Fire alarms are an integral part of safety when it comes to keeping buildings and people in and around the same. It’s legally required to have fire alarms regardless of whether you are a residential unit or a corporate building. Most people have their fire alarms set up and never look at them again until it’s absolutely necessary.
Nowadays we have a more intensive system that can be considered an upgrade to our traditional fire alarms. Fire alarm monitoring has made everything safer and is a great option to consider.
So let’s talk about what it is and why it is useful for you.
What is Fire Alarm Monitoring?
Fire alarm monitoring takes the action from someone in the building or around the building to call 911 to alert authorities. This happens when fire alarms do not automatically send the alert to authorities like police stations and fire stations. But because people inside and around need to be more focused on getting to safety, the call to authorities can be delayed causing more damage.
That’s why fire alarm monitoring is a useful solution to this. A third-party monitor is able to handle this when they are notified that there is a fire.
How does Fire Alarm Monitoring work?
Third-party monitoring is a simple process. When you install a fire alarm system you can choose to have a security company monitor your fire alarm systems and building. When a fire alarm goes off for whatever detection reason, the third-party monitor that you choose will be alerted. Once they are alerted they are able to call authorities and 911 to get help immediately while allowing employees or people who live at the property to get to safety and not worry about that.
Types of Fire Alarm Monitoring
The types of fire alarm monitoring you have will both include the types of fire alarm system you have and who is monitoring it. Let’s quickly talk about these different avenues to choose from. You will need to choose one for fire alarm type and one for monitoring type.
Ionization
Ionization fire alarm systems work with chemicals to determine whether a fire is present by using reactor chemicals. When heat and smoke particles interact with the chemicals placed inside the fire monitor. When this interacts the alarm will sound indicating there is a fire.
Photoelectric
Photoelectric fire alarms focus on light to detect whether there is a fire present or not. When the light beams are interrupted by smoke particles it breaks the beam and causes the alarm to be set off. That’s why fires that produce a lot of smoke work well with photoelectric fire alarms.
Combination
Nowadays more people are using combination alarms so that they can eliminate the negative of using the other one. Combination accounts for both flaming and smoldering fires which makes it the best choice out of all of them.
Third-Party Monitoring
Third-party monitoring looks to hire a security company to do the monitoring for you. This means contracting someone to be notified when a fire alarm goes off.
Company Monitoring
Companies monitoring employees your own individual security team to keep an eye on this instead of using someone else security team.
Fire Alarm Monitoring Benefits
There are a lot of benefits when it comes to using this type of system. With most of them revolving around safety. Some convenience factors can be factored in.
Full 24/7 Protection
Having a monitoring system with your fire alarm system gives you absolute protection from these emergencies. Nothing is more secure than having a human pair of eyes. Systems usually don’t fail but it’s not unheard of to have a system misfire or be triggered for the wrong reasons. This is a foolproof way to handle that.
Better Emergency Response
When you have someone making the call to authorities for you from a safe area then anyone inside or around you can focus on their own safety which should be the priority. This also allows for authorities to respond faster to the situation as they are alerted immediately and not long after when someone has reached safety.
Protect Your Valuables
When you have someone that is calling immediately and the fire station can respond to a situation aster you are likely to save your property, valuables, and even lives at a much higher rate. This is because fires come down to seconds and the more time that goes by the more out of hand the situation can get.
Staying Up-To-Date
When you have a fire alarm monitoring system you are much more likely to have an up-to-date system. We often forget to do the monthly maintenance required to keep our systems on track. When you have a fire alarm minoring system you have someone constantly checking to make sure things are running as they should and smoothly.
Does my home or business need Fire Alarm Monitoring?
So how do you know whether you need fire alarm monitoring? While everyone can benefit from it there are a few different questions you can ask yourself to see whether your business needs it or not. Let’s go into specifics to answer this.
Does my business have a lot of land/property?
The larger a business is the more difficult it can be to keep track of where emergencies occur. For instance, if you have multiple buildings it makes more sense to have a fire alarm monitoring system because it’s difficult for everyone to keep track of more remote areas. Also the bigger the business property is the more difficult it would be to contain if it grew out of control. So those with bigger properties should lean more towards having a fire alarm monitoring system.
Do I have multiple home properties?
If you are someone that has properties that aren’t always occupied having a fire alarm monitoring system can make these properties much safer when you are not there. This makes sense for residential owners that have more than just a permanent address.
It also makes sense for businesses that have multiple storefronts. Sometimes we don’t have the access to oversee every building which is why this kind of monitoring can help us do that. Consider the size and how many properties you have when making the decision of enlisting more help.
Is my property in a high-risk area?
While fires can certainly start anywhere other risks pose more high risks than others. For instance, having your property or business in California which they are prone to wildfires is different than having a business in Seattle, Washington where it rains a lot of the year. This is something that both homeowners and business owners can ask themselves if they are on the fence.
Fire Alarm Monitoring Facts
Anyone can convince you to get a fire alarm monitoring system and on the other hand, it’s also easy to convince yourself out of investing in one. That’s why considering the facts can be helpful. Here is what you need to know.
- Working fire alarms can cut the risk of dying by nearly half for home fires. This number can drop dramatically more when you have someone monitoring the situation.
- Fire alarm monitoring is not a legal requirement but having a fire alarm system that works on your property is.
- With 24/7 365 days of protection, a year of fire alarm monitoring reduces the time in getting a response from authorities.
- There are multiple ways to run communicators for fire alarm monitoring through IP, Cellular, landline, and more.
When it comes to investing in this type of service you want to make sure that the person you are investing in is reliable and trustworthy. That means working with a reputable company that has experience with systems and emergency situations. Herewith Circle Security Systems not only can you rely on us to provide exceptional service for your safety but you can also look to us to provide you with a fire alarm system that is high in quality.
First, we help out with the installation to make sure that the system runs as it should. Then from here, we monitor the property with a close eye, getting alerts if there is a potential threat. With us, you don’t have to worry about looking out for yourself! We do that for you!
There is No Downside
With this kind of system, there truly is no downside if you are looking for one. When you take fire alarm systems that are dependable and you pair them with a company that has a great reputation you limit your room for error to nearly none. You don’t have to worry about your vacation home or other buildings on your property because we are checking in on those for you.
The most important thing to remember si that you can focus on your own safety rather than worry about getting a response from authorities. That’s the job of the security provider you work with. If you’ve gone through the list which may make more or less sense for you then the next question becomes how can it be installed? Well, a fire alarm monitoring system can be installed in a number of ways based on your property. Through landlines, IP addresses, or cellular networks, there is a solution that fits your property.
Aside from 24/7 protection all year round, protecting your loved ones and employees, and also your property, many benefits would outweigh any potential cost associated. Also, be sure to check with your insurance to see if any coverage deals could reduce your costs!
