Fireline - Fire Protection Blog

Proper fire safety methods are very important to practice on college campuses. How people follow fire safety guidelines could be the difference between life and death. This article will provide you five crucial steps you need to take to reduce false fire alarms and improve campus safety.

Campus Safety Magazine has recently received its annual fire survey results. False fire alarms are one of the top four major fire safety challenges.

Here are some examples of false fire alarms:

Ø      Burned Popcorn

Ø      Shower Steam

Ø      Poor system design

Ø      Pranksters playing practical jokes

Ø      Lack of maintenance

When these false fire alarms happen, campuses are at risk of wasting valuable public safety resources and false fire alarms could result in lives being lost during a real fire, as well as, property being destroyed beyond repair.

Here are five ways to reduce the number of false alarms, while saving lives and property:

Discipline Pranksters

Yearly 8.5 percent of false fire alarms in the United States happen because of mischievous pranksters. By addressing this problem, you could make a big impact on decreasing the number of false alarms your college campus has annually. Fair, clear discipline policies should be in place and visible to all at your business or campus. Make sure everyone knows the penalties that come with being pranksters by conducting a zero tolerance approach. A zero tolerance approach means anyone guilty will be dealt with by the judicial affairs on campus. It will make the community work more effectively during fire drills and during real fires.

Discourage Bad Behavior By Using Peer Pressure

The most successful campus strategy for eliminating malicious false alarms is implementing a reward program for students who self-police campus. It makes campus life more productive for learning and exam taking when time is not wasted on false fire alarms.

Conduct Fire Safety Training Programs

Another great way to reduce false fire alarms is to educate the community about why fire safety is so important. Fire education programs on campus often decrease the likelihood of false fire alarms.

Students will learn many methods on how to prevent false fire alarms while cooking, working in science labs or using hair spray in dorm rooms by participating in a fire education program.

For example, most dorm fires start in the kitchen so students knowing how to use an exhaust fan over the stove could help reduce dorm false fire alarms drastically. Most students do not know how to turn an exhaust fan on. This should not be an issue. This needs to become common knowledge.

Add Video Surveillance

When people know that security cameras are around, the number of false fire alarms decreases. Video surveillance cameras catch everything and make it easier for authorities to find who pulls a fire alarm and when.

Place Fire Detectors in the Right Locations

Never place smoke detectors too close to kitchens, cooking appliances or bathrooms because these areas are more inclined to accidentally activate fire detectors by the natural smoke and steam that can result in these locations. Be sure to read about fire codes in your community to learn where fire detectors should be properly placed.

It is recommended that you use detectors that can sense heat and smoke to reduce false fire alarms. Also, alarm verification detectors are good to have in buildings as well because these alarms wait 10 to 30 seconds to go off after sampling air to determine if smoke is present. If smoke is still present, fire alarms will activate.

But for best fire alarm reductions, properly maintain your fire system. This is the number one fire safety challenge. Clean detectors regularly at least once a year and make sure facility personnel are trained to operate building control panels for fire safety.

One exceptional college campus that has reduced its number of false fire alarms is Towson University, in Maryland through Fireline Corporation’s products and services.

Fireline provides campus wide fire alarm and sprinkler inspection and testing services at Towson University. Fireline has replaced over 20 fire alarm systems throughout Towson University’s campus. Also Fireline networked all new and existing systems including designing, furnishing and installing a campus wide mass notification alerting system.

Towson University is projected to be the first fully sprinklered university in the United States.  To date, over 90% of the campus is equipped with sprinkler systems.

Create your clear safety and security plan with Fireline Corporation today for effective fire safety strategies.

The Fireline Corporation is a Maryland corporation founded in 1947 by John S. Waters. Fireline remains a pioneer in the fledgling fire equipment distribution business. Fireline has grown to encompass all facets of fire protection. Our Totally Integrated Protection Solutions provide you with a wide variety of services. We can design, install, inspect, or service any type of fire protection system.  From fire alarm to fire extinguisher, we do it all.

If you have any questions about fire alarms, fire equipment, or other Fireline products and services, contact Fireline by calling 410.247.1422 or click here today!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Source: 7 Steps to Reducing False Fire Alarms

Do you know what are the top concerns for Fire Respondents when it comes to campus safety? If you do not know the top concerns, this article will inform you and tell you ways to improve campus fire safety.

Response Concerns

There is nothing wrong with being concerned about property and the well being of others when it comes to fire safety. Fire drills should always be practiced as if a real fire is occurring. Fire respondents are concerned that shareholders do not take all fire alarms as serious as they would during a real fire. When people do not believe a fire alarm is a real alert, evacuation times are too slow and they lack the preparedness needed for a real fire. For example, Students on campus are not informed enough about how to use appliances in school kitchens such as microwaves. Campuses are not designed efficient enough for evacuation. This is a major concern because State regulations are constantly changing as the price of fire safety increases.

