Hot and Cold: Top Reasons Fireproofing Is Especially Important During Winter
Fireproofing your facility is crucial year-round, but it becomes especially important during the colder months. Refresh your memory on the importance of fireproofing your facility for winter, as well as how Kaloutas can help you.
The Importance of Fireproofing in the Winter
Increased Risk of Fires in Heated Spaces
You may not realize it because the season is anything but warm, but winter is actually one of the worst times of the year for fires. It’s been observed that heating spaces increase the risk of fires. The various systems used to heat spaces, from electric to gas, all come with a risk of starting and accelerating fires.
In fact, heating, electrical, and ventilation systems are among the most common reasons for facility fires in the winter. This sometimes results from an outdated or poorly maintained system. A fire may be caused by space heaters that overheat or are placed too close to flammable surfaces, spreading flames throughout the building. Electrical shortages can also start fires.
To make things worse, conditions tend to be drier in the winter, and a dry atmosphere makes flames spread even more quickly.
People May Be Less on Guard During Winter
The importance of fireproofing your facility for winter cannot be overstated, especially since most people are less on guard in the winter months. Many people make a common assumption that fires happen less in winter. This misconception is understandable but false. Ensuring your facility has proper fireproofing reduces the overall risk, protecting your property and your employees.
Generators Can Pose a Risk
If your facility uses generators during the winter months, note that this equipment poses another potential fire risk. Without proper maintenance, generators can lead to electrical issues that can start a fire. Generators also come with a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, so be careful when using them.
Candles in Office Areas
Some people will want to make administrative areas of the facility more festive or cozy during the winter by lighting candles. This is especially common during the holiday season, but it is also fairly common during the rest of the winter. However, any open flame, candles included, has the potential to spread when unattended.
In addition to proper fireproofing, you can eliminate this potential risk by reminding all occupants not to light candles inside your facility, no matter the occasion.
The Human Cost of Fires
Regardless of the time of year, the primary reason to fireproof your facility is to prevent damage to your property, injuries, and even death. A fire that rapidly spreads can easily injure or kill anyone in the facility.
When it comes to avoiding injuries and death, fireproofing aims to slow down the fire and prevent it from spreading. This buffer gives your team enough time to evacuate and receive help. It also minimizes the amount of smoke people are exposed to as they exit the building. Because smoke inhalation can be incredibly dangerous, controlling the spread of fire and smoke is of utmost importance.
When you properly fireproof your facility, you not only protect all individuals who enter the building – you also decrease the risk of liability if someone gets hurt on your property.
The Financial Cost of Fires
Even with no one injured, fires can be incredibly costly. Think of all the damaged materials and equipment you might have to replace. Consider the losses due to downtime as you repair the facility and get your equipment and materials replaced.
You may think your building’s steel beams and other structures are sturdy enough, but think again. Steel beams are more fire resistant than most other materials, but they suffer extreme damage at high temperatures. By 1,000 degrees, steel loses as much as 40% of its strength. By 1,500 degrees, it can lose as much as 90% of its strength. Imagine the scale of damage that weak steel beams can cause. The average temperature in building fires goes as high as 1,500 to 2,000 degrees, so damage to your steel beams is highly likely.
Even with fire insurance, you can expect to dedicate countless hours to the administrative requirements of making your claim and the possibility of an increase in your insurance premiums.
Winter Can Affect Firefighters’ Response Time
Firefighters, along with good fire safety strategies, are crucial to containing a fire. However, it can be more challenging for firefighters to reach your facility in the winter. Blizzards or ice on the road can affect their response time, leaving your facility more exposed to damage and your people more at risk of injury or worse.
When the firefighters finally arrive at your facility, they may encounter unforeseen challenges, such as frozen water lines or fire hydrants.
Winter Storms Can Increase Fire Risks
In addition to delaying firefighters’ response time, winter storms can also increase your risk of fires. For example, a heavy storm may cause trees to fall or knock over power lines. Open power lines are a particularly large risk, as the electricity could potentially spark a fire.
Some Solutions Can Prevent Fire and Provide Insulation
Knowing these risks, it’s time to consider fireproofing solutions that provide insulation and prevent the spread of fire. Intumescent fireproofing, for example, insulates your building while delivering its unique fireproofing benefits. When exposed to high heat, these coatings expand, creating an additional barrier that protects structures and assets from flames for extended periods of time.
Another good option for interior insulation and fire protection is thermal-acoustic insulation, which should be used with other fireproofing methods. Thermal-acoustic insulation regulates noise and heat within your facility. Though it does not directly prevent the spread of fires, it can reduce the risk of fires from overheating. The material also protects against thermal shock, which occurs if your building expands and contracts as a result of heat transfer.
Conveniently, the most common types of thermal-acoustic insulation are compatible with a majority of fireproof coatings. With fireproofing and thermal-acoustic insulation, you get maximum benefits and increased safety in your facility.
Fireproofing Is Part of Compliance
Of course, fireproofing your facility is an important aspect of staying compliant with local laws. Each municipaltity’s requirements vary, but you are mandated to meet at least the minimum fireproofing compliance guidelines.
Remember that legal troubles can force your business to close in the most extreme cases. That is especially true if word about non-compliance gets out and hurts your company’s reputation.
Best Practices for Winter Fireproofing
Like any other time of the year, the best method of fireproofing your facility will be to consult professionals. They will analyze your space to spot unique risks and inform you about them. Professionals are also familiar with all the applicable laws, so they can advise you on the best way to fireproof your facility, keeping you compliant.
From there, professionals can recommend the best fire stopping, fire prevention, and fireproofing methods, from intumescent fireproofing to cementitious or thermal-acoustic fireproofing. In most cases, they will suggest a combination of methods for the best results.
Finally, fireproofing experts will install everything properly to maximize your protection against fires. They can even help you maintain your facility’s fireproofing in the future or do regular inspections to confirm the safety of your building. If your fireproofing needs updating, they can provide services like fireproof patching or replace your fireproofing to ensure the safety of everyone and everything inside your facility.
Compliance is not an option – neither is safety. You must protect your business, your assets, your reputation, and your people from the damage fires can cause. Kaloutas is here to help you do just that (and more). Keep your facility safe and compliant this winter and beyond with Kaloutas’ fireproofing services.