Both residential and commercial fire and safety prevention should be an active endeavor. There are many types of fire safety equipment that should ideally be installed in a building, for not only prevention and protection, but suppression as well. There are a number of things that can cause a fire, even with the best technology available. It’s always good to have equipment to protect both the building and the people inside. You should also have a system in place to keep any fire from spreading. A good system is worth investing in, since it could potentially save your building as well as surrounding buildings from a lot of damage. Here are the fire and safety prevention essentials every building should have:

Alarms

There are different types of alarms for buildings, including heat detectors and smoke alarms. Heat detectors are the oldest type of automatic fire detecting equipment. While they are slower at detecting fires than smoke detectors, they also have a lower false alarm rate. They are suitable for small, confined spaces with a high potential for fire, as well as in areas where ambient conditions do not allow for use of a smoke detector. Experts recommend smoke alarms since they detect fires and heat quickly. There are different types of smoke alarms, including an ionization smoke alarm, which responds best to raging fires; a photoelectric smoke alarm that operates with the use of a light source; and a combination alarm. It’s recommended to use a combination alarm in order to detect both fast growing and slow smoldering fires.

Fire Extinguishers and Pump Systems

There are multiple classes of fire extinguishers and pump systems. The number and type you need depends on factors such as the hazard level of your building and the codes in your area. There are portable extinguishers, stationary pumps, extinguishers with small hose lines, water and foam extinguishers, carbon dioxide extinguishers, and wet chemical extinguishers. Lumar Fire Prevention can  help you determine the number and type of extinguisher(s) you will need on each floor, as well as the best places for installation. The type of extinguisher/pump system you have installed should meet NFPA standards.

Sprinkler System

Sprinkler systems range from simple to complex. The most frequently installed sprinkler is the wet pipe system. When activated, it releases the water from the pipes onto the fire. However, in cold temperatures, there is the risk of freezing. Other types of systems include dry pipe, preaction, and deluge. A dry pipe system is ideal for unheated spaces. The preaction system is designed for controlled protection. This is the type of system that is usually installed to protect computer rooms. A deluge system is recommended for buildings in which the nature of the risk requires the simultaneous and automatic activation of every sprinkler head. Unless building renovation is in order, the fire sprinkler system is designed to the condition of the building when it is installed. If renovation is in order, then the system is designed to the conditions that are expected to exist. Having the right fire and safety  prevention systems professionally installed is only the first step. They should also be maintained regularly. The equipment and system should be inspected annually.