Best Security Products blog

You know how important having a commercial fire alarm is to your business.  Without it, you, your employees, your customers and your assets are vulnerable to a fire emergency. But having the right system is important too.  If the commercial fire alarm system you choose does not meet the unique demands of your company, you may find that you have not only wasted money, but you may have also put lives at risk.

One decision you will need to make is whether to use an automatic fire alarm system, a manual fire alarm system or a combination of both. There are advantages to each system.

Manual systems are only activated and useful if someone is present in the building at the time of fire and pulls the handle. The advantage of a manual system is that it provides a reliable way to instantly trigger an alarm when a fire is noticed.  There is no need to wait for the smoke detectors to be activated.  The disadvantage of a manual fire alarm system is that if no one notices the fire and activates the system, the alarm will not be triggered.

Automatic fire alarm systems are triggered automatically when the sensors in the system detect the presence of smoke and/or heat from the fire.  The advantage of this type of system is that no one needs to be present to activate the alarm system.  The disadvantage of this type of system is the danger of the system failing during a power outage, but high quality back up batteries make this a minimal risk.

Because both systems have distinct advantages, you may want to use a combination in your business to provide the best protection possible.  When combined with a security monitoring company, a dual system offers excellent protection.

We would love to schedule a free consultation with you, to help you determine what is best for your business.  Give us a call at 1-800–988–2378 or send us an email at sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

Whether you are at the office or at home, fire sprinklers offer trusted protection.

California State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover explains how sprinklers work and how easy they are to maintain. Here are some highlights:

The biggest myth, thanks to movies and TV, is that when there is a fire, the entire system goes off at once.  The fact is, each sprinkler works independently and only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate.  And if the fire is large, a second sprinkler nearby may also activate.

But most of the time, only one sprinkler is needed to control a home fire.

Fire sprinklers work fast.  In fact, fire sprinklers work so quickly, they often put the fire out before the fire department arrives.  That gives you time to get you and your family safely out of the house.

And burnt toast, cigars or other smoke can’t set off a sprinkler.  Only extreme heat from the fire will cause the sprinkler to operate.

The fire sprinkler system is designed essentially to be maintenance free.  However, you may want to occasionally do some simple safe-guarding to make sure your system is ready to work when it is called upon.

It is a good idea to do a water flow test on a regular basis.  It’s really simple – just open the valve.  If you have an alarm on your sprinkler system, it may take up to 60 seconds for the alarm to go off.  It’s also important to close the valve slowly.  Make sure you know where the water will flow out when you do the test.  Typically it’s right outside your home so the water can run into the yard.

If your sprinkler is connected to a central alarm monitoring system, it’s important that you notify them that you’re doing a test, so they know it’s not a real fire.

Your sprinkler system piping is installed behind the walls and ceilings of your home, just like your household plumbing pipes.  In most cases, the pipes are hidden from view.

When the heat from a fire reaches 150-175 degrees, the ball inside the sprinkler will burst, causing the water to flow out.

To watch the full video, click below:

Give us a call to find out more about fire sprinklers for your home and business. 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

When we think of fire safety, usually the first thing that comes to mind is the home.  But what about your office?  If you own your business, have you thought carefully about preventing or detecting fire?  Has your employer?  Even if you work in a business owned by someone else, your safety is at risk if your employer has not made fire safety a priority.

Here is a checklist for preventing fire in your business, and escaping quickly if one occurs.

1.  Install a smoke alarm in every room.  This is critical.  These need to be on the ceiling and hardwired into your main security system.

2.  Place a fire extinguisher in each room, with a sign pointing to it so it can be found quickly in an emergency.

3.  Practice using the fire extinguisher; when a fire breaks out there will be no time to read the instructions and learn how to use it for the first time.

4.  Place exit signs over each exit, and be sure to choose the kind that glow when the power is out.  A building full of smoke is dark and it is common to become disoriented, even in a building you are familiar with.

5.  Have an evacuation plan.  You can count on the fact that if a fire breaks out, you will have trouble thinking clearly.  Know ahead of time what to do and where to meet outside the building so everyone can be accounted for.

6.  Set up alarm monitoring.  In the event of fire, you need help and you need it fast.  Seconds can mean the difference between life and death or minimal versus maximum loss of property. With alarm monitoring, you have professionals watching out for you 24 hours a day.  If a fire breaks out, they may know it before you do and can get help to you fast.

Give us a call to find out more about fire safety for your business and commercial alarm monitoring. 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

Sources:

http://www.allbusiness.com/real-estate/commercial-residential-property/15613965-1.html

http://www.alliedfireandsecurity.com/blog/fire-safety-for-your-office-and-home/#more-146