Firstly, a fire alarm is a system which warns people when fire-related emergencies are detected. Fire alarms are automatically activated by the detection of smoke, thus alerting everyone in the area to evacuate.
Fire safety is one of the highest levels of importance in any building, especially the workplace. Fire safety procedures are a legal requirement to protect workers in case of a fire.
Each year in the UK, there are more than 22,000 fires in the workplace. Fire alarms are the best way to ensure safety in the workplace. Though, employees must also take responsibility in the workplace to prevent fires. This can be achieved by fire safety training sessions, being applied regularly.
Fire alarms maintenance is essential in the UK and fire alarms must be serviced every six months, to make sure they are in good working condition.
Fire alarm tests in the workplace should be mandatory, ideally every week because a fire can happen at any time. Regular tests let the employers know if there is a problem and when they can get it sorted. This is because, if a fire in the workplace was to occur and the fire alarm did not go off due to it being in an unstable condition, this can be extremely dangerous and could lead to loss of life.
Employers are required by the law to conduct fire safety training in the workplace. Fire safety training is essential to all employees new or old and they should be aware of the fire safety protocols. These training sessions go over basic fire preventions like…
- Basic fire prevention to avoid fires
- Keeping the office environment clean (reduces risks of flammable objects being caught on fire)
- The smoking policy (no smoking indoors, etc…)
- The emergency plan if there was a fire
- The license and certificates for the premises if there was a fire.
In the workplace, office fires are likely to happen to occur due to faulty equipment. When wires are intertwined, this can cause sparks to occur because of the overheating. This happens because faulty equipment is not being checked on regularly.
Another common cause of office fires is the kitchen equipment not being looked after properly. Kitchen equipment like toasters, microwaves etc, not being looked after properly can cause fires. Additionally in smoking areas, make sure the cigarette is put out before entering the workplace because a lit cigarette can cause a fire.
Why are Fire alarm installations important?
In Birmingham, a huge blaze from one hundred tonnes of coal dust burst into flames. This incident was in Coseley, Birmingham and the fire reported started the fire involved a yard containing pulverised coal and coal dust. Luckily, the fire alarm was maintained properly and went off, alerting the workers to evacuate the premises.
In West Midland, there are thirty-eight fire stations and 1909 firefighters. This is second-largest England after London. In Birmingham, there are thirty-one stations, which get over 62,000 calls a year. Fire alarms are also essential in homes. If homeowner/ property owners do not own a fire alarm, they should contact their local fire alarm installation workers from Birmingham to Sutton Coldfield.
Common causes of house fires?
In the UK, there were reportedly 537,039 fire incidents attended, with an increase of 245 fire-related fatalities.
Appliances – Devices which generate heat like heaters, clothes dryers etc, are a big contender for house fires. Computer fans and cooking stations left unattended are common causes of fires.
Electrical Systems and Devices – Most devices that use electrical power, have the ability to start a fire. Lighting equipment is at the top of the list because when it overheats, this can be dangerous. Also, careless electrical work within the home like loose wires, and poorly connected circuits is a major problem and a fire waiting to start.
Heaters – When owning a portable heater, make sure the heater is at least one meter away from anything that could easily catch fire like furniture, curtains, laundry, clothes etc. However, if you own a furnace, getting it inspected once a year is important to make sure it is working to safety standards.
Smoking in the bedroom – Many people smoke in their bedroom, but statistics show smoking indoors like in your living room or bedroom makes up 73% of house fires. A cigarette that is not put out properly can cause a hazardous flame to erupt because the cigarette butt can stay alight for a few hours.
