commercial fire alarm systems Archives - Page 13 of 14

Commercial Fire Alarm Monitoring Keeps the Fires Away

Fires grow quickly and commercial fire alarm monitoring can save lives and protect property. It can keep your inventory and equipment from burning up. It can also minimize repair costs and downtime so that lost revenue and remodeling don’t burn a hole in your budget. Dollar for dollar, commercial fire alarm monitoring is one of the soundest investments you can make in your business.

Commercial Fire Alarm Monitoring Automates Your Protection

A monitored fire alarm system is connected to an annunciator panel. When the alarm goes off, it sends a wireless signal to the monitoring station which then contacts emergency responders. Day or night, this communication is instant and requires no input or action from you. This buys you critical moments to evacuate the building and focus on the lives of personnel and customers without having to worry about dialing 911 until you know everyone is safe and sound. It also offers a full layer of protection during hours and days when the building is unoccupied including evenings, the wee hours of the morning, or holidays.

Commercial Fire Alarm Monitoring Maximizes Response

Moments matter in a fire and a commercial fire alarm monitoring service can relay critical details of a fire to first responders. This information can include where the fire started, where it has spread to, how hot it is burning, and what materials are in its path. All of this information can help emergency responders prepare their plan of attack while they are en route to the scene. This saves time and helps ensure that they arrive with the right equipment to extinguish the flames.

Commercial Fire Alarm Monitoring Minimizes Damage

Flames, smoke, and water can leave costly repairs in their wake. Damaged systems will need to be repaired, inventory will need to be assessed, and everything from the ductwork to the windows needs to be thoroughly cleaned and scrubbed before you can reopen your doors. This takes time and costs money. The lighter the damage, the faster you can reopen and be back in business. Commercial fire alarm monitoring minimizes the damage because it increases the response time and the effectiveness of emergency responders.

Commercial Fire Alarm Monitoring Reduces Insurance Premiums

One of the biggest expenses of any business comes in the form of insurance premiums and deductibles. These can add up quickly and eat up a considerable portion of the monthly budget. Commercial fire alarm monitoring helps reduce these expenses because most insurance companies offer discounts in premiums and reductions to deductibles for businesses that hire professional fire alarm monitoring companies to monitor their fire alarm systems. These savings add up quickly and many businesses recoup the cost of installation and monitoring within the first year.

Commercial Fire Alarm Monitoring Maximizes Safety Equipment Positioning

Fire alarm monitoring companies work closely with clients to ensure that fire alarms and monitoring are maximized for the property. This includes making sure that smoke detectors and heat sensors are strategically positioned, as well as taking care of any maintenance issues that arise. This creates a solid layer of protection that protects the business 24/7/365 from potential fire threats.

The 1st Alarm Team Understands your Commercial Fire Alarm Systems needs

1st Alarm know how to protect our clients from the dangers of fire and the damage it can cause. Our commercial fire alarm monitoring services protect businesses in Abilene, Amarillo, El Paso, Lubbock, Midland, and San Angelo. We invite you to contact us to learn more about the myriad of ways our fire alarm monitoring can protect your business. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you determine the best systems and monitoring plan for your budget and operational needs.

The team at 1st Alarm understands that you will have many burning questions on your mind when it comes time to choose the right commercial fire alarm system to protect your property. As a business owner, you know the importance of early fire detection and how it can save you from completely losing your property. 1st Alarm understands the importance as well and will be there for you 24/7 to ensure you are protected. We will also help you to create a fire safety policy for your employees to reduce injuries and prevent human loss should a fire occur. With 1st Alarm and an advanced commercial fire alarm system, you ensure your business is prepared adequately in the event a fire should happen in your business place.

1st Alarm is one of the biggest and best security companies in the region that specializes in both residential and commercial alarm systems as well as commercial fire alarm systems. Serving Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland / Odessa, El Paso, Abilene and San Angelo, we pride ourselves on buying local and hiring local whenever possible. We are committed to offering high quality, professional service with the utmost level of integrity. 1st Alarm is the best commercial fire alarm system company in our region as well. We have personnel trained and certified to meet your fire alarm system needs. To learn more about how our commercial fire alarm systems may be a great fit for your company, Request a Quote online or give us a call at 800-276-5559. You can even visit our office near you.

