Most businesses will already understand the importance of having a fire alarm to guard the safety of your people and your premises, however one decision to make about your system is whether to have a monitored or standard alarm.
This guide will take you through all of the elements of what a monitored fire alarm is and how it differs from a normal alarm.
What is fire alarm monitoring?
Picture the scenario. You’ve invested in a fire alarm, but fire breaks out in the middle of the night, if you don’t have a monitored fire alarm you’re relying on luck that someone nearby will call 999. With a monitored fire alarm you can e assured that your alarm won’t just ring out because your alarm system will send an alert to a dedicated receiving centre who will immediately contact the local fire and rescue department.
53% (56,434) of all incidents attended by the London Fire Brigade in 2018 were between the hours of 6pm and 9am - out of hours.*
*This includes all call-outs - domestic and commercial, and not just fires.
How does a monitored fire alarm work?
- A fire will trigger the alarm in the usual manner in your premises.
- The alarm will send a signal via landline or 3G/4G phone network – auxiliary power can be added as a back up so this is functional even in the event of a power failure.
- The signal is received at a dedicated monitoring centre.
- The dedicated monitoring centre contacts the fire brigade and key holders for the premises.
- The fire brigade will attend the scene and deal with the situation appropriately – your key holders will have been alerted at the same time.
- With a monitored fire alarm, auxiliary power can be added as a back-up, which means that the dual path monitoring (3G/4G) will be functional even in a power failure.
If you have an unmonitored fire alarm at your premises you are relying on there being someone on site, or passing by, to ensure the authorities are contacted.
A monitored fire alarm is as easy to install and maintain as an unmonitored one and the added costs are undoubtedly worth the peace of mind they bring
4 reasons to choose a monitored fire alarm for your site over regular systems:
- 24/7, 7 days a week, 365 days a year peace of mind.
- No reliance on any one to raise the alarm.
- Your premises stand more chance of surviving a fire thanks to immediate alert. Insurers have reported as many as 70-80% of businesses fail within 18 months to 3 years after a fire. – Source: Fire Magazine
- Easy installation and maintenance.
The financial cost of a fire is devastating, but by investing in a monitored fire alarm system you can help increase the chances of your business surviving. With your site monitored at all times, the emergency services can be on hand much faster to save lives, assets and buildings, allowing you to stay in business.
Please contact Bridge Fire and Security today to discuss monitored fire alarms and all of your fire and security requirements.