FIRE AND SECURITY CONCERNS FOR YOUR VACATED PROPERTY
If
you have found yourself as the Facility Manager, Property Manager or Owner of a
property that has been vacated by suspended operations due to the COVID-19
virus orders, there are some best practices that should be followed in order to
assure your property can weather the duration and avoid losses. Without
employees on-site, who normally are the eyes and ears, many potential hazards
and risks may go un-noticed. A first step to reducing the potential of a loss
or liability is to consider the following factors:
Theft and Vandalism
Unfortunately, unoccupied businesses are an easy target for burglary,
trespassing, vandalism and arson. Vacant properties invite those looking for
shelter or a spot for criminal activity and with our current situation, these
properties lack many or the usual deterrents occupants and the presence of passers-by normally
provide. We are now more reliant than ever on electronic detection and surveillance
systems.
Fire
Fires can spread very quickly and there may be additional delays in reporting
because the building is unoccupied and there is less traffic in the area. Opportunistic
people seeking shelter may inhabit your facility and become reckless and unsafe
with smoking or open fires. In fact, according to the National Fire Protection
Association, 43% of unoccupied building fires were intentionally set and
account for 25% of all building fires.
Temperature Concerns
It is important to maintain utility service to regulate temperatures and avoid
possible damage from extreme fluctuations. Not maintaining temperatures can
also possibly lead to a less effective security system.
Plan Ahead – Prior to vacating a building, have
a plan in place
When shutting down a facility, you cannot just lock the doors, turn off the lights
and walk away. Idle and unoccupied buildings still have substantial property
values exposed to loss. Before leaving a building unoccupied, there needs to be
a comprehensive plan in place including detailed risk assessment of areas to
focus on.
Notification:
Upon vacating a building, it is important to notify the local authorities
including police and fire departments and Land-lords and Owners. They should be
aware of any issues regarding access to the building including names and
contact info for keyholders and the security measures in place. Consider
stopping mail service if relevant and seal letterboxes
Securing the Physical Property:
* Lock all doors , windows and openings
* Limit access points to the property and facility
* Secure fencing and barriers
* Intrusion alarm should be provided on all doors, windows or glass break detection
as well as motion detection for interior traps
* Video cameras should be installed and strategically placed on both the
interior and exterior of the facility
Lighting:
A well-lit property will deter crime by increasing visibility and add to
possibility of detection. Automatic lighting is imperative throughout the
perimeter of the building and should be considered inside as well.
Utilities:
It is important not to interrupt utility service at the facility as well
because many of the critical systems rely upon them. The alarm systems,
lighting, surveillance systems, emergency responders radio amplifiers (ERRC)
and access control are dependent upon electricity supply to function. While many
of these systems have a back-up power source, they have a limited capacity. Internet
service may be the means of transmission for alarm signals and camera image
transmission off-site so it must be maintained. While not as prevalent these
days, telephone lines may be utilized for security system transmission and
still support a surprising amount of the fire alarm system even though cellular
systems are the communication mode of choice now-days. Gas service and
janitorial should also be considered.
Periodic Inspections:
Conduct frequent (daily or weekly) inspections of all areas of the property.
The inspection should focus on security, fire protection systems and
maintenance items like lighting. Alarms should be tested for connection to the
Central Monitoring Station. Address items of deficiency quickly. Consider
hiring a professional guard service if prudent.
Required Inspections:
Fire alarm systems detect a fire and alert with a visual, audible and remote
signal to a monitoring center. It may include automatic detection, water-flow
and valve tampers for the sprinkler and smoke detectors. The integrity of these
systems is critical if a building is unoccupied. Fire protection systems
protect the physical property via sprinkler and suppression systems. They rely
on an adequate water supply to perform and become increasingly important with
the absence of occupants for early warning.
All of these Life-Safety Systems require annual, semi-annual, monthly or even
weekly testing in some cases by law. Before leaving a property unoccupied they
should be tested by a licensed fire alarm company. In fact, some tests that
require setting off the audible alarms may be well suited for scheduling when
the building isn’t full of workers, so now me be a great time. If the property
ends up being idle for a while, be sure to test before re-occupying the
facility.
***UNOCCUPIED PROPERTY CHECKLIST***
For an emailed copy of the ProTech
Building Inspection Checklist, contact us at [email protected]
***SCHEDULE FIRE / SPRINKLER INSPECTION***
To schedulea fire alarm or sprinkler inspection in the Houston area, contact [email protected] or [email protected]
***INSTALL CELLULAR MONITORING***
To inquire about cellular monitoring. Contact [email protected] or [email protected]