While they are often used interchangeably, there are significant differences between fire alarms and fire suppression systems. If you own or run any type of office building or warehouse, it’s critical that you have both systems in place for the safety of yourself and others.
Fire Alarms
The job of a fire alarm is to detect when there is a fire and alert those in the area with a loud ringing sound. These are the most important elements of a fire alarm:
- Detectors: capable of capturing all types of fire initiation or propagation alerts in their early stages.
- Siren: in the case of a business, having a siren is important to alert customers and workers of danger. The blocks of neighboring communities also usually have this device to effectively notify all those who are near the fire and may be in danger.
If you own a business, it’s important to consider fire alarm systems in Delaware County. Fire alarms connected to a fire suppression system can protect your business and your employees. This allows you to act fast, and have an added measure of safety.
Reducing the Impact of Fire
Fire suppression is a system that reduces the impact of a fire already started. It keeps it controlled in a specific area to extinguish it. From the time the fire is discovered until it is completely put out, everything done during that time is part of the fire suppression. Once these measures are in place, the firefighters can confine and put out the fire in a controlled situation and reduce the probability of the fire spreading to other areas. Fire suppression plays a key role in mitigating the fire and reducing damage.
Different Types of Systems
There are different types of fire suppression systems that can be used to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading. Many systems include fire detection mechanisms, and signaling systems, alerting occupants of danger and directing them to take further action to suppress the fire. Some of the detection systems include
- Active and non-electric systems
- Direct and indirect release systems
- Engineer and pre-engineered systems
The technology associated with fire suppression is built to extinguish and suppress fires at the source by
- Installing fire suppression agents such as chemical agents, clean agents, water-based suppression, CO2, and inert gasses with sprinkler heads, piping, or nozzles
- Putting on shut-off valves to turn off the supply of flammable gas, fuel, and liquids
Why A Fire Suppression System Is Necessary
Of course, there are required regulations for this system for commercially operated buildings, but the system is also important to keep homes and occupants safe too. Additionally, containing the fire in a specific area helps to minimize the fire spreading and causing damage. Fire suppression has other advantages too.
Whether it is a fire alarm system or a fire suppression system, you need one or both. It will keep you at ease and help you to stay calm in the midst of a fire, knowing that there is a solution. If you want to get one of these, then contact our company for more information today!