Planning Your Business’ Fire Drills | SERVPRO® of Reno Southwest

6/25/2020 (Permalink)

Being honest with yourself about the places where your business could plan better can make you a more well-rounded business owner overall, and planning for a commercial fire is an area where many leaders find they fall short.

Commercial fires impact many businesses every year, and can derail even the most well-considered business plan if they are not prepared for. While you should plan for all aspects of a fire, from escape to recovery, we always recommend starting with having regular fire drills in your place of business so that you and your staff are as prepared as possible.

Having Regular Fire Drills in Your Place of Business

Consult with your local fire officials. A preliminary search online will reveal many websites you can use to do your research and boost your fire safety plans, but you should also make use of the resources in your community. You can generally have local fire officials come right to your business and evaluate your safety efforts, as well as advise you on the best routes for escape.

Communicate and mark fire evacuation routes. After you have determined the best routes for escape throughout your business, you should mark them clearly and give staff a briefing on the upcoming drill. Having everyone ready in advance will make sure everyone knows it is just a drill and does not panic or cause a dangerous situation due to uncertainty.

Have fire drills frequently. While fire drills can be a dull thing if they happen regularly, they should occur often enough that they are familiar to everyone who works in your building. Typically, scheduling them at the beginning of every quarter will be frequent enough to ensure everyone has the protocols down.

Run different fire scenarios. There are many ways that fires can start and spread through a commercial space, so fire drills that take this into account are more well-rounded. Have the origin of the fire “begin” in different places with each drill so your staff is familiar with how to find the other fire exits in the building and can escape using several different ways.

If your business has experienced fire damage, you can count on us. We specialize in commercial fire restoration and will be here for you at any hour—contact us today.