Author: fireprotectionAdmin

No workplace is immune to fire outbreaks! Whether it’s a multi-storey commercial building or one-room working space, the possibilities of a (sudden) fire accident cannot be overlooked.

Such accidents can result in mammoth loss of lives, property, jobs and thousands of dollars, causing the downfall of your business.

In some of our previous blogs, we have talked extensively about the fire safety checklist to ensure a fire-safe workplace. Here, we shall go through a list of things you should do during a fire:

1. Prevention is Better than Cure

Fire catastrophes are preventable if your employees are trained to handle such accidents. Comprehensive fire safety training plays a pivotal role in restricting the intensity of (lives and property) damage caused by an inferno. Contact fire service companies in Melbourne to arrange regular drills and training programs for your employees.

2. Spotted Fire? Raise the Alarm Immediately

An alarm should be instantly raised on discovering signs of fire. Regardless of how small or innocuous it appears, even a small flame can turn into a blaze within seconds. If the fire is controllable and not too intense, use a fire extinguisher to put it off. (It is recommended to use it only when you’re adequately trained).

If you find the inferno going out of control, alert all employees and guide them through safe exists using an evacuation plan. Call firefighting services to limit the damage to the property and casualties.

3. Evacuate to Safety

It is essential to maintain your composure and remain calm while evacuating the property. Make sure everyone is gathered at a designated assembly point.

If your workplace has hazardous machinery, ensure you’ve shut it down. It is advised not to stop in the way or go back to collect any personal belongings. Moreover, avoid using lifts; they can stop working, trapping you inside and exposing you to flames and toxic gases.

If your escape route is full of thick smoke, it’s advised to drop down on the ground and crawl. The air closer to the ground is usually clean and safe for breathing.

What to Do If You Get Trapped Inside a Smoke-Filled Room?

If you are trapped in the room filled with thick smoke, try and get to a place with a window.

In case, you’re on the first floor, open the window and lower yourself to an arm’s length. Gently drop yourself to the floor. Never ever jump from a window. If you’re trapped on a top storey, stand near the window. This will help firefighters to reach you easily.

Block any crevices under the doors to prevent smoke from coming in.

If your clothes catch fire, don’t panic and run around since this fans the flame. In such a situation, just remember the golden rule:

Stop in your place, drop to the ground and roll over to douse the flames.

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Bushfire is a common occurrence in Australia – The hot and humid climate during the warmer months is responsible for triggering a wildfire in the forested areas. The bushfire is known to cause large-scale devastation of life and properties when they spread to the densely populated residential areas.

Since bushfires are inevitable, having fire hydrants in place plays a pivotal role in effective fire fighting.

Why Having Proper Fire Hydrants in Place Crucial?

Fire hydrants are strategically fitted in every neighbourhood, as they form an integral part of any fire protection system. These structures give the firefighter an efficient means to put out the fire in no time!  The fire fighting personnel can attach the pipes on a fire hydrant and spray water on the areas which have caught fire.

Here we have listed down some of the benefits of  having a fire hydrant:

1. Storage of Water

It is observed that a majority of bushfire occurred during scorching summers when the water is generally scarce. Fitting a fire hydrant in your neighbourhood helps to store and provide a quick, easy and constant supply of water during an emergency during a dry spell. Moreover, it help the firefighters to put out the fire in no time as they get sufficient water supply.

2. Easy Access

Fire hydrants are designed in such a manner that provides the firefighters easy access to attach their equipment like high power hose pipes, valves or pumps for effortless fire prevention.

During the dry spell or extreme summers, finding water points or getting easy access to water sources become a challenge. Having a fire hydrant everywhere helps to ease down the entire firefighting process, as it offers quick access to an uninterrupted source of water.

3. Uninterrupted Water Supply

Fire hydrants are equipped with boosters that supply water at high speed. They are designed in a way that ensures a smooth, uninterrupted and continuous supply of water to put out a fire.

