If you need to protect your home or business, smart fire protection systems can be a great asset. Not only will these save you money on insurance premiums, but they also keep those closest to you safe.
Advanced fire protection systems also help minimize nuisance alarms and provide the right information to occupants when needed. This saves time and money and allows first responders to focus on true emergencies instead of spending valuable energy on ineffective alerts.
Detection
One of the primary advantages of advanced fire protection is its capacity to detect fires quickly and accurately. Not only does this save lives and property, but it also helps limit toxic emissions and global warming gases created during combustion.
Smoke detectors are an efficient and fast way to detect fire presence and provide a fast response. They can detect smoke or heat (ionization), with various sensitivity levels available.
Smoke detectors can be connected with MNS and other building systems to send evacuation instructions via PA systems and text alerts. HVAC systems can be turned off to prevent fanning the flames, while live video surveillance can be sent to first responders so they can plan a secure approach.
Another advantage of advanced fire detection is its speedy assessment of building egress plans and fire-resistant material for construction. This can be done using BIM technology, leading to more precise estimates and fabrications of these materials.
Suppression
Fire is a complex chemical reaction involving fuel, oxygen and heat. If any one element of this trio is missing, the fire will quickly collapse.
Thankfully, fire chemistry can be controlled using various methods such as fire suppression systems. These range from basic smoke detectors and alarm-initiating devices to fully automatic systems that require no human intervention to detect and extinguish fires.
When selecting a fire protection system for a building or facility, the type of risk and expected types of incidents need to be considered. Industrial buildings with large amounts of raw materials that could ignite easily require more extensive protection than those located far away that only contain sensitive data and electrical equipment.
Fire suppression systems are an invaluable way to safeguard business assets and prevent property and equipment damage. Not only do they provide a dependable method for extinguishing fires, but they’re easy to maintain too – particularly important in buildings with lots of sensitive electronic equipment.
Evacuation
Legends of soldiers being injured on the battlefield or somber accounts of travelers falling ill abroad have long been a cornerstone response in emergencies. Medical evacuation involves timely and efficient transport of an individual to a healthcare facility, usually by air or water.
Medical evacuations can range from ground transportation and helicopter transport, the latter being the most popular. They may also transfer a patient from one healthcare facility to another if specialized treatment is unavailable at their original destination.
For optimal fire protection, building systems must be integrated and sync to maximize time and resources available for evacuation. This can be accomplished through MNS, an advanced system that enables fire detection, smoke suppression and public address systems to communicate directly during an emergency for simplified evacuation processes.
Monitoring
A reliable fire protection system will reduce your risk of death or injury, the cost of replacement, repairs, restoration and lost revenue. Furthermore, it gives you control over the situation, giving you peace of mind and security in your building.
Advanced fire systems utilize performance-based design techniques and prescriptive codes, with alarm-initiating devices that can be activated manually or automatically (e.g., water sprinklers and foam suppression systems). When combined with passive fire protection (PFP) systems, these measures help guarantee your building remains secure at all times.
Monitoring is regularly collecting data and information to evaluate progress against plans or goals. This process is usually managed on-going by an M&E officer with responsibility.