Fire Damage

4/3/2019 (Permalink)

Fire Damage

In the previous blog about storm damage in the commercial setting, we talked about the importance of the plenum space and plenum wiring. The main reason we are discussing this now, is so you can be mindful of the damage that an inner wiring fire can cause to your business building. Whether you own a small barber shop in an old building, or you own a high rise in NYC, the issue of preventing fire damage is of significance.

Fire can pulverize everything it touches. Unlike water damage, fire damage is all consuming and can destroy everything in its path. In the home, fire damage can cause smoke that penetrates all fibrous surfaces. The flames can consume wood and fabric within moments. Wire fires start with ripped coating that cause the electricity to trickle out until the flame connects with the wall insulation and starts the flame process.

Older buildings usually do not have protective coatings that would prevent heat from escaping the wiring so if you are in an older building, have an inspector come out and take a look at the wiring inside of the wall space. If the wiring is old, it may be time to replace it or find a new business location. In newer structures, the wires may be sturdier but still not suitable for prevention of an electric fire in the future.

Fire damage inside of a corporate structure can also cause loss of data. Loss of data was an issue that was part of the 911 discussion on how to protect valuable information. If you keep paper files, you need a fire proof box to store those so your paperwork will not be lost. Many CEOs simply save a copy of their electronic documents in a remote place we call “the cloud”, which is a server somewhere outside of the business.

The best way to reduce loss is to have a professional fire damage specialist ready to assist.