Unfortunately, when it comes to restaurants and commercial kitchens, anywhere that cooking equipment is being used is at an increased risk of a building fire. From fire alarm monitoring to fire sprinklers, it can be pretty confusing to know what fire protection equipment and services are necessary. Kitchen fires are the number one cause of commercial fires in the United States, accounting for about 30% of nonresidential fires. The statistics about restaurant fires in particular from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are enough to make any restaurant owner run out and buy more fire protection equipment. Here are the facts about restaurant and bar establishment fires:

• Restaurant fires annually kill 2 civilians on average
• $246 million in direct property damage per year
• 3 out of 5 restaurant fires involve cooking equipment

So how can you mitigate your risk of losing thousands of dollars and endangering employees and guests in a fire emergency. This 2 part series will address the 4 major areas that need to be addressed plus provide some additional useful tips:

• Commercial Fire Alarms
• Portable Fire Extinguishers
• Commercial Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems
• Commercial Kitchen Fire Suppression System
• Bonus Fire Protection Tips for Restaurants and Commercial Kitchens

Part 1 briefly addresses Commercial Fire Alarms, identifies the importance of Portable Fire Extinguishers and emphasizes the need for Commercial Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems. Part 2 will briefly address Building Fire Sprinkler Systems and includes some Bonus Fire Protection Tips for Restaurants and Commercial Kitchens.

Commercial Fire Alarms

The first barrier of defense is to detect a problem before it gets out of control.  A commercial fire alarm system may or may not be required depending on the size of your restaurant, however, it is always recommended to have a detection system in place to ensure that someone is notified if there is an incident at your restaurant.

Portable Fire Extinguishers

Protect your business, customers, and staff by having easily accessible portable fire extinguishers installed. To figure out what type of portable fire extinguisher you need to put out which type of fire, read the many other articles on this website that address portable fire extinguishers. Similar to the commercial fire alarms, portable fire extinguishers must be inspected and tested on a regular basis, typically at least once a month.

Commercial Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems

Having a proper grease hood and ventilation system over your cooking appliances ensures that grease laden vapors are removed and vented out of the area appropriately.  Along with proper ventilation, a specially designed commercial kitchen fire suppression system ensures that if a fire does flare up on your cooking equipment it is quickly extinguished by the system.  Saving both lives and your investment.

The Jay L Harman Fire Equipment team understands your firefighting needs and is ready to help

Jay L Harman’s DOT Hydrostatic Testing facility and equipment meet all NFPA requirements for the hydrostatic testing of self contained breathing apparatus compressed gas cylinders in addition to testing ABC portable fire extinguisher cylinders.

Jay L Harman is the best and one of the biggest firefighting equipment suppliers and service providers in the region, specializing in fire suppression systems, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, fire hoses, hydrostatic testing and more. Serving El Paso TX, Las Cruces NM and the surrounding areas, we pride ourselves on buying local and hiring local whenever possible.

Jay L Harman Fire Equipment is your go-to distributor for OVAL low-profile fire extinguishers in West Texas and New Mexico.

Contact Jay L. Harman Fire Equipment in El Paso TX at 915-533-7021 or Las Cruces NM at 575-523-8880..

Since  1925, we have protected businesses throughout the area from the harms and hazards of fires. Every Jay L Harman technician is licensed and regulated by the Texas Department of Insurance State Fire Marshal’s Office.  Each of these technicians continually receives the most up-to-date factory training and certifications by our manufacturers. Contact Jay L Harman Fire Equipment today. Let our friendly and knowledgeable staff tell you more about our fire suppression systems and help you find the ideal fire suppression system for your needs. Learn more about our full offering of fire extinguisher training, firefighting services, firefighting products, request a quote, ask a question or request additional information.