Professional Electrician in Back Bay: Restaurant Fire Safety

While a working fire protection system is required in restaurants across America, there is still more that you can do to prevent a fire in your Greater Boston area restaurant. It is important to hire a Boston electrician to install fire protection in Back Bay or anywhere in the surrounding area to ensure that everything is working as it should. Commercial electrical services are required in most instances, so this is definitely not a DIY (do-it-yourself) type of situation. There are many risks for fires in restaurants, starting with open flames, hot equipment, cooking oils, cleaning chemicals, multiple electrical connections, clogged vent systems, and paper products. The list of risks can go on and on. There is no excuse for not having a quality fire protection system in place for every size restaurant or food service facility.

Fire Statistics: Understanding the Facts
If you own or manage a restaurant in Southeastern Massachusetts, it is important to have a clear picture of the risk associated with fires in the restaurant industry. Whether you are a five-star eating establishment or a small, local donut shop, the risks are the same. Each year, fires cause an average of $246 million in direct property damage for eating and drinking establishments across the United States. Approximately 8,000 food service businesses report a fire each year. This information is not provided to scare you, but to inform you of the risk. The data was collected and tabulated by the NFPA or National Fire Protection Association.

A restaurant fire won’t just hurt your business; it could ruin it, resulting in lost revenues and ultimately a complete closure. Your best bet is to reduce risk and prevent a fire from occurring in the first place. That’s why you need to hire a Boston electrician for all of your commercial electrical services. Not only is the work guaranteed – and the installer licensed and insured – but the results will be far greater than anything you could do yourself to save a few bucks. Start by choosing to upgrade or install fire protection in Back Bay. Select a quality fire protection system that is designed specifically for use in restaurant situations, and that will cover the amount of space and equipment that you want to protect.

What You Need: Fire Protection System
The first thing you will want to get for your kitchen is something called an automatic fire-suppression system. Much different than a typical fire alarm or smoke detector, this equipment was designed specifically for use in a restaurant. Studies show that over 55 percent of all restaurant fires are directly due to cooking equipment. If you hire a Boston electrician to install an automatic fire-suppression system, you can reduce those statistics considerably. This system will automatically dispense flame suppressing chemicals when activated. The chemicals can also be used by pressing a manual switch for even more protection. This system also shuts down the electric or fuel supply line to the cooking equipment.

ATTENTION RESTAURANT OWNERS: While regulations in Massachusetts require you to have portable fire extinguishers as a backup for any fire protection system, it is a good idea to go above and beyond to protect your business. Make sure you have Class K extinguishers, which are designed for kitchen fires that involve grease, oils, and fats that are burned at exceedingly high temperatures. These extinguishers should only be used after your fire suppression system has been activated. Make sure to also have Class ABC extinguishers throughout your restaurant in non-cooking areas for things like electrical fires, wood, plastic, and paper products.

The entire electrical system at your restaurant should be inspected and regularly maintained, at least twice each year. Keep an eye out for signs of unusual wear and tear, such as cords that are frayed or wiring that is cracked. Things like broken switch plates should also be checked for on a regular basis and replaced immediately when they are discovered to reduce the risk of electrical fires even further. It is in your best interest to hire a professional electrician to perform all commercial electrical services and to install fire protection in Back Bay and the surrounding area to protect your commercial business. Not only will working with a pro help keep you up to code, but it can also help to reduce your insurance premiums and liabilities with regard to fire safety and electrical wiring.

Contact M Foley Electric to Install Fire Protection in Back Bay
Whether you need to install a brand new commercial fire protection system or if you just want to have your existing system inspected by professional commercial electrical services, you can count on M Foley Electric to get the job done. We offer a broad range of services for fire protection systems in the Greater Boston area, as well as other related services for electrical inspections, installations, and upgrades. Call today at 857-829-0516 to speak with one of our customer service agents or to schedule an appointment for any of our professional electrical services.