Fire suppression systems are a major consideration for any business. Although no one wants to think about a worst-case scenario, not being prepared in the event of a fire can devastate your business. Fire suppression systems are an important part of protecting a business from potential disasters.
Depending on the nature of your business, having a fire protection system may be a legal requirement. One such consideration is whether the public will have access to the business. This is in the best interest of public safety and often prevents businesses from actually opening. Other considerations would be whether you will be working with hazardous chemicals or other materials that may be considered particularly flammable.
Fire extinguishing systems use either water or a combination of various chemicals to automatically deploy and extinguish fires. Here are some of the most commonly used fire protection systems:
Water – This is the most commonly used fire suppression system where people can be involved in the event of a fire. Harmless to humans, you will commonly see these sprinklers when entering public places where people are likely to be. Another consideration is that these types of systems are not portable and are not runnable in a new location if necessary.
Gas – These fire protection systems do not extinguish the fire with chemicals or any other agent. They work to quell the fire by depriving the fire of oxygen or by stopping the chemical processes needed to ignite it. For this reason, it would not be an ideal solution for areas where human presence is likely.
Most efficient fire protection systems involve the use of more than one of these technologies to provide adequate protection to all areas of the business. Using only one can leave other important areas of the business vulnerable. This is why a customizable fire suppression system is the key to achieving complete coverage.
Another thing you will want to keep in mind is the cost-benefit of your insurance. You can contact your insurance company in advance and find out what benefits they may offer depending on the system you choose. Some systems may have a cost offset that makes them more affordable than you previously thought which could mean you can get more comprehensive fire protection coverage.