Archived Commercial Blog Posts
How Do I Protect My Business From a Fire Disaster?
10/27/2022 (Permalink)
How Do I Protect My Business From a Fire Disaster?
A fire is a business owner’s worst nightmare. Fire disasters can leave your business in ruins and cost you significant time and money. A fire disaster is never planned, so it’s important that you are prepared to protect your business should the situation arise. Here are some tips on how to protect your business from a fire disaster.
Be prepared.
A fire disaster is never planned, so it’s important that you are prepared to protect your business from it should the situation arise. Here are some tips on how to protect your business from a fire disaster.
- Keep a record of all your assets and their value: Take photos of all assets in case they get damaged or destroyed by a fire; keep receipts for valuable items like computers and other electronics; create an inventory list with prices if possible, as well as serial numbers if applicable. This will help speed up the process when filing insurance claims after the fact.
- Get general liability insurance: General liability insurance covers property damage and bodily injury caused by someone else’s actions at your location (or another location). It also protects against any legal fees if you have to defend yourself against lawsuits related to an accident at your place of business or event venue!
Install a fire suppression system.
If you're looking for an effective way to protect your business from fire damage, a fire suppression system is the best choice. Here's why:
Fire suppression systems can reduce the damage caused by fires in your business and increase the safety of employees and visitors. Fire suppression systems are easy to install and maintain. You'll only need one person with some basic knowledge of electrical wiring to do this job well, so it's affordable as well!
In order to protect your business from a fire disaster, you need to install detectors and alarms that alert authorities immediately in case of a fire breakout.
Install more fire and smoke detectors throughout your building.
- Install smoke detectors in hallways and stairwells.
- Install fire alarms in kitchens, bathrooms, storage areas, boiler rooms, and near exit doors.
- Install fire alarms near electrical equipment.
- Install fire alarms near heating equipment.
Implement regular training sessions for employees.
You can help your employees respond quickly and effectively in the event of a fire by implementing regular training sessions. Training sessions are an excellent way to remind your workers what they should do if a fire breaks out, as well as why it's important that they evacuate immediately. You might want to include some hands-on activities like role-playing or simulations so that your staff members truly understand what’s at stake when it comes to dealing with fires in their workplace.
It's also important that you make sure all essential equipment is available and working properly before any kind of emergency occurs, including:
- Fire blankets - Make sure everyone knows where the fire blankets are located.
- Portable fire extinguishers - Make sure everyone knows how to use a fire extinguisher.
- Emergency exit routes - Make sure everyone knows the location of the nearest fire exit, where to go, and what to do.
Back up important files and documents regularly.
One of the most important steps you can take to protect your business from a fire disaster is to back up all of your important files and documents regularly.
You should have at least two backup devices ready to go, with one stored in a different location than the other. You should also make sure that each device has extra space available so that you don't run out of room during an emergency situation. And finally, make sure that all devices are working properly every time they're used!
Inspect, inspect, and then inspect some more.
As a business owner in Redlands, CA, you should take all possible steps to protect your assets from fire damage. This includes inspecting your building for fire hazards, inspecting your equipment for fire hazards, inspecting your employees for fire hazards, and inspecting the insurance policy that covers those assets. You’ll also want to inspect any evacuation plans in the case of a disaster.
If you don't have an evacuation plan or are unsure how to develop one, contact local authorities who can help with this task.
Every business should take steps to protect itself from a fire disaster
A fire disaster can be devastating to your business. It can leave your business in ruins and cost you significant time and money. As a business owner, it’s important that you take steps to protect yourself from fire disasters. But, you don't have to let this happen to your company! With these tips, you’ll be able to prepare for any situation and remain safe during a fire breakout or other disaster at your place of work.
5 Steps To Keep Your Restaurant Mold-Free
8/16/2022 (Permalink)
Five Steps To Prevent Mold
Dealing with mold is an issue no restaurant owner wishes to endure. The high humidity of a busy kitchen can be the perfect breeding ground for it, but as inevitable as mold spores are in the environment, mold growth is an avoidable occurrence you can help prevent with these five simple steps:
1. Keep Humidity Levels Low
The EPA recommends interior humidity levels be kept between 30 and 50 percent to limit the possibility of mold development. Aim for the ideal level of 40 percent by utilizing fans and dehumidifiers in key locations such as the kitchen, bathroom and basement.
