Spotlight on fire safety and smoke ventilation for local businesses

The recent explosion at a property in Leicester that saw four people lose their lives has given many businesses food for thought. This tragic story has helped to put the spotlight on the issue of fire safety. Companies based in and around Shrewsbury have had more than their fair share of incidents to deal with too.

Only last month, the story of a train which caught fire at Shrewsbury Train Station showed that fires can occur pretty much anywhere. In that incident, the Shropshire Fire Brigade were quick to act, evacuating the premises and quickly extinguishing the fire. However, when there are no firemen on hand to immediately stop one from spreading, ventilation becomes the next priority.

Damage limitation

The first thing businesses must do in the event of a fire is evacuate the premises. Get everyone out as quickly as possible. Letting smoke out of the building is a must too, so that those trying to escape don’t breathe in any potentially toxic fumes. The latter is an exercise in damage limitation, putting safety of workers and customers first and the building second.

With the Grenfell Tower fire of last summer still firmly in the memory, fire safety for publicly-owned buildings has seemingly taken priority over that in private and commercial properties. A recent report highlighted the need for fire safety in schools to be improved. As for businesses, they are required to take steps to prepare for when the worst happens.

Safety checks

Many Shrewsbury businesses are making comprehensive fire safety checks. They involve looking at existing equipment to see if it works, conducting regular fire drills and improving the safety equipment they have on their premises.

The materials used in buildings are also now being checked, partly as a consequence of the faulty cladding which was at fault for Grenfell. The same applies to electrical items and wiring, as well as any other possible hazards like leaking water and gas pipes.

Ventilation systems need to be checked thoroughly as well. Smoke ventilation equipment placed in stairwells, lobbies and near emergency exits from businesses such as Rocburn can make a difference. In a matter of seconds, an effective system can open several windows and doors at once to vent the smoke and ease the passage of people inside to safety.

With all of those checks and the appropriate equipment in place, businesses all over Shrewsbury and Shropshire should be prepared for fires of all sizes. If left to chance, incidents like those in Leicester are more likely to happen.