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Fire Alarm Equipment Goes Beyond Smoke Detectors
By Arthur Sneddon

A fire alarm is an essential part of any business and the type of fire alarm equipment installed in any building will be determined by its size and the nature of the business. It will also be determined by the types of potential ignition sources that exist that could be a danger to your building and its contents.

For example, a restaurant with a large deep fryer would need a fire suppression system as part of its fire alarm equipment in the event the vat of hot oil caught fire. This type of flame would need a special chemical dispenser to extinguish the blaze quickly and to limit the spread of the burning oil. This type of fire alarm equipment would not be needed in may other businesses, nor in most residential environments, but in a commercial food preparation area it would be a necessity.

Many businesses also have doors that automatically close in the event of fire as part of their fire alarm equipment. When the alarm is activated, the doors close to seal off other parts of the building to protect them from the flames as well as to provide a possible escape route of the building's occupants.

Sight And Sounds Can Get Attention

When a company installs fire alarm equipment it always has a means of notification that a fire danger exists. In commercial buildings they are required to consist of a noise alarm as well as a bright strobe light for the benefit of the hearing impaired occupants. They can be hung from the ceiling, mounted on a wall or otherwise placed in areas tat will allow them to be seen from without distraction. The lights can also serve as a beacon for escape in the event of heavy smoke.

Automatic extinguishers are also used as fire alarm equipment for some businesses and can be beneficial in industrial settings due to the nature of potential fire hazards. Some industries rely on chemicals in their business and a fire involving some of them could create a health or environmental hazard. Being able to automatically activate a fire suppression system in this environment is very important.

Perhaps one of the more important parts of fire alarm equipment would be the mean with which to notify the fire department that help is needed. Many systems employ automatic dialing systems to activate notification systems and other rely on the telephone. Whichever system is used it needs to be in working order so help can be called for when it is needed.

Author Details:
Arthur Sneddon, writes for various web sites, such as The A to Z of Home Improvement, about home security, fire alarms etc.

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