If you want to achieve high standards of fire safety and maintain them, it’s important to regularly inspect your property. As part of this, you must check for hazards and vulnerabilities, and consider your fire protection measures, such as smoke control systems. We want to have a closer look at that here. Then, if you need to arrange fire risk assessments in Redcar or other parts of the region, you can trust our competent experts.
Deadly
Many people know that smoke is deadlier than the fire itself, but do you know why? Inhaling toxic gases and fine particles can have a serious impact on the lungs and airwaves. In the worst cases it can lead to asphyxia. Additionally, the smoke makes it harder for people to evacuate; it can obscure their vision and cause confusion. This causes problems for firefighters too.
Because of the danger, many properties need smoke control systems. It’s their job to prevent it from spreading through a property. At the same time, they can work to ensure there is breathable air and help to maintain visibility. This is crucial for escape routes.
Smoke control systems always feature some form of vents. Some are natural and work continuously. Others are mechanical (automatic opening vents AOVs) and only open when necessary. In both cases, you need to ensure they perform effectively. Therefore, regular checks are important. There will also come a point when you need to consider if they require an upgrade or replacement. Speak to us about fire risk assessments in Redcar and other areas if you need them.
Are they still reliable?
A number of factors indicate your smoke control systems may no longer be up to standard. For example, if they are over 10 years old and experience regular faults and breakdowns, they are likely beyond their service life. Plus, if there have been alterations to the building or changes in usage, they may no longer be sufficient. Finally, if there have been changes in regulations, you may need to act.
The key thing to look at here is whether to upgrade or completely replace your systems. Upgrading is a viable option in many cases, especially if the infrastructure still complies with regulations. When only a small number of components need replacing, an upgrade is by far the cheapest option.
On the other hand, full replacement is always more cost-effective over time. It’s best if the current system is past its service life and no longer sufficient for the building. However, keep in mind it will cause more disruption and may require alterations to the building.
Insightful fire risk assessments in Redcar
The most important thing to keep in mind is buildings need to evolve over time to maintain fire safety. Things like smoke control systems don’t last forever, even if nothing else changes within the building. It’s always best to be proactive rather than waiting and reacting to a problem.
If you want to arrange fire risk assessments in Redcar or other parts of the Tees Valley region, you can rely on us. We are competent experts, able to inspect a variety of properties. Crucially, you can rely on us to give you useful insights into risks and how to address them.
So, contact us if you want to review fire safety in your property.
