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Any type of building can catch fire. Although fire departments have regulations regarding fire safety in a workplace, mistakes still happen. Luckily, you can always call a commercial fire damage repair company in San Diego to restore the building and fireproof it for the foreseeable future.

Just like a house fire, a commercial fire can be prevented if you take the proper safety precautions. When you know what may cause it, you’ll know how to fix it. In this article, we’ll take a look at 6 different ways to prevent the damage caused by a commercial fire. Keep reading to learn more.

How can commercial fire damage be prevented?

It can take some time until you fully develop a fire prevention plan. Here’s how to do it:

1. Limit fire hazards

We know that a fire can start anywhere inside a commercial building and cause damage. It can be through poorly maintained machinery, electrical issues, unsupervised candle use, careless cooking, smoking, as well as storing flammable materials improperly. To prevent this, instruct and educate your employees or tenants.

2. Create an insurance plan in case of a fire

Commercial fire damage can be expensive, so making sure that you’re protected will financially help you restore the building after the fire. It takes a lot of planning and extra time, but it’s going to be worth it in the long run.

3. Keep your safety equipment in good condition

Too many people fail to extinguish small fires and prevent them from becoming bigger due to a faulty fire extinguisher. Every few months, check your sprinkler system and alarm and replace outdated equipment. 

4. Regularly maintain your electric system and devices

One of the most common fire causes is a faulty electrical installation. If the wires are old or there is a circuit overload, it’s a matter of minutes before the fire starts. To prevent this, change your wiring system and have a certified electrician perform regular maintenance once every few months.

5. Enforce rules and regulations

Even when everything seems in order, there is always the human carelessness factor to consider. It can happen to anyone, but it would be better if it doesn’t happen at all. You can do this by informing your employees about the rules for fire prevention and performing emergency fire procedures on a regular basis.

Since smoking is one of the fire causes in commercial buildings, designate a safe place for smokers, away from the flammable and combustible materials. Remember that any type of exposure to smoke is bad for your health because of the various toxic chemicals it contains.

6. Develop a proper emergency procedure

Fire can cause general panic, and people might forget what their priorities are in this emergency. Developing a fire emergency procedure is crucial to ensure that everyone is safe and knows what to do. Here’s an example:

• Sound the alarm and alert the fire department
• Head towards the nearest emergency exit
• Go to the assembly point and do a headcount
• Wait for further instructions from the firefighters

Performing these procedures regularly will create a habit and people will know exactly where to go because they’ve already practiced it several times.

Looking for a commercial fire damage repair company in San Diego?

Risk Free Serv is a long-standing company that can assist you with all types of fire damage restoration services in San Diego. We can also fireproof your building to reduce the risk of a fire breaking out or serious damage occurring if it does.

Reach out to us today and enjoy a relaxing walk through Lomita while we meet your needs with utmost care and expertise.

Having a part of their premises catch on fire is one of the worst calamities a business owner can encounter. While calling in commercial fire damage repair services is an effective way to restore your workplace in San Diego to its previous state, knowing how to prevent the fire from occurring in the first place is still far better than having to deal with its aftermath.

In this article, we’ll give you a better understanding of this issue by discussing 5 of the most common causes of fire at commercial buildings. Learning about this can help you prevent the fire, so read on!

What causes fire in commercial buildings?

Understanding fire hazards can help you address them in advance and potentially save your company from devastation. 

Consider these 5 causes of workplace fires:

1. Space heaters

During cold days, various types of heaters are required to keep different areas warm. Other heating equipment includes boilers, furnaces, and radiators. If they can produce heat, they can overheat. Once it happens and there is a spark, the fire starts instantly.

2. Cooking equipment

This doesn’t apply to just restaurants. Any business center that has a kitchen area comes with a cooking station. Combine a gas stove with flammable grease and oil, and you get a recipe for disaster.

3. Cigarettes

Every commercial building has a designated area for smoke breaks. If you don’t properly dispose of cigarette butts, they can start a fire. Luckily, with the invention of vapes and electrical cigarettes, the fire rates have decreased somewhat. We’re all aware of how smoke affects our health, whether the sources are cigarettes or the fire.

