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. The Centre for economics and business research carried out a study which revealed that within a period of five years, up to 5000 jobs and $1 billion gets lost to warehouse fires. It was also observed that businesses which suffered warehouse fires had slim chances of recovering, with up to 75% of them ceasing operations either immediately afterwards or within a period of three years. Hence, the case for installing monitored fire alarm systems could not be made any clearer. 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. Most monitored fire alarm systems typically requiring a huge initial financial investment. A well-planned and installed fire alarm system, will in the long run provide benefits that greatly outweigh the initial financial outlay. Additionally, a well installed and planned system can reduce insurance costs. When making a decision regarding the kind of fire alarms to install, it is wise to consider the expected lifespan. 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. Standard fire alarm systems also need immediate in-site human supervision. In addition to the crystal clear risk of injury or death posed by such a system, it may also lead to avoidable staffing costs.
The off-site monitoring offered by a monitored fire alarm system is another benefit to consider. 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. Off-site monitoring systems often use a network of fire alarms connected to a specialized control center, that is staffed round-the-clock. Such constant monitoring is very advantageous, since fires particularly arise when the premises in question is not being used. As soon as a possible fire situation is detected by the off-site monitoring system, staff at the specialized center immediately notify both the building’s designated key holder (s) and the fire and emergency services.