2. Maintain Ventilation Systems
The nature of a restaurant kitchen creates immense amounts of water and steam, making ideal conditions for mold spores to develop. Ensure there is an efficient ventilation system in place in the kitchen and dishwashing area. Regular maintenance checks should verify the system is clean and functioning properly.
3. Clean Regularly and Thoroughly
Mold thrives in dark, damp places that are often unseen to the obvious line of vision. The nooks and crannies of a restaurant kitchen can create ample opportunities for mold to develop: underneath sinks, behind appliances, or within refrigerators. Move equipment often, checking for moisture or water damage and cleaning on top, underneath, and behind all surfaces to minimize the opportunity for growth.
4. Inspect All Food
Chefs and cooks should be well-trained to identify signs of mold growth on food. Mold spores spread quickly, and any contaminated food could not only infect other food items but also spread to all areas of the kitchen.
5. Schedule Professional Inspections
Prevention is the preferred method when it comes to mold growth. To keep your Redlands, CA, restaurant running fungus-free, it is best to schedule a consultation with professionals. A mold remediation team has IICRC training credentials paired with high-tech equipment to verify your restaurant is not only mold-free but also at low risk for any future development. With a clean kitchen and professional contact, mold should find no home in your restaurant!
Fire Damage and Revenue Loss
5/16/2022 (Permalink)
Damage To The Property And Loss Of Revenue
If your company in Mentone, CA, experiences fire damage, there is a good chance that your business operations will suffer. This could mean that your income from sales and services could decrease, making it hard to meet your financial commitments. Soot and smoke damage, as well as water damage from fire fighting efforts, can make a building unsuitable for use for days, weeks or even months. A strong interruption insurance policy provides coverage for this difficult situation.
The Need for Insurance
Your company knows that standard insurance is essential to protect against property damage from a disaster. In some cases, the temporary loss of a steady income stream is just as expensive as the property loss from a fire. This makes business interruption coverage vital for the success of your company.
The Features of Interruption Insurance
As with other insurance products, you can customize this type of insurance for the specific needs of your business. In many cases, interruption protection provides the following benefits and coverages:
- Replaces lost income as the result of property damage
- Covers operating expenses and loan payments
- Pays for a move to a temporary location
- Covers tax payments and company payroll
As with other policies, there could be exclusions and limits on payments. Most claims are based on the past earnings of your company from a similar period.
The Benefits of Prompt Fire Restoration
After a business fire, it is important to contact an experienced fire mitigation team to return your facility to its pre-fire condition. This is the most efficient way to make the building safe for operations. A fast response from a team that is on call 365 days a year limits damages and lets your business restore its income stream.
Interruption insurance protects your company from the financial consequences of disasters such as a fire. It can help your company survive the aftermath of a damaging fire.
Benefits of Working With a Full-Service Fire Restoration Team
5/13/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO is ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to your water, fire or mold damage loss. Do not delay in contacting our team!
The Advantages Of Hiring A Full-Service Fire Restoration Company
If your company in Redlands, CA, falls victim to fire damage, you will have a lot to manage in the immediate aftermath. There will be consultations with your insurance company, and you will also need to manage the cleanup of your facility. It is even probable that you will have to suspend or move operations for a while.
How well you manage this challenging time can make a difference between a smooth process and a frustrating one. One way to streamline the cleanup is by choosing a reputable fire restoration franchise for the majority of the work.
The Value of a Project Manager
When you work with one company, you deal with a project manager who answers all of your questions and keeps you informed of the progress of the fire mitigation response. This makes it easy to get answers in a timely fashion. A full-service contractor with experience in fire restoration handles all aspects of the cleanup:
- Inspection of fire damage
- Creation of a cleanup plan
- Removal of water due to fire fighting efforts
- Cleanup of soot and smoke damage
- Specialty cleaning of the building
- Rebuilding of burned or destroyed structures
When you deal with multiple contractors, coordination can suffer. This could lead to misunderstandings and delays at a time when speed is critical.
