The Advantages of a Monitored Fire Alarm System
When an emergency occurs, everyone needs help regardless of what they do for a living, how tough they are, or how good they are self-defense skills are. According to a study conducted by the Centre for economics and business research, up to 5000 jobs and $1 billion gets lost to warehouse fires in a five-year period. With regard to statistics, it was observed that the chances of around 75% of businesses which suffered a house fire continuing to operate were very slim. Therefore, the purpose for installing monitored fire alarm systems could not be made more clear-cut. The fire alarm system of choice however, is largely dependent on various factors such as; budget restrictions, nature of the premises and how they will be used. One thing you may wish to consider is whether to install a standard of monitored fire alarm system.
A major reason behind installing monitored fire alarm systems is the financial benefits derived from it. The initial financial outlay necessitated by most monitored fire alarm systems is usually great. The benefits to be derived in the long term however, eventually offset the great initial financial outlay. Additionally, a well installed and planned system can reduce insurance costs. The probable lifespan of the fire alarm system should be worth considering when making the decision on which system to install. In comparison to standard fire alarm system, the monitored fire alarms tend to use more advanced technology. Monitored fire alarm systems therefore, don’t need to be updated often due to advancements in security and warehouse fire safety technology. Another drawback of standard fire alarm systems is the need for immediate in-site human response. In addition to the crystal clear risk of injury or death posed by such a system, it may also lead to avoidable staffing costs.
Another crucial reason to install a monitored fire alarm system, is the off-site monitoring that comes with it. Despite the high ongoing costs involved with off-site fire alarm systems, the benefits to be derived significantly outweigh them. Since off-site monitoring systems rely on third parties, they do not require property owners, company employees or warehouse staff to be constantly vigilant unlike systems with on-site monitoring. This system, utilizes a network of linked fire alarms that are connected to a special control center, that operates on a 24-hour basis. Considering that fires quite commonly occur when a given premise is not constantly being used, such constant monitoring becomes very beneficial. Upon detection of a possible fire situation by the off-site monitoring system, staff at the specialized center quickly inform both the buildings designated key holder and the fire and emergency services.