Your business may have been temporarily closed, but now, as with many others, it may be creaking open its doors. This is exciting as more people are safely getting out of their homes and helping the economy. But more activity also means something a bit perilous: a greater chance of fires. As more and more employees and customers frequent your business, it’s a necessary time to ensure your fire door inspection passes successfully.
Properly functioning fire doors are crucial in verifying that your associates, clients, and visitors will all be safe in the event of a fire and can make a hasty, easy exit. To prioritize safety, here are three dos and three don’ts of a solid fire door inspection:
Fire Door Inspection Dos
1 Repair your doors:
If your door has glass or plastic panels, and they are cracked or exposed or broken, that means smoke can more easily permeate from one room to another and suffocate those within. Another consideration is seeing how much space is between the floor and the bottom of the door. You may want more oversized doors or an easy way to block that possible air passage.
2 Have fire extinguishers nearby:
The size of your facility and its number of doors will dictate how many fire extinguishers you need. A good rule of thumb is to keep one fire extinguisher by all heavily trafficked and major entryways. You will also want to educate your staff on extinguisher etiquette (remember the acronym PASS: pull, aim, squeeze, sweep) and have them test doors to see that they are entirely closed.
3 Call in a professional, certified fire door company:
This is money well spent. You can and should take every step necessary to create a safe business and facility, and the professionals will have the most information. Conducting this as you reopen will be a wise investment. Please take advantage of the time while you have them there. Ask questions and get as much information about your specific doors, access points, and pathways as you can.
Fire Door Inspection Don’ts
1 Lose your fire inspection documentation:
You will want to have your documentation on hand to verify that your building is fire-safe. Similarly, you should get one such inspection per year — set reminders, so you will not forget.
2 Forget to clean and lubricate:
The hinges, guides, pulleys, and rails of your fire doors are part of proper, ongoing maintenance. If you neglect these simple things, there is a greater chance those entryways can jam and cause a life-threatening issue.
3. Leave flammable items out:
Combustible liquids, lit candles, and overheated appliances can all be fire hazards. Maintain a safe environment by assigning this vigilance to someone you trust so you know you can leave the facility and all will be safe.
Need to check on your doors, or you are curious if they are fire-inspection ready? The Security Professionals work not only with locks and alarms but also with fire safety. So give us a call to learn more.
