Industrial Fire Safety

Frequently Asked Questions – Industrial Fire Safety

How do I know if my industrial facility requires additional safety measures?

• An industrial facility, new or existing, should have a fire and life review completed. Whenever changes are made to an industrial facility, the impact on fire and life safety should be reviewed.
• Even with no changes, it is good practice to have fire and life safety reviews done periodically due to changes in fire and life codes and standards.
• The safety codes and standards are being updated regularly with new knowledge about hazardous materials or operations, new fire protection technologies and lessons learned from fires and explosions.
• The industrial fire safety team at PLC Fire Safety Engineering (PLC), can complete these fire and life safety reviews efficiently with our extensive knowledge of the safety codes and familiarity with many industrial operations.

Which types of industrial facilities does PLC have specialized expertise?

• PLC Fire’ s industrial fire safety team has experience with the following facilities: power plants, manufacturing processes, agricultural, distilleries / breweries, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, printing, telecommunications, flexible packaging, mining and mineral processing.
• If you don’t see your type of facility listed above, chances are we have experience in that industry. Reach out to us at the contact below to see if we can help.

How often should my industrial facility be inspected for hazards?

• An industrial facility should have a fire safety plan and safety procedures in place. Inspections by trained staff within your organization should be done on a regular basis.
• Ongoing, regular inspections of your facility will mitigate risk of a fire event. Inspections by a specialized independent third party such as PLC Fire is highly recommended since we are familiar with the latest fire protection and life safety codes and standards.

Do I need an emergency action plan?

• An emergency action plan, often part of a facility’s fire safety plan, is an excellent way to organize employee actions during an emergency to reduce loss of life and property.
• PLC Fire’s industrial fire safety experts can assist in developing such emergency plans and training your staff.

What type of training do my employees need?

• All employees should be trained on basic industrial fire safety principles, hazardous locations, emergency evacuation procedures, fire extinguisher locations and use, and be knowledgeable on the fire protection systems at the facility.
• Other specific safety procedures may also be required, depending on the facility. All of these elements make up part of your industrial fire safety plan.

Which safety codes apply to industrial facilities?

• The industrial fire safety codes are typically the applicable building codes and fire codes and referenced fire protection standards within.
• PLC Fire’s team of industrial fire safety experts will identify the applicable codes and standards that apply to your facility.
• In Canada, the National Building Code of Canada and the National Fire Code of Canada (or provincial equivalents) are the codes that apply, in addition to the referenced National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) and other safety standards.

What services does PLC offer for industrial facilities?

• PLC offers a wide range of fire and life safety services for industrial facilities, including but not limited to; fire safety assessments, code compliance reviews, commissioning services for fire and life safety systems, third party reviews of proposed changes to the facility or operations, fire alarm system design, sprinkler system design, smoke management systems design, special extinguishing systems design, explosion protection designs, fire protection audits, fire safety and emergency planning, fire safety training, and investigations.

Why should I hire PLC to provide industrial fire safety services for my facility?

• PLC Fire has several years of technical expertise and experience in fire protection and life safety consulting for industrial facilities.
• In addition, members of our team participate on code and standard committees, including the National Building Code of Canada and several National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) standards.
• PLC’s innovative approach allows for early schedule planning, reduced financial commitments and optimal resource utilization.