What Fire Protection Equipment Does My Restaurant Need?

If you’re planning to open a restaurant this year ― either because you purchased one that went out of business or because you’re building a new one ― you’ll need to make sure you’ve added fire protection equipment to your plans. These safety measures are critical to keeping your employees, customers, and property fire-safe once you open.

Planning ahead is key to opening your business on time and avoiding any delays due to National Fire Protection Association requirement codes.

Kitchen Fire Suppression System

The survival of your restaurant depends on your kitchen fire suppression system’s ability to detect and suppress fires before they get out of hand. You must comply with NFPA 17A standards and NFPA 96 standards.

Extinguishers

Restaurant fires are unique because of the hot cooking oil that often serves as an ignition source. Your restaurant will need Class K fire extinguishers on hand so kitchen staff can quickly take action against a small fire, limiting property damage and potentially saving lives in the process.

Include ABC extinguishers throughout the rest of the restaurant, per NFPA 10 standards.

Fire Alarm System

While strobe lights, sirens, and pull stations don’t actively extinguish fires, they’re important for alerting employees and customers to evacuate the restaurant, per NFPA 70 standards and NFPA 72 standards.

Fire Sprinkler System

Restaurants are required to meet the NFPA 13 standards for the installation of fire sprinklers. If your restaurant hosts more than 300 guests, you’re required to have fire sprinklers installed. Fire safety and protection regulations vary based on the state your restaurant is in.

What Preventative Measures Should You Take?

• Incorporate fire safety guidelines into your daily routine.
• Have a kitchen fire suppression system installed.
• Schedule semiannual kitchen fire suppression inspections.
• Provide kitchen employees training on the proper use of equipment. They should be able to identify the different fire types and how to safely and effectively use a fire extinguisher.
• Perform annual fire extinguisher inspections.
• Inspect and maintain fire sprinkler systems.
• Perform annual fire alarm system inspections and monthly monitoring.

Want To Learn More About Fire Protection Equipment?

We want you to have the best information possible about fire protection systems. That’s why we put together this list of the most common questions we get.

We’re your single source for all your fire protection needs. From engineering and design to installation and ongoing maintenance, take a look at all the services we offer restaurants throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

We can help you further with a free estimate ― call (301) 861-0972 to have a representative reach you within 24 hours.