Let’s Talk A Little About Fire Safety

There have been reports that a majority cause of fire damages in businesses are said to have originated from laundry dryers. Sounds hard to prove, but that is what people in the insurance companies believe.

The expression “Out of sight, out of mind” can certainly apply to a laundry’s dryer exhaust system. Hidden behind a dryer curtain wall, no one but those who work at the laundry ever see the pipes and the back of the dryers themselves.

Usually it’s a tight fit to sidle behind the dryers, which normally are installed in a longish row. Most times it gets really hot behind the dryers, so nobody wants to go behind the dryers unless they absolutely have to. It’s hot, dusty and often it is very noisy. Most laundries have removed the safety features covering the cog wheels. So, it may not be safe and perhaps it will be greasy.

Don’t let the hidden features of your laundry’s venting system keep you from being aggressive about keeping clothes dryer lint drawers, lint boxes and dryer venting systems lint free and as clear as possible. Have the entire venting system cleaned and free of lint. Do this at least three or four times a year, or more often in busier laundries.

It’s nearly impossible for an operator to control customers, and it is therefore possible that customers will try to dry some combustible material in the dryers. If that starts a fire, it will be limited to the clothing or other materials in the dryer basket. However, fire may expand throughout the system if there is a lint buildup in the lint box or the dryer exhaust system.

Cleaning the exhaust system and the lint boxes is a tedious and dirty job, and is perhaps the most difficult and odious job any laundry owner has to do. The lint collection system in a laundry is also something that is hidden from public view, and what isn’t seen, some laundry owners forget.

But, considering the safety factors, that job has to be done, both for fire safety and protection of an owner’s investment. Besides, clean vents and lint boxes mean more efficient dryer use and less gas burned for each pound of clothes dried. That also means being safety conscious can save the laundry operator money.

While we’re talking about keeping clothes dryers safe, check cycling thermostats on -dryers to see that they are all in working condition. When high level thermostats are bad, it can create a fire hazard because temperatures in the dryer get so hot, clothes can combust on their own.

Fires have also been known to occur in laundry clothes bundles and bags brought home from the laundry. It is called spontaneous combustion. Keeping the cycling thermostats working can eliminate that.

The sensible route is to clean it out!

The older the laundry becomes, the more junk it seems to have accumulated. In your laundry, if that includes any flammable items such as old paint cans, floor tiles, wood, greasy rags or any other items that can become a potential fuel for a blaze, take steps to get rid of it!

Compare the possible dangers generated by keeping all this junk around the laundry to any small cash savings you may have if you keep things around just in case you might need it someday. Someday will seldom ever come, and that junk will continue to accumulate. As it does gather and grow, it becomes ever more dangerous to the fire safety of your laundry.

Not only is it unsightly to customers, pretty soon all that stuff begins to disappear from your eyes, because you no longer notice. A mess to some and unseen by others.

The best course of action is to clean it out with regularity. Do whatever you can, within reason, to protect yourself from loss.

Extinguishers And Fire Alarms

Unless there are fire extinguishers, kept where they are open and accessible for public use, they are of little fire protection value for an unattended laundry. They are usually out of public reach to keep them from being stolen.

In attended laundries, an attendant trained in their use can make extinguishers a really effective fire fighting tool.

Remember, coin laundry customers will almost always respond to smoke alarms by grabbing up their garments, running outside, then calling the fire department. Smoke alarms are inexpensive and every laundry should have one or more. If there is an alarm system in the laundry, the smoke detectors should be tied in with the alarm, so that even when the laundry is closed, a call will go to the fire department and that might limit the total damage.

The motto for laundry operators should be, stay prepared for the worst, so that the worst can’t ever happen.

Date:-05/28/2011
By:-Admin


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	Let’s Talk A Little About Fire Safety There have been reports that a majority cause of fire damages in businesses are said to have originated from laundry dryers. Sounds hard to prove, but that is what people in the insurance companies believe. The expression “Out of sight, out of mind” can certainly apply to a laundry’s dryer exhaust system. Hidden behind a dryer curtain wall, no one but those who work at the laundry ever see the pipes and the back of the dryers themselves. Usually it’s a tight fit to sidle behind the dryers, which normally are installed in a longish row. Most times it gets really hot behind the dryers, so nobody wants to go behind the dryers unless they absolutely have to. It’s hot, dusty and often it is very noisy. Most laundries have removed the safety features covering the cog wheels. So, it may not be safe and perhaps it will be greasy. Don’t let the hidden features of your laundry’s venting system keep you from being aggressive about keeping clothes dryer lint drawers, lint boxes and dryer venting systems lint free and as clear as possible. Have the entire venting system cleaned and free of lint. Do this at least three or four times a year, or more often in busier laundries. It’s nearly impossible for an operator to control customers, and it is therefore possible that customers will try to dry some combustible material in the dryers. If that starts a fire, it will be limited to the clothing or other materials in the dryer basket. However, fire may expand throughout the system if there is a lint buildup in the lint box or the dryer exhaust system. Cleaning the exhaust system and the lint boxes is a tedious and dirty job, and is perhaps the most difficult and odious job any laundry owner has to do. The lint collection system in a laundry is also something that is hidden from public view, and what isn’t seen, some laundry owners forget. But, considering the safety factors, that job has to be done, both for fire safety and protection of an owner’s investment. Besides, clean vents and lint boxes mean more efficient dryer use and less gas burned for each pound of clothes dried. That also means being safety conscious can save the laundry operator money. While we’re talking about keeping clothes dryers safe, check cycling thermostats on -dryers to see that they are all in working condition. When high level thermostats are bad, it can create a fire hazard because temperatures in the dryer get so hot, clothes can combust on their own. Fires have also been known to occur in laundry clothes bundles and bags brought home from the laundry. It is called spontaneous combustion. Keeping the cycling thermostats working can eliminate that. The sensible route is to clean it out! The older the laundry becomes, the more junk it seems to have accumulated. In your laundry, if that includes any flammable items such as old paint cans, floor tiles, wood, greasy rags or any other items that can become a potential fuel for a blaze, take steps to get rid of it! Compare the possible dangers generated by keeping all this junk around the laundry to any small cash savings you may have if you keep things around just in case you might need it someday. Someday will seldom ever come, and that junk will continue to accumulate. As it does gather and grow, it becomes ever more dangerous to the fire safety of your laundry. Not only is it unsightly to customers, pretty soon all that stuff begins to disappear from your eyes, because you no longer notice. A mess to some and unseen by others. The best course of action is to clean it out with regularity. Do whatever you can, within reason, to protect yourself from loss. Extinguishers And Fire Alarms Unless there are fire extinguishers, kept where they are open and accessible for public use, they are of little fire protection value for an unattended laundry. They are usually out of public reach to keep them from being stolen. In attended laundries, an attendant trained in their use can make extinguishers a really effective fire fighting tool. Remember, coin laundry customers will almost always respond to smoke alarms by grabbing up their garments, running outside, then calling the fire department. Smoke alarms are inexpensive and every laundry should have one or more. If there is an alarm system in the laundry, the smoke detectors should be tied in with the alarm, so that even when the laundry is closed, a call will go to the fire department and that might limit the total damage. The motto for laundry operators should be, stay prepared for the worst, so that the worst can’t ever happen. Date:-05/28/2011 By:-Admin