Three Myths You May Have Heard About Fire Alarm Systems
Preventing a fire from causing major property damage or loss of life is something that must be a major priority for anyone that owns a building. Fire alarm systems can be one of the most effective ways of combating this issue, but if you are not aware of the truth behind some common myths, you may be in a poor position to make decisions about installing these systems.
Myth: Fire Alarms Are Set And Forget Systems
A common assumption about a fire alarm system is that it will not require any input or maintenance from the owner. However, these systems will require some basic maintenance to keep them running. For example, you will need to ensure that any batteries are tested on a frequent schedule to avoid a system failure due to a battery that has lost its charge. Additionally, the various sensors and alarms should be tested every month so that you are sure they are functioning as intended.
Myth: Installing A Fire Alarm System Will Require Major Changes To Your Home
While a fire alarm system can dramatically improve the safety of your structure, you may fail to have one of these systems installed due to fears of there needing to be major changes to the house. In particular, you may be worried about the need to install wiring throughout much of the house to accommodate these systems. While there will need to be some wiring done to connect these components to power sources, this will typically be fairly minimal. Furthermore, wireless technology can allow the various components of the fire alarm system to communicate with each other without the need to have them physically connected through wires. While a wireless fire alarm system will be more costly than a traditional system, minimizing the work needed to be done to your home can be well worth this slightly higher expense.
Myth: A Fire Alarm System Can Only Alert Those Currently In The Structure
Fire alarm systems can be extremely effective at alerting those in the structure that a fire is occurring. This can allow them to evacuate before the flames make it impossible to leave. However, it is also possible to opt for a fire alarm system that can notify the local fire department that a fire is occurring. This will ensure that the authorities are alerted to this problem regardless of whether someone is home or not. A monthly monitoring fee may be required for this level of protection, but the peace of mind that it can afford may make it worth far more than the subscription cost.