TRSA has a multitude of informational resources on fire prevention that are now available online to members. We summarize several examples below, including our latest offering, a compilation of incidents reported in recent decades by TRSA and members of the United Kingdom’s Textile Services Association (TSA).
This survey reviewed 49 incidents experienced from 2006 to 2024, the majority of which occurred since 2019. Respondents reported on the following for each:
- Year/month of fire
- Laundry area where it originated
- Time of day it originated
- Fire incident type (e.g. , spontaneous combustion)
- Products where it originated
- Fire-management procedures during the incident
- Extent of damage
- Cost of insurance claim or damage
An October 2024 TRSA podcast features Charles Edelman, corporate safety director, Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services, Elmsford, NY, discussing the survey’s findings. Edelman chairs TRSA’s Safety Committee. Johnny Sandras, Sanico Rental Service, Cottondale, AL, also details the impact of a major fire his company experienced and the lessons he learned.
Episode 60 – Enhancing Safety: Fire Safety Survey
Don Bock, liaison to the TRSA Safety Committee, delivered a June 2023 podcast on best fire-prevention practices. The owner/operator of Seabright Safety Solutions, Santa Maria, CA, Bock addressed emergency-action plans, external monitoring systems, training and more. A certified safety professional in risk management, he also worked for more than 30 years for Mission Linen Supply.
Enhancing Fire Safety in Commercial Laundries
Among webinars on fire safety, this one features survey results; listeners hear from operators who’ve experienced plant fires and learn from them. The program includes a discussion of preparing an emergency-response plan in case of a fire. Operators will gain key insights on fire-prevention procedures.
Fire Safety and Prevention—Protect Your Plant With Proactive Planning
The prospect of a laundry fire is an ongoing concern for operators. Usually when operators think of a fire, they picture a “spontaneous combustion” incident. While this type of fire—technically known as exothermic or chemical reaction—is a concern, there are several others as well.
Common Risks & Counter-Measures
In addition to the hazard of a chemical-reaction fire, dryer, electrical, lint, solvent and acetylene fires—plus arson—pose a range of risks. Operators must consider the potential for all of these types of fires and develop an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) that identifies the risks and methods for preventing fires.
Developing A Fire Brigade—Steps For Dealing With A Common Hazard
Training employees to put out small fires, evacuate staff and notify emergency personnel can make a difference. A fire can grow from the incipient stage to raging out-of-control blaze in minutes. The response in those few minutes can make the difference between significant loss or the ability to continue business operations with only a minor interruption, such as damaged linen that can be replaced. Who’s going to make the initial response? Are they trained? Will they save the day? Many companies don’t have a fire brigade. This article takes a close look into what constitutes a fire brigade. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 1081) says that there are different classifications beyond responding to internal or exterior structural fires. If you have a group of people assigned to help direct people out of the building to a safe area, then you have a core element of a fire brigade. If you have a group of people who’ll respond with fire extinguishers to a fire, then these individuals also can serve as a fire brigade. TS
