Fire safety consists of preventative measures that reduce the hazards of fire. There are certain fire prevention materials and procedures that home and business owners should know. They must use this information to reduce the risks of bodily injury, death and property damage. The alarm is an important component of the fire prevention system. Know about the importance of using an alarm and the different types available.
Why People Need Alarm Systems
The alarm is one of the best tools used to prevent fires. It alerts people who need to evacuate large buildings in a short amount of time. The simplest type is a beeping smoke detector. In commercial buildings, you have alarms that set off manually or automatically. When people hear the alarm go off, they are required to find the nearest exit and depart the building right away. All alarms are expected to perform at the highest standards. Building owners must inspect this device at least once a year. The alarm must be powerful enough to detect smoke and fire in any part of the building. The maintenance rules are promoted by the National Electrical Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).
The Types of Fire Alarms Used
There are different types of fire alarms used in buildings: thermal, photoelectric, ionization and interconnected. Thermal alarms are made with sensors that detect heat and smoke inside of a room. Once the sensors heat up, the alarm goes off. Photoelectric alarms are more complicated because they detect heat using fire particles. These devices are powerful enough to see the visible particles of the smoke. Ionization alarms are the most basic and frequently used ones that detect smoke particles. This form of detection is highly efficient because smoke always comes before fire. Interconnected fire alarms are designed to link all alarms together in one building. When one sounds off, the rest of them follow. Even if the fire is set in one location, it is good to warn all of the people in the same building. In addition to these specialized alarms, there are also devices with automatic and manual controls.
Fire alarms are needed to alert people in the direct and surrounding area of a hazardous fire and smoke. Wherever there is smoke, even if it is miles away, there should be an alarm that goes off immediately. There are not just smoke detectors that work as fire alerts. There are all kinds of fire alarm systems that prompt people to evacuate the area and prevent the growth of fire before it becomes too late. Know your options when it comes to reducing the damaging effects of fire in any home or building.
(Emergency lights co. is an expert in building code standards and works closely with many fire protection and alarm professionals.)