Fire Alarm Detection, Protection, Suppression: What’s the Difference?

Fire Alarm Detection, Protection, Suppression: What’s the Difference?

A fire can turn from smoldering smoke into a raging blaze pretty quickly and cause insurmountable harm to any business, damaging property and jeopardizing the safety and lives of occupants. A fire is nothing any business owner wants to encounter, and not only do you need to recover the physical losses but shutting down your business even for a short time can jeopardize long-term relationships and sales.
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Having a reliable commercial fire alarm system is the key to safeguarding your business and protecting your assets and people. It is important to understand the difference between fire detection, protection, and suppression and to choose a reputable fire alarm system provider to ensure you are fully protected as much as possible.

Fire Detection

Fire detection is accomplished with devices such as smoke alarms that detect smoke and/or fire. There are different types of smoke detectors, such as Photoelectric Smoke Detectors and Ionization Smoke Detectors. HVAC duct smoke detectors also help to identify any smoke that may be in the air handling system. NOTIFIER® by Honeywell also offers self-testing smoke detectors that save a lot of time and money without the need to test numerous smoke detectors individually. Your commercial fire alarm system provider will help you determine the best type of smoke and fire detection devices for your facility.

Fire Protection

The goal of a fire protection system is to minimize damage caused by fire and to protect all occupants in a building by providing the widest window possible to safely evacuate. Fire protection systems are categorized as either active or passive.

Active fire protection systems trigger alarms and suppression systems like sprinklers to slow down or stop a fire before it turns into an out-of-control blaze. Passive fire protection includes a broad category of structural supports that minimize the spread of smoke and fire and flammability. Some of the most important elements of passive fire protection include compartmentation with things like firewalls, fire doors, and barriers.

Fire Suppression

The main objective of fire suppression systems is to suppress or extinguish a fire as quickly as possible. There are a variety of fire suppression systems for use in many different applications, such as fire sprinkler systems which can use water mist, water spray, foam, and/or chemical agents. Fire extinguishers are a type of manual fire suppression device. A pneumatic heat detection tube is another type of fire suppression system that includes fire detection that will open and extinguish a fire with foam if the tube reaches a certain temperature level. Fire suppression systems typically include detection devices that will detect extreme smoke, heat, or fire to trigger a suppression response.

A commercial fire alarm system should include fire detection, fire protection, and fire suppression to protect a building’s occupants and property.

Commercial Fire Alarm Systems

High Rise Security Systems, HRSS, is a leading commercial fire and life safety system provider protecting businesses, assets, and people in and around the Chicagoland area. HRSS offers decades of experience and is recognized as a leading commercial fire alarm system provider with extensive knowledge of all applicable code regulations and the latest in fire alarm system technology developments. We offer commercial fire alarm system consulting, complete life safety system design, UL-listed equipment, and ongoing services, including maintenance, repairs, and monitoring.

HRSS leads the industry in commercial fire alarm systems, protecting all types of businesses and building types, including low-rise, high-rise, sprawling campuses, warehouses, small businesses, and more. We help our customers to determine the best type of fire alarm system equipment for their facility and business operations to maximize building and asset protection and life safety. Contact us with any questions and for assistance in choosing the best commercial fire alarm system for your facility.

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