Black Friday Preparations: 11 Business Tips to Keep Shoppers Safe in Manassas Area

The holidays are fast approaching and shoppers are gearing up for the best deals.

Black Friday is Nov. 28, but shopping will likely be hectic even before the biggest shopping season of the year.

Fire Marshals of the Prince William County Fire and Rescue Department provide the following guidelines for businesses to keep their customers, and their merchandise, safe:

Storing Merchandise

• Maintain exit discharge
• Keep all exits clear
• Keep storage levels 18 inches from sprinkler heads, or 2 feet from ceiling and overhead support assembly if there aren’t sprinklers

Hanging & Displaying Merchandise

• Do Not Hang salable goods or decorations from the ceiling

Customer Safety

• Limit merchandise on sales floor to ensure clear exits
• Monitor crowds to maintain the proper occupancy load

• Do Not Block extinguishers or access to sprinkler system control valves
• Limit decorations to ensure sprinkler system coverage is not reduced
• All decorations must be treated with a fire retardant
• No Parking in fire lanes
• Do Not Block fire department connections and hydrants

To ensure the safety of all those shopping this season, the county’s Fire Marshals will spot check Prince William County merchants and issue notices for any violations they find.

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