Fire alarm installations date back to the late nineteenth century when an associate of Thomas Edison developed the first fire alarm installation. Over more than a century, the technology of fire alarm installations has evolved steadily, and with each advance in technology, fire alarm installations have kept pace.
Whereas old fire alarm installations were meant to alert people when a fire broke out, modern fire alarm installations are designed to alert people before a fire actually occurs. Modern fire alarm installations detect smoke, heat, and even changes in water pressure so response personnel and stop a potential threat before it becomes a problem.
The first order of any good fire alarm installation is to make sure people are safe. Fire alarm installations alert anyone in the structure that a potential fire has occurred and they are to seek safety. The second order of business is to protect property. This is why modern fire alarm installations make sure occupants and emergency responders are given ample time to react to prevent harm and damage.
What are fire alarm installations? What are the benefits of fire alarm installations? And what are the top features of fire alarm installations? This guide will give you what you need to know about fire alarm installations.
What are fire alarm installations?
Fire alarm installations are systems that are placed within structures to alert people in the event of an emergency so that they can take appropriate action which may include evacuating the building. Fire alarm installations are complex systems that link things like smoke and heat detectors to central control panels that will then link the system to appropriate personnel and emergency responders like fire departments and police.
Fire alarm installations come in several forms, which we will discuss below, but they all serve the same purposes. Fire alarm installations are designed to minimize damage to property and protect people from injury and loss of life.
All fire alarm installations use some form of detection system. These include things like smoke and heat detectors. Whenever one of these detection devices is triggered, it will signal the entire installation. This will set off alarms, both sound, and light, and some fire alarm installations will include sprinkler systems.
Fire alarm installations will all include a central fire alarm control panel. The control panel allows operators to determine the precise location of a problem based on information from detection devices. It also makes it possible to keep a constant check on the fire alarm installation to make sure it is working correctly.
Benefits of fire alarm installations
Fire alarm installations offer tremendous benefits. The reason so many businesses and homeowners have taken such care to get fire alarm installations is to get the great benefits of these systems. Some of the benefits of fire alarm installations include:
Protecting people and property
The main reason business owners and homeowners choose fire alarm installations is to protect the occupants of the building from harm and loss of life and to protect the building. Fire alarm installations also provide protection for everything in the building. The best way to ensure the safety of all occupants and everything in the building is to provide fire alarm installations.
24-hour monitoring
Fire alarm installations provide protection 24 hours a day. These systems are always in place and always function. Even when no one is on the grounds or the premises, fire alarm installations monitor the entire site for smoke, heat, and fire.
Instant alerts
Contemporary fire alarm installations alert you and emergency personnel the moment something occurs. There is no need for phone calls or elaborate protocols, fire alarm installations provide alerts that signal everyone who needs to know what is happening. This includes emergency responders like the fire department and the police.
Immediate access to assistance
Since fire alarm installations are set up to alert emergency responders, the system itself alerts the fire department in the event of an emergency. In most systems, the fire department will be alerted the moment the alarm system is triggered. These systems will also alert EMS and the police.
Comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
Finally, all municipalities now have strict regulations regarding fire alarm installations. If you own property, especially things like commercial and rental property, you are required by law to install specific types of fire alarms installations. Local, state, and federal laws regulate how you set up fire alarm installations depending on what type of property you own. Fire alarm installations make it possible for your property to comply with these regulations.
Top Features of Fire Alarms Installations
There are some essential features of any fire alarm installation that you need to have in place for them to perform correctly. The top features of fire alarm installations include:
Detection
The first line of defense against fire damage and threats to life is detection. The entire fire alarm installation depends first and foremost on detecting problems as soon as they occur. Detection features include things like smoke detectors, CO2 detectors, heat sensors, and water pressure sensors. All of these detection systems alert the entire fire alarm installation that something has occurred. The best fire alarm installations pinpoint exactly where the problem occurred so it can be addressed before it becomes an emergency.
Notification
As soon as the detection devices have been registered and issued, the next important feature of fire alarm installations is notifications. Each detection device in the system is connected to a central control system that notifies everyone of a problem. These include things like messages to onsite emergency personnel and local emergency responders. Most important are notifications to all occupants of the building. Alarms, both sound, and light will notify occupants that the fire alarm installation has detected a problem and they should take appropriate action.
