Smart Fire Prevention Practices for Maryland Businesses

10/3/2016 (Permalink)

   Smart Fire Prevention Practices for Maryland Businesses

• Hold meetings to educate your employees on emergency evacuation plans.


• Familiarize and train employees on how to use fire extinguishers and other fire-fighting tools.


• Stage a fire drill at least once a year.


• Clearly mark emergency exits and escape routes, and keep them unobstructed at all times.


• Provide a minimum of one 2A 10BC-rated fire extinguisher for every 75 feet of travel distance within every 6,000 square feet. Mount fire extinguishers on the wall, three to five feet from the floor.


• Provide quarterly maintenance and 5-year certification of your fire sprinkler system.


• Remove trash and waste paper from the office on a regular basis.


• Keep the furnace room, electrical rooms, and spaces below stairwells clear—never use them for storage.


• Place heat-generating appliances such as copiers, heaters, and coffee makers away from combustible materials.


• Keep your workspace and equipment well ventilated and clean—especially clear of oil and dust.


• Do not use electrical equipment when flammable gases, vapors, liquids, dust, or fibers are present.


• Check to make sure your circuits are not overloaded.


• Maintain free access to all electrical control panels. Material or equipment stored in front of the panels will slow down power shut-downs in an emergency situation.


• Use extension cords ONLY for temporary wiring.


• Replace any damaged or missing electrical components, including the covers on all plates.


• Identify each circuit breaker in an electrical panel and install blanks for missing circuit breakers.


• Clearly label the contents of all compressed gas cylinders. Chain or nest cylinders to prevent them from falling over.


• Contact SERVPRO of Howard County at 410-465-7333 to have us do a complete ERP (Emergency Response Plan) for your business.  We service all of Howard County Maryland including Columbia, Ellicott City, Laurel, Elkridge, and Clarksville.