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.

The Advantages of Commercial Security Systems

One of the best ways to protect your commercial property is with a security system. It will protect your building’s occupants and assets, and it will alert you if there is a fire or a similar emergency. So what are some of the other benefits of commercial security systems? Twin Cities business owners can enjoy plenty of advantages like the ones listed here.

For one thing, commercial security systems will help protect your building’s occupants and all of the items in your building from the threat of a fire or theft. Commercial security systems were invented for this reason. They are a reliable way to keep everyone and everything safe, and they will let you know if anything has happened. They are also programmed to alert emergency personnel that there is a fire or break-in occurring.

If you travel a lot (or even if you don’t!), commercial security systems can be your eyes and ears, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is great news for those who are very busy and cannot be at their commercial property all the time. Besides, you need some down time for your personal life too, so commercial security systems can give you the peace of mind you need that everything is okay, even when you are not there to see for yourself.

Commercial security systems are monitored 24/7, and the ones installed by Brothers Fire & Security are no exception. We also offer AES IntelliNet, which is an excellent mesh radio communication system that allows you to communicate directly with the monitoring company. It does not rely on phone lines to work, and the transmitter is fully controlled by you and no one else. This is a great method of alerting you that something is wrong with your building, and we will also alert the proper authorities too so they can respond quickly.

Finally, commercial security systems are built to monitor your fire alarm system too. So if a fire does break out, the correct emergency first responders are notified and you are too, plus anyone else you designate to be notified. Your building’s occupants will have time to evacuate because these systems will also sound an alarm so people know to get out of the building as quickly as possible.

If you would like more information on commercial security systems in the Twin Cities, call Brothers Fire & Security at 1-800-607-2767 or you can contact us and Schedule Your Estimate.

Facts about Commercial Fire Sprinkler Systems

There are plenty of misconceptions about commercial fire sprinkler systems. St Cloud based Brothers Fire & Security is often asked about these types of fire suppression systems and how they can help save lives and assets. Here are a few of the most common mistruths we hear about them and the actual truth.

Myth: Sprinkler heads are unsightly and will detract from my business' looks.

Fact: While lives are more important than looks, we can understand why the idea of sprinkler heads protruding from your business' ceilings does not appeal to you. Fortunately, this is easily remedied. We can install recessed or partially recessed sprinkler heads into your ceiling, and they can be painted to match just about any color of ceiling out there.

Myth: Sprinkler heads leak and can cause a lot of water damage.

Fact: Depending on the type of commercial fire sprinkler systems we are installing, we might not even use water as the fire suppression agent. For businesses that have computers and other sensitive equipment, we can use special dry fire suppression agents. And for businesses that use water as their fire suppression agent, the sprinkler heads will not leak. They are under the same level of water pressure as the rest of your building.

Myth: Commercial fire sprinkler systems are expensive to install and don't even save lives.

Fact: Commercial fire sprinkler systems are relatively inexpensive to install, and the amount of money they can save you in fire damage, if the worst ever did happen, would make up for it. We install more than 100 commercial fire sprinkler systems every year, and we have plenty of customers who would agree with us. And commercial fire sprinkler systems give your building's occupants time to evacuate, and they help extinguish the flames and keep them under control until emergency personnel arrives to put the fire out.

If you would like to learn more about commercial fire sprinkler systems in St Cloud, call Brothers Fire & Security at 1-800-607-2767, or you can contact us to Request a Quote.

Kitchen Exhaust System Inspections: Importance and Value

If you are a restaurant owner, then you know firsthand the importance and necessity of kitchen exhaust system inspections. Twin Cities restaurants can stay safe by having these inspections on a regular basis. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a requirement called the “Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations (NFPA 96) that stipulate that a kitchen exhaust system needs to be inspected by a fire protection company like Brothers Fire Protection. After the inspection, if there is a specific level of grease in the system, it needs to be cleaned by a professional company.

So why are kitchen exhaust system inspections so vital to the health, safety and well-being of your employees and customers? Simply put, a build-up of grease is a big fire hazard. The build-up can also contribute to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and airborne toxins. 

When Brothers Fire Protection performs the kitchen exhaust system inspections, we look at the amount of grease that has been left in the system. If we see that it is above a certain level, we recommend to the business owner that he or she hires a professional cleaning crew to come in and clean off the grease so it is down to an acceptable level of 0.002 inches or less.

Brothers Fire Protection will inspect every inch of the system to ensure it is clean and functioning as it should be. We will look at the duct work, fan, the kitchen hood itself and everything in between to ensure that the system is safe. Our thorough kitchen exhaust system inspections give you the peace of mind you deserve that everyone who enters your restaurant is safe from the threat of carbon monoxide, fire and other dangers.

So when you need a kitchen exhaust system inspection in the Twin Cities, call Brothers Fire Protection at 1-800-607-2767 or contact us for a Quote.

Fire Sprinkler Facts

Did you know that, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 92% of civilian structure fire deaths were at a home? It is a scary statistic, but it also highlights the need for fire sprinklers in Minneapolis homes. As a matter of fact, homes throughout the country (and even the world) can definitely benefit from working fire sprinklers. Here are a few more facts about these life-saving fire suppression devices.

• No matter how old your home is, fire sprinklers are a proven way to help fight a fire if one ever breaks out. They can be installed in older homes. Plus, they are now required by Minnesota law in all new homes that are more than 4500 square feet in size.
• It only takes three minutes for a home fire to become deadly, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Furniture nowadays is made out of materials that are more flammable than they used to be. These materials can quickly ignite and spread the fire, making it difficult for the home’s occupants to get out.
• Fire sprinklers are just as important as fire alarms in terms of helping the home’s occupants get out safely. Fire alarms will alert you that there is a problem. When the fire sprinklers turn on, they can suppress the fire enough that you and your family members have a chance to get out safely.
• Fire sprinklers are made in such a way that they work independently of one another. So you don’t have to worry that, just because one sprinkler goes off, all of the other ones will too. And they are activated by high levels of heat, so burning a piece of toast will not set them off.
• Regular inspections of your fire sprinklers by Brothers Fire Protection can help ensure they are working properly when it matters the most. Generally, they do not need a lot of maintenance.
• You can have the pipes insulated if you are worried about the water in the fire sprinklers freezing during the winter months.

Do you need more information about fire sprinklers in Minneapolis? Then call Brothers Fire Protection at 1-800-607-2767 or contact us for a Life Safety Quote.