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A well-documented fire prevention plan is important for any business. It can encompass a wide variety of considerations including proper maintenance of building systems, protecting special process hazards, and smoking controls. It’s important to identify the specific fire safety needs of your business and develop routine inspection and maintenance practices to reduce fire potential.

Sentry provides the following resources to help you as you review what potential fire risks your business could face:

Fires can cause serious losses not only in property, but also in lives. While large fires in commercial buildings are preventable, such events continue to shock the entire nation and serve as a reminder of the need for ongoing fire safety programs.

Fire Safety Preparation

• Top management should enforce all fire safety precautions.
• Inspect your facility for fire hazards. Contact the local fire department or your insurance company for assistance in conducting a walkthrough inspection. Correct any deficiencies.
• Identify processes and materials that could cause a fire, add fuel to a fire, or contaminate the environment in a fire.
• Have proper controls in place, including:
  • UL-listed or FM-approved flammable liquid containers - Provide a properly designed flammable liquid storage room or flammable liquid storage cabinets when large quantities of flammables are required.
  • A building sprinkler system - Check it regularly, chain the valves and lock in the open position.
  • Fire extinguishers - Service them on a regular basis. Train selected employees on proper use.
  • Fire-fighting equipment - Welding and cutting operations generate heat, sparks, and slag. Keep safety equipment nearby.
• Don’t allow extension cords to become permanent wiring.
• Maintain good housekeeping throughout the interior and exterior of the building.
• Establish and enforce a no smoking policy.
• Conduct evacuation drills. Post evacuation route maps in prominent places.
• Maintain clear access to all exits. Keep exits unlocked during work hours.
• Have emergency phone numbers readily available.
• Establish a system for warning employees of a fire. Install a fire alarm with automatic notification to the fire department.
• Establish a preventative maintenance schedule to keep equipment and operations running safely.
• Consider doing InfraRed (IR) testing of equipment and electrical apparatus to detect potential problems.
• Identify and mark all utility shutoffs so electrical power, gas, or water can be shut off quickly by fire wardens or responding personnel.
• Assign a competent member of top management, and a back-up person, to be the authorized spokesperson to meet with news media and fire investigation personnel.

During a Fire

• Immediately contact the fire department.
• Follow your plan and evacuate the building. Account for all employees, visitors, and customers.
• If the fire is small, some of your trained employees might be able to use fire extinguishers to control or extinguish the fire.
• Once the fire department arrives, they take control. Follow their instructions.

After a Fire

• Contact your insurance company.
• Take steps to prevent additional loss.
• Keep employees informed on repair and start-up plans.

Take steps to reduce your risk of fire damage and loss. Follow local building and safety codes to protect yourself, your employees, and your business from fire. Sentry Insurance is committed to helping you protect your business by providing resources to manage loss-producing situations and prevent accidents.

Flammable Hazards: They May Surprise You

Flammables are common chemicals. They are liquids (like gasoline) and gases that burn, release vapors, or even explode under what seem like safe conditions. Protect yourself from unwanted surprises. Read this sheet carefully. Check container labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for safe procedures.

The Nature of Flammables

Flammable gases and liquids ignite at close to room temperature (under 100° F), when they are near a spark, flame, or even static electricity. Many of them evaporate quickly. These are called “volatile.” Flammables can also explode.

Their MSDSs can tell you when: look for the upper and lower explosive limits and liquid flash point.

Some chemicals are so flammable that they burn simply from contact with air. These are called “pyrophoric.”

Your Best Defense

Your best defense against flammables is to play it safe. Never take shortcuts or unnecessary risks around these chemicals. MSDSs will let you know how to avoid conditions or other chemicals which can cause them to explode or burn. Ask your supervisor if you have questions.

9 Ways to Stay Safe

• Keep flammables away from fire and sparks. Never smoke, cut, or weld around them.
• Keep flammables and reactives away from each other. Reactives are chemicals which explode, burn, or release dangerous vapors very easily.
• Know the location of the right kind of fire extinguisher for the chemical you’re using. The wrong extinguisher can spread a fire.
• Wear the right Personal Protective Equipment for the job. Make sure it fits.
• Work in well-ventilated areas. Use available fans, hoods, and ventilation systems.
• Check to see that all containers are labeled. They should be in good working order. Check caps, screens, valves, seals, and containers for leaks. Replace or dispose of containers and parts if necessary.
• Do not mix flammables with other chemicals unless you are instructed to do so.
• Use grounding and bonding wires to prevent dangerous static electricity while you are transferring flammables from one container to another.
• Take special care to handle, store, and dispose of flammables properly.

A Special Note

For more specific information on the safe handling, storage, and use of Flammables, refer to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), “Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code,” NFPA-30.

