Whether you’re building a new home, remodeling an existing one, or building a commercial property, fire protection should be an integral part of your plans. Without it, your home or business could be gone in a matter of minutes.
Many homes already have a fire extinguisher or two. Most people have one in the kitchen, and most businesses have strategically placed fire extinguishers throughout the facility. But that only works when someone is close enough to grab an extinguisher and use it immediately. Fire protection also involves detecting fire, extinguishing it before it causes considerable damage.
A typical house or building fire leaves about two minutes of escape time. Catching fire before it engulfs a structure makes it easier to save the structure and offers more protection for The occupants. Quick extinguishment is much easier than rebuilding from the ground up. Fire protection solutions that are integrated into the structure’s design helps to stop the loss of life and property should a fire occur.
Monitoring For Fire
Every second counts with an out-of-control fire. They can make the difference between a small fire that’s easily contained and a complete loss. A monitoring system that picks up the fire when it first begins can stop it completely or at least prevent the small fire from becoming a destructive disaster.
In the first place, most homes have at least one smoke alarm, usually in the kitchen. Ideally, homes should have multiple smoke alarms since fires don’t always start in the kitchen. The Red Cross has information on its website for home fire protection.
If you or someone you know does not have a smoke alarm at home, you can request one through the Smoke Alarm Maui program.
There are three types of detectors: heat, smoke, and flame, that alert the building’s occupants. Many can be connected to a sprinkler or other fire suppression system for fast deployment.
Commercial buildings require a more sophisticated system for fire monitoring and detection, including an integrated system that combines both.
Extinguishers, Sprinkler Systems, And Other Fire Suppression
Of course, the best protection from a fire is prevention. The second-best protection is to have an immediate-reaction system that takes care of a fire as soon as it’s detected.
Hand-held fire extinguishers depend on someone being nearby and use it for it to be effective. An automatic system can handle a fire even before anyone knows it’s there.
Sprinklers are the most common types of fire suppression systems, both in residential and commercial construction. While they’re required in commercial construction, only a few states require them for residential. These systems can be integrated into the structure’s design as well as added later, or during a remodel.
A sprinkler system can make the difference between a small amount of damage and a complete loss. Especially since the fire department will take time to arrive and the fire will be much more serious by the time they get there.
With a detector, the sprinkler system can extinguish the fire completely, even when no one is around. A well-maintained system can significantly limit the spread of fire and the potential for extensive fire damage.
Commercial properties with sprinkler systems can have as much as 50% less damage than a property without one, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA.)
While the sprinklers can cause water damage, the damage is far less than a fire would cause. Only heat activates the sprinklers, and only in the area where the fire starts—not throughout the house or building.
Additional fire suppression for commercial properties include:
• Carbon dioxide, used in areas without any workers to remove all oxygen in an area
• Inert gases also displace oxygen in an area to smother the fire
• Clean chemical systems release a gaseous agent that absorbs the heat and removes the fire cleanly without any damage to the area
Your architect can advise you on the best type of system for your commercial property’s needs.
Let Pro Draft Design Your Next Building Project
Whether you’re building your first home or your next, renovating your current home, or building a commercial property, Pro Draft can help with drawings, project management, fire protection, permits, and other needs.
We can answer all of your questions before the first day of construction. We’re happy to help and will work to ensure your project is exactly the way you envision.
Call Pro Draft today at (808) 579-9050 or 1-800-499-4699 from the Mainland
