Whether it’s due to arson, wildfires or human error, thousands of non-residential fires occur in Western Canada each year. These fires cause huge distress to business owners and significant damage to the organization’s they own.

The best way to protect your company from the devastating effects of fire is to analyze your risk, implement levels of protection through new technologies and train your workforce on how to act if a fire does occur. 

Even if you think your organization is prepared, it’s possible that new technology has left you behind and your not as protected as you once were. That’s why it's important to evaluate your fire protection plan regularly to ensure your level of protection is up to date.

To help, Sonitrol Western Canada has created a four-step guide that will help your business make sure it’s doing everything right to protect its profits, employees and assets.

1 - Implement innovative fire alarm monitoring security

Fire alarm monitoring is absolutely key to preventing damage from a fire. Since fires spread fast, your solution needs to be both rapid and verified if it is to stand a chance of preventing loss.

Sonitrol Western Canada’s unique fire detection system combines both 24-hour monitoring and experienced operators in a central monitoring centre to monitor smoke and heat detectors, sprinkler systems and pull stations. Once a fire is detected, our monitoring experts will then verify it.

Once verified, Sonitrol’s central monitoring operators will ensure firefighters are instantly dispatched to your company’s property to stop the fire and prevent it from causing significant damage to your organization.

Sonitrol Western Canada’s fire protection solution includes:

• Sprinkler monitoring.
• Temperature monitoring.
• Smoke and heating monitoring.
• Voice evacuation.
• Duct detection.
• Elevator monitoring and recalls.

2 - Create an emergency evacuation plan

Protecting your business from fire is crucial, but nothing is more important than the welfare of the employees that work for you. Thankfully, with a proper fire alarm monitoring solution, you can protect both - but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have an emergency evacuation plan in case a fire does break out within your business.

Your company should have a clear protocol for all staff to follow so that your employees (and customers if they visit your site) know exactly how to leave your company’s premises safely. This includes having unobstructed emergency exits, a fire alarm, an evacuation drill and regular tests so all employees know exactly what to do.

3 - Make sure you are meeting insurance and industry regulations

Your business will have insurance that covers fire damage, but if you are not meeting regulations in your specific industry then you may be forfeiting your insurance in the event of a fire outbreak. Even worse, if you are not up to date with regulations, you may even be breaking fire code and be liable to hefty fines.

With Sonitrol Western Canada, all of our fire panels are UL/ULC listed and NFPA and ADA approved. Not only that, but we also work closely with local fire departments on plans, permits and inspections to ensure your system meets local fire codes requirements.

4 - Have proper fire extinguishers

Make sure your company has fire extinguishers installed strategically around your business’s premises and that all of them are properly tagged and inspected to ensure they are working effectively.

By training your employees on the proper ways to handle fire extinguishers and when they should (and shouldn’t) be used, your company can minimize the threat of small accidental fires turning into more serious dangers.

However, your employees should be properly trained in what to do in a fire emergency situation - and that means learning when not to use a fire extinguisher because of the risks are too great.

Are you looking for more information from Sonitrol Western Canada and how we can help your business prevent the serious damage that can be caused by a fire? Contact us today and we would be more than happy to answer any questions you have.