Can Your Business Afford A Commercial Fire Alarm System

You have worked hard to build your business. Over the years, you have invested your time, savings, and energy into building something that can provide income for your family and employees, and goods and services for your customers. When it comes to protecting your business, the real question isn’t whether you can afford a commercial fire alarm system; it is whether you are willing to pay the price if you don’t have one.

Commercial fire alarms are a valuable asset to any business. They protect lives, physical inventory, equipment, and customers. Moreover, they are required by law and companies that don’t have functioning fire alarms on the premises can face stiff penalties that include loss of their business license. Even with obvious benefits and penalties, many companies fail to install sufficient fire protection.

The Cost in New Construction versus Remodels

Installing a commercial fire alarm system within a new building is often less expensive than installing one within an existing structure. The reason for this has to do with the wiring and the amount of effort it takes to retrofit and integrate the system into the building. For a new construction, the cost of installing a fire alarm can be as little as $2 per square foot of area protected. In a remodel, that cost may rise to $14. That may seem like a lot, but it is really minimal when you consider the average cost in damages from a commercial fire within a small business exceeds $35,000. That’s just structural damage and inventory loss; it doesn’t include downtime and lost business while the damage is repaired.

What to Look For When Purchasing a Commercial Fire Alarm System

There are many options when it comes to commercial fire alarm systems. As technology has evolved, commercial fire alarm systems have become smart sentries that provide solid protection against smoke and fire. There are two main types of commercial fire alarms that include:

Conventional Systems – The tried and true fire alarm, these systems rely on zones that are connected via hardwire to a central control panel. These types of systems make it easy to put separate fire alarms throughout the structure. Because of the simplicity of these systems, they often cost less than other options.

Addressable Systems – These smart systems work much like conventional systems, however, their big advantage is that they identify the point of fire when an alarm sounds. This makes it easier to direct emergency responders to the point of origin and extinguish the blaze faster. This can aid in evacuation and reduces property damage.

When choosing a commercial fire alarm, technology has truly raised the bar on the number of features and functions that are available. Naturally, systems can be easily connected to fire suppression systems such as sprinklers and halon dispensers. In fact, the combination of a fire alarm and a fire suppression system can cut a business’s insurance rates dramatically which helps the business quickly recoup the cost of purchase and installation.

Commercial fire alarm systems can also be connected to video monitoring systems. This provides real time information that can be relayed to first responders in the event a fire breaks out. It can also help reduce the number of false alarms.

The 1st Alarm Team Understands your Commercial Fire Alarm System needs

The team at 1st Alarm understands that you will have many burning questions on your mind when it comes time to choose the right commercial fire alarm system to protect your property.

Types Of Commercial Fire Alarm Systems That Best Fit Your Space

As a business owner of either a large or small business, you should always install a commercial fire alarm system as soon as you move into a new building, or possibly upgrade an existing system. There are several different types of commercial fire alarm systems available, and you’ll want to make sure you choose a system that best fits your space.

For small businesses that occupy small buildings, such as a small freestanding store or a retail office space in a larger complex, you’ll want to make sure your commercial fire alarm system covers every inch of your cozy business space. Call a professional to measure your space, number of rooms or offices, and determine how many fire alarms you’ll need, as well as any potential fire risks in your business. For instance, if you own a small retail clothing shop, you’ll want to make sure that your fire alarm system protects all of your expensive merchandise and is able to warn you the minute that there is smoke or fire present.

With commercial fire alarm systems, you’ll normally have access to a 24 hour monitoring service.

Your fire alarm company will contact you if any alarms go off when you’re not present in your business, on vacation or during after hours. For large businesses that are looking for the best type of commercial fire alarm system, contact a professional company that specializes in the installation, testing, identifying risks and has a monitoring service as well. The larger your business is, the more complex your fire alarm system will be. For instance, if you have a large office space with several rooms, cubicles, bathrooms and space for all of your employees, you’ll want to make sure your fire alarm system is top of the line. The best offices for lease in Grand Forks have the best equipment in each room. As they’re big, spacious areas, you need to make sure every inch is protected. The Grand Forks offices opt for the most up to date apparatus, not only your business safe but also your employees. If you are leasing an office area, you need to take these risks into consideration. It may not be your responsibility to install these devices so you need to contact your leasing agent and clarify or opt for an office like the ones in Grand Forks where systems are already in place.

