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.

This Week is Fire Prevention Week

Did you know that October 5 through October 11 is Fire Prevention Week, sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association? We here at Brothers Fire enjoy celebrating this event by educating our clients about the importance of fire alarm systems in Eden Prairie and all over the world. Here are a few tips on what you can do to help prevent a fire in your home or workplace.

Make Sure Your Electrical Equipment is Regularly Cleaned and Maintained

All of your business’ electrical equipment should be regularly cleaned and dusted to ensure the equipment continues to function as it should. Dust and other debris can ignite if the equipment sparks for some reason. And that ties into routine maintenance and inspections. Check for faulty parts and fraying or broken cords. If you find anything amiss, get it fixed right away. (And in the meantime, unplug the machine until you can get it fixed so it’s not a fire hazard.) Also, make sure all fire alarm systems are functioning properly by getting routine inspections by Brothers Fire Protection.

Keep Work Areas Clean

Take the time every day to make sure all work areas are clear of clutter. You don’t have to go too crazy cleaning every day, but just take a few minutes to clean up loose papers and anything that might be cluttering up the floor. Not only does this help prevent a fire, but it clears the way for people to get to fire extinguishers or to exit the building in the event there is a fire.

Keep Your Employees Informed

All of your employees or coworkers should know where the fire alarm is and where fire extinguishers are located. All of them should also know how to use these in an emergency situation. And everyone should know what to do in the event a fire breaks out. They should know to use the stairs instead of the elevator, where the closest stairs are and where to go when they exit the building so you can make sure everyone is accounted for. Also, make sure your building has working fire alarms and, if not, call on us for help with fire alarm systems.

When you need fire alarm systems in Eden Prairie, call Brothers Fire Protection at 1-800-607-2767 or Request a Quote.

Fire Sprinkler Systems: Myths vs. Facts

As a company that installs fire sprinkler systems in Duluth, we often hear myths and half-truths about fire sprinkler systems. For example, a lot of people think that fire sprinklers are triggered by smoke and that when one sprinkler head goes off, the entire system will go off. We want to put some of these myths to rest, so here are a few of the myths we hear the most.

Is water damage from fire sprinkler systems worse than fire damage?

No. We understand that it seems to make more sense that a flood of water would cause as much, if not more, damage than a fire, but this is simply not true. Most of the fire sprinkler systems on the market today release about 8 to 24 gallons of water a minute, depending on the system. This is enough to put out most fires pretty quickly. Think about it: if a fire rages on unabated, this could definitely cause a lot of damage. But if there is some water coming down from the sprinklers and can put the fire out quickly, that will mitigate a lot of the damage overall.

Are fire sprinkler systems triggered by smoke?

No. Fire sprinkler systems are triggered by heat, not smoke. Burning toast in the kitchen will not trigger your fire sprinkler system. These systems need a set amount of heat to go off. This is what is known as the “sprinkler trigger point.” These trigger points vary depending on the system.

Will every sprinkler head go off at the same time when a fire breaks out?

Sprinkler heads are individually activated by the heat from a fire. And most fires can be controlled by only one or two sprinkler heads. So just because a fire breaks out in the kitchen, that will not trigger the sprinkler heads on the other side of the building (unless the sprinkler trigger point is also hit for those sprinkler heads). 

For more information on fire sprinkler systems in Duluth, call Brothers Fire Protection at 1-800-607-2767 or contact us to Request a Quote.

Our Newly Redesigned Website Launched!

Brothers Fire Protection is pleased to announce that we have a newly redesigned website that launched recently! This means you can get even more information about Brothers Fire Protection and the myriad of services we offer to commercial clients in Minnesota and the surrounding areas.

Not only is the website more informative, it features an easier-to-use interface. It is more user friendly, and its straightforward design helps you find the information you need quickly. It also has a different color scheme, which we think is easier on the eye when you are viewing and reading the website. The text is even easier to read as well.

Plus, our featured projects are easier to find and read about, so it will be easier than ever to keep up to date on everything Brothers Fire Protection is up to. Our blog is easier to find too: all you have to do is scroll down to the bottom of the page. Information about the services we provide is also easier to find, and each service has its own page, so you can read up about the services that interest you the most. We offer complete life safety solutions, so you are sure to find the ones that meet your needs.

But don't worry! You can still get a free quote from us! You just have to fill out the form and give us more information about your building and what you need. We can come up with an estimate for you and get in touch with you to answer your questions or to start your project. So getting in touch with us is as easy as ever! 

When you need a fire alarm system, fire suppression system, security monitoring system and more, call Brothers Fire Protection at 1-800-607-2767 or contact us for a Free Quote.

The Importance of Maintaining Fire Alarms

Did you know that, according to the National Fire Protection Association, having a working fire alarm cuts people's chances of dying in a fire in half? That is probably the biggest reason having working fire alarms in Twin Cities businesses is so important. Making sure your fire alarms are properly maintained is a great way to ensure everyone stays safe if the worst ever happens. Brothers Fire Protection can handle maintaining the fire alarms at your company. 

We make sure your fire alarms are in good working order by looking at a few different things:

·         Are the alarm sensors properly calibrated? We will test them when we come to your business for maintenance checks.

·         Are the annunciators working? We will check those and will also simulate inputs.

·         We will set the fire alarms’ sensitivity. This requires in-depth knowledge of your fire alarm system and staying up-to-date on current fire detection theory.

·         The fire alarms’ batteries will be check for corrosion and to make sure they did not expire. We also make sure they contain the proper load.

·         All parts of the fire alarm system will be visually inspected to make sure nothing is damaged.

We recommend your fire alarms get inspected at least once a year or quarterly, which is what most manufacturers, insurance companies and fire marshals recommend. So get the peace of mind that comes with an annual inspection by trusting Brothers Fire Protection to take care of this for you. Our team is certified and qualified to take care of these inspections. We know you want your employees, customers and assets to be as safe as possible! And making sure your fire alarms are working is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure everyone’s safety.

If you have any questions about your fire alarms, or if you need fire alarms installed or maintained, Brothers Fire Protection can help. Just call us at 800-607-2767 or Contact Us.