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6 SIGNS YOU MUST REPLACE YOUR COMMERCIAL FIRE ALARMS

Commercial fire alarms are essential safety components to have in your building. Not only do these fire safety tools protect the people on your premises, but these fire safety products are often required per various local regulations. Like anything else, commercial fire alarms don’t last forever. That’s why it’s essential to know when to change your alarms and maintain them.

Benefits of Regular Fire Alarm Maintenance and Replacements

When you regularly maintain your fire alarms and make the necessary replacements, you can help keep your property and the people within it safe. Regular maintenance and required replacements are often essential per local regulations. When you have a commercial fire alarm system in the best working order, you will be alerted should a fire occur at your business. And this is extremely important!

Risk of Not Maintaining and Replacing Fire Alarms

If you don’t maintain your commercial fire alarms and replace them when you need to, you risk severe damage occurring to the property and possible injuries or death to the people within it. Also, if you don’t get your fire alarm system inspected, maintained, and replaced when necessary, you could receive fines from the local authorities.

Six Signs Fire Alarms Need to Be Replaced

Ready to learn if it’s time to replace your current fire alarms? Here are six signs it’s time to replace this system:
  1. It no longer meets code requirements: Local code regulations often change. If your current commercial fire alarm system doesn’t comply with local regulations, it may be time to get a replacement.
  2. The commercial fire alarms are permanently broken: You might find that it’s time to replace your fire alarm system due to permanently broken parts.
  3. You need an upgraded version: Fire alarm systems are constantly being upgraded to be the best version possible. In this case, it may be time to upgrade your system to a new model.
  4. The manufacturer suggests replacement at a specific time period: Depending on your particular commercial fire alarm system, it may be time for a new one per the manufacturer’s suggestions.
  5. The system uses phone lines rather than cellular: You may want to switch from a phone line system to a cellular system.
  6. You want a voice fire alarm system: You may prefer a voice fire alarm system and wish to upgrade to this type of alarm.

If you’re ready for a new commercial fire alarm system, contact Total Fire Protection to help you with your fire safety needs.

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The Importance of Fire Safety Training & Education

It is often common for people to forego fire safety training and education, even though it’s incredibly important. Everyone should be trained on what to do in case of fire because it goes beyond simply protecting yourself. It includes protecting others, minimizing damage to the facility, and knowing how to extinguish small fires. It also includes knowing when to call for help. Every commercial property has some level of fire risk, and that risk needs to be understood by all employees. That is why fire safety training and education are so important.

Prevention

The best problems are the ones that are avoided. The most crucial factor in fire safety training is learning strong fire prevention practices. Some facilities have more hazards to consider, such as restaurants with commercial cooking appliances or facilities that regularly manage volatile substances. Also, heavily populated buildings such as hospitals and hotels need to maintain a higher level of life safety where every employee must minimize fire risks.

When employees are trained properly, they’ll understand how to reduce fire hazards. Storing chemicals properly, keeping doors unobstructed (and closed, where applicable), maintaining good housekeeping practices, and properly maintaining machinery are just some of the activities employees can do to reduce the risk of fire.  

Response

Fire is scary, and it often causes people to panic. Employees that have been professionally trained will know what to do if a fire does occur, allowing them to respond quickly and appropriately. If the fire is small and can be safely extinguished, good training will ensure that the emergency is handled immediately. This can be the difference between a minor incident and a major fire. If the fire is too large by the time it is discovered, they should be trained to assist in evacuating the building. They will also be able to have someone quickly call the fire department so that help comes sooner. Training prevents panic, and it plays a critical role in fire safety.

Respect

Appropriate fire safety training can help employees to understand the risk of fire and the devastation it can cause. When they appreciate the serious risk fire presents, they will be more thoughtful of their behavior and the steps they can take to lower that risk.

Fire Protection Services from Fireline

Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting

people and property from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. 

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Why You Go Right Installing a Commercial Fire Sprinkler System?

Almost every year, fire hazards in thousands of commercial properties like office buildings, retailers, or restaurants cause lakhs/crores of assets in damage. Fire is your critical nightmare, especially when your work runs a department store, a warehouse, or any other related business. Now imagine, if a fire breaks out at night, when no one is around in your building, stocked with furniture or flammable chemicals, the fires can spread in no time, and you might lose a business that takes years or decades to build up. It makes sense to have a fire-fighting system and sprinkler probably come to mind when you think about the best mechanisms of a fire protection system. Sprinkler Systems protect during night and day from fire damage particularly, when no one’s around to call the fire department. Sprinklers are not only recommended for business buildings but also well worth having in homes.

Why install a fire sprinkler (Trust India) system?

Sprinkler systems can douse a blaze completely before it becomes a real threat since they are designed in such a way to work as the first line of defense against growing fires. VariEx can handle many types of sprinkler installation projects, which start from industrial properties to high-rise buildings to apartment complexes. This fire safety company (fire sprinkler system company) has experience designing and implementing complex systems on large properties and ensures that no detail is overlooked, from selecting the right type of sprinkler system (according to the situation) to ensuring your fire pump works from day one. 

Apart from the installation of sprinklers, it is equally important to conduct inspections quarterly and annually to make sure the working condition of the systems (even though they seem like nothing is wrong with your sprinklers). Don’t wait until an emergency to arise! Select Trustindia as your service provider to avail your fire sprinkler inspections, which are comprised of checking valves, pipes, hangers, and assemblies and ensures every aspect of the system meets fire codes and for keeping your building safe from fire.

