You may be wondering, “Are there standards regarding fire safety for strip centers?” Especially as a business owner, it’s important to know what you should be doing to best protect your business.
A 2020 report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says there were 490,500 structural fires in the United States alone. This type of information is essential because dealing with home and apartment building fires is different than battling one at a large structural building like a strip center.
There are simply different challenges present that put emergency responders’ lives at risk. Because of this, fire safety for strip centers is different from those of smaller buildings. And as a business owner, you should know:
- What those standards are
- How to protect yourself
- What you can do to avoid a devastating fire to your building
Did you know that Texas is among the most fire-prone states for businesses? Take action and secure your company immediately.
Fire Safety For Strip Centers In Texas
Strip center fires aren’t 100% avoidable. But it’s still a good idea to learn what safety standards you should follow to prevent future problems.
Buildings & Building Regulations
To start, all fundamental elements are to be upheld throughout the building construction process. Texas has structural guidelines for everything from concrete and aluminum to general design and durability. Part of this process also includes:
- Ensuring there are enough exits
- External fire hazards are diminished
- Adequate fire protection or firefighting equipment is available
Assessing your risk is essential to your safety as well. Your risk level will vary depending on the size of your building, number of floors, and occupants allowed. Strip centers are often viewed as high-risk because they can contain many people across a wide area.
Fire Prevention & Protection
It's important to know what the AHJ requires when it comes to flammable materials. This includes knowing which permits you need to maintain storage of these materials.
Furthermore, you should have an approved fire safety and evacuation plan in line with Section 404 of the International Fire Code. This includes having an active role in:
- Reporting a fire
- Establishing evacuation routes
- Assigning help for business equipment to maintain and prevent fires
- Practicing fire drills
- Offering rewards to catch arsonists
- And more
Chapter 6 also explains that violations should be fixed as soon as possible to avoid future fees and incidents.
Alarm System Needs
Your alarm system should be appropriate for the type of building you’re in. A quality alarm system includes a main fire alarm control panel, an annunciator, initiation devices, notification appliances. Connection to other critical systems such as water based sprinkler systems, suppression systems, hvac devices for smoke control and supervision, etc. You can also incorporate fire suppression systems such as an FM-200, halon, or foam system to prevent the spreading of a fire.
Have The Right Business & Property Contacts
A problem that emergency responders have is getting in touch with the right person in the event of an emergency. This is especially critical during the holidays and off-hours. Just because your business is closed doesn’t guarantee you won’t have a potential fire on your hands. Ensure emergency responders can access the building quickly by having the right person(s) in contact just in case.
A Quick Checklist For Improved Fire Safety For Strip Centers
There’s a lot of information out there as to what you can do, so here’s a checklist to help you keep up.
- Know what type of building you’re in
- Occupants allowed
- Number of floors
- Square footage
- Establish a fire safety plan with all employees
- Locate all exits
- Review reporting a fire with your team
- Know everyone’s role in the event of fire
- Have a working fire alarm system ready to go
- Locate fire extinguishers and other supplies
- Review safety procedures for appliances
- Schedule electrical maintenance regularly
- Train employees and go over the rules for items like candles, burners, and other potential fire hazards
- Talk to your property owner about fire procedures
- Work with other business owners to stay connected in case of emergency
Print this portion of the blog out, screenshot, or simply share with the rest of your team and keep fire safety at top-of-mind. Train your team members to get them on the same page and improve your chances of success. Team training should be done for each and every employee as they are onboarded. Having one company meeting may not be enough when you experience any level of employee turnover.
Fire Hazards & Challenges Of Strip Malls
You don’t want to lose everything you’ve worked so hard for because a fire destroyed your business. But it happens every day to hard-working business owners for a few reasons, including:
- Cooking errors
- Unintentional or careless mistakes
- Intentional / arson
- Electrical malfunctions
Whether you’re at fault or not, strip center fires can spread rapidly and destroy millions of dollars worth of property. This may seem like an obvious statement, but the truth is that strip center fires are simply more challenging to firefighters. When getting a call for a strip center fire, countless questions are running through the minds of the responding team because knowing the answers is crucial to preventing further damage and saving lives.
Some of the top questions fire personnel will want to know include:
- Is there smoke, and what is it doing?
- What type of construction is it?
- Is there anything on the roof, and what is it made of?
- Who and what is inside the building?
- Is search and rescue necessary?
- How long has the fire been going on?
- Is there anything else about the building or its surroundings that should be known?
It’s understandable that you can’t be at your business for every little thing that happens. But if there’s anything you can do to clear up these answers, you should do them as soon as possible.
Get started right now with fire alarm solutions from American Sentinel Fire & Safety.
Compliance Is Key To Advanced Fire Safety For Your Business
Unsure of whether your strip center business holds up to necessary fire standards? Be certain before moving forward.
From fire alarms, burglar safety systems, and more, American Sentinel Fire & Safety can help. We use innovative technology combined with professional planning and installation to give you a deliver a service and product that’s safe and in compliance with fire safety standards. Protect your business today with American Sentinel.