Many small businesses ignore essential office upgrades and concentrate on pinching pennies, but in the long-run, that frugality ultimately can lead to a company’s downfall. A recent infographic published by Eastern Kentucky University, reveals that more than 50 percent of office fires occur due to cooking, electrical, lighting and heating equipment.
Additionally, the National Fire Protection Association reports that fire departments respond to an estimated 3,340 office building fires annually, leading to an annual average of $112 million in direct property damage.
Investing in equipment upgrades and regular maintanence is an easy way to prevent office fires, and one of the many described in the graphic. Office fires are more common than you might think and companies legally are required to have fire safety procedures in place.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments respond to an estimated 3,340 office building fires annually. Annually, these fires lead to an average of four deaths and 44 injuries in addition to the $112 million in direct property damage.
Every blaze starts with an ignition source and builds from there. A fire that goes unnoticed can cause large amounts of damage in a short period of time. Plus, office workers often are trained to evacuate rather than fight these fires.
Some fire facts:
- Most office fires occur between noon and 2:00 P.M. on weekdays.
- 31 percent of fires occur between 7 P.M. and 7 A.M. but account for 67 percent of total property damage.
- Office blazes are less common on weekends because fewer people on location means fewer opportunities for ignition.
What causes fires in the office:
- 29 percent of fires are caused by cooking equipment yet account for only 6 percent of damage.
- 23 percent of blazes are caused by electrical, lighting or heating equipment, accounting for a combined 18 percent of damages.
- Surprisingly, only 10 percent of fires are ignited intentionally but comprise 20 percent of property damage.
For more information on office fires and how to prevent them, check out the infographic below created by Eastern Kentucky University’s Online Bachelors Degree in Safety program.
