Did a fire in your building lead to you wanting to take measures to prevent it from happening again? There are numerous things that should be considered when it comes to a building catching on fire. The best way to keep your building and employees safe is to seek assistance from a fire protection engineer. He or she will be able to provide numerous services that make the investment worthy. In this article, you will learn about a few of the ways that a fire protection engineer can be helpful.
Walk Around Your Building to Look for Fire Hazards
The first service that a fire protection engineer will perform is an inspection of your building. He or she will specifically search for areas of the building that are fire hazards. For example, all of the electrical aspects of the building will be inspected, such as outlets, light fixtures, and appliances. Bad wiring is one of the common causes of fires sparking up, so the engineer will let you know if you need to hire an electrician to perform any work. He or she will also take a look at how the power cords are plugged into outlets, such as to see if you have too many in a single outlet.
Recommend a Quality Fire Alarm System
There are many fire alarm systems on the market, and not all of them are of a high quality. The type of alarm system that you have can play a major role in the extent of damage that is caused in a fire. For instance, if you don't opt for a system that comes with sprinklers, there will be a higher risk of property damage. An engineer will not only recommend the most ideal fire alarm system, but he or she can give you advice on where sprinklers should be installed. It is also wise to invest in a system that is loud enough to be heard on the exterior of the building.
Make Sure Exiting the Building is an Easy Task
You can never predict which area of a building a fire might spark up in, especially when the problem is electrical. It is important to have several fire escapes around your building to keep your employees safe. An engineer will make sure there are enough doors, and might suggest getting more doors installed. The condition of the stairs will also be examined to make sure they don't pose a hazard when trying to exit the building. Speak to a fire protection engineer about your needs as soon as you can.