Takeaway

Since fire hydrants come in handy in times of a fire outbreak and are the most crucial feature that helps in fighting and preventing infernos, picking the right fire protection service is essential. Carry out thorough research before you hire a fire protection service provider. This will help you to gauge their expertise and experience.

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Undermining the risk of fire accidents at the workplace is the biggest blunder one can ever make! No workplace – whether it’s a high-rise building, a warehouse or a small office – is safe from fire hazards.

Fire outbreak at a workplace can badly impact your productivity, wreck your inventory and cause infrastructural damage, which can cost you dearly. Moreover, unexpected explosions or fires can result in injuries or deaths which can lead to expensive and lengthy lawsuits.

It is observed that a majority of fires happen due to poor electrical connection and improperly stocked combustible materials. Here we have listed down some of the important practices that can reduce fire hazards in the workplace bringing down the extent of life & property loss.

The following essential practices will your workplace’s safety against fire hazards:

1. First and foremost, identify the fire hazards in your workplace. Make a note of the presence of any combustible material near any sources like heaters, lighting, electrical equipment, etc. Additionally, it is important to store the fuel and other flammable chemicals like rubber, petrol, etc in a proper place.

2. Once you have identified the potential risks, access it thoroughly. Doing so will make it easy to determine which hazards need immediate attention.

3. Assessing the situation isn’t sufficient. It is very crucial to put protective measures in place to control the risks – you can use a hierarchy of control here! You can eliminate the work processes that might result in an explosive atmosphere. Moreover, make sure to service and clean all your machinery as and when recommended by manufacturers.

4. Apart from this, switch off the electricity points when your premise is unattended and remove any waste material like fuel and dispose of the flammable material properly.

5. Lastly, make it a point to monitor the hazards and review the controls on a regular basis to minimise the potential risks effectively.

For high-quality fire protection system and fire training, call AFP group now!

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It is a universally acknowledged fact that fire is the single largest threat in the restaurant/commercial kitchens. Commercial kitchen fire poses a risk for its workers and patrons. Kitchen fires can cause massive damages to the property, injure people and destroy your business, leading to loss of revenues and in the worst case, even permanent closure.

Due to the presence of open flames, high power electrical appliances, cooking oils, and cleaning chemicals, commercial kitchens are highly vulnerable to fire.

Since the nature of cooking in the restaurants is entirely intrinsic, you cannot completely eliminate the threat of fire. However, you can take some precautions to reduce the danger and avert a catastrophic event.

Tip 1: Keep Flammable Items Away

Commercial kitchens have several appliances that are vulnerable to catching fire. Therefore, ensure you don’t place any source of fire or open combustibles near the appliances. For examples, fryers should not be kept near the plug points.

Tip 2: Clean Grease Build-up from Hoods and Vents

Grease build-up poses a serious risk of fire. Thus, it is crucial to clean the grills, hood and vent properly. Usually, proper cleaning varies from kitchen to kitchen depending on a number of factors such as type of cuisine and the number of fryers.

Tip 3: Have an Evacuation Diagram Ready

A well-planned evacuation diagram is necessary to ensure there’s minimal damage to life, with everyone getting out safely. Remember the evacuation plan must be well placed and should be drawn after taking into account various areas of the restaurant. Moreover, make sure the evacuation plan is practised regularly. This exercise will ensure that all the staff members are acquainted with the drill and become aware of their responsibility in the wake of a fire. It is observed that panic during a real fire accident will reduce if the evacuation drill is rehearsed correctly.

Takeaway

Remember when you’re prepared, you can avert severe damage to lives, property and your business. Get in touch with Australian Fire Protection Group for comprehensive fire safety training, fire equipment and evacuation diagrams.

When it comes to preparing schools against fire, you don’t want to leave any stone unturned. From elementary schools to the college campus, lack of fire safety measures can put a lot of young lives at stake in case a fire breaks out. Having a proper fire protection system and safety measure in place is crucial to ensure the students and teachers stay safe and unharmed if a fire accident occurs at the school premises.

