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It may seem small, but when it comes to commercial fires, the fire extinguisher is your mightiest tool. Fire and Emergency New Zealand report that 80% of fires in commercial properties are extinguished before the Fire Service arrives. And 90% of those fires are put out using fire extinguishers.
However, NZI Risk Consultant Dean Pleydell says it’s surprising how many businesses go through an incident before they realise the value of an extinguisher. Some businesses even assume they have one on-hand when they don’t or fail to train staff on how to use them and where they are kept. “Quite often the fire service will turn up, grab the fire extinguisher off the wall and put the fire out. It’s quicker and less damaging than water.”
" It's surprising how many businesses go through an incident before they realise the value of an extinguisher.
Dean Pleydell - NZI Risk Consultant
The right extinguisher for the job
Every business should have a fire extinguisher, but using the correct one is vital to safeguard your business and assets.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s online guides can help identify the right fire extinguisher for your business. Pleydell also recommends you talk to the local fire department or contact an expert specialising in extinguishers, so they can tailor advice to meet your needs.
Controlling a fire before it gets too large
While you should only fight a fire if it’s safe to do so, Pleydell says modern fire extinguishers when used correctly are very effective at stopping fires before they cause too much damage. PSL Fire & Safety have been producing fire-fighting equipment in New Zealand for over a hundred years and Suppression Systems Manager, Steve Smith, often receives thanks from businesses and fire crews for helping save the day. “Over the years our fire-fighting equipment has helped to save both lives and millions of dollars of damage to businesses. You may not have appreciated it before, but once you’ve used a fire extinguisher to save your business, you’ll know the true value.”
Reducing the risk of fire
To help your business be prepared for fire, the Risk Solutions team at NZI have created a range of guides to identify fire risks, develop mitigation plans and decide on the best locations for your fire-fighting equipment.
Download these guides here.
Talk to your insurance broker today to arrange for an NZI risk consultant to visit your business and give you some tips on how to improve fire safety at your business.
