Fire Safety for your Commercial Building

8/31/2020 (Permalink)

Are you looking at purchasing a Commercial Building?

What you need to know for fire safety:

When looking at a particular facility for your business, you should perform a walk through and inspection of the property you are considering.  Pay particularly close attention to the following fire safety items when considering a location for the business:

OCCUPANCY RATINGS: A building’s occupancy rating determines how it can be used wether for office space, restaurant, retail, etc.  Occupancy ratings also specify the number of occupants a building may have at one given time, types of fire-resistive construction required, types of fire protection systems required, exiting requirements, etc. These can change annually.

EXTINGUISHERS: Typically, one fire extinguisher is required per 3,000 square feet of area or 75 feet of foot travel. Extinguishers should be rated 2-A:10-B:C or higher. Requirements can vary depending on the occupancy classification.

EXIT SIGNS: Exit signage and emergency backup lighting are required for all exits except the primary entrance so occupants can safely exit the building in case of an emergency situation.

HAZARDOUS OCCUPANCIES: Businesses that utilize paint booths, glass blowing equipment and certain types of kilns require special approval due to the hazardous nature of this equipment.

In our Northern Michigan Communities, there are many commercial buildings that have been constructed years ago and many have not had any updates when it comes to electrical and heating sources, and are not up to code.  It is important that you protect your investment and your contents when considering a space to either purchase or lease for your business.