4. Lighting and electrical equipment

Any device or appliance that’s powered by electricity can malfunction and start a fire. If the wiring hasn’t been changed in a while or the circuits are overloaded, it’s only a matter of time before a short circuit occurs. Other problems may include an imbalance in electrical loads, faulty fuses, or loose connections. 

Having a technician service your electric system on a regular basis can help with prevention, but don’t wait too long before you give them a call. It’s always better to take precautions, as fire damage restoration is a long and costly process.

5. Arson

If someone deliberately misuses a heat source, it’s bound to cause an intentional fire. In case there was a criminal or a malicious intent, this is categorized as arson and the person can be persecuted for it. Unfortunately, this type of fire occurs mostly in educational institutions. Proper fire safety education is crucial in these situations.

What should you do in case of a commercial fire?

• Sound the alarm immediately, no matter the size of the fire, and call the firefighters
• Evacuate the building by heading toward the nearest exit
• Don’t return for personal belongings, your safety is more important
• Perform a headcount at the assembly point and call an ambulance in case someone is injured
• Wait for the firefighters and their further instructions and don’t enter the building

Who can I call for commercial fire damage repair services in San Diego?

Experiencing a fire in a workplace can be quite scary, especially if you’re unprepared. And when it seems like the building cannot be saved, it’s time to call Risk Free Serv. We offer fire prevention and fire damage restoration services, no matter the size of the building. 

Our professionals in San Diego will assess the situation and take the necessary steps to ensure that the building is in a good condition after the restoration. We’ll also do our best to fireproof the building so that the fires become a thing of the past. Enjoy your time with nature near the 4S Ranch and leave the building to us. Contact us today!

Once it happens, a fire leaves almost nothing behind and creates a devastating scene. Although it seems like it’s unfixable, calling San Diego’s commercial fire damage repair professionals can help restore the previous state of the building and prevent further damages.

Even when it seems like there’s nothing to restore, you’d be surprised by how much of the original building you can save if you act quickly. We’ve prepared a list of steps and guidelines to show you how professionals restore fire damage and prevent it from happening again. Read on!

How do you fix fire damage?

The best thing you can do after a fire is to call your insurance agency and a fire damage repair service. Refrain from attempting to deal with the problem on your own, as the soot is dangerous for your lungs and the property may be structurally unsound. The main points in restoring the building are:

• Water mitigation 
• Cleanup
• Reconstruction

How do you restore buildings after a fire?

The important thing to remember is that you should act fast after a fire. No matter what caused it, letting soot and water sit on surfaces is a recipe for disaster. Ordinary commercial fire restoration can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months to complete, so starting as soon as possible is a must.

1. Water mitigation

The first thing to do during a restoration is to remove excess water from the property. It’s likely been doused with water to extinguish the flames and the pipes may have melted and flooded the building. 

Drying out the property can take a few days to complete, and this prevents further water damage. This should be thorough, as any lingering moisture can lead to a mold or mildew infestation.

2. Assessing the damage

Once the property is as dry as possible, there needs to be an inspection to estimate the damage. Fire can make concrete walls crack, so every corner needs to be carefully assessed to check if a complete reconstruction of the walls is necessary. 

This includes an evaluation of smoke and flames and what temperatures did the property reach, as well as estimating the duration and cost of the cleanup.

3. Sealing off the exits and unharmed parts of the building

If there are areas that the fire didn’t reach, it’s important to seal them off from the damaged parts, to prevent the spread of post-fire damage. When the roof is exposed, it should also be covered so that the weather doesn’t take a toll on it during the restoration. 

There should be a security perimeter around the building, so no one accidentally enters while it’s still unsafe.

4. Cleanup

The largest part of the restoration is cleaning up everything. It’s recommended to check and clean every inch of the affected area, as even the smallest space can be the breeding ground for mold and bacteria.

Professionals also use deodorizers and sanitizers to prevent mold development. They spend most of the time removing soot, debris, and smoke from the holes and hidden places. After the building has been cleaned, it’s time for reconstruction and repairs to the structure.

Who in San Diego can help me with commercial fire damage repair?

Fire damage restoration is a long and difficult process that should always be left to the professionals. That’s where Risk Free Serv comes in. We provide detailed assessment and fire damage restoration services in San Diego and the nearby communities.