Here, we have listed down four types of fire protection systems that are essential for schools to contain the fire and loss of young lives:

Having fire protection systems in place is pivotal in limiting the loss of lives and property, but it is equally important to train the staff and students on how to evacuate and use fire extinguishers to ensure their safety.

For high-quality fire protection system and fire training, call AFP group now!

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Introducing fire awareness training in your workplace is an essential part of a successful fire safety program. It’s a necessary life skill that can benefit you and your employee at any time!

Why is Fire Safety Awareness and Fire Extinguisher Training Essential?

According to statistics, around 95% of all fires were found to be extinguishable, if the fire extinguisher is used correctly and promptly. Unfortunately, less than 25% of workers were able even to locate the nearest fire extinguisher at their workplace. This situation can prove detrimental, resulting in massive loss of lives and properties. Therefore, it is essential to provide basic fire safety skills and training to use a fire extinguisher. Here are more reasons why every workplace should offer fire safety training to their employees:

1. Prevent Injuries & Save Lives

Rushing to extinguish the fire when you’ve never handled a fire extinguisher is akin to inviting danger! You might stand too close to the flames or even extend your arms close enough to sustain burn injuries. In several cases, people have ended up getting trapped in the building (eventually losing their lives) to control the fire. With the right training, you and your employee can learn how to avoid such mistakes.

2. It Can Avoid Property Damage

A small fire which can be quickly extinguished transforms into a large-scale blaze. It can engulf major sections of your building and making the situation worse when you have a lot of combustible materials like office furniture or easily flammable items. Even if your property is insured, the time it takes to clean the mess and rebuild your office can be extremely detrimental for your business. However, the good news is, if your staff has the right training, they will be aware of exactly what to do if they notice a small fire, saving you valuable property worth millions of dollars.

3. Help the Employees Feel Safe in the Workplace

Knowing that they’re expected to use a fire extinguisher in a fire emergency, but not having any training on how to use it can make the employee feel uneasy and less confident.

It’s necessary for your employees to feel safe at the workplace, as it results in better attitudes and improved productivity. When your employees go through a professional fire extinguisher training program, they may develop a sense of teamwork, further enhancing overall morale.

For professional fire training, call AFP group now!

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Every business be it a small or large, requires a fire evacuation plan. But do any of your employees understand what is it and how it works? How many businesses have emergency fire drills? Not many!

We are sharing some important reasons why you should have an upgraded fire evacuation plan at your premise.

Fire Evacuation Plan Implementation with the location of Fire Equipment and first aid kit

Most employers have a fire evacuation plan as part of their building architecture codes and design. These paths typically map out where the fire safety equipment are located such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits, fire blankets and more. All exit paths from the evacuation plan should be designated and designed correctly so that everyone who is in the building can evacuate at the same time. Every employee should be aware of these routes and know how to use them in case of an emergency.

In the situation of fire, every second is vital to take any actions. If employees are confused which equipment to use and how to use a fire extinguisher to tackle the fire, they are wasting precious time protecting the property and putting themselves in danger. Before your business comes in this type of situation, you should hire a fire safety professional to inspect your workplace’s fire evacuation plan and train employees how to use fire extinguishers the right way.

What to Do After Creating a Fire Evacuation Plan Implementation?

After the professionals create the evacuation plan, it is essential to make sure that all members including staff are aware of the plan and know what to do in case of fire. The best way to make sure this happens is to practice all aspects of the emergency plan regularly.

Regularly practicing the evacuation plan will make everyone assures that they know what to do and are prepared for the unexpected.

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No one can correctly predict, how, when, and where a fire could break out. From any of the fire safety regulations and equipment requirements, the fire extinguisher plays an essential role in fire protection; which is why you must always make sure it is in good, working condition.
Here is what you need to know about fire extinguisher maintenance.

Inspect

To make sure your fire extinguisher is maintained correctly, you will need to check whether it undergoes regular inspection. These inspections of your extinguisher must be conducted by a certified and professional fire safety service individual. If there will be any fault, they will repair it or advise it to install new fire extinguishers.

