Fire protection engineering inspections and surveys are critical to a sound risk management strategy. From large companies to smaller operations, every organization can benefit from fire risk engineers surveying their facilities and providing recommendations for improvements.
Fire protection surveys typically examine sprinklers, fire alarms, fire impairment procedures, electrical distribution, and storage of flammable or combustible liquids. During a fire protection inspection, expect risk engineers to also analyze your processes to learn where human error or faulty equipment could cause a fire. They may also analyze public and internal data to better understand your risk profile.
With fires costing $1.2 billion each year in the United States, fire protection inspections are critical to saving lives, reducing downtime, protecting property, and helping businesses secure the best possible insurance terms and conditions.
NFPA 25 outlines the baseline standard for inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems. Those systems can include sprinklers, standpipe and hose, fixed water spray, foam, and more. NFPA 25 includes a visual inspection to verify that equipment appears in operational condition and is free of damage. During a visual inspection, look for leaks, ensure that switches are in their proper position, and be sure that critical parts are accessible. The standard also provides guidance on which risks should be examined in quarterly, semiannual, annual, and five-year inspections. Compliance helps maximize system integrity to avoid failure and ensure fast, effective response in a fire emergency.
During a fire protection survey, a risk engineer will assess a wide variety of potential fire hazards. Here is a brief fire protection inspection checklist for risk engineering. They will examine:
To prepare for a fire protection inspection, gather documentation you think might be useful, and be ready to detail your work processes and fire mitigation plans.
The National Fire Protection Association leverages the expertise of fire safety experts, engineers, and others to publish codes and standards aimed at minimizing death, injury, property, and economic loss resulting from fire. The organization creates codes and standards on a wide variety of topics such as fire protection systems, fire alarms, electrical safety and much more. Global Risk Consultants is honored that several of our property risk engineers are part of various committees and help write the codes that set the standard for the industry.
A fire engineering analysis assesses the risk of a fire occurring in a building or facility. Risk engineers will conduct a comprehensive analysis of facilities, equipment, and processes to identify fire hazards and ways to better protect against those risks. They tap into their technical specifications, industry knowledge, and education to understand if fire safety plans are adequate to keep occupants safe and prevent damage. A fire engineering analysis can include desktop and onsite examinations of electrical systems, equipment, fire protection systems, fire alarms, process safety measures, human element programs, boilers, combustible dust hazards, and more.
Global Risk Consultants has helped countless businesses reduce risks by billions. Interested in learning more about fire protection engineering? Contact us today.
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