Not having a proper fire alarm in your home or place of business is putting yourself and employees at risk. Choosing fire systems will differ for residential and commercial properties. The one constant is the importance of installing a reliable, updated system. This doesn’t mean it needs fancy bells and whistles, just a loud enough whistle to alert you something is wrong.

Smoke alarms and fire systems age and lose their functionality over time. Regularly check your system and replace it every 10 years to ensure effectiveness. Consider the following tips when choosing fire systems.

Choosing Residential Fire Systems

Most home fires start with cooking accidents in the kitchen, but other causes include cigarettes, fireplaces, and heating appliances. An effective residential fire alarm system provides smoke detection and homeowner notification. There are a wide variety of units available, with both hard-wired and battery-operated options.

Since a fire can technically occur anywhere in your home, stratigically place alarms in all living areas, bedrooms, the attic and basement, and close to—but not directly in—the kitchen.

Here are several fire systems you should consider installing in your home:

• A dual-sensor smoke alarm can detect smoldering and flaming fires.
• Carbon monoxide detectors, especially in basements and near garages.
• A home fire sprinkler system, which can help extinguish a fire in less time than it could take a fire department to arrive.
• A fire alarm monitoring system that notifies authorities as soon as fire or smoke is detected. This is even more important if you’re often away from home.

Choosing Fire Systems Commercially

When you run a business, there are additional laws requiring a certain level of fire safety. Maintaining and updating systems are more regulated since you’re putting anyone who comes into your workplace at risk—including customers and employees.

At the very least, install a combination of fire and smoke alarms, detectors, sensors, and a sprinkler system along with voice notifications throughout the workplace. Help ensure your business is up to code by having a comprehensive system professionally installed, monitored, and maintained.

Contact Security Five to learn more about choosing a fire system that fits your needs and budget.

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