Blog Archives - Page 13 of 20

When a small fire breaks out, we’re immediately confronted with the decision of whether or not we should try to put out the flames ourselves. If you are not trained on how to use a fire extinguisher, then the decision on whether or not you should attempt to put out a fire is easy. However, if you are trained and are comfortable with using a fire extinguisher, there are a few important questions you should ask yourself before deciding to tackle a small fire. Let’s take a look at whether fight or flight is the best option when it comes to whether or not you should attempt to put out a fire.

Is the Fire Confined to a Small Area?

If the fire in question is confined to a small area, then it is likely safe to use a fire extinguisher. However, several variables affect this decision, including whether you have the right type of fire extinguisher, and whether or not you can see the source of the fire.

The Westerly Sun tells us what else needs to be considered before attempting to put out a fire yourself:

“There are some specific situations that should be considered when deciding whether or not to use a fire extinguisher. For example, if the fire is confined to a small area, such as a wastebasket, and is not growing, it is probably safe to use a fire extinguisher. If everyone has exited the building and you have a clear path to exit the room, it is probably safe to use a fire extinguisher. If the room is not filled with smoke, you can see the source of the fire, and the heat is tolerable, it is probably safe to use a fire extinguisher.”

Are You Safe From Toxic Smoke and Gases?

Toxic smoke and gas are just as dangerous as the actual fire itself and can stop you from being able to extinguish the fire at hand. You must consider how much smoke has already filled the room, as well as whether or not another hazardous material could be burning.

The University of Texas Fire Protection Services explains the dangers of carbon monoxide caused by fires:

“Remember that all fires produce carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless toxic gas. Many fires will produce other toxic gases in addition to carbon monoxide. If the fire is producing large amounts of smoke, or you suspect the fire involves a hazardous material, your best option is to evacuate the building.”

Do You Know What is Burning?

Lastly, do you know exactly what is burning? Even if the room has not yet filled up with smoke, you will not know what type of fire extinguisher to use if you are unsure what is burning. This could result in your attempts to extinguish the fire backfiring, and also result in you breathing in highly toxic chemicals.

The University of South Carolina tells us why you must be sure of what is burning before you try to extinguish the fire:

“You don’t know what is burning. If you don’t know what is burning, you don’t know what type of extinguisher to use. Even if you have an ABC extinguisher, there may be something in the fire which is going to explode or produce highly toxic smoke. Chances are, you will know what’s burning, or at least have a pretty good idea, but if you don’t, let the fire department handle it.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners, commercial businesses, and government buildings with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families and employees across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

While electrical fires are responsible for over $431 million in losses per year in commercial settings per year, they are also alarmingly common in residential settings. With nearly 500 deaths and over 1,400 injuries reported in 2017 alone, it’s safe to say that we all need to start taking action. In this article, we take a look at 5 common causes of electrical fires, so you can start putting important safety measures in place before it’s too late.

Faulty Outlets & Appliances

Both faulty outlets and old appliances are common causes of electrical fires. While it may be easier and less expensive to use an appliance that you know is out of date or uses a worn-out cord, you could be setting yourself up for a devastating fire.

FireRescue1 tells us more about this common electrical fire culprit:

“Most electrical fires are caused by faulty electrical outlets and old, outdated appliances. Other fires are started by faults in appliance cords, receptacles, and switches. Never use an appliance with a worn or frayed cord, which can send heat onto combustible surfaces like floors, curtains, and rugs that can start a fire.”

Not Using Surge Protectors

While surge protectors are easily accessible and incredibly common, not everyone uses them. In reality, a surge protector should be used with any high-end electronic device and can save you thousands of dollars in replacing an expensive piece of equipment. Not only can a power surge ruin any device that is plugged into your outlet, but it can cause the appliance to spark, potentially creating an electrical fire.

Flammable Materials

It’s important to remember to keep all flammable materials away from an electrical appliance or outlet. It’s easy to leave a blanket, rug, or even cleaning supplies in close proximity to a plugged-in appliance, but in doing so you may trigger a potentially devastating fire.

Overloading Outlets

Making sure you do not overload your outlets, especially when it comes to more than one heat-producing appliance, will protect you from an electrical fire and save you money in the long run. Heat producing appliances are classified as all heating and cooking appliances, as well as all fuel-burning appliances.

