According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 3,340 fires have been reported in office properties per year for the last five years.
Most people don’t realize that high-rise buildings are particularly dangerous for fire occurrence because the blaze swiftly spreads between floors, making it harder for fire-fighters to extinguish the flames at higher floors.
Apart from the obvious risk to human life, significant business risks are on the line, too, such as the financial impact of a temporary shutdown or losing important documents in the fire.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the changes you can make to reduce the likelihood of fire in a commercial property.
1. Ensure Fire Alarm System Is Installed
Legally, the office building should have a fire detection system in place that meets OSHA requirements and complies with the “Fire Detection Systems” standards. Fire alarms must be placed at every 30 feet and tested periodically to ensure they’re still functioning.
Fire alarm systems detect smoke and blare an alarm throughout the building when the system is activated. Some even come with an attached sprinkler system that sprays down water from the roof to contain the fire.
2. Learn How to Use the Extinguisher
Employees probably walk past a fire extinguisher in the hallway every morning, but do they know how to use it in an emergency?
In case of a large fire, make sure everyone is evacuated and gets out safely before you start fighting the fire.
The acronym P.A.S.S is universally used to learn how to use a fire extinguisher.
P – Pull the pin
A – Aim the nozzle
S – Squeeze the handle
S – Sweep from side to side
Make sure you post a graphic of this method in the office space to ensure everyone is aware of it.
3. Use Fire Retardant Materials
Last but certainly not least, it’s important to use the right building materials to ensure good fire protection. Keep in mind that a building can never be completely fireproof but using fire retardant materials can act as a good line of defense in protecting the building from a serious tragedy.
MagMatrix’s Magnesium Oxide Fire-Rated boards provide excellent fire protection capabilities giving the residents of the building up to 2 hours to safely evacuate. In fact, their FirePro Structural Sheathing Board is Class-A Flame Spread Rated and has received the highest possible fire classification rating: Euroclass A1 non-combustible.
The structural sheathing board can be used in a wide range of fire-rated wall applications, including the exterior and interior walls, flat roof decks, pitched roofs, and floors. You get both improved structural capacity and increased fire resistance with a single panel.
So, maximize the safety of your building structure with A1 fire-resistant drywall and external render boards from MagMatrix today.
Get in touch with us for more information.