Integrated Fire and Intrusion Alarm Systems Help Save Lives and Assets

Did you know that a fire is responded to every 19 seconds? And that it’s one of the most common and most destructive emergencies affecting safety? Moreover, a wildfire or structure fire can ignite with something as small as a lit cigarette butt or electrical spark.

Fires of all types, whether accidental or intentional, can impact personal safety, cause devastating losses to physical and intellectual property, and halt business continuity.

It is important to know how to avoid risk from fire and how to respond to protect lives and property.

Homeowners Associations and facility managers should have mechanisms in place to identify and alert fire conditions quickly and effectively to contain the hazard before it becomes a disaster. Proactively by enforcing restrictions in fire ban areas, installing fire safety systems, implementing smart environmental designs, and conducting fire/life safety training helps minimize loss. Many options exist to improve risk reduction with preventive fire and intrusion alarm systems that integrate with enterprise security operations centers (SOC), or third-party monitoring companies as a managed service.

With modern detection and monitoring equipment, custom fire and burglar alarms (intrusion detection) systems can be coordinated and designed to alert businesses of threats. These services can be added to your existing security program as a force-multiplier or installed independently to help control risk and reduce cost. Providers that install, service, support, test and monitor alarm systems deliver the added advantage of one-stop solutions and more seamless integration and support.

For assurance of quality standards, look for monitoring centers that are UL-listed and have achieved The Monitoring Association Five Diamond Monitoring Center Designation, certifying that the monitoring company has demonstrated an exceptionally high degree of responsibility to its local community and customers through the investment of time, money and commitment to quality operator training. Fewer than 200 out of approximately 2,700 monitoring centers in the U.S. that communicate and interact with police, fire and emergency services agencies have achieved the Five Diamond designation.

When it comes to protecting your residents, employees or facilities against the risk of an accidental fire or even worse, arson—the largest cause of fire in office buildings—security measures that restrict access to unauthorized people, combined with fire and life safety systems and clearly defined emergency procedures, can help prevent both theft and fire. Proactive fire safety and security programs reduce loss and save lives.

• Learn more about how we can protect the safety and well-being of your tenants at http://www.aus.com/security-services/value-added-programs/fire-life-safety.
• Or your facility against theft protection at http://www.aus.com/security-systems/systems/alarm-intrusion-control.
   

  About the Author
  Eric Hinderliter is Director of Operations for the Allied Universal Monitoring and Response Center.