The Advantage of Communication With the Insurance Adjuster
It is important to keep the lines of communication open between the insurance company and the contractor. This typically leads to a smoother claims process for payments for expenses and reimbursements for property damage. A full-service contractor can send a spreadsheet of labor and repair costs to the adjuster. When this is handled efficiently and completely, your company is likely to benefit.
Fire damage presents many challenges for your company. It is important to look for ways that help facilitate the restoration stage.
How To Understand General Liability Insurance and Mold Claims
3/22/2022 (Permalink)
Finding a mold infestation in your business can cause a bit of distress. We want to remind our clients that our team is always close by and on-call.
Mold Claims And General Liability Insurance: What You Need To Know
Navigating mold insurance claims as a service provider in Yucaipa, CA, is so complex that it's nearly worth turning in your business license. Hyperbole aside, mold is a contentious topic in the insurance world. The primary reason for this is that mold is virtually omnipresent and wreaks havoc where it lands. As such, the majority of general liability insurance policies have broad, sweeping mold exclusions. Present an insurance claim with the word "mold" in it, and your insurer is likely to wash their hands of you. Why is this and how do you protect your business?
General Liability Insurance
Basically, mold insurance claims are difficult to manage because mold itself isn't the main issue. Usually, some form of water damage occurred first, resulting in the mold growth. This could have been a flood, or it could have been caused by a construction or maintenance defect, which trigger yet other exclusions in your general liability policy. Therefore, the mold, while problematic, is not what caused the damage initially; it is secondary damage.
How to Cover a Mold Claim
So how do you cover secondary damage which needs to be addressed in the form of mold remediation by a mold remediation specialist, when your general liability policy won't cover it?
Maintain a CPL
A Contractors Pollution Liability policy covers at least part of the gap left by your GL policy. These policies, too, have their limitations, but do cover more than most GL policies.
Use the Same Company
Find a company that handles both GL and CPL policies. When both policies are housed under the same roof, you're more likely to have your mold claim covered.
Create Custom Coverage
Ultimately, some type of umbrella policy is the final piece that protects your business in mold remediation claims. Shop around and find the company that will provide you with everything that you need to keep your business safe.
Don't let mold insurance claims ruin your business. Keep up with changes to insurance coverage and ensure that you have the necessary policies to cover all of your needs.
Why Emergency Board Up? Securing Your Business After a Fire
1/26/2022 (Permalink)
Ways To Secure Your Business Prior To Fire
Keeping your business secure after a commercial fire isn’t always top of mind, but it should be. Once the flames are out, your Yucaipa, CA, building faces new threats in the form of weather, animals and vandals. Here are some ways to secure your business prior to fire damage restoration.
After the fire, but before repair is often the most vulnerable time for a damaged building. Ways to protect your unsecure building include:
- Emergency board up
- Security fencing
- Roof protection
Emergency Board Up
In addition to scorching doors and burning holes through walls, heat from fires can burst windows and leave your building-wide open. Even the tiniest hole can be enough for an animal to get through and destroy personal property. In a pinch, use simple plywood and a nail gun to cover most holes. Or, connect with a fire damage restoration firm that may rent out steel coverings for extra-tough security.
Security Fencing
A damaged building is typically a vacant one, and those are a gold mine in the minds of would-be thieves. Security fencing is a great way to create a barrier. Encircling the building with sturdy chain-link fencing can make it hard to get in without being noticed. Best of all, it’s easily removed for repairs.
Roof Protection
Flames that reach the roof of your building can cause particularly costly roof damage - but things can get much worse if water gets in on top of that. Sturdy, industrial-grade tarps can be placed over roof holes and secured to create a waterproof barrier that keeps storm damage at bay.
You owe it to yourself to prevent more stress from a fire if you can. Securing your building after the blaze is a great way to do it. Whether it's boarding, fencing, or a basic tarp, apply these methods to keep your building safe until fire damage restoration and smoke cleanup are complete.