Category Archives: Retail Fires

Common Causes of Retail Fires

Common Causes of Retail Fires

If you own and operate a retail space like a department store or a shop located inside of a strip mall, a fire could wreak havoc on your business and cause catastrophic damage. Outside of the fact a fire can put your employees and customers at risk and damage merchandise and equipment, a fire can also force you to spend weeks and potentially even months repairing your retail store and getting it back open for business. It’s why you should strongly consider taking necessary precautions and installing a commercial sprinkler system that best suits your needs and building.

Whether you run a clothing store, a sports equipment shop, or some other kind of retail operation, you need to be mindful of the risk of a fire and do everything in your power to avoid it. Here are some of the most common causes of retail fires:

Electrical Malfunctions

Most retail stores rely on bright lights and colorful signs to sell their products. In order to install these lights and signs, they call on electricians to come in and set up the electrical system that is necessary to power them. However, what happens if an electrician does shoddy work or you add too many electrical items to your store? It could result in a fire at some point down the line. You need to make sure electrical work is up to standard and you need to have a fire suppression plan in place in case something awful happens.

Combustible Products

If you run a sports equipment store or another type of retail outlet that sells combustible products that are flammable, you need to take extra precautions when they are under your roof. They can trigger fires and they can also make them much worse if you aren’t careful. By installing commercial sprinklers, you can counteract the threat that these products bring and give yourself the peace of mind that comes along with putting them into your store.

Abundance of Waste Packaging

Many retail businesses accumulate large amounts of waste throughout the course of a given day. Shipping boxes and packing materials can pile up both inside and outside of stores, and those items can be fuel for a fire if one starts. You should have a plan in place to dispose of these things as safely as possible, and you should also have commercial sprinklers in place just in case a fire starts so that they don’t result in the fire spreading quickly.

The last thing you need is for a fire to knock your retail store out of commission and force you to scramble to make necessary repairs. You also don’t want to put your employees and customers at risk in the event of a fire. So why not get the fire protection you need from R.G. Fire Protection? We can assess your retail space and show you how to take the proper steps to prevent fires from impacting your business. Call us at 330-456-8848 today to discover how we help retail stores with their fire protection needs.