Restoration Master explains what you should do when it comes to heat-producing appliances:

“Make sure there is only one heat-producing appliance in a single wall outlet at a time. Extension cords should never be used to power heat-producing appliances. If you used extension cords frequently, have an electrician install outlets in more convenient locations.”

Not Keeping Up With Safety Codes

While continuing to use an old appliance is a definite fire hazard, so is not staying up to date on safety codes. Your outdated appliance may not be compatible with current safety codes, or your home may not contain wiring that supports the current electricity demand.

Firetrace tells us more on why not keeping your home up to date with safety codes could be a fatal mistake:

“Wiring with deteriorating coating or wires can easily arc and start a fire, especially if the wire does not match the circuit amperage. The higher the amperage rating of the circuit, the larger the wires need to be in order to avoid excess heat that can melt wires and cause fires. If an arc flash does occur, it can reach temperatures up to 1,000 degrees. The wire coating is only able to withstand around 200 degrees. Making sure wiring matches the circuit amperage and is free of imperfections is an easy way to prevent electrical fires.”

Last week we covered what a Class B fire extinguisher is used for, and the importance of using the correct safety equipment to put out this fire. A Class C or an “energized” electrical fire is no different. Choosing a fire extinguisher that is not meant to tackle this type of fire will cause an increased risk to yourself and those around you, making the use of a Class C fire extinguisher detrimental. In this article, we take a look at what a Class C fire is, how to distinguish a Class C fire, and how to prevent this dangerous occurrence in the first place.

What Are Class C Fires?

So, what are Class C fires exactly? This type of fire is classified as an “energized” electrical fire, meaning that the electrical component is plugged in when the fire occurs. This applies to electrical appliances and any device that includes wiring.

Koorsen Fire & Security tells us more about what a Class C fire is and how one may occur:

“Class C fires may be started from faulty wiring, a short circuit, damage to power cords, overloaded electrical outlets, overheated or overcharged devices, etc. As long as the equipment is connected to its power source, the power acts as a continuous source of ignition. Wherever there is charged electrical equipment and/or wiring, there is a risk of Class C fires.”

How to Extinguish a Class C Fire

It is absolutely necessary to use a fire extinguisher that is labeled Class C in order to extinguish an energized electrical fire. This type of fire extinguisher may contain mono ammonium phosphate, potassium bicarbonate, or potassium chloride, which are all suitable for putting out this type of fire.

Insider.com tells us more on how a Class C fire can be extinguished:

“If possible, you should try to extinguish the flames using a carbon dioxide or dry powder fire extinguisher. If and when the power source is disconnected, the fire can become a different class of fire, typically Class A. Do not try to put out an electrical fire with a water or foam extinguisher, as both of those materials can conduct electricity and potentially make the situation more dangerous.”

Preventing a Class C Fire

Preventing a Class C fire is the best method of fire safety, and there are several ways that this type of fire can be avoided. Gas appliances are a particular hazard when it comes to this type of fire, and should always be worked on by professionals. If you ever do smell gas within your home, you must immediately switch off all appliances and immediately call the emergency hotline of your local utility provider.

Fire Protection Online explains how to prevent a Class C fire when using gas canisters:

“So if you’re using gas canisters, for whatever purpose, you need to make sure that nothing is damaged in any way. To avoid a Class C fire in this situation, you need to be checking for signs of rust or dents. And don’t check for any leaks with a flame, but instead, use soapy water. You can also prevent ignition by ensuring that no flames, sparks, or burning embers are anywhere near the equipment. But avoid storing large amounts together to stop any accidents from being too disastrous.”

Did you know that there are 5 different classifications of fires? While Class A is the most common type of fire, involving wood, paper, or textiles, Class B fires involve more than these standard combustible materials. A Class B fire includes elements like flammable liquids, which can make putting out this type of fire much more complicated. In this article, we explain exactly what a Class B fire is, as well as how to extinguish and prevent this highly dangerous occurrence.

What Are Class B Fires?

Class B fires may occur anywhere flammable liquids or gases are stored or used, and cannot be put out using just water. This fire classification typically does not include cooking fires, even though they are commonly caused by flammable cooking oils and/or grease.

