Preventing Office Fires

Heat Safeguards

• Control sources of ignition.
• Treat independent building uses, such as an office over a shop as separate purpose groups and therefore compartmentalise from each other.
• Ensure cooking food is always attended to.

Smoking

• Provide no-smoking signs at appropriate locations.
• Ensure smoking area(s) are away from flammable materials.
• Arrange for cigarettes and matches to be disposed of safely and away from other combustible rubbish.

Plant and Equipment

• Ensure all work equipment protects against catching fire or overheating.
• Ensure proper housekeeping, such as preventing ventilation points on machinery from becoming clogged with dust or other materials - causing overheating.
• Has electrical equipment serviced regularly by a competent person to prevent sparks and fires?
• Properly clean and maintain heat-producing equipment such as burners, heat exchangers, boilers (inspected and tested yearly), ovens, stoves, and fryers. Require storage of flammables away from this equipment.
• Use a planned maintenance programme to properly maintain the plant and equipment. Review your programme if you already have one.

Planned Maintenance

• Frictional heat (caused by loose drive belts, bearings which are not properly lubricated or other moving parts).
• Electrical malfunction.
• Flammable materials are used in contact with hot surfaces.
• Leaking valves or flanges which allow seepage of flammable liquids or gases.
• Static sparks (perhaps due to inadequate electrical earthing).

Portable Heaters

• Do not use portable heaters unnecessarily.
• They should have emergency tip-over switches, and thermostatic limiting controls.
• Turn them off if people leave the room or are going to sleep.
• Ensure they are 1M away from anything that can burn.
• Do not use them to dry clothes.

Hot Work 

Hot work often arises from construction and/ or maintenance activities. Hot work includes welding, flame-cutting, soldering, grinding and other equipment incorporating a flame. Hot work can be very dangerous and stringent controls must be in place.

• Identify all hot work.
• Only allow hot work if no satisfactory alternative.
• Ensure relevant contractors are aware of hot work procedures and controls.

Use a hot work permit system including:

• Fire-resistant protective clothing.
• Clear responsibility.
• Routine checking and supervision.
• Item to be worked on removed to a safe area.
• Remove or protect combustible or flammable materials.
• Prevent, suppress and control sparks.
• Prevent, suppress and control heat.
• Provision of and training on suitable fire-fighting equipment.
• Provision of a separate person to fire-watch and use fire-fighting equipment, the fire watcher.
• Particular precautions for special risks, e.g. confined space.
• Leave the workplace clean and safe.
• Final check of area at least 60 minutes after the completed job and certainly prior to premises being vacated.

Electrical Safety

• Get a qualified electrical contractor to carry out installation and repairs to electrical equipment and fittings.
• Maintain proper pest control to avoid rodent damage to electric wiring and equipment.
• Check electrical equipment and remove defective equipment.
• Ensure electrical cords are in good condition.
• Plug appliances and lights into separate electrical outlets.
• Avoid using extension cords. If you require an outlet in an area where there is none, have one installed by a qualified electrician.
• Use extension cords safely - not under carpets or across walking areas.
• Use only one device per outlet.

Oxygen
Oxygen gas is used:

• In welding, flame cutting and other similar processes.
• In steelworks and chemical plants.

Click here to view a video that explains how to prevent office fires.