Fire protection
Fires endanger people, the environment and materials. Damage caused by fire generates costs in the multi-digit millions in Switzerland every year. In this respect, it is elementary for companies to concern themselves with fire protection.
Fire protection: The most important in a nutshell
- Swiss companies and organizations are required by law to deal with fire protection.
- It is an essential factor in safety and risk management, as well as the overall management of an organization or company.
- The goal is to protect people, the environment, property and company assets from fire hazards, minimize the risk of fire and limit any damage.
- Various laws, regulations and ordinances at the federal as well as cantonal level regulate the requirements for fire protection.
- Safety officers, managers as well as the management are responsible for the topic.
- Education and training of employees is elementary.
- Mostly the cooperation with external experts is inevitable.
Why should you care about fire safety?
- Compliance with legal requirements: Organizations and companies in Switzerland are obliged to take fire protection measures according to the type of workplace and activities, as well as the number of employees.
- Protect people and property: A precautionary operated and consistently implemented fire protection aims to protect buildings, facilities, but especially people from the risk of fire.
- Safeguarding corporate assets and information: Through fire protection measures, companies and organizations protect important documents, data and equipment from damage by fire.
- Reduce potential financial losses:Fire safety can mitigate lost production, repairs, and compensation payments in the event of a fire.
- Avoid legal consequences:By complying with all applicable fire safety regulations, companies and organizations can avoid fines and penalties.
Legal foundations fire protection
There are several legal foundations and ordinances that are relevant to fire protection in Switzerland. Often these are regulated cantonally and can differ in part. As a basis over the whole of Switzerland, the standards and guidelines of the VKF (Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers) apply.
Who needs to deal with fire safety and how?
Business management
Safety Officer
Employees
Target group
In Switzerland, all companies and organizations must deal with fire protection, regardless of size or industry. This applies to both private and public organizations and companies.
What do you have to do in the context of fire protection?
- Identify and assess fire hazards:Companies and organizations must conduct a risk analysis to identify and assess potential fire hazards and risks, and conduct risk management.
- Take appropriate prevention measures: Companies and organizations must minimize the risk of fires by taking appropriate prevention measures (e.g. fire alarm systems, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and fire paths). These measures are in many cases decreed by the cantonal authorities.
- Compliance with legal requirements and regulations: Companies and organizations must comply with applicable regulations, policies and procedures.
- Training, instruction and education of the workforce: Employees must be trained and instructed on the subject of fire protection.
- Emergency plans and exercises: Companies and organizations must draw up emergency plans and carry out regular emergency exercises in order to be prepared in the event of a fire.
What belongs to fire protection?
Fire protection is divided in principle into the three areas of structural, technical and organizational fire protection.
Structural fire protection
Technical fire protection
Organizational fire protection
How does SBIS support the topic of fire protection?
The specifications in the field of fire protection are diverse and not always easy to implement. In very few cases can a kind of standard solution be implemented.
It requires know-how and experience to comply with the various laws, standards and requirements in fire protection. This is where our specialists can be of significant help.
In addition, it pays to work with experts as early as possible. Since the necessary fire protection measures have to be implemented anyway, clarifying the essential questions in good time means less effort for changes later on. In other words, integrating fire protection measures into the planning phase of a project reduces the effort considerably.