Koorsen Fire & Security gives their definition on what constitutes a Class B fire:

“…Class B fires are ones in which flammable liquids and/or gases become involved. They are the fuel source in the fire triangle (fuel, heat, oxygen + chemical reaction). Flammable liquids include gasoline, diesel fuel, oils, tars, petroleum greases, solvents, alcohols, and oil-based paints. Flammable gases include things like propane, hydrogen, and butane. The fuel sources of class B fires (gases and liquids) can be quite volatile and cannot be extinguished by water, which will only make the fuel source spread, thus spreading the fire. That is why it is important only to use extinguishing agents and methods designed specifically for Class B fires.”

How Do You Extinguish a Class B Fire?

Ensuring that you extinguish a Class B fire using the correct type of fire extinguisher is detrimental to making sure your fire does not continue to spread. While Class A fire extinguishers are the most common types of fire extinguishers, they should never be used when extinguishing a Class B fire.

Elite Fire explains more on why a water fire extinguisher should never be used on a Class B fire:

“One method of fire combat which should not be used in the event of a Class B fire is a water fire extinguisher. This is because a lot of flammable fuels have a specific gravity of less than 1.0 – such as gasoline or oil – and this means they will float along the surface of the water. Therefore, the fire will not be extinguished and will simply continue to burn along the top of the water.”

Preventing a Class B Fire

Prevention is always the best method of fire safety, and it’s important to take precautions to ensure that a Class B fire does not break out in the first place. And while you should avoid storing flammable liquid as much as possible, there are safety precautions you can take to keep these liquids away from any potential heat source.

Fire Protection Online tells us more on how Class B fires can be prevented:

“As they can be very dangerous, it pays to take precautions to prevent a class B fire from breaking out. You should never store more flammable liquid than absolutely necessary, and well away from sources of ignition. If it’s possible, you could also consider storing liquid in flammable storage cupboards made of steel. They work by creating a barrier between a potential fire outside, and the flammable liquid stored in them, for around 30 minutes. So remember to not use water, and instead have appropriate fire extinguishers close by, just in case.”

There are many factors to consider when installing portable fire extinguishers in your residential or commercial property. Considering how many you need, which class and the location in which you store them are three extremely important factors in ensuring the safety of everyone in your building. But what about the fire extinguisher’s capacity? A fire extinguisher will not only display the class of fire it is capable of putting out, but also the size of the fire it can handle. In this guide to sizing a fire extinguisher, we take a look at what you need to know in order to help you size this important safety device correctly.

Learn How to Read the Label

You will notice that fire extinguishers come in different sizes. This is not just for convenience. Fire extinguisher labels will not only tell you the class of the fire they are capable of putting out but will also tell you how large of a fire they can handle by telling you their water equivalency in gallons.

Kauffman Co. gives an example on have to read a fire extinguisher label:

“Class A size ratings range from 1 to 40. This tells you the water equivalency. 1 equals 1¼ gallons of water, so in this example, 2A means the extinguisher can put out a fire just as effectively as 2½ gallons of water.”

Consider the Size of the Room

When choosing a fire extinguisher for an individual room in your building, it’s important to stay away from the Class B size rating. This is due to the fact that walls and doors are natural deterrents, and will help to slow the spread of fire. But what about the size and weight of your fire extinguisher?

Guardian Fire Protection Services tells us approximately how large a fire extinguisher should be according to the size of the room:

“For a room of average dimension, a 5-lb fire extinguisher may be sufficient. For larger commercial spaces and warehouses where a fire has more room to spread, a larger 10-lb model may be necessary.”

Capabilities of Employees

Lastly, you will want to consider the capabilities of your employees. It is possible that your employees may not be able to lift a larger-sized fire extinguisher. So although the size of your space may warrant a heavier extinguisher, there may be no use if your employees are not physically able to use it:

Impact Fire Services explains more on why the capabilities of your employees must be taken into account when choosing a fire extinguisher:

“Having a large, high-capacity fire extinguisher will be of no use unless employees are physically capable of lifting and using it. If your extinguisher is too heavy or bulky, depending on the capabilities of the average employee, you could be creating a dangerous situation. As a general rule, most able-bodied people will probably have no trouble using a 5-lb extinguisher. However, once you get heavier than that, it may start to become more difficult for some.”