Make sure a professional is able to train your staff on the proper way to respond to a fire alarm, as well as the best way to identify where the alarm is coming from, how to notify the rest of the employees in the building, and how to notify the fire department in the case of a false alarm.

Sometimes, it’s possible to integrate your commercial fire alarm system with a security system as well. This can sometimes give you the most bang for your buck – the better you can protect your investment from damage, the better off you’ll be in the long run.

The 1st Alarm Team Understands your Commercial Fire Alarm System needs

The team at 1st Alarm understands that you will have many burning questions on your mind when it comes time to choose the right commercial fire alarm system to protect your property.

The Importance Of A Good Commercial Fire Alarm System Cannot Be Overstated

Investing in a commercial fire alarm system is key for keeping office or warehouse employees safe and protecting the property. Lacking a commercial system, your property and workers are vulnerable to fire, smoke damage, and potential injuries. A commercial fire alarm system is a significant investment, but the advantages are invaluable, ensuring protection for your business.

A commercial fire alarm system can prevent property damage

The most important reason to invest in a commercial fire alarm system is to prevent fire. A state-of-the-art commercial system picks up the smallest trace of smoke, which means the fire department is alerted right away, keeping the small flames from exploding into a large fire. A professionally installed commercial fire alarm system ensures you’ll never have fire spreading throughout the building.

A commercial fire alarm system can contact the fire department immediately

When you’re facing fire or smoke, time is of the essence. The sooner you contact the proper authorities, the less damage you incur. A commercial fire alarm system detects smoke or fire and alerts the fire department as soon as possible, greatly reducing the amount of time between the initial smoke or fire and the fire department response. An automatic alert system also frees up valuable time and energy for employees to respond appropriately. Instead of calling the fire department themselves, they can focus on getting out of the building and helping anyone who may be injured or in need of assistance during an evacuation.

Receive around the clock protection

Having a fire or incurring smoke damage overnight or while the building is empty is every business owner’s worst nightmare. Installing a commercial fire alarm system gives you peace of mind about the wellbeing of your company at all times, helping you sleep better at night. Confirm your new commercial fire alarm system offers remote system access, so you can check alerts when you’re away from the property.

A commercial fire alarm system can keep employees safe

Modern commercial fire alarm systems make it simple and straightforward to train employees to operate and monitor the system independently. In the event of fire or smoke, employees should have no problem exiting the building quickly and safely, rest assured that the alarm system will contact the fire department automatically.

Integrating a security system

Investing in a commercial fire alarm system gives you the capacity to integrate the fire alarm system with a security alarm system. You’ll be running video surveillance, motion detectors, and other key security system features alongside the fire alarm system. Integrating the system enables you to control all of the security devices from a single location and access them from any mobile device or computer with internet.

The 1st Alarm Team Understands your Commercial Fire Alarm System needs

The team at 1st Alarm understands that you will have many burning questions on your mind when it comes time to choose the right commercial fire alarm system to protect your property.

The Benefits Of A Modern Commercial Fire Alarm System

Moments matter when a fire ignites. The typical fire doubles in size every 60 seconds. It can double even faster if flammable liquids or explosives are ignited by the blaze. A commercial fire alarm system won’t prevent a fire from igniting, and it won’t slow it down, but it will give people the warning they need to evacuate the area. These moments matter and often mean the difference between life and death. These are the real benefits of a commercial fire alarm system.

A Commercial Fire Alarm System is an Inexpensive Investment in Early Warning

Installing a commercial fire alarm system in a new building runs roughly $2 per square foot of coverage area, and slightly more if the alarm is being installed as part of a retrofit. However, the real investment is in the safety of your employees, clients, and visitors to your property. A functioning fire alarm ensures that if a fire ever erupts that they won’t get caught off guard and suffer potentially fatal burns and smoke inhalation. In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association, the majority of fire related casualties are not caused by burns, rather they are the result of toxic smoke inhalation.

