An outbreak of fire can be a devastating event for both property owners and business operators, they can also threaten lives and livelihoods. Crucially many of these fires are preventable.
Fire Safety and Risk Assessment measures taken today could save properties, businesses and lives tomorrow.
As an insurance broker I feel we have a duty to pass on Fire Prevention and Risk Management advice which we access from the expertise available to us through our insurer network and third party Safety Consultants.
The following is a simple but effective guide to help eliminate or minimise the increased risk of fire damage.
- Ensure that all skips, pallets and other combustible waste stored in the open are located a minimum distance of 10 Metres away from all buildings
- Only place rubbish for collection on the street shortly before collection time and ensure that it is located a safe distance from your property
- Seal up letterbox openings to vacant buildings and remove accumulated flyers and other combustible material from doorways
- Carry out frequent fire prevention inspections of your property
- Ensure security remains effective especially with the increased activity in the lead up to and around Halloween.
All fires start small, some occur after hours and can smoulder for a long time before becoming a raging fire. If you haven’t already done so you should consider installing a monitored fire alarm which will contact the Fire Brigade and Keyholders in the event of a fire being detected. A monitored fire alarm can be the difference between a small or smouldering fire being controlled to a building burning to the ground.
A fire needs three elements - Heat, Oxygen and Fuel. Without heat, oxygen and fuel a fire will not start or spread. A key strategy to prevent fire is to remove one or more of heat, oxygen or fuel;
Some useful Fire Prevention Links