Businesses owners constantly juggle a handful of priorities and responsibilities at any given time, such as increasing sales, improving productivity, cutting waste, managing employees, and more. One of the important areas that can often get overlooked is property safety, specifically fire safety. In less than a minute, a commercial property fire can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damages and property loss, not to mention possible injuries or even death. In today's Aegis blog post, we examine some of the reasons why fire safety should be a top priority for businesses across all industries.

Can Save Lives of Employees and Customers

First and foremost, a fast-moving fire can put people's lives at risk, and for businesses this would be employees, customers, vendors, or even nearby tenants in their same commercial property center. Businesses, particularly those with a higher risk of fire such as restaurants or bakeries, should make sure they've put fire safety protocols in place to minimize the risk and potential spread of a business fire. This would include fire suppression systems in restaurant kitchens or storage areas, evacuation plans in the event of a fire, and storage safety for hazardous or flammable materials. These proactive steps can help protect the lives of workers, clients, and other individuals who could be harmed by a fast-moving fire.

Protects From Costly Repairs and Damages

A small fire, even one quickly contained, can lead to thousands of dollars in damages, property loss, and repairs, especially if the fire has to be put out by a sprinkler system or fire department. The combination of fire damage as well as water damage caused by sprinkler systems and firehoses can lead to companies having to throw out or repair flooring, Sheetrock, furniture, electronics, raw materials, merchandise, and other business-critical materials. A fire safety plan can help companies know how to quickly handle a fire on the commercial property, which can minimize damages and potential losses. A basic fire safety plan should include working smoke detectors that are tested on a regular basis, working and visible fire extinguishers in multiple areas of the commercial property, and training for employees on how to use fire extinguishers correctly.

Can Reduce Lengthy Closures and Revenue Losses

Finally, when a company develops a fire safety plan that helps prevent commercial fires and teaches employees what to do in the event of a fire, it's making an investment into their long-term future. Proactive fire prevention steps can help a business avoid the lengthy closures that often come with a devastating business fire. Even a short-term closure in today's recovering economy can lead to substantial revenue losses and a possible permanent shutdown, since it's become more expensive to get repairs done due to higher costs for materials. Also, a fire that causes just a minimum amount of property damage can still lead to cancelled contracts and delays with meeting deadlines, and this can also harm a company's sterling reputation.

While a fire on a commercial property is not as common as other issues such as theft or vandalism, it can be much more dangerous and expensive for companies to deal with, so preventing fire damage should be a top priority for businesses, particularly those with a higher risk such as restaurants or retailers. In order to make sure businesses are fully protected, it's also critical to have good Commercial Insurance policies in place to provide the financial support needed if a fire does damage a commercial site. Aegis Insurance & Financial Services partners with businesses across a wide variety of industries to provide comprehensive Commercial Insurance solutions that meet unique needs at competitive rates. Contact Aegis today by phone at 713-850-7622 or through our online form to find out how we can help protect what matters most.