History of Commercial Fire Sprinkler Systems

Commercial fire sprinkler systems help save lives and the assets of a business from the potential catastrophic damage of a fire. Fire sprinklers are found everywhere these days and are well understood in concept by all. Implemented into the greater ceiling and piping network of any commercial property, commercial fire sprinkler systems are common in healthcare facilities, schools and any other type of commercial building. It is mandated by law that commercial properties provide fire sprinklers as a standard part of the building’s life safety system.

If you are considering commercial fire sprinkler systems for your Burnsville area business, call on Brother’s Fire & Security. We are experts in the implementation, maintenance and care of fire sprinklers in the greater Twin Cities area.

Please join us in this journey through time for the history of fire sprinklers and fire suppression systems.

Back in the early 19^th century, a manual fire sprinkler was amongst the most sophisticated fire suppression techniques in any given area or town. Patented originally by Sir William Congreve, the original wave of commercial fire sprinkler systems operated through the release of a valve that allowed a storage of water to be released, allowing water to flow through the system and be dumped on the expanding fire. Flawed in design, it could not release water in time enough to adequately control a blaze or prevent it from spreading. Someone had to be there in order to release that valve timely enough to control or prevent the damage. Being that a fire is generally well under way by the time it is “noticed,” this initial system was difficult to successfully implement.

The late 19^th century brought with it advances and expansions on the early commercial fire sprinkler systems of the day. At this point, many were working on “automatic” systems that were able to respond more quickly than the manually initiated variety. Frederick Grinnell created a commercial fire protection system that worked. Utilizing the finest of existing systems of his day, he tweaked and refined the fire suppression systems available at the time and turned them into reliable, functional fire sprinkler systems. These systems became very popular throughout Europe and the United States.

Commercial fire sprinkler systems have all but been perfected by now. These systems are frequently upgraded being changed as new technology is introduced. Brother’s Fire & Security has commercial fire sprinkler systems that detect, suppress or put out fires, monitor security and alert authorities, when called for. It is truly amazing to see just how far this technology has come. Many lives and countless assets have been saved by commercial fire sprinkler systems.

If you would like to learn more about commercial fire sprinkler systems in Burnsville, call Brothers Fire & Security at 1-800-607-2767 or Contact Us.

Thinking Wireless For Your Commercial Fire Alarm System?

A commercial fire alarm system for your Twin Cities business could save the day on multiple levels, but what direction should you take in your type of system? With so many options out there, Brother’s Fire would like to help you kick around the pros and cons of a favorite—the wireless commercial fire alarm system—to give you an idea of whether or not that type of commercial fire alarm system is right for your Twin Cities business. 

The 21^st century is a world in which we communicate wirelessly—this phenomenon having more than expanded into the life safety systems arena. Companies and large residential complexes are choosing to opt for wireless alarms thanks to cost and ease of installation.

In general, the bigger the system is, the more cost-effective a wireless fire alarm system can become. The reason being, you will not need data gathering panels, zone expanders, and loop cards, and the like that are required for larger, spacehogging, hardwired systems.

Is wireless right for your Twin Cities business? Here pros and cons of wireless fire alarms:

Pros

• Customizable: If you would like a temporary system while you perform add-ons or modifications to your building, wireless is a solid bet. You can easily change and do with the system what you want, wherever you want.
• Portability: The main advantage of any wireless device is its portability. This extends to security systems. Wired systems need to have wires run, as a wireless system only needs a few nuts, bolts and screws. This type of commercial fire alarm system is very easy to install and change.
• Independence: Wireless systems run on batteries, therefore you will have zero need to connect your system to a power grid in any way, shape or form. In a power outage, even a blackout—your wireless system will run with no change whatsoever in its ability to provide protection.

Cons

• Battery dependence: Keep your closet stuffed with an ample battery supply, keep quite a few on hand. Wireless systems run on batteries, so they will need to be frequently checked and replaced.
• Notifications: Wired systems come with the ability to alert the proper authorities. There are some wireless systems that can call 911, but many cannot integrate telephone systems of any sort.
• Range: If your business is very large, a wireless system may have issues with transmitting information to the main control panel.

Thinking about a commercial fire alarm system for your Twin Cities company? Give us a call at 1 (800) 607-2767 or fill out our contact form to request more information.

