6 Point Checklist When Hiring a Fire Protection Contractor

Many business owners lack the time and energy to invest into learning extensively about fire protection in the workplace.  While it is important to understand the basics, these entrepreneurs respect their limits and often hire a professional to lend their expertise in fire safety.  These contractors can assist with all fire protection services from sprinkle installation to fire evacuation training.  Below are some tips for hiring a fire protection contractor at your workplace.

1.      Evaluate Your Environment – Before they can help you, a fire protection contractor will need to understand your environment to provide services necessary for your unique situation. Does your business come in contact with hazardous materials?  Are you a restaurant using oils and fats?  These are important questions to ask yourself and ones that a professional will as well.

2.      Know Your Needs– For the most part, you know you will need a fire sprinkler system and extinguisher in your place of business, but what else?  Knowing your needs will help the provider prepare a comprehensive package of fire protection services.  During this time, you should also evaluate your limits.  If you are under-informed on the subject, you may need to rely on your contractor more to perform necessary maintenance and inspections.

3.       Follow Code– While you may not need to know every code and law out there, knowing the basics of local and municipal fire codes is a must for any business owner.   An experienced professional will be able to help you meet these requirements while also making sure you follow the lesser-known guidelines as well.  This partner can prove invaluable in providing expertise in a difficult to understand aspect of fire protection.

4.       Experience Is A Must – When hiring a fire protection contractor, you will want to find one with experience in the field.  You will also want them to have exposure to working in a setting similar to yours.  This will assure that they can address concerns relevant to your industry.  You can also research their credentials and fire protection services online.  Many reputable businesses now have at least a basic website that lists their certifications, specialties, and offerings.

5.      Bundle Services–Providing further cost-savings to their customers, many fire protection contractors offer bundled services.  These comprehensive programs typically include installation, maintenance, and inspection of all fire protection tools.  By securing an on-going relationship with the fire safety expert, business owners can provide a safe environment for their employees for years to come with little effort scheduling appointments and up-keeping a system.

6.      Include Training In The Contract– Ask your fire protection contractor if they also provide training.  Workshops for employees that include fire extinguisher instructions and fire evacuation procedures are invaluable in establishing a sound safety program.  If you don’t feel comfortable conducting these sessions or lack the knowledge to do so, hire the professional to do the work.

Leaving the fire protection at your place of business to chance is a dangerous endeavor.  Hiring a fire protection partner that can assist you in your system for years to come will not only offer security in the building but also piece of mind.  Using these 6 tips when hiring a contractor, you are sure to find a professional that is a perfect match.