Maximizing Your Fire Protection

Fire protection is an important thing for any business to have. As one article noted:

In fact, studies show that for the U.S. alone 6,000 workplace fires occur annually.

 If you're thinking of upgrading your Minneapolis fire alarms, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Pay attention to basic security measures like keeping windows and doors locked after business hours. 
• Keep combustible materials and dumpsters away from smoking areas. 
• Use extension cords that are only in good condition. 
• Have a fire protection plan. 

Read the entire article: "Fire Protection and You." 

Fire Suppression: Choosing an Effective System

When it comes to Brooklyn Park fire protection systems, it's important to choose one that helps to protect those assets that can't be replaced, like your family, friends, co-workers, employees, etc. As one article noted:

An effective fire suppression system is one of the most valuable investments one can make. They serve a two-fold security purpose: They can prevent fires from starting and spreading, and they also provide a sense of comfort to the owner, who knows his or her structure is equipped to deal with a blaze.

So, how do you about choosing the perfect system? You'll need to determine your budget, find possible installers, contact potential companies and finally narrow down the list to the final selection. The more time you're willing to invest in the research, the better off your final selection will be.

Read the entire article: "Choosing an effective fire suppression system."

Good Plan + Fire Protection System = Lives Saved

When it comes to saving lives and minimizing the loss of property, there's nothing as valuable as a good fire protection system. You can do several things to enhance your employees' safety, and one of these is a comprehensive fire safety inspection, which points out potential fire dangers. As one article noted:

A thorough fire safety inspection can point out hazards that could increase the potential for a fire to begin.

This inspection can also identify what could impede personnel from evacuating the building, including locked doors, equipment and materials inside or outside which can cause blockage when your Duluth fire alarms sound.

Education will help save your employees. By training them properly on fire safety procedures, you'll have a plan in place and save lives should the time ever come.

Read the entire article: "A Fire Protection System and a Good Plan Can Save Lives."

Remote Fire Alarm Monitoring Improved by New Technology

Remote fire alarm monitoring is an essential tool for any business or commercial property to have, as it notifies fire department(s) within seconds of an event being detected. This valuable security measure has saved countless lives and millions of dollars worth of property damage. Still, as one article noticed recently:

… rising communication expenses over the past few years have resulted in increased costs, although still justifiable.

Despite this, Duluth fire alarm monitoring services have eliminated recurring monthly communication expenses, and have improved reliability. These systems can be installed in a day at a reasonable cost, and monthly monitoring costs are more affordable than ever.

Read the entire article: “New Technology Improves Remote Fire Alarm Monitoring.” 

Your Fire Protection System Needs Your Attention

Is your fire protection system really protecting you? How long has it been since your system was installed? How often, if at all, do you have your fire protection system inspected? Have you really given this any thought? It's easy to neglect such things when you are running a business.

Just the normal everyday routine tasks of running your business demand much of your attention, and when business activities don’t go according to plan, your attention is naturally diverted even further from such mundane issues as facilities maintenance. But you should set aside some time to review the status of your fire protection and monitoring systems.

You have a large investment in your building and its contents. What would happen if you had a fire and your automatic fire protection system didn't function as expected? Do you have important documents or expensive equipment, such as computers or production machines that could be damaged? Could they be replaced, at what cost, and how quickly? Could you afford to have production halted for a few days, weeks or months? Proper inspection and maintenance of your fire protection and monitoring systems is essential.

Your fire protection system is just like any other mechanical or electrical system that can fail to perform if it sits dormant for extended periods of time. Anything can fail, but systems that are maintained and tested regularly, are more likely to perform properly when needed. You should have regular inspections and maintenance performed by someone that is trained and qualified to work on such systems.

If it's been a long time since your fire protection system was installed, a review is in order to ensure that it is up to date with local codes. You should also check to see if your original alarm system only provides local warning, or is it connected to the appropriate monitoring service. It may be only local because it was not practical for remote monitoring at the time of installation. But now it is a simple and necessary procedure to set up remote monitoring.

You will also want to review the type of fire protection that you have installed. At one time, water fire sprinkler systems were the norm. Today there are reliable, waterless systems that might be more appropriate if you have irreplaceable documents or expensive equipment that could be damaged by water sprinklers.

You need to arrange for an inspection and a regular maintenance program. You can find a qualified Minneapolis fire protection system company by searching online.

Fire Safety on a Budget

You and your family's safety is nothing to take lightly, but there may be some circumstances where you can't spend a lot of money on top-of-the-line fire alarm and fire suppression systems. Don't worry -- there are still ways to keep your family protected in these situations, and you can do so without taking as big a hit to your wallet.

Smoke alarms are simple devices that offer big protection, at least in the warning stage. When a smoke detector catches a whiff of smoke, it emits a sound that is meant to get the attention of anyone who might be in your home. Some models will even flash a bright light to let those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing know that they should try to escape immediately.

Fire extinguishers are also very important tools to keep around. Should a fire start and should you be around while it's still in the beginning stages of formation, you can use a fire extinguisher to keep that small fire from becoming a large one. It's important to know which type of extinguisher is the best to use for which type of fire, however, as there are different types of extinguishers that can help suppress fires depending on their source type (paper, flammable liquids, electrical wiring, etc).

One of the best things you can do is develop a fire escape plan and practice it on a regular basis. The preparation will undoubtedly help in the event of a real emergency.

Ready to help protect your home or business from the dangers of a potential fire? Call Brother's Fire today for Iowa fire protection services at (763) 441-2290.

Sustainable Fire Protection

With many cities and municipalities experiencing financial crunches, innovative ways to keep costs low while still maintaining the services taxpayers are used to seems to be a priority. One of the highest-cost items for local governments is the cost of keeping a fire company. Firefighter pay sits just below a police force in terms of cost for these governments. Some fire departments, squeezed by budget cuts, are looking to a unique solution: student firefighters.

Fire companies that are stationed near colleges provide students with free housing and hourly pay in exchange for firefighting duties when the need arises. UA Fairbanks runs such a fire department, and when the students graduate or leave, they're replaced with incoming students. Costs are kept low, since students are paid a less-expensive hourly wage than professional firefighters, and because these students also don't accrue pensions, costs are also kept down going into the future.

This idea, of course, does not have to take place near a college campus, but having this be the case helps in the recruitment of younger adults. It's an innovative way to keep troubled fire departments afloat in times of economic strife.

Want to learn more about Brother's Fire and our Iowa fire protection services? Call us today at (800) 607-2767.