The Smok’n Hot Vapors electronic-cigarette shop in Henderson, Nevada found out firsthand just how valuable Honeywell’s Video Alarm Verification system is.

According to this Honeywell case study, two men broke into the shop in the early morning hours. After breaking an alleyway window, they then stealing merchandise. It took them under four minutes to steal cash from the cash drawer and smash the display cases.

However, unknown to them, their presence was being detected by a Honeywell Video Alarm Verification security system. This VAV system sent a real-time alert to the store’s owner and to their monitoring station. It also sent video footage of the burglary.

What was missing from this situation? Guessing games. Normally, it would have taken precious minutes to go through the process of verifying whether there was actually an intruder in the store. We’ve all had this experience – whether we’re at home or a place of business – of hearing an alarm and not knowing whether the alarm was indicative of a true emergency.

The case study points out that verified response policies require that polices officers cannot be dispatched to an alarm notification unless either eyewitnesses or video cameras verify that a break-in has occurred.

But with Honeywell’s VAV system, there is no need to waste time determining if there was actually an intruder in the store. The VAV system allows the monitoring company to literally view the scenes as the security cameras were recording the intruders. No guesswork needed: they could see the intruders for themselves and send police immediately.

If the system had not been in place, it is likely that the intruders would have escaped, due to the lost time.

Ready for peace of mind?

Best Security Products can help you choose the perfect camera system for your business. Give us a call or email us at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

Image credit: http://security.honeywell.com/documents/L_IVWNWCS_D.pdf

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.

^{1 http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/dispose-of-oily-rags-household-hazardous-waste-pro/nfpSc/}

Many home owners live with a constant fear of fire, and for good reason. House fires are often very destructive and costly - and deadly.

One of the first steps in preventing house fires is understanding what the most common causes of fire are. Once you are armed with this knowledge, you can begin eliminating the risks.

The number one cause of house fires is cooking fires. Cooking left unattended is a serious fire hazard, as is cooking while sleepy or after having consumed alcohol. It is also important to keep all combustible materials away from the stove top. These included oven mitts, paper items, cooking utensil and fabric items.

Bad wiring is another cause of home fires. According to This Old House, electrical fires account for more than 50,000 fires each year and $1.5 billion in property damages! To reduce your risk, have your wiring professionally inspected every 10 years. This Old House also suggests replacing circuit breakers with arc-fault circuit interrupters. These circuit interrupters stop dangerous electrical arcs before they start a blaze.

Dryers and Washing Machines pose other house fire dangers. According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2010 55 people died from home fires caused by clothes washers or dryers. The main reason these appliances caused fires was because they were not cleaned. To reduce your risk of a house fire due to your clothes washer or dryer, keep your machines cleaned adequately.

Another cause of house fires may surprise you: charging cellphones, tablets or laptops on a soft surface. When these devices are not allowed to breathe, they can build up dangerous levels of heat and then ignite. This new story reports a fire caused by a phone that caught on fire while being charged on a bed pillow. When charging your devices, make sure they are on a surface which allows plenty of air flow.

At Best Security Products, we can help keep your home and family safe from fire. Give us a call or email us at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com.