Fire Suppression and Monitoring Systems

What three elements must be present together that can cause a fire to start? These three ingredients are fuel, heat and oxygen.  Under all circumstances, they should be kept apart to avoid a fire starting. However, if the three are present and a fire ignites, there must be systems in place to call the fire department for help, as well as to suppress any and all three ingredients.  In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a structure can be engulfed in flames.

Over the years, fire alarm and fire suppression have come along way. In the early years, the way to notify the local fire department was to go to a box in the street and call the fire department. This system was replaced by telephones, which allowed for a much faster response.

Today, every building that has a fire suppression system will have an automatic alarm that sounds in the building and a call system that calls a central station that, in turn, calls the fire department. These systems monitor for smoke, heat, and water flow if the building is sprinkled. Systems that consist of these components must be inspected and tested on a regular basis to ensure that they stay operational. A good fire alarm company and fire sprinkler company are key vendors in these systems.

Another important component within a fire suppression system is the hand-held fire extinguisher. These should be placed throughout the building, where they can be easily accessed should the need arise. The hand-held fire extinguisher is in most instances the first line of defense if a fire starts while the building is occupied. Here again, it is important that all fire extinguishers present in a building must be tested on an annual basis for proper operation.

Buildings that have fire monitoring and fire suppression systems are rated much more favorably by insurance companies than building that do not have these systems. Insurance costs are therefore much lower and the building is easier to insure.

Here at Fairman & Associates Inc. part of what we do is to develop a fire suppression and monitoring program for buildings that we manage. We set up testing schedules and monitor tests and fire extinguisher testing with reputable companies that are licensed and insured. This gives us the advantage of lower insurance rates and operating costs for the building occupancy.