Fires at work threaten the lives of people and businesses. The average cost of a fire in a commercial building is estimated to be some £58,000. A large proportion of businesses that close temporarily because of a fire never re-open.
Arson remains the biggest single cause of fire, followed by faulty electrical equipment. A small fire can spread rapidly. The storage and use of flammable and/or pressurised substances significantly increases the risk of a major fire or explosion.