A Commercial Fire Alarm System Reduce Insurance Premiums

Many insurance companies will reduce a company’s insurance premiums by 5 to 10% if a commercial fire alarm system is present. This discount can reach 15-20% if the fire alarm is coupled with a fire suppression system such as sprinkler. These savings add up quickly and it is often the case that the premiums that are saved more than cover the installation cost within the first year.

Remote Monitoring Provides Peace of Mind

Modern commercial fire alarm systems have come a long way from being simple smoke detectors. Modern systems can detect everything from carbon monoxide to rising temperatures. Most modern commercial fire alarm systems are connected to a receiver that transmits a signal directly to emergency personnel when a problem arises. This expedites the response time of first responders and provides a reliable layer of coverage that protects the business long after everyone has gone home for the day. In fact, most fires start at night when no one is around and a fire alarm is a 24/7/365 employee that is always on the job.

Advanced Warning Reduces Repair Costs

Most businesses that experience a fire have to shut down while repairs are being conducted. The more significant the damage, the longer the closure will last. Each day the business is closed is a day when revenue drops and savings are depleted. A commercial fire alarm system can help minimize the damage to property and inventory while reducing the downtime required to put everything back in order.

Modern Commercial Fire Alarm Systems are Compliant with NFPA 72

Building codes are constantly evolving. In addition to the increased possibility of malfunctions, older systems simply may not be compliant with modern building requirements. NFPA 72 is the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, and modern systems are designed so that they are in compliance with the standards that are set forth regarding everything from fires and floods to terrorist events.

Modern Commercial Fire Alarm Systems Provide More Information

Fighting a fire effectively depends on having as much information as possible about the fire itself. Modern fire alarm systems transmit data regarding the speed of the fire, the location, the temperature, etc. Firefighters use this information to prepare a strategy to fight the fire fast and effectively.

The 1st Alarm Team Understands your Commercial Fire Alarm System needs

The team at 1st Alarm understands that you will have many burning questions on your mind when it comes time to choose the right commercial fire alarm system to protect your property.

Save Money With The Installation Of A State Of The Art Commercial Fire Alarm System

Installing a state-of-the-art commercial fire alarm system in your business will save you money. The use of detectors and basic smoke alarms work well, but a commercial fire alarm monitoring system will take your fire safety to the next level. When you have one of these systems professionally installed, you are adding another level of protection for your building, belongings, the people who work for you, and on yourself. You not only have more protection, but you will also save money.

A Commercial Fire Alarm System Saves on Insurance Premiums

The cost of having a commercial fire alarm system installed will be offset by the amounts you will save on your business insurance. The insurance company will see the system as a way of protecting their investment and most offer discounts to customers who have them installed. With a monitoring system, you will be able to reduce the loss a fire can cause during the night hours or while your business is closed. Reduced loss is a plus for both you and your insurance company. Studies show those who install a fire alarm monitoring system can save up to 20% on insurance premiums.

Early Detection Means Loss Prevention Savings

Seconds count when a fire breaks out. A state-of-the-art commercial fire alarm system will detect when there is a fire or even the threat of a fire. These systems are able to detect smoke if a fire is beginning to smolder, if there is a change in temperature indicating a fire may be eminent, when there is actually a fire present, and any other circumstances indicating a fire is a real threat. A fire alarm monitoring system sends an alert to the Fire Department immediately. When the Fire Department receives this alert, they are able to respond much faster to reduce your losses.

Seconds count when a fire breaks out, and the sooner the Fire Department can reach your business; the better your chances are of not suffering a complete loss. A fire can spread quickly and depending on the age of your structure; it can consume the entire building in minutes. Having a faster response time by the Fire Department can be the difference in losing your entire business or just a small portion thus providing you significant savings in loss prevention.

Save Money on Personal Injury

Fires are incredibly destructive and dangerous. With a state-of-the-art commercial fire alarm system, you and your employees will be alerted to the first threat of danger. This alarm will give you and those in your building time to reach safety and reduce or eliminate personal injuries that can occur from the effects of the fire.