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How to Transition to Fluorine-Free Foam

Firefighting foams are highly effective fire suppression tools, especially to extinguish the most challenging and high-risk fires. Of these foams, aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) has long been regarded as the most effective, and therefore the top choice for many facilities. 

Unfortunately, years of research have proven that AFFF contains per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which can pose serious environmental risks and health hazards to humans. 

Scientists, environmentalists, and governing bodies have started to take action on PFAS-related issues. Along with them, many facilities have started to do their due diligence and seek out safer, PFAS-free firefighting foam alternatives like fluorine-free foam. 

But the transition to fluorine-free foam is easier said than done. There’s a lot that goes into the process of replacing an entire fire suppression system with another. Here’s an overview of the steps to guide you through. 

Do I Need to Transition to Fluorine-Free Foam from AFFF? 

Fluorine-free foam is a synthetic-based foam that contains surfactant blends and polysaccharides, creating a blanket of bubbles above fire fuels to cool and extinguish them. It’s a safe, PFAS-free alternative to AFFF and works just as effectively. Still, some facilities are hesitant to transition to it — either because they’re not informed of its effectiveness or they’re not equipped to take on the extra work that comes with the transition process.

All of this begs the question, do you really need to transition to fluorine-free foam from AFFF? 

It’s a tricky question to answer because each situation is different. Here’s what we can tell you: 

Some facilities are required to transition to fluorine-free foam (or another PFAS-free foam alternative) because the state they’re located in has highly regulated the substance or banned it completely. For facilities in other states, it’s a matter of choice — at least for right now. 

The Environmental Protection Agency has been clear about its PFAS action plan, which involves passing the PFAS Action Act of 2021. This act was passed by the House in July of 2021 and is pending in the Senate before the Committee on the Environment and Public Works. While it doesn’t currently ban the use of AFFF, it does regulate it highly and set a nationwide precedent that AFFF is not a safe solution. 

Thus, transitioning to fluorine-free foam isn’t a requirement everywhere yet, but it is a smart decision — for the environment, for human health, and for the future of your business. 

How to Transition to Fluorine-Free Foam 

So how can your facility make that transition to fluorine-free foam? Here are five general steps you’ll need to follow. 

1. Contain & Dispose of AFFF Properly 

Before you can install your new fluorine-free foam solution, you need to dispose of your existing AFFF. This disposal process must be done safely, in accordance with regulations and guidelines from governing authorities. 

The most important factor to remember here is that AFFF should never be released directly into the environment. For most facilities with contained AFFF onsite, the disposal should be as simple as contacting an accredited disposal facility that can provide direction regarding transportation to their facility. There, it will be disposed of safely, usually through high-temperature incineration. 

If there is some need for discharge of AFFF before it can be disposed of, it must be contained in a way that prevents harmful exposure to the environment, as the PFAS within it won’t degrade or break down. Some best practices for AFFF containment include: 

  • Developing a firewater runoff collection plan prior to discharge
  • Installing primary and secondary containment systems at the discharge site
  • Blocking nearby sewer drains
  • Building temporary dikes or booms

Once AFFF is contained, it should be transferred to an accredited disposal facility to be disposed of. 

2. Clean Out Existing Foam Systems 

After you dispose of the AFFF, your next step is to clean the equipment that contained it. If you plan on using the same fire suppression equipment for your fluorine-free foam, it’s important to do a thorough cleaning, as harmful AFFF residue could still be present. This includes any tanks, trucks, pipes, valves, and other fire suppression equipment. 

As part of this step, make sure to dispose of any cleaning products or water that was used to clean the foam systems exposed to AFFF. That water could also include substances that could harm the environment and people who live within it. 

3. Replace Equipment, If Necessary

Instead of cleaning what already exists, you may choose to install all-new equipment. Or, perhaps your new fluorine-free foam system will require a few new components that need to be implemented. Either way, this is the time to make any equipment alterations your facility necessitates. 

If your facility needs to make significant changes in equipment, it may be beneficial to work with an industrial fire protection team that:

  1. Understands the ins and outs of your industry, and 
  2. Is comfortable with fluorine-free foam solutions. 

They’ll help you ensure your new fire suppression system is effective and safe for use. 

4. Update Testing & Emergency Response Procedures

Fluorine-free foam is just as effective as AFFF, but the two agents are different. Fluorine-free foam has different application methods, discharge rates, and more. Therefore, it’s important to update your testing and emergency response plans accordingly. 

To learn more about the changes you may need to make, consult a fluorine-free foam expert. They’ll take a look at your facility’s current procedures and identify what needs to be modified. 

5. Inform & Train 

Last, but definitely not least, you need to inform and train your employees on your new fluorine-free foam fire suppression system. The new solution won’t work unless the people using it know how to use it. Provide them with documentation and possibly host a workshop or training meeting to ensure all important information is covered. 

Of course, your employees won’t be the only ones involved in emergency fire response. Therefore, it’s necessary to also inform your local fire department of this change. That way, they can make sure their firefighters have the training they need to use the new extinguishant effectively. 

Make the Switch to Fluorine-Free Foam Easy with Help From Vanguard

Transitioning to a fluorine-free foam solution isn’t a process you should have to take on alone. At Vanguard Fire & Security Systems, we’re here to lend a hand. For years, our Industrial Team has been researching, educating, and working with various manufacturers and regulatory agencies to prepare for changes and take proactive steps toward best practice solutions. 

We’ve worked with various industrial facilities across the nation to deliver safer, more effective fire protection solutions, and we’
d be glad to help with yours! For more information, give contact us online.

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