How to Improve Fire Prevention on Construction Sites
Constructions site safety is a 24×7 task, and one of the top factors is the risk of fire. Fires may start for many reasons, from deliberate actions or negligence to issues with equipment or wiring, to natural causes like lightning. A comprehensive, multi-layered approach can reduce risk and speed up the response time in the event ablaze erupts on your construction site.
How big is the risk of fire? In the U.S., fire departments each year respond to an estimated 8,440 fires in structures that are under construction, undergoing a major renovation or being demolished, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Overall these fires cost an average of $310 million in property damage, 13 civilian fatalities and 132 civilian injuries annually.
Buildings under construction represent some unique risks. Fire protection systems – alarms, sprinklers etc. – are not in place until later in the build. Unfinished structures may house combustible materials and be exposed to the weather. Trash may accumulate from the building and the surrounding area, leading to piles of combustible materials in unexpected places. At the same time, access control can be challenging with many people coming and going from a site.
All of these factors play a role in construction fire prevention.