Best Security Products blog

According to this article from the New York Times, 7 siblings died in a house fire in Brooklyn, New York.  The cause of the fire was a hot plate which warmed food while the family slept.  Due to Sabbath restrictions, the Orthodox Jewish family was unable to light a flame, so the hot plate was used to keep food warm overnight.

This tragedy is made even worse because the family could have been warned about the fire if there had been working smoke detectors throughout the home.  Instead, only one smoke detector was found – and it was in the basement.  There were no working smoke detectors on the first or the second floor of the home.

While we grieve for this family, we can also learn a lesson from their tragedy:  make smoke detectors a priority both in your home and in your business. But having smoke detectors present is not enough if they are not checked and maintained regularly.

Here are some tips from Tim Gibson of Expert Village on how to test your smoke detectors:

1.  When you push the test button on a smoke detector that is interconnected with the other smoke detectors in the house, make sure you hear the test beeps from the other detectors.

2.  Press and hold the test button for one to two seconds until you hear the series of short beeps.

3.  If you press the button and you do not hear the beeps, you may need to change the batteries, replace the smoke detector itself or have the wiring checked.

Watch the whole video here.

The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety has released some simple precautions that you can take to reduce the likelihood that your business will be faced with a commercial electrical fire.

The institute points out that electrical fires are one of the leading causes of commercial and residential fires, and these fires frequently lead to death, injury and loss of business property.

The good news is, according to the institute, that man of these fires can be prevented and/or controlled by following a few guidelines.

Here are a few highlights from the institutes guidelines; you can read the entire article here.

Identify signs of trouble by keeping an eye on the following areas:

• Corroded Wiring:  If your wiring is old or defective, it may cause an electrical fire.  Outdoor wiring is more prone to this danger than indoor, and wiring that comes in contact with corrosives is more likely to be a danger than wiring that is not exposed to such substances.
• Fuses and Circuits: If you blow fuses or trip circuits often, they pose a risk of overheating and fire.
• Hot Spots:  Excessive heat can be created when there are loose connections, corroded connectors or short circuits, among other things.

Lighting Systems are another potential area for fire hazard:
When bulbs are replaced in light fixtures, be sure to use the recommended wattage indicated on the socket. Make sure the fixtures are placed in areas where breakage risk is low, and keep them away from materials that are combustible.

If you see flickering or dimming lights, call your electrician to inspect the electrical system, as this could be an indication that a circuit is overloaded or that there is a short in the wiring.

Click here to read the entire article from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.

At Best Security Products, we specialize in commercial fire systems for your business or industry.  Contact us at 1-800–988–2378 or sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

From simple water flow protection to intermediate and large fire control systems, Honeywell products comply with the most stringent fire codes and meet local and national standards.

Designed to integrate seamlessly with video surveillance, access control and Honeywell’s full range of fire and burglary components, the combination panels provide the ultimate protection of life and property. These UL or ETL Listed commercial fire and burglary control panels come in versions that support most commercial environments. Systems range from entry-level options to large systems offering up to eight partitions and 250 zones/points using hardwired, wireless and addressable technologies to help keep you, your employees and assets safe.

To meet the needs of a wide variety of applications, Honeywell supports a diverse line of Honeywell initiating devices, notification circuits, communication devices, keypads, RF receivers and relays.

For example:

The new VISTA-32FBPT provides the ultimate protection for life and property. This commercial fire and burglary control panel supports up to two partitions and up to 32 zones/points using hardwired, wireless and V-Plex® addressable technologies. A diverse line of Honeywell initiating devices, notification appliances, communication devices, keypads, RF receivers and relays satisfy a wide range of installation requirements.

The VISTA-32FBPT control is suitable for fire-only applications, as well as for installations requiring integrated fire/burglary systems. It is the perfect solution for medical and professional office buildings, churches and synagogues, banks, schools, strip malls, and factory or warehouse environments.

VISTA-32FBPT is compatible with a number of AlarmNet® communication products for alarm reporting, uploading/downloading and Honeywell Total ConnectTM Remote Services.

At Best Security Products, we specialize in commercial security with Honeywell products. Give us a call at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com