Businesses investing in fire protection systems realize significant benefits when the systems perform as expected, reducing damage to the building, and its contents. Fire suppression systems, smoke detectors, and sprinkler systems are all types of fire protection systems that help with fire detection and protecting building occupants and equipment. Read on to learn more.
Understanding How a Fire Protection System Functions
Systems work in different ways, but all have a common goal, protection. A common fire protection system is a smoke detector and a sprinkler. When a fire sparks, smoke sets off the detector causing the activation of the sprinkler system. While effective, when you have to deal with certain critical equipment or special hazards, automatic systems using clean agents are a better choice. These systems detect and suppress fire while leaving no residue.
Benefits of Fire Protection Systems
If a fire impacts operations for a significant period of time, it may cost millions of dollars. A good example is a machine shop. If the shop experiences a fire and shuts down for multiple days or weeks, the business would greatly suffer. Equipment may need to be replaced, and valuable contracts could be lost. Businesses must take into consideration all factors when they look at the price of a fire protection system. An additional benefit of some types of fire protection systems is the automatic dispatching of emergency services. These systems will work to immediately suppress the fire, while also notifying the authorities to send emergency professionals to your location.
Determining the Appropriate Fire Protection System
You must consider the facility you are protecting, compliance with building codes, and potential insurance requirements. Because many fire protection systems are permanent, it may be important to think about your facility’s future needs, not just its current needs. When installing a system, it is essential to hire a company who understand your needs and who can customize your fire protection options.
Active vs. Passive Fire Protection
Passive fire protection breaks the building into compartments and prevents the spread of fire through the use of fire-resistance rated walls and floors. It utilizes fire doors to help further compartmentalize the structure and dampers to prevent the spread of fire and smoke throughout the ducts of the building. Active fire protection focuses on some sort of action to stop a fire. Some of these systems are automatic, such as a sprinkler system, and others may be manual, like a fire extinguisher. Fire alarms, smoke detectors, and even firefighters are all considered active fire protection systems.
Active vs. Non-Electric Detection
Deciding whether to use active or non-electric fire detection is also vitally important. Non-electric fire detection does not require electricity. If you lose power, you have the security that your fire protection system will work in case of a fire. Fire protection systems play aa primary role in keeping building occupants, assets, and the building safe. If you are looking to protect critical equipment or machines, a fire suppression system may be your best option.
