The summer months keep things hot; some days can be a scorcher. As much as we like the warmer months, there are certain things that shouldn’t be burning up: your skin at the beach, a batch of cookies for movie night, and your mobile restroom trailers.
While there is sunscreen for skin and timers for ovens…what is there to protect your trailer? This guide will help. We compiled a list of things to remember during use and maintenance to ensure your trailer stays safe. Your business may be on a hot streak, but keep your fleet cool with these tips:
Enact a No-Smoking Policy
The best way to keep your trailer from catching on fire is to well, get rid of fires. Smoking in a restroom trailer is a terrible idea. Not only can the flame interact with the cleaning chemicals you may be using or set toilet paper or paper towels alight, but it can also fill the space with smoke. While restroom trailers have ventilation systems, they were not made to handle large amounts of smoke at once.
When using your trailer on job sites or at events, put up “no smoking” signs both outside and inside the trailer. This will remind guests to keep flames away and your trailers safe.
Keep Candles Away
Similar to not smoking in trailers, you should certainly keep open flames, such as candles, away from your fleet. While the luxury vibes of certain trailers may tempt you to set the mood, or mosquitos outside make you want to put some citronellas inside, don’t do it.
Since people in trailers are often close to one another, there is a risk of someone knocking a candle over. Not only is wax annoying to clean up, but the falling flame can result in much worse and leave you wishing it was just a minor cleaning task.
Check Power Cords
Regularly check the power cords you use to connect your trailer to outlets or generators. Ensure that they are free of loose ends, fraying, or exposed wires and that they don’t get twisted or kinked throughout their use.
Damaged power cords can be a major safety hazard. The electricity that passes through them can cause sparks that not only hurt people but can cause fires if they catch something particularly flammable.
Stock Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers, blankets, and other fire-prevention items should be within reach of each unit in your fleet. If something falls under the radar during maintenance or an accident happens during use, you could save your trailer from severe damage with some fast action and the right supplies.
Additionally, make sure that those who are using the trailer know where those supplies are. This ensures you can take the quickest actions possible, saving lives and your trailer.
Ensure Adequate Ventilation
Check-in on the vents in your trailer often. When air gets trapped in a trailer, it can also trap in heat and flammable chemicals. The cleaning products, deodorizers, and air fresheners you use all have chemicals that can interact and create a very flammable environment. If they get too hot, which can happen in the warmer months when the trailers are in the heat or when exposed to an open flame, these chemicals in the air can spark a massive chemical fire that puts you, your guests, and your fleet in danger.
In addition to being very flammable, these chemicals are also dangerous to breathe in at high concentrations. Ensuring your trailer has adequate ventilation by clearing out air vents and maintaining an air conditioning unit that your trailer may have used helps keep clean air coming into the trailer and pushes contaminated air out. It also keeps your trailer smelling fresher and feeling cooler.
Perfect Placement
Regarding fire safety, where you put your trailers is just as important as what you do or don’t put in them. Protect your trailer by parking it away from possible fire hazards, like exhaust vents, bonfires, or grills. These fire and heat sources are enemies of trailers, and keeping them away helps keep them protected.
If you are using more than one trailer in your fleet in the same area, space them out a bit. Putting your trailers right next to each other or even touching is a risky game. One trailer on fire can also put the other trailers nearby at risk. Harm to one of your trailers is terrible enough, but having a whole fleet damaged by one fire would be devastating. Protect your investment or security deposit, and keep your trailers adequately spaced.
Fire safety often comes down to common sense and friendly reminders. Treat your trailers with care and caution, just as you would your home.
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Summer can be hot, so stay fire-safe with common sense and reminders. Be cautious with your trailers, just like your home. Keep your fleet cool with the tips in this infographic.