A state-of-the-art commercial fire alarm system will save you money and help you prevent destructive fire loss or damages. Preparing today for what could happen tomorrow starts with your installation of a fire monitoring system.

The 1st Alarm Team Understands your Commercial Fire Alarm System needs

The team at 1st Alarm understands that you will have many burning questions on your mind when it comes time to choose the right commercial fire alarm system to protect your property.

Fundamental Configuration Of A Commercial Fire Alarm System

A commercial fire alarm system is crucial to saving lives when tragedy strikes or accidents happen. With a system in place, you and your employees are alerted immediately when a fire or smoke is detected, so everyone has an early warning and a chance to reach safety. The main benefit of a commercial fire alarm system is the early warning advantage; however, they are also cost effective for your smoke and fire protection. Even though these systems are necessary and beneficial to have installed, you don’t need to understand their design, but you should have a fundamental idea of their configuration.

Why it’s important to understand your commercial fire alarm system’s fundamental configuration

A commercial fire alarm system installed in your building is connected to a remote monitoring station, so help is called immediately. You are aware of the danger right away and are able to evacuate your premises quickly before the fire spreads. The system will also ensure medical help is notified in case of emergency and notify the fire department, so they are able to reach your business and hopefully reduce your loss. These systems are life-savers, and you should be aware of their fundamental operation in case you need to perform emergency work.

Basics to understand for your commercial fire alarm system

The basics for you to learn include knowing how to disarm the control panel, troubleshoot the horns and pull stations so your system goes back online as quickly as possible. Problems with these areas can occur, and you want to understand how to restore them, so fire protection is back in place right away.

How detection occurs

The commercial fire alarm system works through a control panel that connects devices such as your smoke detector and heat detector. The panel’s function is to notify of impending danger posed by a fire and to create an alarm. There are different types of systems with elements varying on how they work together. Understanding those systems will help you understand their fundamental operation.

Conventional systems

The Conventional System only has two states, alarm and normal. This method is able to provide information to the necessary personnel alerting them to the fire’s location and what type of device started the fire.

Intelligent systems

An Intelligent System has the alerting devices using a two-way communication method to send messages to the control panel and provides more detailed information than the conventional method. Not only does it provide exact location and device responsible, but it can also determine the sensitivity of the detector and if it’s dirty.

Other systems

There are other systems available that do not rely on software and some that use microprocessors to control the outputs of the system including notification appliances.

Control panel

The control panel is the heart of the system. Understanding how the panel contains the power supplying your entire system and the circuits for the initiating devices will enable you to make sure your commercial fire alarm system is functioning properly and able to keep you protected.

You are not required to understand the fire alarm design or how to install a system, but fundamental information is needed to keep your system functioning properly. Learn the basics of your system before tragedy strikes and make sure you and your business stay protected.

Contact the professionals at 1st Alarm

The team at 1st Alarm understands that you will have many burning questions on your mind when it comes time to choose the right commercial fire alarm system to protect your property. We invite you to contact us to learn more about the alarms we recommend and the monitoring services we offer that can cover your business beneath a blanket of protection.

Commercial Fire Alarm Systems For The Office

Fires can happen at anytime. A spark from an industrial machine, an overheating copier, a lit cigarette in a trashcan, and any one of a thousand other causes can start a fire that can spread quickly throughout the building. A commercial fire alarm system can’t prevent the causes of fires, but it can provide employees and customers with sufficient warning to evacuate the area. It takes mere moments for a fire to grow in size, and these moments can make all the difference in saving lives and property.

Moments Matter

The typical office fire doubles in size every minute. The more fuel that is present, the faster the fire will grow and the typical office has plenty of fuel to fan the flames. While some pieces of office furniture may be made from fire retardant materials, the vast majority of furniture, clothing, and of course, paper and plastics are not. That is why, when you buy from Brisbane’s leader in high quality office furniture, you have to treat all of your new furniture with care and respect. When a fire breaks out, it is often these common materials that fuel the fire and give it the ability to travel throughout the office. In Amarillo, the average response time is 4 and 1/2 minutes. In El Paso, it is about 4 minutes. Most other fire departments in the area respond within these ranges. Fire is becoming an increasing problem in the area and fire departments in the area are bracing for a continued increase in calls over the next five years as the region grows and more and more businesses open their doors. The faster an alarm goes out from a fire alarm system, the sooner the fire trucks will arrive at the front door. Moreover, modern commercial fire alarm systems can gather information regarding where the fire started which can help in fighting and extinguishing the blaze. The moments a fire alarm saves can provide sufficient opportunity to evacuate and help blunt the damage that a fire can cause.

