Businesses are usually held responsible for the safety of employees and clients within their commercial premises. If anyone gets hurt inside a commercial building and it is found that the injuries could have been prevented if the necessary safety measures business had been put in place, then the business may face huge personal injury compensation claims. To ensure that a building is safe for commercial use and to thus minimise the number of compensation claims that may be filed against a business, it is important to periodically inspect commercial buildings for safety.
Take a look at some of the items that a typical building inspection checklist for fire safety in a commercial building would contain.
Fire protection
A building inspector will check whether the fire protection system within a building is in good working order. They can check the placement and test the charge of fire extinguishers. That way, they can determine if the devices can be easily accessed and if they will work well in times of need. Fire alarm systems, including heat and/or smoke detectors, will also need to be inspected to check if they are functioning well. These systems should be heard throughout the building when they go off.
Fire evacuation
In case of a fire, getting people out of a building is the best course of action. Therefore, fire evacuation plans should be posted on conspicuous parts of the building so that everyone can read and understand how they should exit the building in the event of a fire. A critical aspect of any fire evacuation strategy is making sure that the means of egress can be easily identified and accessed. This means that hallways and corridors leading up to fire or exit doors must be properly marked, well-lit and clear of obstructions.
Electrical safety
Electrical components and installations can be a major cause of fire hazards in commercial buildings if they are not inspected regularly and maintained well. For that reason, an integral part of the inspection process is to ensure that all electrical components are in good operating condition and that there are no faulty electrical connections. Any frayed, spliced or swollen electrical cords have the potential to start a fire and will need to be repaired immediately. Circuit breakers should be integrated into electrical systems to stop current from flowing when a fault is detected in the electric circuit.
To learn more, contact a contractor in your area who offers building inspection services.
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