Commercial Fire

2/18/2022 (Permalink)

What You Should Do After Your Commercial Fire Alarm System Goes Off

You are sitting at your desk at work, the commercial fire alarm system sounds, of course your first reaction should always be to evacuate to safety. You know what to do everyone has practiced this during fire drills. Here is what you need to know about what you should expect after your commercial fire alarm system goes off.

Your Fire Sprinklers Will Activate

Most of us believe that fire alarm and the fire sprinkler systems work in unison. This is simply not true; most alarm systems are not tied together with the fire sprinkler system. The alarm system is activated one of two ways; either the fire alarm is manually pulled, or smoke gets into the detector and at this point the system sets itself off. With the sprinkler system it is only activated if the heat from the fire reaches the sprinkler head. Then the sprinkler in that specific area will release to extinguish the fire. Smoke sets off the fire alarm system, it takes some time for heat to get to the sprinkler head, to allow people to get out of the building and to safety.

Exit Immediately

Commercial buildings by low should have a clearly posted evacuation plan already in place. The alarm if your first sign there could be trouble in the building. You should calmly start following the buildings evacuation plan. Once the building is emptied and your office makes it to their designated meeting spot. A pre-designated individual, preferably the office manager as they usually know who is in or out that day, should ensure that every last person got out of the building safely. If you are missing anyone, do not re-enter the building. Instead, wait until the first responders have arrived and notify them immediately.

Emergency Services

Some commercial fire alarm systems have incorporated monitoring system that notify first responders that there could be a potential fire. These systems get first responders dispatched immediately which helps with quicker arrival times. We suggest manually calling 911 after everyone is evacuated and safe, just to ensure they are aware of what is going on and are in route.

After the Fire

After the fire has been extinguished and your building has been deemed safe to re-enter by the fire department, have everyone enter and remove any valuables. Unfortunately, many commercial fires leave buildings more susceptible to break-ins, so it is critical to get all valuable items out before leaving. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. The recovery and rebuilding process is dependent on your insurance policy and the results of the fire investigation (if there is one). An insurance adjuster will travel to your commercial property, survey the damage, and offer their recommendations to the insurance company. Commercial fires can be very frightening for everyone involved but preparing for a fire can mean the difference between a smooth recovery and a scary and damaging event.

Be Prepared

Last, but not least, remember to have your fire alarm system inspected and serviced regularly to ensure it is in proper working order. If you have a fire, it is especially important this system, gets checked, repaired, and serviced accordingly. Nobody wants to imagine another fire striking their property, but it is critical that your alarm system continues to function properly.

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