In today’s society, businesses rely on an increasing number of electric-powered devices—which, in turn, increases the risk of an electrical fire. Therefore, as your operations expand, it is important that your office makes changes, too. Work with a building contractor to make necessary safety renovations. The guide below looks closer at electrical fires so you know what to do before, during, and after they break out.

What to Know About Electrical Fires

Common Causes

Most electrical fires are caused by badly installed or old (pre-1950s) wiring, defective fixtures, circuit overload, or improper maintenance.

Business owners should look out for switches, plugs, or outlets that are hot or burning and cords, outlets, or switch plates that look singed or discolored. Other worrying signs include flickering lights, fuses that blow frequently, or circuits that trip often. 

Precautions to Take

If you know that your building has any of these issues, call in a building contractor or a licensed electrician to address renovations right away. They can upgrade your systems to meet current building codes, which may necessitate replacing an outdated fuse box, fuses, or circuit breakers. Faulty outlets and switches should be replaced.

During office remodeling, electrical updates will likely be needed to accommodate a heavier workload.

What to Do If There Is an Electrical Fire

Electrical fires often start slowly and will emit an acrid odor and smoke before flames. If it is safe to do so, cut off power to the affected appliance, socket, or plug once you notice a problem.

If there are small flames, douse them with baking soda, not water, which could result in you getting electrocuted. A type C fire extinguisher should also be effective.

Call 911 for any significant fire or if you are unsure how to cut off power to the source.

If the blaze spreads, consult your insurance company and then contact a fire damage restoration team to repair affected areas and get your business back under operation.

Do you need a building contractor to complete renovations around your office? Or the help of a fire damage restoration team following an unfortunate accident? Call on BMF Builds in Friendswood, TX. Their construction experts do everything from remodeling to disaster clean-up following a fire or flood. Call (281) 947-2802 for an estimate or visit their Facebook page for more business information.