In 1666 London burned for 4 whole devastating days and in the 400 or so years since then, city planners and builders have improved their methods and materials to ensure that it never happens again, however, fire alarm installations are one of the most important things that property owners can do today to ensure that the lives of their tenants are well and truly protected. Uk law insists that each building be fitted with these detection and warning systems in order to save not only lives but London properties as well, ensuring that the real estate of this great city maintains its structural integrity.
Detection
Different detection systems are needed for different spaces, for example; a single-story home will need a less involved system than multiple story office blocks and professional guidance will be needed to install these systems in order to be in compliance with UK law. Wireless units for detection are used by most installation companies and these detection units can be for heat and/or smoke depending on the area that each is best suited for. In a fumigated environment, a smoke alarm will not work and a heat alarm is best but in open-air environments, smoke may be detected before heat is noticed in which case a smoke alarm will be used. It is best left to professionals to assess where to put what detection appliance in order to save lives.
Warning
Once a threat of a fire has been detected there are two types of warning systems, depending on the needs of the tenants and indeed the size of the building itself, either auditory alarms can be installed or visual alarms or both. Auditory alarms make a huge noise in order to indicate to tenants that there is a risk of a fire so that they know to follow the correct procedures, this sound will be piercing and unpleasant and not something people are used to hearing in everyday life. Visual alarms are necessary in loud environments where people are wearing ear protection or in the case of a tenant being hard of hearing. A visual alarm is often a bright red flashing light which indicates to people that there is a risk of a fire allowing them enough time to follow the necessary steps and escape.
Benefits
Life-saving - early detection and warning of fires save lives, once a building is assessed for risk there should be signage that indicates the nearest and safest fire exit which tenants can escape from without harm or injury. Without these warning systems, death and injury are far more likely to occur because people may detect a fire far later than a wireless system would.
Financial
In order to be insured for fire damages, insurance brokers require that a certain number of detection and warning systems be in place and working well before and at the time of the fire, the financial loss a force can cause could be devastating and having building and asset insurance will give property owners peace of mind.
