Best Security Products blog

Austin Community College has created a video guide that explains proper procedure for evacuating a building during a fire emergency.

Click the video to watch the whole thing. Here are some tips from the video. These tips are shared by Douglas Garret from Austin Community College:

The video shows a worker dropping her sweater near a space heater and then leaving the room. Someone sees the smoke from the burning sweater and then pulls the manual fire alarm. As the alarm sounds, two other workers discuss whether they should leave the building or not. But it is important to always leave the building when an alarm sounds.

• Do not hesitate to pull the fire alarm if you notice a fire.
• Leave the building at the closest, safe exit anytime you hear the fire alarm.
• Never take the elevator; instead, use the stairs to get to lower floors. Firefighters are the only ones who should use the elevators during a fire emergency.
• Be sure to stay calm and orderly when moving toward the exits and leaving the building. This helps the building evacuation to go more smoothly.
• Those who need help exiting the building should wait in a designated area reserved for those who need rescue assistance. If you need help getting out, be sure you alert someone to your location inside the building. Or you can ask others to report your location for you. When the fire department arrives, they will make rescue their first priority.
• It is important to make sure you are familiar with the locations of exits in your building as well as the areas for rescue assistance.
• After you get outside, walk to the rally point – that designated area to wait after evacuating the building. Do not leave, because it is important that everyone be accounted for. If you know of anyone missing or hurt, report it to the authorities.

Click here to watch the entire video from Austin Community College.

At Best Security Products, we can help you with all commercial and home fire security and safety needs. Give us a call at 1-800–988–2378 or send us an email at sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

You might not think that a few cloths stored in a plastic container could cause $500,000 in damages, but that is exactly what happened in a new house under construction.

This article reports that the cloths had been used to stain a new house. The clothes were improperly stored in a plastic container and began to heat up causing soot and smoke damage.

Cloths that have been soaked with oils or chemicals can present a fire hazard if not stored correctly.

Click the video below to view an actual demonstration of an oil soaked rag igniting:

How do oily rags ignite? When these rags are piled up together, the oil dries and releases heat, and the air gets trapped. The combination of heat and oxygen creates a fire hazard.¹ 

The best prevention is to know how to store and dispose of these cloths. Here are some tips to keep in mind the next time you embark on a project at home or at the office:

1. Place the soiled rags in a container with a tight fitting lid. Metal is best, but if you only have a plastic can or even a zip lock bag, that will work as well. Next, fill the container with water and then close. This will prevent the oxidation of the oils. Contact your local trash pick-up company for instructions on how to dispose of the container.

2. Alternatively, you can hang the cloths outside to dry, or you can spread them out flat. They should not be in a pile. Weight them down with something so they do not bunch up or fly away in the wind. Once they have dried, contact your local trash pick-up company for instructions on how to dispose of the cloths.

At Best Security Products, we use Honeywell products to deliver a state-of-the-art, customized fire security system to your property. For a consultation, please call or email our office: 1-800–988–2378, sales@bestsecurityproducts.com.

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How well is your office or business protected from fire? Do you have working smoke detectors, heat detectors and alarm systems in place, so that even the smallest fire will be detected? What about a fire after hours? If a fire occurs overnight at your business, how quickly would you and the authorities be notified?

The BRE Group has published a video that demonstrates how an overnight office fire progresses when no one has been alerted to its presence. You can click the video to watch the whole thing, but we’ve included screenshots to show the progression of the fire.

The fire begins in a corner…

And within 3 and minutes the fire has ignited much of the room:

How do office fires like this start? According to this article, some of the most common causes of office fire include Faulty Electrics (overloaded plugs, loose wires and old equipment), Flammable Combustible Materials (when there are handled or stored incorrectly they present a fire hazard), Human Error (kitchen accidents or mishandling of flammable or combustible substances), General Negligence (not following procedures and precautions or by engaging in activities that are considered fire hazards), and Arson.

You can take steps to protect your business from being devastated by an office fire like the one above, and at Best Security Products, we can help you.

The first step is to assess your current fire protection and what is needed to upgrade your system to provide the coverage and peace of mind that you need. Smoke detectors, heat detectors, addressable fire systems, and monitored alarms are just a few of the options we will explore while customizing a business fire system for your business.

We will work with you to determine exactly what you need and what you do not need, so you are adequately protected without paying for components that are unnecessary.

We will take care of all your commercial and home fire security and safety needs. Give us a call at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com