5 Signs You're Experiencing a Facility Emergency
No matter the industry, many things can break down or go awry in a facility. From fires to floods to violence, you never know when something is bound to go wrong. Being able to recognize the signs of a facility emergency is essential for mitigating risks and ensuring the safety of the building occupants.
Many risks are associated with facility emergencies, many of which are expensive and a potential liability. Ensuring the quality of your facility management can go a long way to subvert potential emergencies.
The Firm Facility Services has compiled a list of signs that you’re experiencing a facility emergency to help you better understand when to reach out for emergency facility services.
1. Fire or Smoke
One of the most obvious signs of an emergency is fire or smoke. A facility with proper emergency response equipment, like fire exit signs, extinguishers, alarm systems, and pull levers, can quickly inform the building occupants of a fire and have them evacuate to safety.
Your facility should also have a sprinkler system to suppress the fire and act as a signal to evacuate.
2. Unusual Odors
If anyone notices unusual odors, it could be a sign of a gas leak, malfunctioning building system, plumbing issue, or chemicals. HVAC systems can smell bad when they’re having a problem, or gas and chemical lines can break or have a leak.
Natural gas, for example, has a rotten-egg smell added to it to alert occupants of a leak. All building systems should be checked immediately for problems if an odor doesn’t belong.
3. Power Outages
Power outages, whether caused by a storm or electrical failure, can interrupt a building’s ability to function and impede occupants from doing their work. A sudden loss of power can indicate an electrical issue or an external problem. If you have eliminated the possibility of a storm or power grid issue, it could be a problem within the building itself.
Power outages are dangerous because they can affect safety equipment that may not be attached to a generator or other backup power supply.
4. Structural Damage
Visible cracks in floors, walls, ceilings, and any signs of structural damage or shifting can suggest a building integrity issue. This can happen due to seismic activity, severe weather, or the building’s age. If there are signs of structural damage, it’s a good idea to call a professional to inspect and assess the situation.
Another structural emergency could include a car or other vehicle driving into a building. It’s not an uncommon occurrence, so if you have a busy parking lot, be on the watch for errant drivers.
5. Unusual Sounds
Similar to odors, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems can have unusual sounds. Banging, clanking, and screeching are all indicators of a potential HVAC issue while buzzing or humming could be signs of an electrical problem.
Plumbing systems can gurgle, potentially signifying a backup. Any unusual sounds should be investigated promptly to ensure there are no future accidents or problems.
Get Professional Emergency Response Services from The Firm
When you need professionals to investigate a potential facility emergency, call The Firm. While you can never plan for an emergency, it’s a good idea to know who to call when something does happen. You need knowledgeable and experienced technicians to handle HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and structural emergencies in a safe and reliable manner. As a company with nationwide reach, we can handle your facility emergencies from coast to coast.
And when you need on-demand facility services, look to The Firm to provide exceptional and speedy service.
Call us today at 1-833-FIRM-411 for more information, or send us a message online!