Unfortunately, a lot of fires that happen in businesses aren’t an accident. Many people fall victim to arson. So what can you do to stop arson from affecting your business? Take a look at our arson prevention strategies for businesses and let us know if you have any questions.
At Jim’s Fire Safety, we care about helping local businesses deal with fire risks. That’s why we offer fire testing services to organisations across the nation. When it comes to fire safety advice, we’ve got you covered.
What is arson?
Arson is defined as “the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to a property”. There are many reasons why people commit arson, and their intent to damage or harm is what makes it a crime. Suspicious fires are those where the circumstances suggest a fire may have been lit deliberately, or in other words, not accidental.
Unfortunately, it is a common crime. The FENZ have had to deal with 5 fires this week, where at least one of them was classified as suspicious.
If you want to know how to stop arson from affecting your business, we have a few tips that can help minimise the risks.
Arson Prevention Strategies for Businesses
The following tips will help you manage the risk of arson in your business:
- Remove rubbish from the perimeter of your building, lock the bins at night and remove any flammable materials from the bins.
- Speak to your local fire department about arson in your area.
- Invest in external lighting for your building and visible CCTV systems. This helps to ward off potential trouble makers.
- Check that all the doors are locked in the evenings and set your alarm system.
- Report suspicious or antisocial behaviour.
- Manage access cards and keys. If any are missing, consider changing the locks or deactivating the missing card.
- Invest in a metal letterbox. This means that if a fire is lit inside your letter box, it can be contained.
- Manage your fire detection system. Make sure your smoke alarms, detectors, sprinkler systems, etc. have been installed and maintained. This means that you will be notified when a fire is started and action can be taken to save your property.
- Consider after hours security.
- Do what you can to control who has access to your property.
- Lock away or remove flammable liquids/products.
- Contact your local FENZ branch to find out what other arson prevention strategies you can implement.
Is your business at risk?
It’s hard to know when an arsonist will act. Sometimes it is a disgruntled employee, other times it is a stranger. Most arsonists have a pattern of behaviour and strike more than once. If you know that a string of fires have occurred in your area, it may be a sign that you need to be vigilant.
The best thing you can do is chat to your local FENZ team and see what they have to say about the risks in your area.
Contact Jim’s Fire Safety Today
We hope you found our arson prevention strategies helpful. If you are interested in investing in some fire safety measures for your business, please consider our inspection and maintenance services. We can take care of your fire protection equipment so in the case of an emergency, you have something to protect yourself with.
Call us now or fill in the online form for a free quote.
