A fire alarm system is a system that alerts people inside or around a building if there is a threat of fire by detecting smoke, flames, or in most cases the threat of carbon monoxide. It has several parts to its system to ensure it works correctly from detecting the threat to alerting authorities to providing safety benefits like lighting.
A fire alarm system is required by law nationwide let alone just in Florida. This is for both businesses and residential properties. The specific requirements may be different but in general, follow similar rules.
Let’s break down what you need to know before buying a fire alarm system in Florida.
Why is it important to have a Fire Alarm System in your home or business in Florida?
There are a lot of reasons why it is crucial for homes and businesses to have a fire alarm system. The reasons can be different but follow the same general ideas of providing safety for an entire area so that properties, people, and safety authorities are best protected.
Protecting those in and around the building is certainly one of the biggest focuses when it comes to having a fire alarm system. It can help alert anyone who may be sleeping to recognize there is danger instead of potentially being harmed by the situation.
It also protects what is around you. A fire, if not contained, can impact surrounding neighborhoods which could be neighbors or other businesses. This is your responsibility to do your part in not creating a hazardous situation.
Lastly, protecting your valuables and property is important. Having a fire can be devastating to both home and business resulting in losing valuables. A fire alarm can help prevent the fire from destroying the entire property.
Benefits of a Fire Alarm System
The benefits of a fire alarm system in Florida are huge. While it may not seem like a benefit because it’s a given that you should have one it’s worth knowing what having a fire alarm can do for you. You can easily say the importance of having a fire alarm system in Florida is the same results as the benefits. But let’s break it down a little further.
Aid Authorities
For starters, when you have a fire alarm system in place you are not just protecting yourself. You can help authorities in a situation respond faster and in a more appropriate way with the correct plan of action. Consider this. Seconds in a fire matter. It can be the difference between saving lives or keeping your home from being completely lost.
When you have a fire alarm system in Florida that allows you to get to safety whl=ile alerting authorities this can be a real big difference in response time. LEt’s say it takes you one minute to get to safety. One minute is a lot of time for the fire to spread.
Less Anxiety
We are not always home and sometimes we have pets, employees, or valuables to look after. If we aren’t home and can’t report a fire ourselves then we need something to do it. That’s why having a fire alarm system provides a safety barrier that ultimately eliminates some of our worries. It does the job for us and that’s why having one is so important.
Insurance Help
When your home or business is safer our insurance companies feel a lot better about their arrangement with their client. Insurance companies make money off the fact that they collect premiums but don’t have to usually pay out damages. When a fire alarm system is in place it is not only an assurance for you but also an assurance for them.
Different types of Fire Alarm Systems
There are three types of fire alarm systems that we can look at when choosing what to put in our house. Then there are a few more options that look at how they function as opposed to what the fire alarm system is made out of. It’s worth taking a look at all of them so you can find something that best fits your needs for your property.
Ionization
Ionization fire alarm systems work with chemicals so that when smoke particles interact with the chemical compound it creates a reaction. This reaction sets off the alarm to let anyone nearby there is a hazard.
Photoelectric
Photoelectric is slightly different in the fact that it uses light as its primary detection source. So when smoke particles block or disrupt the light beam that hits from end to end of the smoke detector, then the alarm is triggered.
Combination
Ideally, both of these alarms mentioned above our great but they respond slightly differently to smoldering fires or flames. That’s why having a combination of the two is the ultimate choice to keep your place safe.
Third-Party Monitoring
This is when you choose a security company to monitor your home or your property 24/7 so that they can call authorities quickly. This is very common for larger businesses and some home properties as it provides the ultimate safety net.
Company Monitoring
If you are a business and have your own security team in place, you may have your own monitoring squad as opposed to hiring out.
Which Fire Alarm System is the Best?
When it comes to trying to figure out which fire alarm is best it really comes down to what your situation is. While it is clear that a combination and a monitoring system are better than choosing one unmonitored, it’s hard to choose just one. Let’s talk about why combination and monitored are the way to go.
Monitored fire alarm systems work so that when it is triggered a third-party security company is alerted immediately. At this point, it is likely if there are security cameras that they will turn on and sound any other security features that are already in place. The third-party security company not only will be able to call authorities but possibly tell them exactly what the situation is. They may be able to locate the fire thanks to the cameras and other security devices.
Combination whether it be switching off between photoelectric and ionization throughout the property or just having ones that do both is the best because it responds quickly to both smoldering fires where there is maybe not much of a flame but a lot of smoke and it responds to flaming fires that have less smoke.
Fire Alarm System FAQs
Buying a fire alarm should feel like a simple process but in fact, for many, if there aren’t ones already installed it can become complicated and confusing. Tons of questions pop up and that is completely normal. That’s why we are dedicated to providing those answers in this frequently asked questions section.
Once I choose a system how will it be installed?
When you choose a system you can have a number of certified people install it for you. Whether you want to reach out to your local fire station or call the security company you bought the system from both can help you. It’s recommended that you go with a security company that can help you plan from step one to the end. That way you can not only pick a quality system but also know where it should be installed so you meet all the regulations.
If I don’t choose the “best” fire alarm system, will it still work?
Any of the above types of fire alarm systems are quality options and react to all kinds of situations within a matter of seconds each other. That’s why you will see homes and properties have both kinds. It’s less about the kind you choose sometimes and more about the quality of that individual system. Fire alarms don’t have to be expensive and an expensive system is not always representative of a good system. This is also another reason why working with a security provider is important.
Who does the maintenance on a fire alarm system?
Maintenance is generally easy only requiring owners to dust it and change the batteries from time to time. If you are not confident about your fire alarm working the right way you can call the same certified people that installed it to come to check it out and make sure that everything is running properly.
There is a common theme that pops up when it comes to answering questions about fire alarm systems. It’s not only about what kind of fire alarm system you have but it is about the team behind you that helps you navigate the entire process from choosing one to installation and afterward monitoring. Here at Circles Security Solutions, you can find our product showcase to be one of the best. That includes products like monitoring as mentioned before. Working with someone who is trusted in this space is crucial and we want to be that company for you!
Fire Alarm Systems 101
After reading this guide you should feel a little more confident about what you can expect about buying a fire alarm system in Florida. If you don’t no worries because you can call us at Circle Security Solutions to get all of your questions answered. Some of the key things to remember are that there are different types of fire alarm systems and no matter which direction you go in, you will reap the benefits.
Aiding authorities is a crucial part. The faster you get a response the better the situation can be handled. Then you can also reap the benefit of not only protecting yourself but anyone around the potential threat. And while the property may be of less concern than people, no one wants to lose their belongings or business to a fire. All things that can be helped if you have the right fire alarm system put in.
Don’t stress about the installation, or even try to figure out what best works for you. When you work with a security company they can help you manage all that. Especially when you need to change out batteries that are causing all that beeping. Don’t wait to get started on your system today!