When it comes to fire protection in health care facilities, there is truly no room for error. With most healthcare facilities being filled with sick, disabled, and elderly patients, facility managers need to be vigilant in keeping their patients safe. Although fire protection is an extremely significant component of healthcare safety management, fire emergencies can easily be prevented with routine safety checks and attention to detail. In this article, we take a look at our top fire protection tips for healthcare facilities, so you can ensure that you’re doing everything in your power to keep your patients safe.

Pay Significant Attention to Alarms and Sprinklers

According to the USFA (U.S. Fire Administration), there were 5,700 fires at medical facilities in 2012-2014, which led to 25 injuries per year and five deaths – not to mention $5 million in annual property damage. Paying substantial attention to alarm and sprinkler systems in your healthcare facility is one of the ways to make sure that a devastating fire does not occur in your healthcare facility. In addition to standard fire alarms and sprinklers, detection systems are a critical component to fire safety in a healthcare facility.

Sobieski Inc. tells us more about fire safety equipment in healthcare settings:

“Nursing homes and hospitals require corridor smoke detectors with some exceptions. In hospitals, full-coverage smoke detectors are usually required. Sprinkler systems are designed to activate and extinguish fires when they occur. NFPA 101 provides the requirements for the design and function of sprinkler systems in healthcare facilities.”

Routinely Check Electrical Outlets and Wires

Most healthcare facilities include a large kitchen in order to make regular meals for their many residents. And while cooking fires are an obvious hazard in a healthcare facility, they will usually stay confined to one room (see below for the exceptions to this rule). However, the same cannot be said for fires that are caused by electrical malfunctions.

Encore Fire Protection explains the usual cause of electrical malfunctions:

“FEMA found that one out of five non-confined fires (fires that spread beyond their point of origin) were the result of broken wiring or overloaded outlets. The report found that “general materials,” which includes the insulation that surrounds the electrical wiring, was the leading source of ignition for these fires. As healthcare facility manager, your facility’s electrical setup therefore cannot be overlooked. Like kitchen fires, these electric fires can be avoided.”

Reduce the Risk of Fires in Your Kitchens

While kitchen fires do not usually spread as fast as electrical fires, certain factors will cause a simple kitchen fire to spread quickly. In order to avoid a potentially devastating fire, it is important to make sure you are doing everything in your power to eliminate hazards in your kitchen.

Total Fire Protection explains how a small kitchen fire can quickly create a potential disaster:

“Grease is infamous for its ability to catch on fire and spread quickly. To prevent fires and reduce their risk of spreading, empty grease traps, store flammable liquids far from cooking equipment, clean your kitchen equipment regularly, and keep Class K fire extinguishers nearby in case of fire.”

Looking to purchase fire extinguishers for your office building? Fire extinguishers are an absolute must for any building and are an important part of keeping both commercial and residential buildings safe. Both the type of fire extinguisher and the number of fire extinguishers you need for your office will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of materials stored in your office, as well as the size of the space. In this article, we take a look at how to buy fire extinguishers for offices, so you can get some clarification when making this important purchase.

Which Type is Best Suited For Office Use?

As you may know, there are five different fire extinguisher ratings – A, B, C, D, and K – and each class has been created in order to put out a specific type of fire. The average office building will usually require the same class fire extinguishers as you would place in your home.

Guardian Fire Protection Services breaks down what each of these five fire extinguisher ratings means and what type is best suited for an office setting:

“Since you probably won’t be dealing with too many hazardous metals (Class D) or flaming cooking fats (Class K) on an average work day, it’s safe to say that most typical office buildings should have ABC fire extinguishers installed throughout the hallways. Class ABC fire extinguishers will put out fires caused by “ordinary combustibles,” including wood, paper, and cloth (Class A), as well as burning liquids like gasoline (Class B) and electrical fires (Class C).”

What is the Right Number of Fire Extinguishers For an Office Building?

The rule is that you should have one fire extinguisher for every floor of your office building. However, it is ideal to increase this number in the event that multiple people are able to help douse a potential office fire.

Collins Fire & Safety tells us more on where to install multiple fire extinguishers in an office building:

“If you are increasing the number of fire extinguishers, you can think of installing fire extinguishers at a distance of 75ft from any point of the building. The standard fire extinguisher used in offices is of the 2A10BC rating. This extinguisher is capable of extinguishing fire for an area as large as 3000sq ft. Keeping this figure, you can calculate your building area and the number of fire extinguishers you should install.”

How Should I Store Fire Extinguishers in an Office?

