Life Safety Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common causes of fires at commercial facilities?
The 3 most common causes of fires at commercial facilities are cooking equipment, appliances and heating and air systems. In addition, many facilities that store hazardous or flammable materials are more susceptible to fires and should have the proper type of sprinkler system to extinguish a potential fire.
What is the difference between a Wet Pipe Sprinkler System and a Dry Pipe Sprinkler System?
Wet pipe sprinkler systems are the most common types of sprinkler systems. These systems consist of pipes that always have pressurized water running through them. When a wet pipe system is activated by heat, the sprinkler head immediately discharges water to extinguish the fire. Wet pipe systems are ideal for the following types of buildings. Dry Pipe systems are designed for facilities that are susceptible to freezing. They feature an automatic and closed-type sprinkler head that are connected to pipes that are filled with pressurized air. The compressed air is held in a remote valve, which is known as a dry pipe valve. This takes place in a closed position in order to prevent water from entering the pipe.
What is a Pre-Action Sprinkler System?
Pre-action fire sprinklers systems employ the basic concept of a dry pipe sprinkler system in that water is not normally contained within the pipes. But rather holding water from piping via pressurized air or nitrogen, pre-action sprinkler systems restrain water with an eclectically operated vale known as a pre-action valve.
Is Security and Access Control a part of Life Safety services?
Absolutely. Ensuring your facility is monitored and secure is the of the upmost importance. Monitoring who enters your facility and when ensures that your facility remain safe and secure. We create value by empowering our customers to choose one vendor for all of their Life Safety needs.
Are there any tax incentives to installing a new sprinkler or fire alarm system?
Yes. New tax reform legislation was passed in 2018 that gives tax incentives to any commercial business that installs a new fire protection sprinkler or fire alarm system. Speak with your tax specialist today about the potential benefits.
What is Bi-Directional Amplification (BDA)?
BDA is an Emergency Radio Communication System that provides reliable communication radio transmissions between first responders inside building and emergency personnel outside the building. First responder radio signal and communications can be severely affected by building construction, building size, and other factors. It is vitally important that our emergency personnel have the needed ability to communicate in the event of an emergency.
What does the fire sprinkler design & engineering process consist of?
The design and engineering process utilizes three-dimensional, real-time, dynamic building modeling using innovative CAD capabilities. The process also consists of code consulting, site surveys, hydraulic calculations and much more!
When would I need to use an in-rack sprinkler system?
If you have a warehouse facility that contains flammable liquids, an in-rack sprinkler system could be right for you. An in-rack systems protects storage racks in areas where a standard sprinkler system could not reach. These systems are installed within the storage rack structure, so that water is released in a specific area, on a specific rack. An in-rack system constantly monitors for heat in order to extinguish a fire in an instant.
