Bonfire Night is one of the most exciting festivities of the year, with hundreds of bonfires and firework displays taking place around the country. However, for anyone who owns or operates a commercial property, the night can be extremely stressful as such pyrotechnic activities can take a devastating toll on small businesses if something should go wrong.
In order to safeguard your commercial property, the first step should be to identify likely areas in the vicinity in which fireworks may be set off or bonfires could be lit. Having knowledge of this can help safeguard the exterior of your property, allowing you to take preventative measures before closing up for the day such as removing flammable materials like waste containers or petrol canisters. Additionally, should your property have exterior shutters facing an area of park land or open space, it is a good idea to ensure these are fully operational in order to protect windows and glass panelled doors.
Double checking your insurance documents are up to date is also a logical step in the prevention of damage related claims, as most insurers will cover for accidental fire damage. Having a photocopy of your policy in a safe place away from the building, especially if the original is kept in a filing system on the premises, is also recommended as this can be referenced in the event of a dispute.
Additionally, testing all fire alarms and extinguishers on the premises is a wise move as you may find your insurance is void if there is a fault with smoke detectors or if certain safety precautions have not been met. Fire alarm sensors should be positioned either on the ceiling or high on the walls of rooms and passageways throughout the property and should not be obstructed by furniture or hanging materials. Having a working early warning system can make the difference between your business being able to function and the property being unworkable should the worst happen.
Finally, if your retail business stocks fireworks around this time of year, steps should be taken to prevent theft. Moving fireworks out of window displays and keeping them stored safely in the stock room removes thieves’ temptation to conduct a “smash and grab”, while taking down marketing material showcasing the availability of such items on the premises further reduces the risk of a burglary.
By simply taking small steps to safeguard your commercial property, you can greatly reduce the risk of damage tonight and ensure your business premises are ready for action tomorrow morning.
