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INDUSTRYNEWS
Don’t Let Christmas
Go Up In Smoke
Tom Welland, Conformance and
Regulatory Affairs Manager, Fireco,
offers some timely advice on fire
prevention during the forthcoming
festive season.
The festive season seems to start earlier
and earlier - with homes and businesses
filled with all manner of colourful
decorations and Christmas music playing
on what seems to be a 24-hour loop until
the big day arrives.
This is, however, one of my favourite
times of the year; but I am more than
aware that there are always some potential
fire risks lurking amongst all that festive
paraphernalia.
We are about to be inundated, I am sure,
with the traditional warnings about fire
safety in our homes during the festive
season - but what about in offices and
other commercial buildings?
As an installer visiting premises at
this time of year, being able to suggest
a few festive fire tips and appropriate
products and systems could make a major
difference and prevent a fire occurring in
the properties in which you work.
During this time of year, property
managers should be warned that it is
even more vital to carry out some simple
checks that can significantly reduce the
chance of fire and the dangerous spread
of both smoke and fire. Here are a few key
recommendations:
• Check that means of escape
routes are clear from obstacles,
such as Christmas trees.
• Ensure that fire doors are not
being wedged open to allow a clear
path to the Christmas party.
• Give decorative lights a visual
inspection before plugging them
in - as the chances are they haven’t
been used for 12 months.
• Check the maximum amps that
can be handled by the fuse in the
mains plug and NEVER overload
electrical plug sockets.
• Turn all decorative lights off.
Make sure the last person to leave
the building unplugs them.
• Don’t let lights touch anything that can
easily burn, such as paper or fabric.
20
THE NOV/DEC 2014 ISSUE
SPONSORED BY DAVENPORT BURGESS
Statistics suggest
that the chances of
a fire occurring in
the home over the
festive period are far
greater than at any
other time of the year.
This also applies to nonresidential buildings, with the
introduction of increased points of
ignition and combustible material that, if
ignited, will quickly spread via the various
decorations hanging from every available
space in the building.
This is the time of year that businesses
start having Christmas parties and invite
clients to celebrate; at Fireco, we will
certainly be joining in the fun! But while
we would not want you to be seen as the
‘harbinger of doom’ and let the thought
of fire ruin your client’s celebrations - it
is important to advise them to be careful
and avoid accidents caused by tired (or
inebriated) employees or other building
occupants.
Fire doors are vital tools in the prevention
of the dangerous spread of smoke and
fire. During the Christmas period, it might
be even more tempting to wedge them
open to create a social atmosphere in a
building such as a care home, or in an
office building to make way for a Christmas
tree, or in an hotel to shuttle food more
easily from the kitchen to the restaurant,
for example.
A wedged-open fire door is a useless fire
door as, in the event of a fire, the door will
not protect those behind it as it is designed
to, or prevent the fire and potentiall deadly
smoke from spreading.
As an installer, you could recommend a
product such as a Dorgard or Freedor; a
wireless automatic door-closing device that
is easily installed and ‘listens out’ for the
sound of a fire alarm. The device holds the
fire door open but closes it in the event of
the fire alarm sounding. This means that
your clients’ buildings can happily keep all
their fire doors open if they wish; safe in the
knowledge that they will close when they
need to, protecting those behind them.
Candles may add to a cosy mid-winter
ambiance; however, if placed near
decorations or greeting cards the chance
‘vital to carry out
simple checks’
of a fire starting are
very high. More
than five fires a
day are started
by candles! Before
they are lit make
sure they are placed
far from anything that
may catch fire. Even if the
candle is not likely to be knocked
over it can still pose a risk. Many dwelling
fires have been started by candles placed
near combustibles that when heated
can ignite. Candles should only ever be
placed in secure holders and never be
left unattended. Never put candles below
shelves or other surfaces and always leave
at least four inches between two burning
candles. This could be a particular issue in
buildings such as care homes, restaurants
and hotels that are trying to add a warm,
hospitable atmosphere but in fact could
be putting the lives of residents, staff and
guests at risk.
As always in the UK, our winter season
is a typically cold affair, and many people
will be delving into their cupboards
and dusting off their electric blankets.
This would be particularly relevant for
residential buildings such as care homes
or hotels.
Before your client starts using the
blankets, advise them to carry out a visual
inspection; if the fabric is frayed, displays
scorch marks or if there are any exposed
elements, it could be time to invest in a
new one. Generally speaking, using your
common sense will be a good ind X