Warehouses pose a unique challenge when protecting commercial buildings from fire. They often are overstuffed with machinery, paper, and other materials that can catch ablaze easily. While protecting your warehouse with a fire sprinkler system is common practice, there are many other things to consider when discussing the subject. If you are a warehouse manager or run a small business, take note of the ways listed below to protect your place of business by using warehouse fire sprinkler system. The list is a mix of traditional approaches like a quality fire sprinkler system along with a few tips you may not have thought of.
Below are some ways to integrate fire safety practices into the warehouse:
Don’t Be Fooled – Just because you own a warehouse fire sprinkler system or passed an OSHA inspection; do not be fooled into thinking your business is protected from fires starting in the building. There are many other potential dangers that could be hidden within your structure along with poor practices by your employees or contractors.
Protect Against Arson – While the majority of fires are set accidentally, some warehouse fires are caused by arson at the hands of other people. To protect the warehouse from arson and break-ins, protect it with a quality alarm system. These systems can offer motion detection or perimeter protection depending on the physical structure of the building and personal preference.
Store Pallets the Right Way – Wooden pallets are a huge help to carry loads and cargo in and out of the building. They speed up processes and keep the plant moving. These wooden carriers also pose a fire danger because of the material they are constructed of and the large amount of units that can be stored together. Wooden pallets should be kept at least 3 inches apart when stored side-by-side. When storing back to back, leave a 6 inch gap between the pallets. Vertically, your warehouse workers should also leave a 1 ½ to 2 foot gap between your pallet stacks and the fire sprinkler system.
Smoking Rules–Lit ambers from cigarettes are a huge threat to combustible materials and those items prone to catching fire such as paper and wood. Employ reasonable smoking policies for your employees keeping their cigarettes away from these threats. Regardless of your personal choices, no employees should smoke within the warehouse building. One can also develop guidelines on how far employees must be away from the building to light a cigarette. Another suggestion is to establish a designated smoking area away from potential fire hazards.
You could take the initiative one step further and make your business a non-smoking campus. With this rule, employees would not be able to smoke anywhere on business property and would have to leave during breaks to keep up their habit.
Taking your warehouse’s fire safety practices from the minimal warehouse fire sprinkler system to an all-encompassing protective program will keep your workers, products, and equipment safe from deadly fires. By employing these tips, you are taking a pro-active approach sure to set your company apart from the rest. If you are unsure of where to begin or don’t have the time to implement these tips, you may want to consider contacting a local professional for help. They will have the resources and expertise to take your business to the next level in fire safety.
Below are some ways to integrate fire safety practices into the warehouse:
Don’t Be Fooled – Just because you own a warehouse fire sprinkler system or passed an OSHA inspection; do not be fooled into thinking your business is protected from fires starting in the building. There are many other potential dangers that could be hidden within your structure along with poor practices by your employees or contractors.
Protect Against Arson – While the majority of fires are set accidentally, some warehouse fires are caused by arson at the hands of other people. To protect the warehouse from arson and break-ins, protect it with a quality alarm system. These systems can offer motion detection or perimeter protection depending on the physical structure of the building and personal preference.
Store Pallets the Right Way – Wooden pallets are a huge help to carry loads and cargo in and out of the building. They speed up processes and keep the plant moving. These wooden carriers also pose a fire danger because of the material they are constructed of and the large amount of units that can be stored together. Wooden pallets should be kept at least 3 inches apart when stored side-by-side. When storing back to back, leave a 6 inch gap between the pallets. Vertically, your warehouse workers should also leave a 1 ½ to 2 foot gap between your pallet stacks and the fire sprinkler system.
Smoking Rules–Lit ambers from cigarettes are a huge threat to combustible materials and those items prone to catching fire such as paper and wood. Employ reasonable smoking policies for your employees keeping their cigarettes away from these threats. Regardless of your personal choices, no employees should smoke within the warehouse building. One can also develop guidelines on how far employees must be away from the building to light a cigarette. Another suggestion is to establish a designated smoking area away from potential fire hazards.
You could take the initiative one step further and make your business a non-smoking campus. With this rule, employees would not be able to smoke anywhere on business property and would have to leave during breaks to keep up their habit.
Taking your warehouse’s fire safety practices from the minimal warehouse fire sprinkler system to an all-encompassing protective program will keep your workers, products, and equipment safe from deadly fires. By employing these tips, you are taking a pro-active approach sure to set your company apart from the rest. If you are unsure of where to begin or don’t have the time to implement these tips, you may want to consider contacting a local professional for help. They will have the resources and expertise to take your business to the next level in fire safety.
