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It’s nothing new that the construction industry must deal with a variety of hazards, but a growing number of construction site fires are drawing attention to this particular risk. Fires during construction can spread rapidly, especially when sprinklers have not yet been installed or activated, and other combustible materials are present.

With over 170,000 people employed within the industry and the expansionary trend that was occurring prior to the COVID-19 crisis, awareness of fire prevention is something that no employer or employee for that matter, can overlook.

What are some FIRE RISKS during construction?

1. Hot work – grinding, welding,soldering and the like are all sources of hot work. They pose a significant risk because they can introduce ignition sources into many areas of the work site. Some sparks even occurring many hours after the work is completed.
2. Temporary heaters – of course all the common-sense preventions are applicable here.
3. Smoking – having a strict “no smoking” policy in place that is clearly communicated to all employees and subcontractors is the best place to start.
4. Flammable and combustible materials – using and storing flammable and combustible materials correctly will prevent unnecessary fire hazards being introduced to your site.
5. Temporary electrical and lighting – even temporary lighting and electrical needs to be installed by a qualified contractor and in accordance with the national standard.
6. Rechargeable-lithium-ion batteries – to minimise the risk of fire on-site, a charging station should be set-up outside the building that is under construction.
7. Lack of fire protection – this is where a lot of sites let themselves down. Of course, having fire extinguishers, spill kits and clearly identified fire hydrants that are near your site will help fire fighters.

What sort of CONTROL MEASURES can be put in place?

1. Hot work – implementing a hot work permit system, with a dedicated fire watch, minimum 30-minute cool-down period, and assigning a fire prevention Program Manager to oversee operations can help avoid fires.
2. Temporary heaters – the most important thing to remember is that only approved heaters should ever be introduced to a construction site.
3. Smoking – providing a designated safe smoking area, will help prevent the risks of fire due to ash or carelessly discarded cigarettes.
4. Flammable and combustible materials – limit the amount of flammable and combustible materials inside the building under construction and don’t forget storage, storage, storage!
5. Temporary electrical and lighting – correct installation with on-going maintenance conducted by the contractor.
6. Rechargeable-lithium-ion batteries – store them in a safe location when not in use.
7. Lack of fire protection – installing a fire detection system such as Cygnus Wireless Alarm System is of great benefit to a construction site.

Why install Fire Detection and Alarm Systems?

On the very smallest of sites, a shout of ‘fire’ may be adequate, however, as the construction industry looks to once again be on the incline, a complete fire detection and interconnected alarm system provide the best protection possible for a construction site. The basic requirement is for call points and sounders, usually called site alarms; on bigger and higher risk sites where a fire may grow undetected and threaten life, it may be necessary to install fire detectors linked to the alarm system. Systems may be wired in or wireless and may need to be modified as the site grows.

Why choose Cygnus Wireless Alarm Systems?

The Cygnus Wireless Alarm System has been designed and developed in conjunction with major construction companies to incorporate all features required for larger construction projects needing temporary fire alarm systems.

What are the key benefits?

• The Cygnus Alarm system is fully compliant for use on construction sites.
• Cygnus covers impressive distances and huge areas due to a meshing system which allows devices to communicate through one another and not directly to the control panel.
• The Cygnus system can be configured to suit your bespoke requirements, including GSM capability, intruder alarms and more.
• Cygnus alarms have a low cost of ownership. They are manufactured with long life batteries; all components are demountable in case of damage so parts can be replaced individually.

Are you working on a project or have one coming up that could benefit from the installation of a Cygnus Wireless Alarm System? Then get in touch with our team today.