Five Fire Safety Mistakes We Still See in Commercial Buildings

Fire safety legislation has improved significantly over recent years, yet many commercial buildings continue to suffer from the same avoidable issues that can compromise life safety, increase business risk and lead to non-compliance.

Whether you manage an office, retail development, industrial facility, healthcare site or educational building, regular inspections and preventative maintenance are essential. At Evotech Fire & Security, our engineers continue to identify common fire safety issues during routine inspections that could easily be prevented with the right processes in place.

Here are five of the most common fire safety mistakes we still encounter:

1. Fire Doors Wedged Open

Fire doors are designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke, providing occupants with valuable time to evacuate safely. Unfortunately, it's still common to find fire doors propped open with wedges, bins or other objects to improve ventilation or for convenience.

When held open, a fire door cannot perform its intended function. In the event of a fire, this simple action can allow smoke and flames to spread rapidly throughout a building.

If doors need to remain open during normal operation, they should be fitted with an approved fire door retention system that automatically releases when the fire alarm activates.

2. Obstructed Escape Routes

Emergency escape routes must remain clear and accessible at all times. However, corridors, stairwells and final exits are frequently used as temporary storage areas for deliveries, waste materials or equipment.

Even minor obstructions can delay evacuation during an emergency and may prevent people from leaving the building safely.

Regular workplace inspections and good housekeeping practices are essential to ensure escape routes remain unobstructed and compliant.

3. Fire Extinguishers That Haven't Been Serviced

Portable fire extinguishers are often overlooked because they are rarely used. However, they require routine inspection and annual servicing to ensure they will operate correctly when needed.

Missing inspection labels, overdue service dates, damaged equipment or incorrectly located extinguishers are all issues commonly identified during fire safety audits.

Routine servicing provides confidence that extinguishers remain fully operational and suitable for their intended use.

4. Outdated Fire Alarm Zone Information

Many commercial buildings have undergone refurbishments, office reconfigurations or changes in occupancy over the years. Unfortunately, the fire alarm zoning information is not always updated to reflect these changes.

Outdated zone charts can delay emergency response by making it difficult for staff or the fire and rescue service to accurately identify the location of an alarm activation.

Whenever building layouts change, fire alarm documentation and zone plans should be reviewed and updated accordingly.

5. Poor Fire Safety Maintenance Records

Maintaining accurate records is just as important as carrying out the maintenance itself.

Fire alarm testing, emergency lighting inspections, extinguisher servicing and fire door inspections should all be documented and readily available.

Incomplete or missing records can create difficulties during audits, insurance inspections or regulatory reviews, whilst also making it harder to demonstrate compliance with fire safety legislation.

A well-maintained fire safety logbook provides evidence that systems are being inspected, tested and maintained correctly.

Prevention Is Always Better Than Reaction

The majority of fire safety issues identified in commercial buildings are not the result of equipment failure but are caused by routine maintenance being overlooked or simple day-to-day practices that have gradually become accepted.

By carrying out regular inspections, maintaining fire protection systems and addressing small issues before they become significant risks, organisations can improve safety, support compliance and protect both people and property.

How Evotech Fire & Security Can Help

Evotech Fire & Security provides comprehensive fire protection services for commercial buildings across the UK, helping organisations remain compliant whilst ensuring their fire safety systems continue to perform when they matter most.

Our experienced engineers deliver planned maintenance, inspections, testing and remedial works for a wide range of fire protection systems, including:

• Fire alarm systems
• Emergency lighting
• Fire extinguishers
• Fire doors
• Fire stopping
• Fire risk remedial works

Whether you require system installation services, ongoing maintenance or an independent review of your current fire safety arrangements, our team can identify risks, improve compliance and provide complete peace of mind.

If you'd like to discuss your fire safety requirements, contact Evotech Fire & Security to arrange a consultation with one of our specialists:  

info@evotechfire.co.uk    I    0333 207 4245