5 Ways To Prevent Electrical Fires

Electrical fires account for an estimated $1.3 billion in property damage, 14,000 injuries, and 500 deaths each year, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). From programming the automatic coffee maker to overloading sockets with electrical plugs, every home, office, hospital, school, or other building connected with electricity is at risk of causing a fire.

In most cases, electrical fires are purely accidental, causing damage and injuries worth millions. Thankfully, preventing electrical fires in commercial locations and homes is possible and easy if you have the information you need. In this article, we discuss five ways to avoid electrical fires in commercial buildings.

1. Train employees on the value of fire safety

The first step to preventing fires around your business is training your employees to stay safe. Ensure your employees know how to open the emergency exit door and use the fire extinguisher. If you run a plant that uses an extensive amount of electricity, hire a professional to help your team handle the electrical system safely.

2. Check wiring and replace old appliances, equipment or machinery

Your electrical wiring wears with age, which can cause it to malfunction. If your office wiring is frayed, tattered, or worn out, get an electrician to check, repair, or replace it to prevent electrical fires. Watch out for cord or plug damage; pay attention to noises or plastic smells coming from the electrical system as it signals overheating.

3. Avoid overloading your outlets

Electrical circuits in your workplace are designed to send power to each outlet, but they limit how much each can handle. In any building used by many people, it’s impossible to control who plugs what at what time, which can easily lead to overloading. Fortunately, you can invest in surge protectors to divert extra electricity to the grounding wire and prevent fire.

4. Install smoke alarms in different sections of the building

Smoke alarms are critical for preventing and responding first to prevent property damage or injuries. Make sure your facility has the correct number of smoke detectors. Ideally, you should have a unit at least every 21 feet, including every large room. Add alarms in the basement, parking, and any other section in the building. It’s also essential to have a fire escape system to evacuate people in the event of a fire.

5. Schedule regular electrical inspection

Hire a professional electrician to inspect your system and provide guidance on what you can do to prevent electrical fires and keep everyone safe.  Experts can use their skills and tools to assess your electrical system, seal or replace exposed dangerous wires, and test for quality.

Get your electrical system checked

You have worked very hard to keep your business up and running, and the last thing you want is to lose everything in a fraction of a second. That’s why we thought you might benefit from our electrical services at Wilkinson Electric Inc. We perform electrical installations and repairs to keep your electrical system running optimally and keep fires out of your way. Feel free to call us, and we will be happy to help.

Categorised in: Electrical Safety Tips

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