Where to Install a Commercial Fire Alarm System

Each business is different, and every office has needs that vary depending on the size, layout, and tasks conducted within the space. At a minimum, fire alarms should be installed within storerooms containing combustibles such as cleaning agents, paper, and wood. Fire alarms should also be installed in kitchen areas, break rooms, and any area where machines such as copiers, computers, and industrial machinery are present. Should something start to smolder in any of these areas, the alarm will trigger and alert everyone in the building that there is a threat present.

Commercial Fire Alarm Systems are Worth the Investment

In addition to the cost to lives and property, a fire can put a business out of business until the damage is repaired. It’s also important to remember to hire an effective commercial cleaning service to deal with anything that’s left behind after a fire! A commercial fire alarm system coupled with fire suppression systems including sprinklers or clean agent fire suppression systems, and handheld fire extinguishers can minimize the downtime and the overall cost of repairing the damage. Dollar for dollar, the cost of installing and maintaining a high quality commercial fire alarm system is far less than the cost of remediation following a fire. Fires can happen for any number of reasons, and no amount of planning can completely remove the possibility that a fire will break out. However, if a fire breaks out, a fire alarm can provide the timely warning employees need to evacuate and fire departments need to respond. We invite you to contact 1st Alarm to discover more about the fire alarms we install and the steps we take to ensure our clients have the highest degree of protection against fire within their commercial properties.

The 1st Alarm Team Understands your Commercial Fire Alarm System needs

The team at 1st Alarm understands that you will have many burning questions on your mind when it comes time to choose the right commercial fire alarm system to protect your property. 1st Alarm is one of the biggest and best security companies in the region that specializes in both residential and commercial alarm systems as well as commercial fire alarm systems. Serving Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland / Odessa, El Paso, Abilene and San Angelo, we pride ourselves on buying local and hiring local whenever possible. We are committed to offering high quality, professional service with the utmost level of integrity. 1st Alarm is the best commercial fire alarm system company in our region as well. We have personnel trained and certified to meet your fire alarm system needs. To learn more about how our commercial fire alarm systems may be a great fit for your company, Request a Quote online or give us a call at 800-276-5559. You can even visit our office near you.

A Commercial Fire Alarm System Is Essential To The Security Of Your Business

Your business needs a commercial fire alarm system to ensure early warning can be given if a fire breaks out in your complex. Fire alarms are able to be installed in almost any location within a commercial building and will give you more cost effective smoke and fire protection. With greater detection and early warnings, your business is more secure not only for your employees but for your customers as well.

Why a commercial fire alarm system is essential to the security of your commercial business

When you connect your business to a commercial fire alarm system, you can be assured of an early warning when or if a fire breaks out in your building. Early warning is important so evacuation of your employees can be completed before the fire spreads. These systems are able to notify emergency teams in case there are any injuries. The Fire Department will also be notified immediately for a faster response time.

Types of commercial fire alarm system detectors

You can use a particular kind of detector or a combination of them. The different detectors work by sensing one or more elements associated with a fire. The most common include the smoke detector, heat detector, and flame detector.

The smoke detector will alert you if there is evidence of smoke particles present. They are able to respond quickly to even the smallest particle of smoke resulting from flames or hot fires.

The heat detectors are generally used in businesses that generate a dense smoke during their normal operation process. These sensors react to a broad temperature change or at a predetermined temperature you’ve set for them.

The flame detector looks for specific types of infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light which are emitted by flames. When this kind of light is detected, it sends a signal to your alarm.