• Don’t use gasoline as a cleaning agent!
• Use safer solvents for every job whenever possible - In general, the more “volatile” the liquid, the more hazardous. The vapors do ignite and they can travel a long distance to a potential source of ignition.
• Limit Quantities - Where it is necessary to use flammable liquids, limit the quantity outside of approved designated storage cabinets and/or areas to one day’s supply. Preferably, these liquids should be contained in “approved” safety cans. Properly dispose of obsolete flammables or chemicals that have no operational use.
• Drum Storage - Drum storage should be confined to a designated, safe, storage area. Any transfer operations should be separated by distance or by fire resistive construction from a potential source of ignition. An approved drum pump should be used for transfer operations.

Fires Caused by Heating Units in Service Shops

Gas-fired furnaces and oil-fired furnaces can be a major cause of fires and explosions. During the winter heating season, shop doors are closed leaving the building with less natural ventilation. Explosive vapors can build in a shop area very easily. When a furnace is operating, the furnace may draw explosive vapors through the burner and ignite the explosive fuel. Even though the heater may be turned off, the pilot light can be a major ignition source.

Common sources of fuels for explosions or fires are: gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas (LP gas), painting applications, paint storage, oxygen and acetylene tanks. Proper storage procedures would be as follows:

Gasoline – Gasoline should be stored in Underwriter Laboratories (UL) listed safety cans that have a screened pouring outlet with tight fitting cap or valve. This cover is normally closed by a spring, except when held open by hand, so that the contents will not be spilled if the can is tipped over. Spring-loaded valves provide an emergency vent when the cans are exposed to fire. Gasoline should be stored away from sources of ignition such as welding operations, grinding operations, and heating units.

LP Gas – Portable LP gas tanks should be stored outside the building. When servicing LP gas vehicles, the container shut-off valve should be closed when vehicles are under repair, except when the engine is operated. The vehicle should not be parked near sources of heat, open flames, or other sources of ignition. Working near inadequately ventilated pits should be avoided.

Painting – Painting should be conducted in an approved spray paint room, or spray paint booth. Paint over-spray, if not ventilated with an explosion-proof fan, is a major fire hazard.

Paint Storage – Paints and thinners should be stored in UL listed metal cabinets away from the spray area and any flame or spark-producing equipment.

Oxygen/Acetylene – Oxygen and acetylene should be stored separately and at least 20 feet apart, or separated by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet high. The barrier must have a fire-resistive rating of at least 1/2 hour.

Proper storage of flammable liquids should be inspected on a daily basis. Monthly documentation should be maintained showing flammable liquids are being stored in their proper place, away from ignition sources.

Safe Smoking Receptacles

To minimize fire hazards from smoking:

• Identify hazardous areas where smoking is to be prohibited
• Designate the safe smoking areas within your buildings
• Provide safe receptacles for smoking materials in the designated smoking areas
• Educate employees of your policy and enforce rules

Data from the National Fire Protection Association and the National Fire Incident Reporting System consistently include careless disposal of smoking materials in their listings of the leading causes of fires.

Smoking involves human habits and attitudes and should be treated realistically, not by merely posting a few “No Smoking” signs around the area. Employees will find a way to bypass a complete ban on smoking, using out-of-the-way places to satisfy their habit. Management should recognize this and provide safe smoking areas equipped with plenty of safe ashtrays or receptacles.

Ashtrays can be partly to blame for smoking-related fires. Some designs do not hold a cigarette securely until it has burned out; as the cigarette burns the balance is upset or it burns past its resting point. In either case, the cigarette falls out of the ashtray and can ignite combustible materials it contacts. Ability to hold an unattended cigarette until it has burned out completely is a key feature of a well designed ashtray. Ashtray contents should be emptied into special containers, not mixed with the general trash at the end of each day.

Identify those areas where smoking should be prohibited, as well as, those safe areas where smoking can be permitted. Smoking should be prohibited where flammable liquids, chemicals, or gases are used or stored. Because of the concentration of combustible materials, warehouses, packaging areas, and stockrooms should also be designated as no smoking areas. Each no smoking area should be clearly marked with “No Smoking” signs and safe ashtrays or disposal receptacles should be placed at each of the area’s entrances. Signs and marked boundaries should be used to identify safe smoking areas. These areas should be clear of combustibles and stored away from flammable vapors.

Educating smokers is an important part of improving your fire safety. Employees should be told why smoking is not permitted in any given area, and all rules must be enforced uniformly and continuously.

Consult and conform to state or local government ordinances which prohibit smoking in places of business or occupied work areas.

Article provided by Sentry Insurance, MTI’s Official Business Insurance Carrier.  To get a free analysis of your business insurance plan, contact MTI’s representative, Eric Stiles at Eric.Stiles@sentry.com.