Security Monitoring for AES Fire Alarms Via Wireless Mesh Radio Technology

The signals that are generated from your monitored alarm panel ultimately to your central fire alarm monitoring station may go directly from the subscriber at the alarm panel to the receiver in the Central Station, or it will bounce through other subscribers along the route to the central station fire alarm monitoring service via one of many possible routes, until it gets a confirmed delivery at the Central Station. In concept, wireless mesh radio technology is pretty simple.

A lot is happening below the surface of this action. Proudly offered by Brothers Fire & Security, the AES IntelliNet Wireless Fire Monitoring system is a form of wireless mesh network that consists of radio nodes assembled within a mesh topology. These networks consist of mesh clients, routers and gateways.

Mesh clients are wireless devices, mesh routers that move traffic towards gateways which are frequently connected to the Internet. Access is dependent on the radio nodes combining with one another to create the radio network. The coverage area of the radio nodes as network is referred to as a mesh cloud. Dependable and superfluous, when a single node goes down, the remaining nodes will continue to function.

When you need a monitoring system that is fully controlled by you and only you, AES is your best bet. Brothers Fire & Security offers AES IntelliNet Wireless Monitoring, and there are several reasons it’s your best bet for all of your alarm monitoring needs.

• AES is NFPA compliant, UL864 Edition 9, 365, 1610 listed.
• There are no more monthly analog telecommunication fees to worry about.
• AES installation is incredibly easy: just plug it in.
• There is a built-in back-up system, so the communication system is fully reliable.
• You own and control the AES system, so you are fully independent with no re-occurring monthly fees.
• You eliminate the need for and expense of dedicated analog phone lines and re-occurring monthly fees.
• AES offers multi-region coverage.
• Signal transmission is very fast, and free.
• AES also offers two-way communications and unlimited scalability and self-configuring.

Call Brothers Fire & Security to learn more about AES and its many benefits. We can answer your questions, address any concerns you might have and then set up a time to meet to get you set up on the AES system.

If you are seeking out a fire alarm monitoring system in St Cloud, call Brothers Fire & Security at 1-800-607-2767 or you can Contact Us.  

FAQs about Fire Suppression Systems

At Brothers Fire & Security, we specialize in fire suppression systems in Maple Grove, and over the years, we've been asked a lot of questions about these systems. We wanted to share some of the questions we get the most, as well as our typical responses.

Q: What are some types of fire suppression systems and how do you determine what system to install?

A: A few different types of fire suppression systems are on the market today. One of the most popular types is a wet fire suppression system. This is when water is sprayed from a sprinkler head onto a fire in order to quickly extinguish it before the blaze spreads. Each sprinkler head is individually activated, so you never have to worry about all of them going off at one time.

There are also clean agent fire suppression systems. These systems use a chemical to extinguish fires, and these chemicals are usually environmentally friendly and they evaporate without leaving a residue. Clean agent fire suppression systems are used in buildings or rooms that house sensitive equipment, artifacts, artwork and other fragile items.

Q: Are fire suppression systems worth the money?

A: Yes! Fire suppression systems are proven to save lives and save money. A lot of the time, an insurance company will not insure a commercial property unless there is a working fire suppression system installed. Spending some money on this type of system gives you invaluable peace of mind too. If the worst happens and a fire does break out, it will be quickly extinguished and the chances of it hurting anyone or causing extensive damage are very slim.

Q: What sets your company and your fire suppression systems apart from the competition?

A: We think what sets us apart at Brothers Fire & Security is our attention to detail and the level of education and experience that our team members have. Out team members are all up to date and well versed on fire suppression systems and the latest technology, trends, codes and regulations.

Our customers can also expect personalized service and team members who will gladly answer any questions you have. We can also monitor, inspect and service your fire suppression system after we install it.

For more information on fire suppression systems in Maple Grove, call Brothers Fire & Security at 1-800-607-2767 or you can contact us for a Free Life Safety Quote.

How to Be Safe in Public Places

When you are out in a public spot, you want to be sure you're prepared for an emergency. After all, you never know when something could happen, so it's always important to be prepared in case something comes up. Here are a few suggestions from the experts on fire alarm systems in St Paul on how to be ready for a fire-related emergency.

First of all, as you are approaching the building you're going into, take a quick look at the structure itself. Does it look like it's in good shape? Does any part of it look like it's seen better days? You should then take note of any fire alarm systems that you can see. What kind of fire alarms are they? Do you see any fire sprinklers or other types of fire suppression systems?

Then you should note where your closest exit is, just in case you need to evacuate from the building. Are the exits well-lit, and do the doors open outwards (which makes it easier for a hasty exit if one is ever needed)?

