Top Causes Of Commercial Fire Suppression System Failure

Restaurant fire suppression systems are the most crucial part of fire safety in restaurants as more than 61% of fire incidents occur in commercial kitchens. As per the NFPA, accidents with cooking equipment or materials are the leading cause of restaurant fires. Therefore, commercial restaurants must have an efficient fire suppression system installed to minimize the threat of kitchen fires.

The fire suppression system is designed to automatically activate when there is a fire threat and smother the fires to prevent the spread of the fire immediately. As per statistics, automatic suppression systems are effective in preventing 85% of kitchen fires. However, only installing a kitchen fire suppression system is not sufficient as it also needs to be well maintained and well-designed for optimum safety. Many commercial restaurants make some mistakes that may directly or indirectly cause a fire suppression system failure.

We have compiled a list of top causes which may lead to fire suppression system failure that you should look out for:

1) Lack of Maintenance

The restaurant’s fire suppression system needs regular cleaning, inspections, and maintenance services to stay operable. If the cleaning and maintenance are neglected, the fire station hood can accumulate grease, oil, and other cooking materials. As a result, it can cause fire suppression system failure during fire emergencies as the accumulated materials are highly flammable and can lead to severe consequences in a fire emergency. As per the NFPA, 22% of fires were caused due to the neglected cleaning of cooking appliances. Therefore, you must ensure proper cleaning, inspections, and maintenance of your restaurant’s fire suppression system, hoods, and ducts to prevent/minimize fire threats.

2) Poorly Designed Ducts

Even if you have a high-quality fire suppression system installed to prevent fires, the exhaust hoods and ductwork placement can influence the fire spreading. Whenever there is a fire, ducts play a crucial role in controlling the airflow and removing flammable gases. However, if the vents are poorly designed and installed, they can stimulate the spread of fire. The fire can quickly spread throughout the kitchen if the proper safety measures are not taken to prevent such accidents. Thus, it is crucial to consult with a fire safety professional for expert assistance.

3) Training of Staff

Training your staff regarding the fire prevention measures and what to do in a fire emergency is just as important as installing a fire suppression system. Most fire suppression systems are designed to activate automatically during a fire. However, your staff should also be trained about how to manually activate it. Your staff also needs to be well-educated about the various fire risks and the proper procedure to prevent accidents for minimizing fire risks in the kitchen.

4) Outdated Fire Suppression System

To ensure the reliability of the fire suppression system, it needs to be well-designed as per the commercial kitchens’ fire suppression needs. Therefore, your fire suppression system needs to be inspected and updated as per the NFPA codes from time to time. If your fire suppression system has been designed as per old codes and has not been updated in many years, it may put your staff and business at serious fire risk. Therefore, restaurant owners must ensure regular inspections from certified professionals and update the kitchen fire suppression system as required for compliance with appropriate fire safety codes and regulations.

5) Major Layout Expansion

When the restaurant business is going well, restaurant owners may decide to expand the restaurant layout without installing a new fire suppression system. However, it can be a grave mistake as fire suppression systems are usually installed to support a specific layout according to the restaurant. So, it is crucial to redesign the fire suppression system to support the new layout when there are any major expansions.

Whether you are planning to extend your business operations or have not had a fire suppression system inspection in more than 6 months, contact our team of licensed professionals at William Hird & Co Inc. for expert assistance. We specialize in the installation of various fire safety devices, including fire extinguishers, restaurant fire suppression systems, sprinklers, and many other types of fire safety equipment. We also provide regular fire safety inspections, maintenance, and replacement services as required.

Schedule a consultation with our experts for reliable assistance.