From 2014 to 2023 the number of non-residential building fires increased by about 19%, and deaths from these fires increased by 70% over the same period, highlighting a rising workplace fire risk.

Commercial kitchens and employee breakrooms are high-risk due to cooking equipment, grease buildup, and unattended appliances. Small ignition sources can escalate quickly when heat and flammable materials combine.

Call to Action: Implement regular equipment inspections, enforce no-unattended-cooking policies, and train staff on proper fire extinguisher use. 

Electrical rooms and server spaces carry elevated fire risk from high electrical loads, overheating equipment, and poor ventilation. Even minor electrical failures can lead to rapid fire spread and business disruption.

Call to Action: Schedule professional electrical inspections, maintain clearances around panels, and ensure fire detection systems are active and tested. 

Storage areas often contain combustible materials such as paper, packaging, chemicals, or cleaning supplies. Improper stacking or blocked exits can intensify fire severity and delay response.

Call to Action: Enforce proper storage practices, maintain clear exit paths, and limit the quantity of flammable materials stored in one location. 

Mechanical and HVAC rooms pose risks due to heat-producing equipment, motors, and fuel sources. Lack of maintenance or dust buildup increases the likelihood of ignition.

Call to Action: Establish routine maintenance schedules and ensure only authorized personnel access these areas. 

These areas are vulnerable due to vehicle engines, fuel sources, and delivery operations. Vapors and ignition sources often coexist, increasing fire potential.

Call to Action: Control ignition sources, store fuels properly, and conduct fire safety training specific to dock and garage operations. 

This is the most common multipurpose extinguisher for ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, and energized electrical equipment. It’s a staple in offices, warehouses, and retail spaces because it can address a wide range of fire types safely and quickly.

Statistic (2025): ABC extinguishers account for about 70% of all portable units in use, making them the most widely deployed fire extinguisher type. 

Action: Ensure your facility has ABC extinguishers placed every 75-100 feet in general workspace areas and that staff are trained annually in their standard use (PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep). 

CO₂ extinguishers are ideal for fires involving flammable liquids and electrical equipment because they displace oxygen without leaving damaging residue. They’re especially valuable near server rooms, control panels, and labs.

Statistic (2025): CO₂ units are a preferred choice for electrical risks and sensitive equipment, growing in deployment where digital infrastructure is critical. 

Action: Install CO₂ extinguishers near electrical and tech-heavy workspaces and provide focused hands-on training on safe use in confined spaces (avoid use without ventilation). 

Specifically designed for commercial kitchens, wet chemical extinguishers cool burning cooking oils/fats and create a soapy seal that prevents re-ignition.

Statistic (2025): Wet chemical units remain required by most safety codes in food service facilities due to their superior performance in kitchen fire scenarios.

Action: In kitchens or cafeterias, mount Class K extinguishers near deep fryers and cooking lines; conduct annual kitchen fire drills that include safe extinguisher use. 

For fires involving combustible metals like magnesium or lithium, dry powder extinguishers smother flames by isolating the fuel from oxygen — essential in fabrication, labs, or certain workshops.

Statistic (2025): While niche, specialized dry powder extinguishers are essential in industrial settings where metal powders or shavings are present.

Action: In metalworking or industrial shops, identify hazards and stock appropriate Class D extinguishers; provide targeted training for team members on their correct deployment. 

Sprinklers detect heat and discharge water to control or extinguish fires in their early stages — often before firefighters arrive. Properly designed and maintained sprinkler systems alone control over 99% of fires that are large enough to activate them.

Action: Work with a certified fire protection engineer to verify that your sprinkler design meets occupancy and hazard class requirements, and institute regular maintenance and inspection per NFPA 25 standards. 

Smoke and heat detectors provide early warning, giving occupants time to evacuate and first responders time to act. Modern business alarm systems integrate with central monitoring and can alert safety teams instantly.

Statistic (2025): The fire alarm and detection market in the U.S. was estimated at over $11.6 B in 2025, driven by demand for reliable early notification systems.

Action: Install integrated smoke detectors throughout business premises, test them monthly, replace sensors per manufacturer life-cycles, and connect alarms to a central monitored service. 

Fire blankets can smother small fires or wrap around a person whose clothing is aflame; they’re especially useful in kitchen or lab environments.

Statistic (2025): Fire blankets show strong consumer and commercial interest as an adjunct safety tool, evidenced by high sales volumes alongside extinguishers and detectors in 2025.

Action: Keep fire blankets in high-risk zones like kitchens and chemical prep areas and train staff on how to deploy them safely without risk of injury. 

Clear, functioning exit signage and emergency lighting are critical for evacuation when smoke reduces visibility or power fails.

Action: Test exit signs monthly, replace bulbs and backup batteries annually, and ensure all exit paths are unobstructed and familiar to team members.