Reduce the Risk of Fire Water Run-off
Fire water run-off (water left over from putting out a blaze) often causes just as much damage to the surrounding environment as the fire itself. This is because the water source can often become contaminated with hazardous materials and chemicals that are released into local drainage networks following a fire. These substances pollute the environment and pose a dangerous threat to wildlife. In the event of a fire, there are two ways we suggest businesses can reduce the harm caused by fire water run-off.
Create a Fire Prevention Plan
Businesses should outline in a fire prevention plan the measures they have in place for collecting, containing and storing fire water, as well as details of how it will be safely disposed of. This should comply with the CIRIA (736) containment systems for the prevention of pollution and is also a requirement of the Environmental Agency. With a clearly structured and considered fire prevention plan, fire water run-off should cause minimal disturbance to both your business and the environment.
Have a Safe Method of Containing Excess Water
It is also important to identify the different streams the fire water may run off into and having secondary and tertiary containment systems installed. For example, use temporarily blocked drains of fixed demountable containment areas. This ensures that should your primary defences be breached, nearby rivers and groundwater will remain uncontaminated.
Fire water run-off (water left over from putting out a blaze) often causes just as much damage to the surrounding environment as the fire itself. This is because the water source can often become contaminated with hazardous materials and chemicals that are released into local drainage networks following a fire. These substances pollute the environment and pose a dangerous threat to wildlife. In the event of a fire, there are two ways we suggest businesses can reduce the harm caused by fire water run-off.
Create a Fire Prevention Plan
Businesses should outline in a fire prevention plan the measures they have in place for collecting, containing and storing fire water, as well as details of how it will be safely disposed of. This should comply with the CIRIA (736) containment systems for the prevention of pollution and is also a requirement of the Environmental Agency. With a clearly structured and considered fire prevention plan, fire water run-off should cause minimal disturbance to both your business and the environment.
Have a Safe Method of Containing Excess Water
It is also important to identify the different streams the fire water may run off into and having secondary and tertiary containment systems installed. For example, use temporarily blocked drains of fixed demountable containment areas. This ensures that should your primary defences be breached, nearby rivers and groundwater will remain uncontaminated.
