants and is a valuable precautionary device.

Offices must also ensure that their staffs necessarily participate in fire safety drills conducted by the building management. In case, such a system is not in place, then the onus is on the office management to provide briefing and training necessary (as appropriate) to enable its people to respond quickly and appropriately in case of a fire emergency.

The greatest advantage of installing a fire alarm system in office premise is that it detects fire immediately and alerts individuals to evacuate the place well before losing their life or limb. Furthermore, if a proper fire alarm system is installed in a commercial facility, some insurance companies offer reduced rates for building and/or office owner's insurance.

by:MeghaBhatt

POST COMMENT

The Various Tasks Of A Digital Two Way Radio The Electronic Message Board - Getting The Word Out The Perils Of Failed Safety Process Execution, And Finding The Right Certification Providers Uses For The Ethernet Shield In Hobbyist Electronics The Main Points Of The Color Electrostatic Flocking Process (2) Tips On How To Recover Misplaced Photos From Panasonic Lumix Gf1 Electronic Digicam Memory Cards Electronic Safety Systems Technician Is It In Your Future Roadway Safety Working Gloves- How To Pick The Best One For Most Safety The Electronic Material Waste Is Useful After Recycle. Safety Considerations In Choosing The Right Flight School Forte Of Medical Science- Pulmonology, Radiology And Rheumatology What Factors To Be Considered For Choosing Electronic Discovery Service Provider?