Know the Most Common Causes of Fire in Your Industry

The possible sources of fire in your commercial facility may dictate the type of fire protection most appropriate to protect human life and property. Understanding the leading causes of fire in your type of facility can help you prepare for a fire emergency. At Getz Fire Equipment Co., we can help you develop and maintain your fire suppression system.

Commercial Kitchens

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that more than 7,000 fires occur in restaurant establishments every year in the United States. The most likely location in these restaurants for fires to start is in the commercial kitchen.

The type of cooking equipment that is involved in most restaurant blazes include ovens, ranges, deep fryers, barbecues, grills, portable warming equipment, rotisseries, and grease hoods. Other top causes of fires in restaurants include lighting and electrical equipment, arson, heating equipment, and smoking materials.

Office Buildings

Within office buildings, cooking equipment is still the top cause of fires. Additional causes of fires in office buildings include heating equipment, office, electronic, and entertainment equipment, exposure, arson, and electrical and lighting equipment.

Combustible flammable materials are major cause of fires spreading in office buildings. These materials contribute to an increase in heat, intensity, and size for a fire. For this reason, correctly disposing of fire hazardous materials and proper storage of these materials is an important component of a fire safety plan.

Industrial Spaces

Fires that occur in industrial buildings, such as in manufacturing plants and factories, are some of the most devastating in terms of loss of life and property damage.

Some very common fire risks in industrial facilities include:

• Airborne molten material and sparks resulting from torch cutting, welding, and other hot work, leading to the eruption of the fire from flammable liquid or combustible dust.
• Flammable gases and liquids resulting in an explosion when coming into contact with a heat source such as a spark or flame.
• Friction and heat caused by the moving parts of heavy machinery.
• Electrical wiring not installed according to code, resulting in a spark that ignites flammable liquids or combustible dust.

Mission-Critical Environments

Jet engine test facilities, aircraft hangars, airports, refineries, and other environments related to a critical mission are susceptible to fire threats due to high roof decks, open floor areas, and flammable liquids that exist as a possible ignition source.

A fire suppression system can be designed to address each of the environments outlined above and more. For information about how we can assist you with your fire suppression system needs, call us today at 800.747.3473 or complete our contact form.