Q: What is the purpose of a Fire Alarm?

A: According to the National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA72) the purpose of an alarm system is “to provide indication and warning of abnormal fire conditions. The system should alert occupants and summon appropriate aid in adequate time to allow for occupants to travel to a safe place and for rescue operations to occur.”

Q: Who mandates that I need to have a Fire Alarm System installed?

A: In most instances, state and local building codes will dictate which types of occupancies need to have a fire alarm installed. Some insurance companies will also require a fire alarm system in order to provide coverage.

Q: What Codes dictate how a Fire Alarm is designed, installed, and maintained?

A: Most state and local building codes will reference NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm Code) for design, installation, and maintenance requirements.

Q: What type of detection is best – Heat or Smoke?

A: This would depend on numerous factors such as use of the area covered, type of building, and the type of environment the detector is being located in. While smoke detection is usually preferred because of speed of detection, in some cases it is better to install a heat detector to eliminate false alarms.

Q: What are some of the causes of false Fire Alarms?

A: There are numerous possible causes for false alarms. Some of the most common causes are: Environmental factors such dust or change of use of the protected area, lack of system maintenance, or change in use of the protected area. It is always best to have false alarms investigated after they occur to make sure any causes are corrected.

Q: Why is an “Intelligent” Fire Alarm system better than a “Conventional” system?

A: In the long run, an intelligent system will reduce maintenance costs. Because the detectors actually send more information to the control panel and the panel will alert you of a dirty detector before the detector becomes a source of false alarms. The control panel is also able to generate a detector sensitivity report with significantly less labor during an inspection. In addition, because each device reports an address to the panel, it results in faster identification of the location of an alarm and allows faster response to a fire.

Q: Why is it important to have an experienced company design, install, and maintain a Fire Alarm system?

A: An experienced company will be knowledgeable of current codes and current industry standards. They will also be able to provide a full range of service based upon your specific needs.