How to Choose a Fire Alarm System for Your Factory
On average, factories and similar buildings are at a higher risk for fires. What’s worse is that these blazes can often be intense, sweeping through the space within a short period of time. If you want to save lives and money, then it is important to invest in the right detection and alert system. Here are the main guidelines to follow when choosing such a setup:
Converse With Experts
If you have your own safety department on board, then they can walk you through the decision-making process. In case you don’t have such a team, though, you should confer with fire safety experts.
These experts can consider the size and layout of the building, the various processes at work, the number of employees, and more. Thus, they will be able to choose a system that is perfectly suited for your factory.
Fortunately for you, most companies providing such setups will often have their own experts on board. At the very least, they will be able to give you a starting point for choosing the right option for you.
Look for an Accurate, Modern Design
This is one instance where it is better to be safe than sorry. You don’t want to pinch pennies when it comes to fire safety. This is why you should invest in something like an addressable fire alarm system for your building.
The beauty of such a setup is that it is able to alert the fire department to the exact place or places that the fire is. The system is designed to have sensors throughout the building and only the ones that detect disturbances in temperature will sound out.
As the firefighters know exactly where to go, they can typically get the blaze under control quickly and efficiently.
Opt for a Hybrid System
For alert systems, you can choose from three designs – manual, automatic, and hybrid. Hybrid tends to be the more popular option, with good reason. With manual, an alert only rings out if someone notices smoke or flames. Automatic, on the other hand, will alert people when changes in the environment are noted.
Hybrid systems give you the best of both worlds. As such, it offers the best chance of survival and to minimize damage. If the signs of a fire is noticed before the alarm rings out, then the system can be activated. On the other hand, if the setup picks up any disturbances, the alarm will automatically sound.
Consider Fire Suppression Adaptations
You may want to consider setups that can also help to suppress fires. Now, this system isn’t well-suited to all factories, only some. If you have a more traditional setting, then an indoor sprinkler design will work fine.
In case it is all electronics, though, you may want to choose an oxygen depleting setup. Once again, this is something that experts can advise you on. You also have to decide whether this is an investment you are willing to make.
These are the top guidelines to follow when choosing a fire alarm system for your factory. Keep these in mind and the selection process will become fairly simple.