Fire is a common emergency, Prevention and early detection can reduce health risks for a company's employees.
A fire detection may be:
(1) required to meet insurance requirements
(2) required to comply with the Fixed Fire Extinguishing System OSHA standard
(3) required to meet building codes
(4) used to ensure employee safety
Fire prevention requires identification of fire hazards, often by regular inspections which may include the fire marshal. Fire hazards may include open flame, heaters, electrical equipment, dust, storage of combustible materials and storage of chemicals.
Fire detectors include:
(1) smoke detectors
(2) heat detectors
(3) flame detectors
Fire detectors should be in sufficient numbers and locations to detect a fire early. They should also be positioned to avoid false alarms during routine business operations. They should be placed at least 3 feet away from ceiling fans.
Fire detectors are usually placed:
(1) in each room or enclosed space
(2) in hallways
(3) at the top of each flight of stairs
(4) in elevators and dumbwaiter shafts
Fire detectors should be inspected and in working order. They should be protected from being damaged and from having their function impeded.
The alarm set off by a fire detector should be distinctive and should be sufficient to be recognized above background conditions.
Ideally a fire detector should be connected to a central monitoring location where an alarm can be identified when a location is not occupied.