Testing

An extinguisher should be tested at least once a month to monitor its working condition. The manual that comes with the fire extinguisher will have instructions on how to test it, and while checking it, you should make sure it can be handy in tackling any fire situations throughout your property. Extinguishers gets service and test it every 6 months according to AS/1851 Australia standard.

Fire extinguisher recharge

If any extinguishers were used, even partially, they will need to be recharged after use to ensure they are ready to be used again in the future.

Get Commercial and Residential Fire Protection from Australian Fire Protection

Australian Fire Protection can help with all of your fire safety and equipment service needs. We have the equipment and experience to provide fire extinguisher services and. To get a quote for your fire extinguisher service, get in touch with us.

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Fire protection is a complete network of fire equipment together that works to protect people and facilities from fire hazards. Especially, commercial buildings are susceptible to fire hazards from the high number of electrical equipment, other flammable materials, and the number of other factors that can cause a fire. Having a sprinkler system installed in the premise will make a big difference in getting people safely away from the fire flames.

Here’s why sprinkler system installation is essential to your business.

It saves lives and the building assets.

The priority for fire response is to ensure that all people in danger can escape from the premise.  If you have a sprinkler system that is well-maintained and regularly inspected, then it will automatically reduce potential damage, injuries, and death by more than 70 per cent. Businesses, where sprinkler systems are not correctly installed or well-maintained, have often resulted in a total loss from fire.

Effective Containment

Sprinkler system heads are only activated when they reach the higher temperature. At that point, the fire sprinkler starts releasing water from the pipes and into the fire area. It will not stop until the fire department arrives to turn off the water supply. This type of emergency response will completely suppress the fire before it gets the opportunity to spread more in the building.

Fault-Free  

Sprinkler systems work at a perfect balance of sensitivity and intelligence. They won’t give any false alarm and cause unnecessary water damage to your types of equipment and other assets. Sprinkler failures are usually the result of poor maintenance and lack of inspections.

Commercial and Residential Fire Protection from Australia Fire Protection

Australia Fire Protection can help with all of your residential or commercial fire safety needs. We have the equipment and service professionals to install sprinkler systems at affordable prices. To get a quote for your sprinkler system, call us. For more information and to know how we can help meet your fire safety needs, visit us.

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How would you respond to a fire emergency in your business premise? It is essential for every business owner keeping their employees safe.  If a fire breaks out, it’s necessary to prepare with a plan that safely leads people to outside of the building. Your business fire emergency plan should consist of complete steps and fire safety equipment that works together to alert people of an emergency and direct them safely away from the flames.

Read on for more important information about office fire emergency plans.

Exits And emergency lighting test

Make sure that all exits on every floor and at the end of every corridor are marked and open. If the electricity goes out, the lights on the exit doors should have battery backup systems that allow them to be lit in the darkness continually. Make sure that these emergency exits have been used during evacuation drills so that everyone knows where they should go to leave the building safely. If elevators are shut down, designate employees to help with people who may need assistance down the steps. Finally, choose a meeting place(Assembly area) for everyone a safe distance away from the building.

Alarms and Testing

All fire alarm systems should be checked regularly to ensure that they are working correctly in case of an emergency. The testing will also help employees become familiar with the sound so that they know what it means when they hear it during a real crisis. It is also important to announce any emergency tests to your employees, so they are not alarmed by the sound.

Equipment and Response

Your office should be equipped with all the necessary fire protection systems appropriate for the specific characteristics of the building. The appropriate type of sprinkler system, a sufficient number of fire extinguishers, and fire suppression and pumps should work together to create a network that completely covers your office building for all kinds of fire emergencies.

Still, Have Fire Safety Questions? Call Australia Fire Protection today! Australia Fire Protection is here to help you with all of your residential and commercial fire safety needs. To get a quote for our fire safety services, get in touch with us. For more information about fire safety, or to ask us any questions, visit us online.

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