6 Point Checklist When Hiring a Fire Protection Contractor

Many business owners lack the time and energy to invest into learning extensively about fire protection in the workplace.  While it is important to understand the basics, these entrepreneurs respect their limits and often hire a professional to lend their expertise in fire safety.  These contractors can assist with all fire protection services from sprinkle installation to fire evacuation training.  Below are some tips for hiring a fire protection contractor at your workplace.

1.      Evaluate Your Environment – Before they can help you, a fire protection contractor will need to understand your environment to provide services necessary for your unique situation. Does your business come in contact with hazardous materials?  Are you a restaurant using oils and fats?  These are important questions to ask yourself and ones that a professional will as well.

2.      Know Your Needs– For the most part, you know you will need a fire sprinkler system and extinguisher in your place of business, but what else?  Knowing your needs will help the provider prepare a comprehensive package of fire protection services.  During this time, you should also evaluate your limits.  If you are under-informed on the subject, you may need to rely on your contractor more to perform necessary maintenance and inspections.

3.       Follow Code– While you may not need to know every code and law out there, knowing the basics of local and municipal fire codes is a must for any business owner.   An experienced professional will be able to help you meet these requirements while also making sure you follow the lesser-known guidelines as well.  This partner can prove invaluable in providing expertise in a difficult to understand aspect of fire protection.

4.       Experience Is A Must – When hiring a fire protection contractor, you will want to find one with experience in the field.  You will also want them to have exposure to working in a setting similar to yours.  This will assure that they can address concerns relevant to your industry.  You can also research their credentials and fire protection services online.  Many reputable businesses now have at least a basic website that lists their certifications, specialties, and offerings.

5.      Bundle Services–Providing further cost-savings to their customers, many fire protection contractors offer bundled services.  These comprehensive programs typically include installation, maintenance, and inspection of all fire protection tools.  By securing an on-going relationship with the fire safety expert, business owners can provide a safe environment for their employees for years to come with little effort scheduling appointments and up-keeping a system.

6.      Include Training In The Contract– Ask your fire protection contractor if they also provide training.  Workshops for employees that include fire extinguisher instructions and fire evacuation procedures are invaluable in establishing a sound safety program.  If you don’t feel comfortable conducting these sessions or lack the knowledge to do so, hire the professional to do the work.

Leaving the fire protection at your place of business to chance is a dangerous endeavor.  Hiring a fire protection partner that can assist you in your system for years to come will not only offer security in the building but also piece of mind.  Using these 6 tips when hiring a contractor, you are sure to find a professional that is a perfect match.

Should I Handle My Own Fire Sprinkler Installation?

When it comes to protecting yourself from the threat of a fire, no option compares to fire sprinklers. They don’t need anyone to operate them, nor does anyone have to be around to even activate them. They contain the fire as much as possible so it doesn’t spread, and they limit the amount of property damage done. For all these reasons and more, you should be considering fire sprinkler installation. However, if you’re looking to save a buck or simply enjoy a good project, you may also be considering handling the project on your own. Before you do, let’s take a look at fire sprinkler installation and some things you should know.

Handling Fire Sprinkler Installation on Your Own

The truth of the matter is that you have a number of options for installing your own fire sprinkler system. Thanks to the Internet, all the parts are out there. So long as you have an understanding of your piping system, you may very well be able to pull off an installation. Plus, the actual fire sprinklers only need to be connected to the pipes. Their design ensures they’ll go off if a fire happens.

That being said, this doesn’t mean handling your own fire sprinkler installation is a good idea. The American Fire Sprinkler Association is very much opposed to the idea of anyone without formal training attempting this process.

For one thing, they recommend that you only use materials approved by the National Fire Protection Association and that your installation meets their standards. Even with the Internet on your team, you may have a hard time pulling his off. Meeting their standards may also be difficult if you’re not sure on what exactly they mean.

Plus, you need to consider your insurance company. Many providers lower your premiums after a fire sprinkler installation. However, chances are they’re also very specific about who can handle it. If you’re not licensed, credentialed, certified, etc., there’s a good chance your insurance company doesn’t want you doing it. They may not lower your premium or, in the event of a fire, they may not be legally obligated to help you. 

Saving some money upfront really won’t be worth it then.

Your home may never catch fire (hopefully), but it can still take on plenty of damage if you try installing your own sprinkler system. The process involves altering the supply of water to your home meaning you’ll be giving it access to just about every room. This isn’t anything to worry about so long as the installation is handled correctly. However, if it’s not, you could have a pipe break or a sprinkler head drop out and all your hard work will simply net you one wet house.

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The Cost of Professional Fire Sprinkler Installation

Plus, the fact of the matter is that having a professional install your sprinkler heads really isn’t that expensive. Many people may actually find that, because of their specialized tools and knowledge, letting a professional handle things is actually cheaper; it will definitely save you time.

Last year, the Fire Protection Research Foundation updated their Home Fire Sprinkler Cost Assessment Report. By their estimates, installing fire sprinklers in your home should only cost about $1.35 for every square foot of coverage in a home still under construction. That’s down more than 20% from 2008. Plus, people pay around the same amount to upgrade their carpets, pave a stone driveway or install a whirlpool bath. Those are all nice additions, to be sure, but none of them will save you and your family’s lives.

Furthermore, all the data shows that home sprinkler systems are becoming increasingly popular. This means that your investment may also help you sell your home down the road as consumers become more familiar with the feature and start demanding it in houses they consider. To some degree, that trend has already begun as homes with sprinkler systems consistently sell faster than those without.

Lastly, check with your local municipality. Having a professional handle your fire sprinkler installation may also net you a nice little tax rebate.

Homes with sprinklers installed are better off for a number of reasons. They’ll save lives and money in the event of a fire and may even help your budget in the meantime. However, if you plan on installing them on your own, you’ll be putting all this at risk.

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