10 Most Flammable Items around the Office

Protecting your property from the risk of fire is your responsibility as the building owner or employer, but in order to do that, you need to know what items present a fire hazard.

As we’ve covered extensively in our previous articles, the impact of a fire on your business can be devastating, so you should be doing everything you can to keep informed of any fire hazards that could be on your premises, and taking every necessary step to reduce them.

Most offices will have flammable items present in some form – this is unavoidable, but knowing what these items are and how to protect your employees and the building will prepare you for the worst.

Our team at Target Fire Protection have listed 10 of the most flammable items that you may have in the office, and how to correctly contain them, if they do cause a fire.

If you have recently gone back to the office, or moved to a new one, it’s a legal requirement to have a fire risk assessment in place – for a quote and advice, contact our team today.

Aerosol Cans

Issue:

Aerosols are one of the most flammable everyday items due to the propane or butane used as a propellant. Many workplaces will have aerosol cans present in the form of cleaning sprays, or even deodorant in the bathrooms.

Fire Safety Tip:

The can could explode if overheated or exposed to sunlight, so keeping any aerosol cans in your workplace in a secure, ventilated area is best.

Drain cleaners and disinfectants

Issue:

Drain cleaners and disinfectants all contain chemicals that can be combustible if not stored correctly. If you have cleaning products stored on your premises, never allow these liquids to come into contact with an ignition source.

Fire Safety Tip:

Be sure to store them the right way up with lids screwed on, in a locked ventilated cupboard.

Cooking oils

Issue:

All cooking oils are extremely flammable when they reach a certain temperature, and if in contact with a spark of fire, can be very dangerous.

Fire Safety Tip:

Whether you have a small kitchen for employees to use, or own a property with large kitchens, food cooking in oil should be supervised at all times, with the proper fire equipment in place for emergencies.

Gas

Issue:

Gasoline causes an average of 8,000 house fires every year, due to improper storage. If you have gasoline on your premises, make sure it is stored at ground level and away from any heat sources.

Fire Safety Tip:

Gasoline and petrol can also give off vapours that can easily catch fire if not handled correctly, so sources of ignition should never come into close vicinity to gas tanks.

Heaters

Issue:

When an item is used to warm things around it up, it has the serious risk of overheating and causing a fire.

Fire Safety Tip:

To keep heaters from harm’s way, make sure they are cleaned and serviced regularly, and are kept away from any other flammable materials such as dry combustibles or chemicals.

Moth balls

Issue:

Moth balls are small balls of chemical pesticide and deodorant used to deter mould, moths, and rodents. Consisting primarily of naphthalene, moth balls are deemed as extremely flammable.

Fire Safety Tip:

Although these are more commonly found in the home than in the workplace, it’s essential that extra care is taken when in their vicinity, and don’t keep near electronic equipment.

Damaged Power cords

Issue:

A damaged power cord can spark and cause a fire to spread within seconds.

Fire Safety Tip:

All electronic equipment should be serviced and maintained regularly (known as PAT testing), with any damaged power cords replaced immediately to ensure the safety of everyone in the surrounding area.

Paper and dry waste

Issue:

One of the biggest causes of fire to spread is the improper storage of dry, combustible waste such as paper and cardboard.

Fire Safety Tip:

Many offices and busy workplaces have an abundance of these dry goods that are not stored correctly, and therefore act as a fuel for any fire that breaks out, quickly accelerating the problem.

Soft furnishings

Issue:

Soft furnishings such as sofas are more common in offices where a more relaxed atmosphere is favoured. The fabrics that upholster this furniture is often flammable, which in the event of a fire can burn rapidly and pose a risk to anyone nearby.

Fire Safety Tip:

To ensure your office is safe, make sure any soft furnishings you put in your office are compliant with legislation on fire resistant materials, and that you have the appropriate fire extinguishers nearby in the case of a fire

Styrofoam

Issue:

Polystyrene is classified as a ‘B3’ product, meaning highly flammable. It is prohibited from being used as insulation, or in any exposed installations in building construction, but is popularly used as packaging protection.

Fire Safety Tip:

If you have Styrofoam in the workplace, make sure it is stored and disposed of in the proper and safe way. Be mindful when disposing of this material that you are not leaving it out in the open and therefore vulnerable to arsonists.

Learn more about the causes of fire in an office with our ‘5 most common causes of fire in the workplace‘ article.

Target Fire Protection provides a complete fire protection service for commercial properties across Manchester, Rochdale and the surrounding areas.

We supply and service fire extinguishers and fire alarms, and provide specialist fire safety courses and fire risk assessments to ensure the complete safety of your premises.

To find out more, or to discuss how we may be of assistance to your company, contact our team today and we’ll be happy to help.