Self Storage Emergency Essentials: Fire Prevention and Emergency Planning For Storage Operators

Anyone’s worst nightmare is a fire, but for self storage facility owners, fire prevention and emergency planning to protect storage facilities and tenants’ belongings are of the utmost importance. 

Luckily, you can take steps to keep your storage facility safe. Follow this guide for self storage fire prevention and emergency planning tips!

Before we get into the fire prevention plan for storage facilities, let’s reiterate how important it is. The devastation a fire can cause to a storage facility is massive and expensive. The fire itself can destroy the structure of your facility. Even steel and concrete can be warped and cracked by the extreme heat a fire produces. If firefighters can save your storage units, you’re also looking at water and smoke damage to your storage facility and to your tenant’s belongings.

In addition to the physical destruction, there’s the financial damage. Fixing and rebuilding your facility may still have some out-of-pocket expenses, even with insurance —not to mention the loss of revenue during the time you spend repairing the damaged and unrentable storage units. It could take a lot of time to recover from these financial losses, and your storage facility’s reputation after losing your renters’ valuables may not recover at all. 

So what can you do to best prevent widespread fire at your storage facility?

Training for Employees

When you create your fire prevention plan, it’s important to make sure all your employees understand it thoroughly. Your employees need to be aware of all the fire dangers so they can identify when there is a fire risk on the premises. They also need to know how to tell if any fire safety systems are damaged or not working properly and need to be replaced. Employees should be able to educate tenants on the dangers and prevention tips and also know what actions to take if a fire breaks out.

Policies for Tenants

One of the highest risks for fire in a storage facility comes from human error- overcrowding units, storing flammable materials, and smoking on the property. So the best fire prevention key lies in educating your tenants on safe storage practices. Create clearly-stated policies in tenant lease contracts to communicate this risk with your tenants and make sure they know how to keep their storage unit, and their neighbors’ units, safe. Place additional signage around the facility to remind your tenants not to smoke on the property, store flammable material, or overcrowd their storage units.

Building Structure 

If you have the opportunity to be involved in the designing and building stage of opening a storage facility, choose fire-proofed materials, such as steel, concrete, or fire-treated wood. This won’t eliminate the risk of fire, but it will give your property the highest chance of avoiding serious fire damage and preventing a widespread fire in your building.

Electronic Detection

Make sure your storage facility is equipped with smoke detectors and heat monitors. A hardwired electronic detection system can trigger your central alarm and even alert your nearest fire station. Having this kind of system can speed up on-site and emergency response time and make a huge difference in saving your building. Some gate access security systems can integrate with your smoke alarm system, sending fire notifications to your smartphone. 

Fire Suppression System

In the event that your fire prevention efforts can’t stop a fire from breaking out, you need a failsafe plan for swift and effective action. There are two main fire suppression systems on the market today that you can install throughout your storage facility to keep a small fire from gaining too much ground. 

–The first is a water sprinkler system. Having sprinklers in every unit, hallway, and office will work to keep fires contained before they become widespread. 

–The second is a dry chemical fire suppression system that powder coats the fire and breaks it down on a molecular level without getting any storage items wet.

Other suppression devices, such as handheld fire extinguishers, should be placed around your business no more than 75 feet from each storage unit.  

Succeed with Self Storage Solutions from 6Storage

Self storage security is more than just preventing break-ins and theft. It’s also extensive fire prevention and emergency planning. With these steps, you can protect your business and your tenants’ possessions from going up in smoke.

Owning and operating self storage facilities requires a strong foundation in order to succeed. Accelerate achievements with smart self storage solutions. 

From cloud-based self storage management software to a reliable remote gate access system, 6Storage offers user-friendly support to the self storage industry. In addition, 6Storage offers website services and an advanced storage calculator. We back up all of our services with 24/7 live chat support. 

If you’re looking for affordable self storage solutions designed by industry experts offered at competitive prices, look no further than 6Storage! Contact us to level up your storage business and experience our white-glove service.