Best Security Products blog

Each year, hundreds and thousands of businesses suffer losses due to fire. These losses are both financial (as assets are lost, sometimes never being regained) and personal, as injuries and deaths occur due to the fire.

Many of these losses can be eliminated by planning ahead in the form of a fire prevention plan. When employees know what to do in the event of a fire, there will be less damage and destruction. But if your employees have not been trained on how to respond during a fire emergency, they are likely to be confused and may even make decisions that increases rather than decreases the danger and damage.

Here are some ways you can prepare for fire and lessen the risk in the unfortunate event that a fire emergency occurs in your business.

Evacuation Plan:

The first response to a fire can be panic, unless people have been trained in the specifics of what to do. Fear and uncertainty can stifle logical thinking and can impair rational decision making. But if your employees have practiced fire drills, are familiar with a written evacuation plan and have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities during a fire, they will not have to “think” much at all: they will automatically do what needs to be done to evacuate the building.

Small Fire Plan:

Many fires begin as small fires that can be easily contained if caught quickly enough. By having high-quality smoke and heat detectors in your facility, the smallest fires can be detected before they grow into a devastating emergency.

Further, if there are sprinkler systems installed, the chances of a fire growing out of control are reduced. Sprinkler systems activate only in the areas where the fire is located and can often contain and control the fire until the fire department arrives. The result is less damage and less loss.

We would love to schedule a free consultation with you, to help you determine what is best for your business. Give us a call at 1-800–988–2378 or send us an email at sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

You might not think that a few cloths stored in a plastic container could cause $500,000 in damages, but that is exactly what happened in a new house under construction.

This article reports that the cloths had been used to stain a new house. The clothes were improperly stored in a plastic container and began to heat up causing soot and smoke damage.

Cloths that have been soaked with oils or chemicals can present a fire hazard if not stored correctly.

Click the video below to view an actual demonstration of an oil soaked rag igniting:

How do oily rags ignite? When these rags are piled up together, the oil dries and releases heat, and the air gets trapped. The combination of heat and oxygen creates a fire hazard.¹ 

The best prevention is to know how to store and dispose of these cloths. Here are some tips to keep in mind the next time you embark on a project at home or at the office:

1. Place the soiled rags in a container with a tight fitting lid. Metal is best, but if you only have a plastic can or even a zip lock bag, that will work as well. Next, fill the container with water and then close. This will prevent the oxidation of the oils. Contact your local trash pick-up company for instructions on how to dispose of the container.

2. Alternatively, you can hang the cloths outside to dry, or you can spread them out flat. They should not be in a pile. Weight them down with something so they do not bunch up or fly away in the wind. Once they have dried, contact your local trash pick-up company for instructions on how to dispose of the cloths.

At Best Security Products, we use Honeywell products to deliver a state-of-the-art, customized fire security system to your property. For a consultation, please call or email our office: 1-800–988–2378, sales@bestsecurityproducts.com.

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How well is your office or business protected from fire? Do you have working smoke detectors, heat detectors and alarm systems in place, so that even the smallest fire will be detected? What about a fire after hours? If a fire occurs overnight at your business, how quickly would you and the authorities be notified?

The BRE Group has published a video that demonstrates how an overnight office fire progresses when no one has been alerted to its presence. You can click the video to watch the whole thing, but we’ve included screenshots to show the progression of the fire.

The fire begins in a corner…

And within 3 and minutes the fire has ignited much of the room:

How do office fires like this start? According to this article, some of the most common causes of office fire include Faulty Electrics (overloaded plugs, loose wires and old equipment), Flammable Combustible Materials (when there are handled or stored incorrectly they present a fire hazard), Human Error (kitchen accidents or mishandling of flammable or combustible substances), General Negligence (not following procedures and precautions or by engaging in activities that are considered fire hazards), and Arson.

You can take steps to protect your business from being devastated by an office fire like the one above, and at Best Security Products, we can help you.

The first step is to assess your current fire protection and what is needed to upgrade your system to provide the coverage and peace of mind that you need. Smoke detectors, heat detectors, addressable fire systems, and monitored alarms are just a few of the options we will explore while customizing a business fire system for your business.

We will work with you to determine exactly what you need and what you do not need, so you are adequately protected without paying for components that are unnecessary.

We will take care of all your commercial and home fire security and safety needs. Give us a call at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com