Instead of worrying whether the building will be safe again, have a relaxing day off and visit Birch Aquarium with your family and loved ones. Give us a call and we’ll set up an appointment right away. Contact us today!

Fire can cause catastrophic damage to a business, to the point where commercial fire damage repair in San Diego, CA, can be a long and arduous process even for a company that specializes in it. Understanding what flames can do to a building is key to ensuring effective restoration and preventing further issues down the road. 

In the following article, we’ll take a look at the most common effects of fire damage in a commercial setting and provide a few time-tested safety guidelines that can help minimize the damage. Keep reading to learn more.

How does fire damage a building?

Depending on the scope of the fire, the building can either be easily restored or become completely uninhabitable. Looks can be deceiving, so don’t trust that a building is safe if it doesn’t look too damaged. Here’s where the fire damage can occur and what it can cause:

Wall structure

A large fire can reach anywhere from 300°C to 1000°C, thus compromising the structure. At these temperatures, concrete and metal expand more than they should and this results in cracks in the walls, floors, and ceilings. Although concrete is known to withstand high temperatures, it will still start to crack at 300°C.

This is unfortunately inevitable and if it’s determined that the temperatures were indeed very high, the affected walls and floors have to be reconstructed. There is no way to strengthen them, as the damage can impact any part of the structure.

Ash and soot

A buildup of ash and soot is a natural byproduct of a fire. Soot is lighter than ash and it can reach up higher, while ash floats down. The danger is in the soot, as it contains various dangerous materials, like carbon, acid, grease, dust, and other toxins. It easily sticks to any surface and can irreversibly stain it and start to deteriorate the material if it’s not cleaned up quickly.

Not only does it damage the surfaces, but it is also very harmful to your lungs if you inhale it. That’s why every fire inspection service wears protective masks and equipment. You should never enter a burnt building without protection during the inspection. Ash and soot are the primary causes of secondary fire damage.

Water-borne mold and mildew

When firefighters extinguish flames, they use water for larger fires. This leaves the building soaked and warm, which is the perfect breeding ground for mold. It can develop on almost anything and cause it to quickly deteriorate. 

This is dangerous because mold can stay in the walls even when they’re repainted. If the building is restored, future inhabitants can develop health problems. A thorough inspection can remove most of it, but this type of damage can’t be prevented.

What are some fire safety measures in commercial buildings?

Every commercial building should have these 4 elements in case of a fire:

• Exit signs and emergency lights
• Fire alarms
• Fire extinguishers
• Fire sprinklers

Having a fire exit is also recommended, in case the main door gets blocked during a fire. The most common cause of fire in a commercial building is an electrical malfunction. Whether it’s a bad wiring installation or a broken cable that sparked a fire, you should always keep in mind that a fire can be preventable if you take the necessary counter-measures.

Who provides commercial fire damage repair in San Diego, CA?

Risk Free Serv offers professional fire damage repair for commercial and residential buildings in San Diego and the nearby cities. Our team has all of the necessary tools and knowledge to make any trace of fire damage disappear and restore full functionality to your property.

Leave the restoration to the professionals and take a relaxing day off and treat yourself near the La Jolla Cove with your loved ones. Don’t hesitate to give us a call and set up an appointment. Contact us today!

Did you notice a huge difference in your water bill this month? If you did, it may be the time for a slab leak detection. In San Diego, people hire experts to do it, as the leaks are dangerous and can lead to serious damage to your home. Whether it’s preventing or fixing a slab leak, it’s best to hire the professionals.

If you suspect there is a slab leak in your home, here we’ll show you what you can do to detect it and how much work it will take to fix it. Read on!

What are the signs of a slab leak?

A water leak is easier to detect when it’s exposed, but you can also quickly discover slab leaks if you know what to look for. The following are the signs of a slab leak:

Damp carpet

Slab leaks are visible through floors, and carpets are the best tell. If it’s suddenly wet, removing it will uncover the wet floor, and you’ve found your leak location.

Foul odor in the room

Moisture in dark warm places is the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew, and they release a musty odor when they develop. This is the first sign of a slab leak and unless you fix it as soon as possible, you can develop serious health problems.

