Warning Signs of a Possible Electrical Fire

8/3/2016 (Permalink)

Small office buildings, apartment buildings,restaurants, hotel/motels, manufacturing and industrial plants and small retailstores are all commercial establishments that people frequent on a regular basis.These codes are designed to ensure these buildings are safe for employees, customers and other visitors to occupy. Even though some buildings do meet these standards, problems can still occur at one point in time. One of the most notable involves electrical fires. In fact, electrical fires can cause quite a bit of fire damage if it is not caught in time. So, for those of you who own or rent these types of commercial structures, here are some symptoms of an electrical fire that need to be recognized in order to minimize the damage. 
 
Circuit breaker problems 
 
Circuit breakers are usually located in a business where they are relatively easy to find, especially in case they are tripped by an electrical overload. Therefore, if a problem with a fire damage issue does exist, the owner or one of their employees can shut the circuit breaker off. It is important to note, however, if the problem occurs occasionally, it normally indicates that it is a simple problem and nothing major is happening. On the other hand, if someone has to go to the circuit breaker frequently to cut it off, there could be a major problem that will require service from a professional in this industry. 
 
Hot ceiling fixtures 
 
The owner and their representatives should always take a little time out to check out the areas around the light fixtures in the ceiling to see how warm they are getting. If the person feels too much heat, there could be exposure to a fire hazard. 

Flickering lights 

Another common symptom of a potential fire hazard is flickering lights. If the light flickering cannot be tracked back to the light bulb, it is essential to call a professional in for a diagnosis. 
 
Problems with the circuit breaker, hot ceiling fixtures, and flickering lights are only a few symptoms that indicate that there is a possible fire hazard. So, it is best to pay close attention to prevent or minimize the fire damage. In some situations, you may have to deal with the aftermath of an electrical fire in the building. When this occurs, you should always contact someone who works with fire damage restoration to help get things back and in order. Because we at SERVPRO of Danbury/Ridgefield have the expertise and knowledge needed to help commercial owners with these problems, you can contact our office at 203-791-0920.