4 Common Sources of Fire in Commercial Buildings

The possible consequences of an office fire are enormous. When researchers at Factory Mutual Engineering and Research (FME&R) conducted a survey of 490 office fires, they found the average loss was $260,000.That was not counting the cost of lost work, disorganization and inconvenience that inevitably accompanies such an event. Clean-up may take weeks, during which time the office’s business may have to be temporarily relocated.

As it turns out, many of these fires could have been prevented by exercising a little caution. Office fires are usually caused by just a few factors, so paying particular attention to these areas can often prevent a tragedy later:

1)Cooking Equipment

Most offices have a kitchen or break room with a stove and perhaps a toaster, coffee maker or other heat-generating device. Flammable items like paper plates and napkins are often stored dangerously close to these, constituting a fire risk. Grease traps can get overfilled, exhaust vents can get clogged and deep fryers can build up heavy layers of flammable grease. Each of these is a fire risk that can easily be prevented. Cleaning them is hard work, and it is worth the price to hire a professional service to come in and do periodic cleanings.

2)Electrical Faults

Old wiring with broken insulation can function fine for years, then suddenly cause a disastrous fire from just one flammable piece of dust or fiber. Broken insulation on two adjacent wires can cause short circuits and generate sparks, igniting insulation or sawdust within the walls. Extension cords can get overloaded, resulting in a dangerous build-up of heat. Your Albany fire protection agency can perform an office inspection to find these issues before they become serious problems.

3)Improper storage of flammable materials

Books and papers pile up quickly in some businesses. If a hot plate or coffee maker is too close to a pile of these flammable materials, they can slowly get warmer until the point of ignition is reached.

4)Obstruction of fire sprinkler heads

We tend to ignore the sprinkler heads on the ceiling, and sometimes pieces of furniture or stacked items are carelessly placed underneath them. Anything that blocks part of the spray pattern is decreasing the effectiveness of the sprayer, so leave plenty of space under each sprinkler head.

In general, clutter is the worst enemy. Most of these issues can be eliminated simply by removing piles of papers and other flammables, or at least keeping them away from the vicinity of heat sources. However, the condition of the electrical system is a matter requiring professional attention, and periodic inspections are needed to find flaws before they turn into disasters.

No one wants a fire to break out, but if it does, a full-service monitoring company provides the best defense against catastrophic damage and loss. 24-hour monitoring means the fire department will be contacted immediately in the event of a fire, and help will be on the way quickly.

Obvious and Hidden Benefits of Gated Access Control

When criminals aren’t engaged in burglary, theft and other crimes, they’re investigating ways to get around the latest security alarm monitoring systems. Homeowners, businesses and anyone who has property to protect must regularly update and expand on currently installed security devices. Since evidence suggests access door systems may reduce crime, many new residential communities and apartment complexes have had their security enhanced with gated access.

Gated Communities Become Popular

Gated neighborhoods were mildly popular in the 1970s with around 2,000 gated communities in the U.S., however, there are tens of thousands more gated neighborhoods and complexes today. Providing peace of mind for residents, as well as barriers to theft and crime, gates make criminals work harder to do their job.

Reducing Crime with Gates

Many burglaries and thefts in residential areas are something that law enforcement refers to as “crimes of opportunity”. This means that a crime might occur because it’s easy for the criminal to take advantage of a situation. Security gates are an incredibly helpful tool for preventing crimes of opportunity.

An inexperienced or casual thief who can walk up to the front door of a home without passing by a gate might decide to take advantage of the situation. On the other hand, if there’s a gate standing in the thief’s way, he might decide to look elsewhere for something to steal. Determined thieves may indeed scale a fence and get past a gate, but there are further measures a homeowner can take to reduce crime, such as surveillance cameras and on-site security systems.

Gates are Appropriate for Many Structures

Today’s access door systems offer control of an environment in many different types of situations. Many people consider gated access to be a major feature of a neighborhood or an apartment complex. However, there are several different types of gates that can be installed along single-family homes, driveways and yards. Gates don’t need to be exceptionally complex and may act as a simple barrier against unauthorized intrusion.

Interesting Benefits of Access Gates

Restricting access with a gated option offers some interesting benefits regarding accident prevention. When a community decides to place gates at the entrance, the level of traffic and traffic accidents may go down. The simple requirement of asking a vehicle to stop before entering a community can help reduce overall speeds on streets where kids might play.

Further, the addition of gated access to a residence, neighborhood or any type of structure may help improve the overall value of the property. Many people rightly assume that a home that’s protected with a gate is going to be safer. If a homeowner decides to sell his or her residence and has provided various security upgrades to buyers, the property may be sold for a higher dollar amount.

All residences are at risk for burglary and theft. Considering different security prevention measures like gates and access doors is an important investigation for all homeowners and business owners.

Have a Memorable Valentine’s Day—For All the Right Reasons

Valentine’s Day is an exciting time for couples. It can be a bit stressful, too. We often have dozens of details to get just right in order to pull off that perfect special night for the one we love. It’s not surprising then that many of us experience tunnel vision during this time of year. As we get caught up in the moment, it’s easy to lose sight of mundane but crucial concerns like fire safety.

Did you know that both residential and commercial fires spike on Valentine’s Day? That’s why Central Monitoring, a home security service in the area, works so hard to get their safety message out in February. Some of the highlights of that message include the following tips for Albany fire protection on Valentine’s Day and Night.

Cooking at Home

Most residential fires occur while cooking, and those fires generally ignite because the cook left a hot oven or other appliance unattended. Fires in the kitchen can happen even when the chef has a lot of experience. On Valentine’s Day, however, it’s common, and perhaps even traditional, for the less experienced of the pair to handle cooking duties. That can lead to all kinds of problems, especially when you factor in distractions and adult beverages.

Fireplaces

Fireplaces are an obvious fire hazard throughout the season, but they can be a particular cause for concern on Valentine’s Day because of traditions. Fireplaces can be a lot of work, and many people have them in their homes but tend to use them only on special occasions like this one. It’s important that a fireplace be serviced and cleaned every season, and if you haven’t done that yet, schedule it before your big night or don’t use it. If you do use the fireplace, be aware of blankets and other flammable objects. A good rule to follow is to maintain three feet between the fire and everything else.

Candles

When it comes to Albany fire protection on Valentine’s Night, candles, and to a lesser extent incense, oils and other fragrance sources, are a big concern. If you don’t use candles regularly, then it’s very easy to forget about them, and a candle left lit overnight can be very dangerous. Place and light your candles with care, and be sure to snuff them all out before turning in for the night.

Inebriation

Many of the fires and other mishaps that occur on Valentine’s Day can be linked to alcohol. To help prevent accidents, drunk-proof your environment before indulging. For example, before partaking of that second or third glass of wine, check the kitchen appliances and snuff out the candles.

Fire Alarm Monitoring

The best way to protect yourself and your loved one from fire on Valentine’s Day, or any day, is by having fire alarms that are installed and monitored around the clock by a home security service. If your home is lacking fire protection, the lead up to Valentine’s Day is a good time to correct that.