You hear water running when the faucets are tight

If you hear water in places without the faucets and sinks, like the bedroom or the study room, check the meter in your basement. If it’s going up and you know no one has touched the faucet in the entire home, it’s a clear sign of a water leak. This can also be spotted if your water pressure is weaker, as it means that the water is going elsewhere.

The floorboards are raised and buckled

Just like the carpet, this can be a sign of a slab leak. If you notice water forming a puddle in the middle of your floor, and there is no visible cause for it, you might want to lift up those floorboards and seal that water leak fast.

However, the leak can also be caused by problems in the sewage system in your neighborhood. Ask around if anyone has had similar problems and let the authorities know so that they can take proper measures to stop it and make the neighborhood safer.

How much do slab leaks cost to fix?

The answer to this question depends on the location and the accessibility of the leak. If it’s easily accessible, the cost shouldn’t exceed $700. On average, it costs around $2,000 because the pipes need to be changed under the floors. But if your slab leak is hidden and it takes a lot of work to discover it, the cost will naturally be higher and it can go up to $4,500.

These prices may sound astronomical, but the good thing is that many insurance companies often cover fixing the plumbing issues, and that includes rerouting the pipes and slab leak repairs. Check the contract with your insurance company and give them a call.

Which company can perform slab leak detections in San Diego?

If you’re suspecting a slab leak in your home but don’t know where to look for the signs, don’t hesitate to call Risk Free Serv! We offer free checkups for any type of water leak detection because people’s safety is always the priority.

Slab leaks can be dangerous as they can form near the electric outlets, so it’s best not to try and fix them yourself. Leave it to the professionals and enjoy a relaxing day out at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park with your family and loved ones. Contact us today!

When you’ve experienced water leaks at least once in your life, you know how unpredictable they can be. If you don’t act fast, the damage can spread and it’ll take more time to repair everything. The best way to prevent issues caused by leaky pipes is to hire trusted experts in water leak detection in San Diego on an annual basis.

But why is this so? Why are water leaks such a big deal and what’s the worst that can happen if you don’t address them in a timely manner? We’ll be answering these questions in the following article. Keep reading to learn more.

Can a water leak make you sick?

If you’ve been feeling sick lately, but can’t figure out the reason behind it, your problem may be caused by a water leak in your home. Whether you’ve noticed a change in your meter readings or simply found a rusty pipe, it’s strongly recommended to have it fixed ASAP, as failing to do so can lead to a mold infestation. 

These infestations can cause the following health problems:

• Allergy-like symptoms, like sneezing, runny or itchy nose
• Fever and nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Asthma
• Tightening in the chest

Mold develops quickly and once you notice it, it’s important that you act fast to prevent further damage. Give a call to the professional service if you have sensitive health.

Can a water leak cause structural damage?

The biggest damage that a water leak causes to the structure is characterized by a slab leak. It usually takes the form of cracked floors. If you notice your carpets are wet or hear water running when the faucets are tightened, the damage is already done underneath your feet.

Unless you seal that water leak quickly, it may spread to other parts of your home and even weaken its foundation. You can easily spot the damage by the discoloration, stains, and cold wet spots on your walls. The room where the leak is happening usually has a foul odor.

Can water leaks cause fires?

Exposed electrical outlets need just a drop of moisture to stop functioning, but when the whole house is powered, water and electricity are the worst combination. In addition to inflicting severe damage to your belongings, a short circuit can result in an electrical fire or even lethal electrocution.

That’s why, as soon as you notice a significant leak, you should turn off the electricity in your home and call in the professionals to inspect the damage and perform the necessary repairs. You shouldn’t attempt to fix it yourself if it’s deeper in the walls, as one wrong move can make an exposed wire burn the entire house down.

Who should I call when I need water leak detection in San Diego?

If you’re suspecting a rusty pipe is causing your water leak, or are unsure of the reason behind it, call Risk Free Serv! Our service is quick and effective, as we have all the equipment and the knowledge necessary to repair any type of slab or water leak.

Don’t worry about trying to fix the damage yourself, because we are here for you. Instead of worrying about your safety in your home, have a relaxing day off at Balboa Park with your loved ones and leave all the worries to us! When you return, it will be as if the leak has never even happened. Contact us today and we’ll come over as soon as possible!