Response
The fire alarm installation is designed to make sure any problem is met with an appropriate response. This means responding to smoke and heat with the correct materials and equipment. It also means the fire department is notified and can respond in enough time to stop any fire from taking hold and doing more damage. Response also means evacuating the building or even just affected areas to keep people safe. You might say the entire fire alarm installation is in place to ensure a proper response.
Maintenance
The system must be in proper working order at all times. This means fire alarm installations have maintenance notifications built into the system. Smoke and heat detectors must be in working order, and any interruption in the proper functioning of these devices will alert the system so maintenance personnel can address it. Fire alarm installations also respond to things like power outages and power interruptions.
Type of Fire Alarms Installations
There are several types of fire alarm installations. The primary and most commonly used fire alarm installations include:
Non-addressable fire alarm installations
These are frequently called conventional fire alarm installations. Non-addressable fire alarm installations work with a simple switch. They are either on or off. The detection devices work in a designated area referred to as a zone. Once something is detected, it will signal the main fire alarm control panel through a wired system. Non-addressable fire alarm installations can also be triggered by manual devices like pull systems and break glass systems.
Analogue addressable system
These installations are sue devices that are wired into a circuit or loop. Each device electronically signals the control panels. The detection devices continuously send signals to the control panel. This means the system can be configured to recognize a certain “value” or threshold to trigger the alarm system.
Radio fire alarm installations
These work essentially like conventional and analog systems, but the detectors are linked to the fire alarm control panel through radio signals. The system is wireless, and it does not depend on direct signals that can be damaged or interrupted.
Radio and analog hybrid
These installations combine features of both conventional and radio systems. The hybrid system makes extensions possible for areas that can be difficult to reach and monitor. The hybrid fire alarm installations provide the maximum coverage for fire detection and response.
What should your provider offer you when installing fire alarms?
When considering a fire alarm installation, there are some key things you need to look for from the people installing your system. Not all fire alarm installations offer the same things, and to get the best from your installer, these are the features you should expect from your provider:
Fire alarm design & installation
The provider needs to understand the nature of your property and the specific needs this property demands. You should look for ways the installation is designed for the grounds and architectural features of your site. This also means installation needs to conform to these same structural demands. Fire alarm installations need to be designed and installed with specific structural features in mind.
Fire alarm inspection & testing
Fire alarm installation providers should provide you with full inspections of the system and regular testing to make sure everything is working the way it is designed to work. It is not enough to have detection devices and alarms in place. Inspections make sure these devices are responding precisely the way they are designed.
Fire alarm maintenance
The best fire alarm installations will provide routine maintenance. This means maintaining the intricate features of the system that cannot be addressed without the expertise of a professionally trained installer.
Fire alarm monitoring
Finally, good fire alarm installations will provide routine monitoring. This ensures that the system is working in accordance with local laws and fire codes.
Fire Alarms Installations Advantages
The safety of building occupants. Your chief concern with installing a fire alarm system is to make sure the people who live and/or work in your building are safe. Maintaining the safest environment possible is the primary advantage of fire alarm installations.
The safety of your property. The next order of concern is the safety and integrity of your property. The best way to prevent damage from fire is to have the best fire alarm installation in place to stop problems before they escalate.
Save money. Fire alarm installations save you money from damage from fire. They reduce the amount of effort required to respond to the fire by alerting you the moment a problem is detected.
Comply with laws. Fire alarm installations keep you in compliance with local, state, and federal fire regulations and codes.
Helios Security Systems can provide fire alarm installations that meet all of your specific needs while helping you comply with all local fire codes. Our professional staff knows precisely how to install fire alarm systems that will provide maximum safety for the people in your building and for the structure itself.
We have trained and licensed staff who have a complete understanding of all fire alarm installations and how to make them work properly for your structures. Helios Security Systems can provide you with fire alarm installations that protect people and property, save you money, and keep you in compliance with the law and insurance demands.
Wrapping things up
If you own property, your first concern is the safety and well-being of the people who live or work on that property. As a homeowner, you want most of all to keep your family safe. As a business owner, you want to provide the safest workspace possible for you and your staff. This is why fire alarm installations are so important.
Modern fire alarm installations not only provide maximum safety for people and property, but they also alert you well in advance of serious problems. The best way to deal with a fire is to prevent it from happening in the first place. This is what fire alarm installations offer.
To keep your people and your property safe, make sure you have an appropriate fire alarm installation on your property, and make sure it is properly monitored and maintained. To make sure you have the right fire alarm installation, you will need trained professionals to install the system and make certain it works correctly. The best way to achieve this is to contact Helios Security Systems.
