Fire Protection

Home Improvement Guide

Fire Protection: It's your home, make it the best it can be.

Fire Protection

Fire protection is the safety and of the hazards associated with fires. It involves the study of the behavior, compartmentalization, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies as well as the research and development, production, testing and application of mitigating systems. In structures, be they land-based, offshore or even ships, the owners and operators are responsible to maintain their facilities in accordance with a design-basis that is rooted in laws, including the local building code and fire code, which are enforced by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

Prevention with a Home Fire Alarm

Many of the same security systems used to prevent burglars can also help alert homeowners to a fire. If a home security alarm is already installed then the addition of a home fire alarm could be an easy choice.

Security Systems and Fire Prevention

Installing a home fire alarm is just one of many steps that can be taken to prevent a fire or allow for a safe response to one. Here are some others:

• Security systems can provide live monitoring and response through the installed home alarm. The home fire alarm can alert the fire department directly.
• Fire extinguishers and in some situations sprinklers are a great addition to security systems.
• Removing or securing flammable materials is an important step often overlooked by home owners. Chemicals or even a stack of old newspapers can easily take away the advantage given by a home alarm.
• After prevention a good emergency response plan is important. Fire departments and companies that provide security systems or install home fire alarms can often give advice on creating an emergency plan to suit the building or situation.

United States Fire Statistics

Statistics for building fires throughout the United States can be somewhat daunting as shown by a few statistics from the U.S. Fire Administration for 2004:

• 3,900 deaths occurred as the result of fires and nearly 18,000 more were injured.
• Just over 80% of deaths due to fire happened in homes.
• Cooking accounts for at least 30% of residential fires.

Obviously preventing a fire either through security systems or with a home fire alarm should be a priority. Beyond the home alarm, a practiced emergency plan can help to reduce casualties.

Home Security: To protect your home and family, we recommend contacting: