As a landlord or the owner of a business, you’ll be aware that you must have emergency and information plans in place to ensure the safety of your tenants, staff and customers and buildings.
An important aspect of these plans is the placement of fire safety warning signs which give vital information to occupants of the building in the event of a fire. In order meet compliance and health & safety regulations you must have the appropriate fire safety warning signs placed correctly throughout your offices or building.
Fire safety emergency plan
In reality, the likelihood of a fire occurring in your building or office is low, but experience has taught us that it’s better to be safe than sorry!
The purpose of your fire safety emergency plan is to manage the risks of fire by putting controls in place to protect your tenants, staff, customers and property.
Basically, your plan is formed through thoughtful discussions around your unique building or workplace and the implications those unique aspects have should a fire occur. It’s essential that these conversations happen to identify potential hazards during an emergency and to develop ways of controlling the risk.
Not all fires are equal!
One of the most important parts of your emergency plan is to identify the most common types of fire that could potentially occur in your workplace or building. For example, if you run a retail business selling clothes, then its unlikely you’ll ever face a chemical fire onsite, or if you run a café or restaurant, then things become more complicated and you will require extinguishers that are suited to a range of different fire classes.
Different types of fire require different methods of extinguishing, and it’s important to get it right. Fires can only be put out effectively and safely with the correct class of extinguisher.
Different types of fire safety warning signs
As already mentioned, you are required by law to place warning signs around your building or office. These signs may seem redundant to you, but in the stress of an emergency, fire safety signs have saved lives.
Exit signs
Everyone knows where the exits are, right? You’d be surprised at how normal thought can go out the window during an emergency. If visibility is compromised due to smoke, or if the power has gone out, people can become disorientated. Exit signs then help to guide your staff or tenants out safely.
Fire extinguisher signs
Hand operated firefighting equipment is a useful tool to putting out fires if it’s safe to do so. Each fire extinguisher in your building must be accompanied with a clear sign, as this indicates which class of fire they can be used on, how to use them and how to keep them maintained.
Check that you have the right fire extinguisher for you with our easy to use fire extinguisher guide. This helpful guide will ensure you identify the correct class of fire extinguisher for your unique circumstances.
Assembly point signs
The assembly point is where you and your staff or tenants should gather if evacuation of the building is required. This is where the designated marshal will check to see if everyone is present.
In the creation of your fire emergency plan, you will have decided on the most appropriate place for an assembly point for your office or building, where it’s safe from fire and out of the way of the emergency services.
Having assembly point signs indicates clearly the location of the point, so that everyone knows where to gather after evacuation.
Fireco – keeping Northland businesses safe
The team at Fireco stock a full range fire safety warning signs and can give you advice on the best signs for you and on the best locations for them in your building.
If you have any questions about your legal obligations around fire safety or would like to enquire about one of our products or services, contact us today. We’re always happy to help.