Now that you know the types of fire extinguishers and how many you wish to purchase, where are you supposed to store fire extinguishers in an office setting? Fire extinguishers should always be stored closed to the greatest fire risk in your building, while still being able to access them in the case of a fire. You must also take into consideration your employee’s ability to reach one in the event of an emergency. Ideally, an employee should be no less than 75 feet apart from where a fire extinguisher is stored.

StrikeFirstUSA.com further explores where fire extinguishers should be stored in an office building:

“Fire extinguishers should be stored in wall cabinets or mounted on the appropriate brackets. The handle should be placed about 3.5 to 5 feet from the floor. Larger extinguishers may be placed with their handles about 3 feet from the floor. All portable fire extinguishers should be labeled as approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.”

Now that summer is not far around the corner (hurray!), we’re already starting to participate in our favourite summer activities – going camping, roasting marshmallows, cooking on the grill. Anything that involves being outdoors and coming together to relax. Even though we’re all more than ready to jump right into these summer pastimes, it’s important to remember that they all come with their own fire safety risks. In fact, the USFA (United States Fire Administration) has reported that this is one of the most dangerous times of year for fire-related incidents. In this article, we take a look at our top summer fire safety tips, so you can ensure that you’re keeping yourself and your loved ones safe this summer.

Campfires

Building a campfire is a favourite summer activity for many. However, there is plenty more to building a campfire than knowing how to light it. It’s not only important to know how to prepare and build the area that will contain your campfire, but you must also know how to put out your fire before starting it.

FireSystems.net tells us more about campfire safety:

“Never leave a campfire lit with no one to attend to it. This means that you should never walk away from the fire and never go to sleep with the fire still going (even smoldering!). Consider designating a person to be in charge of the fire and take turns ensuring the fire is always attended to.”

Grilling Safety

There’s nothing better on a hot, sunny day than grilling on the BBQ. Being such a popular and seemingly safe summer activity, you may be surprised to know that grill fires result in an average of 10 deaths, 100 injuries, and $37 million in property loss each year.

Steamatic explains how you can help avoid any mishaps with your grill, and ensure you can enjoy this summer favourite all season long:

“It’s important when grilling to wear short sleeves to prevent your clothes from catching on fire. Maintain a safe zone of 3 feet around the grill and remember to regularly remove grease or fat buildup from the trays below. Never leave a grill unattended, no matter what.”

Closely Supervise All Fireworks

Fireworks are a fun addition to summer festivities and are a great way to celebrate holidays. However, it’s no secret that this can be a dangerous activity, and should only be assumed by those who know what cautionary measures to take.

Fire Safety Tips tells us more about when you need to be concerned about firework safety:

“Truth be told, no firework is safe enough for little kids. Opens in a new tab. to use without the supervision of an adult. It is easy to assume that fireworks like pinwheels and sparklers are low risk and cannot start a fire. But the truth is that under the right condition, these fireworks can start a small fire. Never attempt to re-light fireworks that didn’t work properly the first time you started it. Instead, dump them in a bowl or bucket of water.”

Did you know that almost three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms? This statistic among many others prove how important it is to have working smoke detectors in your home, and to ensure that you’re getting the most out of their placement. In this article, we take a look at how to know when it’s time to replace your current smoke alarms, as well as how to make sure your working smoke alarms are positioned effectively.

The Lifespan of Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

It’s important to note that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors do not last forever. While these types of alarms will chirp periodically to let you know that they’re running low on batteries, they will also need to be replaced in their entirety after they’ve fulfilled their lifespans.

ProTech Security tells us more on the lifespan of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and how often they should be replaced:

“Most smoke alarms have a lifespan of eight to 10 years, and again, replace the batteries every year. A smoke detector with a lithium battery or a hard-wired smoke detector can last 10 years, at which time you would just replace the whole unit. Carbon monoxide detectors last between five and seven years. The recommendation is to replace them every five years because their ability to detect carbon monoxide is questionable after that point.”

How Can You Tell if Your Smoke Alarm is Broken or Expired?

Unfortunately, it may not be obvious to you that your smoke alarm is broken or expired. Statistics show that in fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate, two of every five (41%) of the smoke alarms had missing or disconnected batteries. While age is one indicator that your smoke alarm may no longer be working, there are other factors that may also give this away.