You should also be sure that the group you are traveling with knows where to meet if there is an emergency. Pick out a landmark that is easy to see but far enough away from the building that you are all out of harm's way. Make sure that, if there are any small children or those with mobility issues in your group, everyone else knows to keep an eye on them.

Everyone in your group, small children included, should know what to do if there is a fire emergency. Make sure everyone is aware of the exits, and make sure everyone is aware of any fire alarm systems that are in the building. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Taking the time to discuss a possible emergency before it happens could save lives.

Finally, you should always make sure that the building you are in is not overcrowded. Trust your gut in these scenarios. If a situation or structure feels “wrong” for some reason, it's okay to leave. Better safe than sorry!

Are you interested in learning more about fire alarm systems in Burnsville or any of the surrounding areas? Call Brothers Fire & Security at 1-800-607-2767 or you can contact us and Request a Free Life Safety Quote.

The Various Types of Fire Protection

Did you know there are several different types of systems that offer fire protection for your Twin Cities commercial property? We thought we would take the time to define these different types of systems, their benefits and where they are usually used. And if you want to learn more, give us a call and we will be happy to talk to you even more about our fire protection services.

Wet Fire Sprinkler Systems

These types of fire protection systems use individual sprinkler heads that, when they detect a certain level of heat, will activate and spray water onto the fire. Each head operates individually, so just because one goes off, that will not necessarily mean that they will all go off at the same time. These fire protection systems work best in houses and in residential properties.

Dry Pipe Systems

Dry pipe systems connect to a pipe system. The pipe systems have air or highly pressurized nitrogen, and they are usually installed in buildings that are susceptible to freezing conditions on a regular basis.

Clean Agent Fire Protection Systems

Good to use in areas or buildings where water would cause more extensive damage, clean agent fire suppression systems use chemicals that will extinguish the fire but will not cause any other damage and will easily evaporate without harm to the environment.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are usually used in conjunction with another type of fire protection system, and they can be used in both residential and commercial properties.

Pre-action Systems

These are similar to dry pipe systems, but they also have a supplemental detection system, which is attached in the same area as those sprinklers.

Antifreeze Sprinkler Systems

Similar to the fire protection systems we have already covered, antifreeze sprinkler systems use an antifreeze solution instead of water or a dry chemical clean agent.

You might be wondering what kind of fire protection system will be best for your home or commercial property. When you call us to learn more, we can help determine which one is best for your needs and for the specific type of assets you are trying to protect from the threat of a fire. We also offer inspection, maintenance, repair and monitoring services, so we are happy to be your one stop shop for all of your fire protection and fire suppression needs.

Do you want more information on fire protection in the Twin Cities? Call Brothers Fire & Security at 1-800-607-2767 or you can Contact Us.

Stay Safe This Halloween!

Happy Halloween! On the spookiest day of the year, we thought we would share some of the best Halloween safety tips we know. And when you want more information about commercial fire sprinkler systems in St Paul, you can call the professionals here at Brothers Fire & Security!

Make sure you do not put any Halloween decorations, especially anything made out of cloth or paper, near an open flame. As a matter of fact, there are electric candles on the market these days, so you should use those instead of regular candles. This can also help make your home more safe this Halloween and throughout the entire holiday season.

You can also use electric candles for the inside of any Jack O'Lanterns that you carve. You will not have to worry about any other Halloween decorations being ignited, and you will not have to worry that someone's costume will be accidentally ignited either.

If you and your family enjoy a bonfire on Halloween night, practice standard fire safety tips. Do not allow anyone to get too close to the fire, watch out for trailing Halloween decorations or parts of Halloween costumes and never ignite the fire with gas or another flammable liquid. Use kindling and matches or even newspaper. Try to burn larger logs instead of smaller ones too.

When you select a Halloween costume, make sure that if there is a mask included that it has big enough breathing holes and eye holes. That way, whoever is wearing it will be able to breathe easily and see clearly. If possible, use make-up or face paint instead so you don't have to worry that the eye and breathing holes in your mask are too small.

When you are trick or treating or walking to a party, be sure to carry a flashlight. Do not carry a candle or a torch since these can also be fire hazards. A flashlight will also illuminate your way much better than a candle or torch would.

With some common sense and these practical Halloween safety tips, you and your loved ones could be a lot safer this Halloween. We hope it's an enjoyable one for you and your entire family!

Do you want more information on commercial fire sprinkler systems in St Paul? Then call us at Brothers Fire & Security at 1-800-607-2767, or you can contact us to get a Free Life Safety Quote.