Why you should install a commercial fire alarm system

The best way to minimize a disaster is prevention. A commercial fire alarm system is essential to preventing a disastrous fire. The top reason and benefit of the system is that it can save the lives of you, your employees, and in some cases your customers.

Early detection of a fire is also your key to preventing expensive property damage. Fire can spread quickly and depending on the age of your structure just a tiny flame can quickly become a full building burn. With early detection, you can receive quicker response time from the Fire Department, so you do not experience a complete loss of your structure.

A commercial fire alarm system is also on the job 24/7, so you can focus on the operation of your business and not worry about fires in the middle of the night. The right fire system not only sends an emergency alert to the Fire Department, but it will also send a message to you regarding the emergency.

Importance of fire detection in your workplace

It doesn’t matter what type or size of business you operate. Any business in any sector needs to be aware of their fire risks. Fire Departments advise that in a fire emergency, seconds count in saving lives. A commercial fire alarm system provides those needed seconds for alerting persons in your building of the danger and giving them the added seconds to reach safety.

Prevent commercial fire emergencies and install a fire alarm system in your building. Fire alarm service companies are available to help you determine the system that will work best for you.

Contact the professionals at 1st Alarm

The team at 1st Alarm understands that you will have many burning questions on your mind when it comes time to choose the right commercial fire alarm system to protect your property. We invite you to contact us to learn more about the alarms we recommend and the monitoring services we offer that can cover your business beneath a blanket of protection.

What Type of Fire Alarm System Do I Need and Where Should I Put It?

What Type of Fire Alarm System Do I Need and Where Should I Put It? Choosing a fire alarm system isn’t a very exciting activity, but it can save you from plenty of unpleasant excitement down the road. The right fire alarm system in the right position can save property and lives so it’s something that you want to give considerable thought to. When choosing a fire alarm system, we advise clients to keep the following things at the forefront of their decision-making process.

Selecting a Fire Alarm System

There are two primary types of fire alarm sensors; Ionization and Photoelectric. Ionization alarm sensors detect invisible particles generated by fast moving fires, while photoelectric sensors detect visible fire particles generated by fires that smolder before erupting into flames. Each of these types of fire alarms will provide strong protection against fire, however, many manufacturers and fire professionals recommend installing both types of sensors within the home or office for maximum protection.

You may also consider installing a fixed temperature heat detectors or carbon monoxide detectors for use within areas such as kitchens or garages where engine fumes and burned dinners can sometimes trigger false alarms. The downside to using these devices is that they don’t trigger until after combustion has taken place which reduces the warning time and protective benefits.

If you have a “smart” home, you may want to consider installation of a wifi enabled smoke detector. This can provide a considerable blanket of protection and also makes it easier to respond to alarms that may trigger while you are away from the home or business. These interconnected fire alarm systems can be controlled from a smartphone, tablet, pc, etc. Some devices can even collect audio recordings that can be stored and used as evidence to show fire progression and events that occur prior to and during the evacuation of the structure.

Positioning & Maintaining Your Fire Alarm System

Fire alarm systems should be positioned so that they provide as much warning time as possible of an imminent threat. Maintaining a fire alarm system is simple and requires little more than replacing the batteries when they lose their charge and die, and replacing the fire alarm system every ten years as they typically lose their effectiveness around this time. It is also important to place fire alarm systems in positions where airflow is not restricted or unduly affected by air currents generated by fans or ventilation systems.

Residential Structures

Within residential structures, fire alarm systems should be installed in each bedroom and within the corridors of every level of the home including the basement and garage. It is also a good idea to install a fire alarm system in the kitchen and laundry room as these areas typically contain a host of flammable materials. When placing your fire alarms in these rooms, it’s advisable to place them no closer than 10 feet from cooking surfaces and washers/dryers. This will minimize “false alarms” caused by burnt steaks and vent exhaust.

Commercial Structures

Fire alarm systems should be placed in corridors and within any areas that contain flammable materials. Local fire codes related to your industry and building function will most certainly vary so it is important that you discuss placement with the Fire Marshall prior to making a final decision regarding where, how many, and the necessary functionality of your devices.

The team at 1st Alarm Home Security understands that you will have many burning questions on your mind when it comes time to choose the right fire alarm system to protect your property.