Koorsen Fire & Security gives us three ways to tell if your smoke alarm is broken or expired:

“The device is already ten years old or more. The date of manufacture is usually written on the device and, in some cases, the expiration date as well. If all you have is the manufacture date, simply calculate ten years from the time and see if the device is not too old to be in use.

Your smoke alarm suddenly trips off for no reason. That might be because dirt, smoke, humidity, steam, insects, or other contaminants have ruined the device’s sensors.

The expiration and manufacture date no longer appear on the device. That is probably because the device has passed its expiration period. When you notice any of these issues, it is time to change the smoke alarm.”

How to Get the Most Out of Your Current Smoke Detectors

Now that you’re sure that your smoke detector is working and doesn’t need replacement, how can you make sure that you’re getting the most out of your current smoke detectors? While many homeowners are under the impression that one on each floor should suffice (with one being directly beside a hot stove), these types of placements will not allow you to get the most out of your current smoke detectors.

Cove Smart explains the optimal placement for smoke detectors in residential homes:

“Make sure you have installed smoke detectors in every bedroom as well as outside of every bedroom. They should also be on every level of your home. Do not install smoke detectors near windows, ducts, bathrooms or stoves, as the drafts/steam/cooking smoke could set off a false alarm. Test your smoke detectors once a month by pushing the test alarm button. Change your smoke detector batteries at least once a year. If your smoke detector gives off a low battery signal (chirping sounds), replace batteries as soon as possible. Clean your smoke detectors and its surrounding areas – use a duster or vacuum extension to suck up excess dust and cobwebs. Take note of the expiration date and replace it when the time comes. You can even set a calendar reminder to help keep the date top of mind.”

Do you own or manage a commercial building? If you do, then you’re likely well aware that the National Fire Code of Canada requires you to have a full working alarm system in your commercial dwelling. However, many of us do not know exactly what a fire detection system is, and how they work. Made up of both active and passive fire protection systems, complete fire protection is made up of more than a fire alarm and a fire extinguisher. In this article, we take a look at the role of a fire alarm system and how fire detector systems work together to protect your building and its occupants.

What is the Role of a Fire Alarm System?

Many of us think of fire alarm systems as a way to alert us to a fire by capturing our attention with a shrill, ear piercing noise, when in fact, alerting residents to the fire itself is just one part of a fire alarm system.

Koorsen Fire & Security explains the four key functions of a fire alarm system:

“In the simplest terms, the role of a fire alarm system is to detect fires and alert both building occupants and emergency personnel from a centrally monitored and controlled location. These systems also self-monitor, identifying where within the building(s) alarms originate from and detecting when errors occur in wiring and connections that may hinder the system from working correctly. In essence, a fire alarm system has four key functions: detect, alert, monitor, and control. These sophisticated systems use a network of devices, appliances, and control panels to carry out these four functions.”

Current Fire-Detection Systems

Fire detection systems have progressed rapidly throughout the years, with the average fire-detection system having a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Not only may a fire detection system not be up to code after its 15 year expiration date, but parts may no longer be available for its repair should it require it.

Buildings.com tells us more about how fire detection systems work today:

“The fire-detection system today consists of an FACP (fire alarm control panel) – this is the system’s brain, and it’s capable of making rapid decisions. Detection devices run the gamut, from smoke detectors and heat detectors to multi-capability detectors, which contain a number of functions in one detector. Many of the detectors manufactured today have addressable switches contained in the detector that allow the detector to tell the FACP exactly where the fire is located. The detection devices detect the presence of smoke or particles of combustion and then alert the FACP about a problem; the FACP then decides what action to take.”

Occupant Notification

Of course, one of the most important parts of a fire detection system is occupant notification. Occupant notification must not only include the traditional audible alarm, but must also include visual alarms for those who are hearing impaired.

Jensen Hughes explains how commercial buildings must ensure that their buildings alarms that can safely alert everyone of a dangerous situation:

“When it comes to warning building occupants of a fire, you need both audible and visible alarms. Audible alarms include horns (the appliance that produces that loud and very annoying sound) or speakers that play a pre-recorded message and/or allow emergency responders to provide spoken instructions to the occupants. Visual notification appliances, or strobes, can provide notification to occupants that are hearing impaired. Each building type will require a different type of occupant notification system.”

Fight or Flight: Should You Try to Put Out a Fire Yourself?