Fire Marshals visit?
Did the Fire Marshals visit your warehouse recently?
Did the Fire Marshals stop by your warehouse lately? Did you receive a citation, violation, or a verbal warning? Are you feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start?
We’ve compiled a guide of easy-to-fix issues to get you out of the red zone. However, these are some basic ones; consulting a fire safety professional should always be your first option in conjunction with fixing all the issues the fire marshal requested.
In California, warehouses are inspected on an annual, biennial, or triennial basis depending on the jurisdiction in which your warehouse is located.
No two warehouses are alike; thus, the same fire codes apply
It never fails: When we visit a customer’s warehouse and ask what they were written up for, it comes down to two reasons: overcrowded and dirty warehouses, which you can barely walk through. Very seldom do we walk into a clean warehouse with products neatly stacked.
The reason is that when the owners and upper management plan for growth, they do not plan for warehouse safety. In their minds, revenue is their primary focus. Planning for growth is always great! But in your plan, include warehouse safety as well. Some of the questions you need to be asking yourself are;
- What type of products are we storing?
- How high can we stack such products?
- What is their commodity Classification?
- How are we going to store it? In Pallet Racks or on the floor?
- Do we have the right Fire Sprinkler system?
- Do we have enough fire extinguishers in the building?
- Are we “COMPLYING WITH OUR LOCAL FIRE MARSHALS OFFICE?”
If you cannot answer any of the above? It is best to get a fire consultant involved. They will help you identify your products, how high they can be stored, and help you get the correct permits in order for you to stay compliant with your local fire department.
In the mean time, here is what you can do to help mitigate the problem
Before you begin, list the things you need to fix and try to solve all the minor infractions yourself, or you can hire us to do the work for you.
Exits and Egress Paths
Ensure all access doors are correctly striped and that the path is clear of pallets, equipment, and trash. Numbering your doors for ASHER (Active Shooter Emergency Response) personnel is also wise.
The doors should be numbered sequentially, i.e., N1, N2, N3. The “N” stands for North, so an “S” would stand for South, and so forth. Adding an Emergency Evacuation Plaque to your doors can help guide your employees to a predestinated parking lot location. Employee training can help save lives in an emergency. Add “Fire Department Access Door Do Not Block“ signs to all access doors.
Check the following:
- Clear and unobstructed exits
- Operable exit doors
- Properly functioning exit signs
- Emergency lighting
Fire Alarm System
Ensure that your fire Alarm system is in working condition and gets inspected yearly. When the fire marshals visit your warehouse, they usually begin by checking your Fire Alarm System and Exhaust vents. In some cases, they will ask you to identify your exhaust vents with an SEF (Smoke exhaust Fan) Sign.
Here are some things to check:
- Operational fire alarm system
- Accessible pull stations
- Properly maintained and monitored
- Able to identify Smoke Vents with sequence numbering
Fire Extinguishers and correct placement
The type of fire extinguisher you need depends on the size of your warehouse and the products you are storing.
The ABC Dry Chemical (All-Purpose) Fire Extinguisher is the most common type. Still, in some cases, you may be asked for a Carbon Dioxide or CLASS B if you are storing flammable liquids and gasses or a CLASS D if you are storing combustible metals such as Magnesium, Sodium, potassium, sodium-potassium alloy uranium.
It is always good to have an inventory list, a commodity classification list, and MSDS and to follow all guidelines when storing materials in your warehouse.
Lastly, Ensure all your fire extinguishers are visible, that your employees can see the signage without obstructions, and that they are 75 feet away in any direction. For easy visibility, you can use our large format Fire Extinguisher Decals for your columns and walls.
