In an effort to reduce the chance of incidents, supermarkets and grocery stores are increasingly turning toward centralization of fire safety system inspections, testing and maintenance (ITM). Telgian fire protection expert Tom Parrish explores how centralization can improve accessibility and tracking of ITM activities and provide consistent data across locations, while keeping budgets in check in the recent Supermarket News article “Why Supermarkets are Moving Towards Centralized Fire Protection.”
“U.S. fire departments respond to an estimated average of 13,570 structure fires in stores and retail properties each year,” says Parrish. “And according to the Structure Fires in Stores and Other Mercantile Properties report, published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), grocery and convenience stores have the highest frequency for fire occurrence at 28%. (NFPA, n.d.). Grocery and convenience stores also ranked third highest in fire losses across all types of retail properties.”
However, there are some fundamental advantages to centralizing fire protection programs for supermarkets and grocery stores. These include:
- Improved accessibility and tracking of ITM activities
- Keeping budgets in check
- One call for service
- Consistent data across locations
Learn more and read “Why Supermarkets are Moving Towards Centralized Fire Protection” in its entirety at Supermarket News.
Tom Parrish, SET, CFPS, PSP is the Vice President of Compliance & Training for Telgian Fire Safety. Parrish is also the newly elected president of the National Automatic Fire Alarm Association (AFAA), as well as a retired firefighter and Fire Marshal. With more than 25 years of experience in fire protection and emergency response, he is dedicated to positive change within the industry and serves on several National Fire Protection Association committees including the Committee on Loss Prevention Procedures and Practices, Signaling Systems for the Protection of Life and Property, and Emergency Communications Systems.
Telgian Fire Safety provides professional Life Safety Systems testing, inspections and repair to 50,000+ locations annually. Expertise includes Fire Sprinkler, Fire Alarm and Clean Agent Systems, Fire Extinguishers, Kitchen Hood Suppression Systems, Backflow Systems, Emergency/Exit Lights, Special Hazards and Fire Alarm Monitoring, plus Inventory Tracking, Capital Replacement, and Budgeting/Forecasting.
For media and interview inquiries: Please contact info@telgian.com.