Olivia Barredo
March 20, 2023

Fires can leave a devastating impact on businesses. Property damage, loss of revenue, and even closure are just some of the many negative end results of a fire. Building and fire codes are not strictly implemented in the Philippines, which explains why fires are a more frequent occurrence in the metro than we’d like.

These are certainly no joke, and as we’re heading towards the hot season, all the more business owners must be reminded of what necessary steps to take to maintain the safety of their businesses and prevent fires from happening.

Five Ways to Protect Your Businesses from Fire

1. Perform regular building maintenance.

Performing building or establishment maintenance regularly is necessary in fire prevention. Having an expert in the field to scout all the potential fire hazards and other risks is a good way to be aware of what needs to be done and which areas to look out for! Neglect of building maintenance may lead to an accumulation of combustible materials and faulty systems and equipment that may not protect you, your employees, and your property should a fire take place. Not only that, but having your establishment regularly checked can also help you determine whether your suppression systems are expired and need to be updated.

2. Install and maintain fire control and suppression systems.

If there are no fire suppression systems in place, it would definitely be a good idea to install one immediately, as these were designed especially for the purpose of detecting and minimizing fires before they grow into larger, more dangerous and life-threatening situations.

Most establishments already have smoke detectors, pipe sprinkler systems, hoses, and fire extinguishers at the ready. These are in line with fire regulation requirements, but it wouldn’t hurt to have other alternatives should they be old, rusted, or no longer functioning. This way, not only will you have to pay for fewer damage repairs, but the chances of fires growing into something more uncontrollable, at least, become a lot slimmer.

3. Carefully store flammable materials.

It is always good practice to store any flammable materials away from electrical and heating equipment. Well-ventilated areas and areas free from any ignition sources are ideal places in which to store flammable materials like pieces of paper, flammable liquids, or even other hazardous materials.

It is also important–especially for flammable liquids–to store them in their proper containers so as to avoid any kind of spills or leaking whatsoever. Labels and regular inspections of materials should also take place, again, so as to help identify which areas could be potential fire hazards.

4. Be cautious with electrical equipment.

Cable management may be a hassle to start, but keeping your cables well kept and organized is a sure-fire way to prevent any fires from happening. Overloading electrical outlets is one of the most common causes of a fire, so it would do you well to ensure that only a reasonable amount of low-powered equipment is plugged into one extension cord.

Additionally, it is equally important to make sure that even cables and wires are properly inspected by the proper authorities or personnel. This is to ensure that whatever cables are being used are well maintained and do not have any signs of damage or frays. Should there be signs of damage on your cables, replacements should be made immediately so as to prevent any overheating. 

5. Get insurance.

Many Filipinos believe that getting insurance may be a heavy expense, but contrary to popular belief, getting insurance is not as expensive as you might think. For as low as Php166 per month, home and business-owners can easily avail of fire insurance. 

Some might think that taking extreme caution to prevent fires is enough to save the business from risk. But the truth is, fires wait for no one, and these risks may come in the most unexpected of times. Talking to your insurance company may help you find out exactly what your fire insurance covers, but to give you an idea, here is what most insurance companies offer:

• Extended Coverage (Explosion, Smoke Damage, Vehicle Impact and Falling Aircraft)

• Riots and Strikes

• Malicious damage caused by a Third Party

• Robbery

• Earthquake Fire / Earthquake Shock

• Flood and Typhoon

Additionally, here are the types of properties that can be covered by your insurance company:

• Building/s whether occupied as residential, commercial, industrial or used for warehousing purposes.

• Household contents

• Building / Leasehold improvement

• Machinery

• Equipment

• Stocks

With that being said, it is always important to safeguard your business as much as you can with insurance, as this will help cover the costs of building repairs should the very unfortunate event of a fire take place. This way, the risk of becoming bankrupt after a fire won’t be in the cards for you. Having an insured business guarantees that your insurance company will assist you get your business back up and running and continue just fine.

The effects of a fire are harrowing–other than putting you and your employees at very high risk, having to dish out a large sum of money to pay for property damages and other fees may lead to the unfortunate possibility of bankruptcy. Remembering to maintain safety regulations, having regular building maintenance inspections, and getting fire insurance are definitive ways to protect yourself and your business from fires and their effects.