Fire

Restaurants, with their grease traps, commercial cooking equipment, and fast paced schedules, can be especially prone to fires. A few simple mistakes and the right situation could result in a disaster that ends your business, or worse, ends up hurting a customer or staff member. Those reasons and more are why it is so crucial for restaurant and bar owners to make sure their establishments are maintained properly, and that all staff members are trained in emergency procedures. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, from 2006-2010 there were an estimated average of 7640 fires in restaurants or bars, which resulted in two deaths, over 100 injuries, as well as $246 million in property damage. While the NFPA data suggests that 71% of these fires were fairly small, any incidents that result in downtime can hurt your business, and send customers to competing restaurants. Here, we reiterate some tips on how to reduce the risk of fire in your establishment, and ensure the health of your business. Restaurant industry website FastCasual.com recently put together an introductory guide with easy tips for minimizing the risk of fire in your restaurant. The NFPA has regulations in place that dictate proper maintenance and cleaning of kitchen and restaurant equipment, so many of the tips listed are based on those suggestions and guidelines. The first, and most obvious step, is to make sure that surfaces, hard to reach areas, and stove hoods and vents are properly cleaned and maintained. Improper duct cleaning and lack of maintenance accounts for 21% of all restaurant and bar fires, a staggering number. The recommended cleaning intervals vary, depending on the volume of customers served and the types of ingredients your restaurant uses in the kitchen. It is also advised that restaurant owners install automatic fire suppression systems, to help mitigate damages should a fire start in your kitchen. One of the most important things is to always ensure that any excessive greases are cleaned promptly, as it is highly flammable, and build up over time can pose a major combustion threat. The truth is, restaurant kitchens are busy places, full of potentially dangerous equipment and materials. While there is no way to make your restaurant fireproof, you can take the steps mentioned about - and more - to help prevent potential disasters. Check out the source link below for FastCasual's full breakdown, and be sure to train your staff for emergency preparedness. In the event of an emergency, a well prepared staff can help minimize damages, and ensure customer safety. As always, if you have any more tips or stories to share, give us a should out on Facebook, Google +, LinkedIn and Twitter! Source: FastCasual, Image Credit (Flickr), NFPA