A fire alarm system is your first line of defense against the danger of fire. Before you can react to the fire, you must first know it is there.
But, your fire alarm system does more than just announce a fire. There are actually four main ways your fire alarm works to keep you and your building safe.
The four ways your fire alarm system works to protect your property and its occupants from the dangers of fire are by detecting fire, alerting occupants, managing risk, and notifying the fire department.
Your fire alarm system is designed to detect fire in two main ways: smoke and heat. It should also have the capability of manual pull, in case a fire is observed before smoke or heat reaches the sensors of the system. Other systems are activated when movement in the sprinkler system is detected, indicating that the sprinklers are responding to a fire.
When the fire alarm system detects smoke, heat, or water movement, it alerts occupants of the building using both audible and visible alarms. These alarms will be bright, loud, obnoxious, and impossible to ignore, which help mobilize individuals to follow your evacuation plan. Using both types of alarms ensure that every person in the building is alerted.
Your building’s fire alarm system works in a third way to protect you: by reacting to potential risks using control measures. When the alarm is activated, some systems perform a set of tasks that help prevent fire and smoke from spreading as well as protect occupants, such as: automatically shutting doors in different zones, powering off ventilation and air conditioning, or redirecting elevators to bring cars to a designated level.
The fourth purpose of your fire alarm system is to notify authorities. This ensures the fire department is en route as quickly as possible, so they can respond and extinguish the fire before it becomes an even bigger threat.
Every fire alarm system works to deliver on those four purposes listed above, but what many don’t know is that your fire alarm system doesn’t just alert you of a fire. It’s also able to identify both supervisory and trouble conditions. Let’s take a look at these three basic capabilities of a fire alarm system. For a visual representation, we recommend this guide from the NFPA.
Commercial fire alarms are part of an intuitive fire suppression system that is constantly working to keep your building — and its occupants — safe. That’s why it’s so important to ensure you’re taking the time to properly maintain and repair your fire alarm system.
Fire alarm system technology is constantly changing. In order to guarantee that your system is in optimal condition, it’s essential to continue to maintain and upgrade it.
Your fire alarm system requires semi annual inspections to maintain compliance with local fire codes. Stay current with regular inspections so that your facility is doing everything it can to protect people and property.
Make sure all staff members or residents understand how the alarm system works and sounds and that they know what to do if it is activated. Also make sure that pull alarms are conveniently placed throughout the building and that fire extinguishers are up-to-date and accessible to those who know how to use them.
Looking at fire alarm systems for your commercial building or facility? Vanguard Fire & Security Systems can help. Contact our team for help choosing the right fire alarm system, installing it in your facility, and training your staff and residents on how to use it.
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