Reduce your risk of church fires with an annual safety review.
The new year brings our focus to goals and resolutions. January presents a great time for church leadership to review and assess the safety of their facilities. In this blog we will share an annual inspection checklist, arson prevention measures and electrical hazards to avoid. Fires, of all types, pose a real threat to your church. Only 31% of fires occur between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. but account for 65% of property damage. Take the time this new year to reduce your risk of church fires with an annual safety review.
REDUCE RISK OF CHURCH FIRES WITH AN ANNUAL SAFETY REVIEW
Safety checklists should be part of an annual inspection of church property. This is not an exhaustive list or meant to imply that other concerns could not be present. The items listed are those that cause the most damage and result in the more frequent and severe claims.
ARSON RISKS
- Church buildings are often unoccupied.
- Activity schedules are predictable.
- Security systems are often lacking.
- Criminals may target churches because of their beliefs.
REDUCE THE RISK OF ARSON
Building Exterior Checkpoints
-
- Illuminate exterior buildings, doors, and parking lots from sunset to sunrise.
- Install motion-activated lighting near doors and windows.
- Keep doors and windows locked when the building is unoccupied.
- Trim shrubs and limbs around windows and doors to help eliminate hiding places for criminals.
- Secure ladders and tools in a locked shed/outbuilding or inside the building.
- Or secure ladders outside with a high-quality chain and lock.
- Track and limit the disbursement of building keys.
- Consider installation of a keyless electronic entry system.
Building Interior Checkpoints
-
-
- Use timers for lights and/or radios during evening hours.
- Store flammable liquids in a U.L. listed fire cabinet away from any heat sources.
- Install a central station monitored security/fire detection system.
- Consider a fire sprinkler suppression system.
- Confirm that smoke and heat detectors are operational.
- Confirm that fire extinguishers are in place and have been regularly serviced.
- Restrict access to areas containing valuable or combustible materials by locking interior doors.
-
REDUCE RISK OF CHURCH FIRES WITH AN ANNUAL SAFETY REVIEW
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
Many common electrical hazards are easy to identify and affordable to correct. We’ve noted a few below. Hazards can lead to a major fire if left unchecked. Any maintenance or repairs should be performed by a licensed electrician.
Missing Covers on Junction Boxes
- Missing covers on junction boxes, switches and outlets expose energized circuits.
- Exposed circuits can create arc flash, shock, and electrocution hazards.
- Missing covers allow dust, dirt, and debris to accumulate in the housing.
- Covers can also prevent metallic objects to falling into the circuits.
- Lodged metallic objects could arc causing a hazard.
Broken/Unsupported Light Fixtures
- Light fixtures should be undamaged and permanently mounted to the base.
- Hanging, unsupported light fixtures put undue stress on the electrical connections.
- Broken or unsupported light fixtures can produce sparks that can ignite combustibles.
Electrical Panels
- All electrical breaker panels should be equipped with an appropriate cover and remain closed.
- Missing covers expose the circuits to dust and physical damage.
- If an arc or short circuit would occur, the cover will contain the sparks from igniting surrounding combustibles.
- The electrical panel should be indexed as follows:
- To identify each individual circuit breaker.
- The directory must identify the various receptacles, general area or equipment serviced by each circuit breaker.
- Indexing enables quick de-energizing of a circuit under emergency situation.
- Openings should be filled with spare clips.
- Openings allow for the potential for electrocution, physical damage, and dust/dirt to accumulate in the circuits.
Circuit Breakers
- A circuit breaker protects the circuit and equipment when they become overloaded.
- Circuit breakers provide protection when a short develops in a wire.
- Any missing breakers or other openings between breakers pose a hazard.
- Do note tape breakers or physically secure in the “ON” position.
- If the breaker is not allowed to trip, or cannot be manually tripped, the wiring could overheat, increasing the chances of a fire.
REDUCE RISK OF CHURCH FIRES WITH AN ANNUAL SAFETY REVIEW
SPACE HEATER SAFETY
- Look for heaters that have the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) label.
- Choose a thermostatically controlled space heater because they avoid the energy waste of overheating a room.
- Select a heater of the proper size for the room you wish to heat.
- Do not purchase oversized heaters. Most heaters come with a general sizing table.
- Locate the heater on a level surface away from foot traffic.
- Keep children away from the heater.
- Never leave a space heater unattended.
REDUCE RISK OF CHURCH FIRES WITH AN ANNUAL SAFETY REVIEW
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or controlling it until the fire department arrives.
- Portable Fire Extinguisher should be used for an incipient fire and a fire that is easily extinguishable.
- Not designed to fight large or spreading fires.
- Fire extinguisher must be properly located within the building.
- Fire extinguisher must be in good condition and fully charged.
- Operator must have access to the appropriate type and size of fire extinguisher.
- Operator must understand how to use the extinguisher.
This fact sheet will cover how fire extinguishers are an excellent first line of defense.
REDUCE RISK OF CHURCH FIRES WITH AN ANNUAL SAFETY REVIEW
Click here for an annual inspection checklist.
We thank Guideone Insurance for this information.
Click here to access their to access their full Fire Safety ebook.
Also, see one of our other Safety Advisories.