 With all these concerns, how do you protect students, staff and property from fire dangers?

 Here are some ways to increase campus fire safety as much as possible:

 ØInstall fire suppression on older campus buildings.

ØTrain your administrative (this includes educating faculty and staff about lab safety, kitchen safety and dorm safety).

ØHave monthly fire drills and allow a local fire chief review your evacuation strategies and evacuation times.

ØUpgrade older systems with new systems.

ØWhen renovating or remodeling, use fire resistive construction material.

ØHave a mass notification fire system alert available for the campus community.

ØInstall sprinklers in every dorm room.

How Campuses Are Improving Fire Safety

Campuses are becoming more proactive about fire safety with fire systems that have a network monitored 24/7 by University Police. It is important that campus fire drills become more effective and accountable to save lives and prevent property damage, in case of a fire.

If you want an affordable and reliable fire system today for your campus, hire Fireline Corporation.

Fireline Corporation prides itself in the diversity of fire protection systems we design, install and service.  Our professional staff is constantly receiving training and certification to further advance our knowledge of these various systems. We have state-of-the-art fire alarms, sprinkler, restaurant hood systems, vehicle systems, emergency exit lights, special hazard systems to protect electronic equipment and facilities. Review our fire systems here.

The Fireline Corporation is a Maryland corporation founded in 1947 by John S. Waters. Fireline remains a pioneer in the fledgling fire equipment distribution business. Fireline has grown to encompass all facets of fire protection. Our Totally Integrated Protection Solutions provide you with a wide variety of services. We can design, install, inspect, or service any type of fire protection system.  From fire alarm to fire extinguisher, we do it all.

If you have any questions about Fire Systems, fire equipment, or other Fireline products and services, contact Fireline by calling 410.247.1422 or click here today!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Source: Additional Fire Survey Respondent Comments

Do you train your warehouse employees to use a portable fire extinguisher? If you do not, you should train your employees. There are many benefits for your workers and company when workers are properly trained to use portable fire extinguishers in the warehouse. Read below to learn about the benefits.

 Fire is an element that rapidly spreads. It is highly self-sustaining. However, it can be extinguished when one of the following four elements is removed that make up the fire tetrahedron.

 The four elements of the fire tetrahedron are heat, fuel, oxygen and a chemical chain reaction.

 Why Should a Fire Extinguisher Training Program Be Implemented in Your Warehouse?

When you develop a yearly fire extinguisher training program for your company’s warehouse, you will keep your employees as safe as possible by teaching them how to safely extinguish small fires. Your employees can save your warehouse from being engulfed by fire by knowing the right extinguisher to use to remove one of the four elements of fire tetrahedron.

There are four types of fire classes your workers should be knowledgeable about to prevent and extinguish small fires. They are Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D.

 Ø Class A is a fire started with normal combustibles such as wood, paper, and cloth.

Ø Class B is a fire started with flammable and combustible liquids and gases such as gasoline and paints.

Ø Class C is a fire started by energized electrical equipment such as a short circuit in power transmission cables.

Ø Class D is a fire started by flammable metals such as sodium, potassium and lithium. When ignited these metals produce a fire.

 When a fire sporadically starts in a warehouse, a portable fire extinguisher is the first line of defense employees should use. You want your employees confident on when to attack a fire and when to leave immediately the warehouse. Some fires should only be handled by professional firefighters. With the right training, your employees will know the difference.

Here are some factors your employees should consider when making a decision to attack a fire with a portable fire extinguisher or call firefighters:

Ø Know What is Burning

Ø Make sure the fire is not rapidly spreading.

Ø Make sure smoke and heat are not filling the area.

Ø Know a clear path of escape.

Ø Follow proper training.

When your employees are properly trained, you can guarantee you will save your company from valuable losses, insurance costs, accidental injury and accidental death.

Get your portable fire extinguishers from Fireline Corporation today!

 The proper placement and use of portable fire extinguishers is a critical component of an effective fire protection program. Fireline Corporation’s sales staff is trained and qualified to evaluate potential fire hazards before recommending the proper type, size and placement of fire extinguishers required to satisfy fire code requirements. Fireline offers these evaluations without obligation, assuring prompt delivery from our well-stocked warehouse.

The Fireline Corporation is a Maryland corporation founded in 1947 by John S. Waters. Fireline remains a pioneer in the fledgling fire equipment distribution business. Fireline has grown to encompass all facets of fire protection. Our Totally Integrated Protection Solutions provide you with a wide variety of services. We can design, install, inspect, or service any type of fire protection system.  From fire alarm to fire extinguisher, we do it all.

 If you have any questions about portable fire extinguishers, fire equipment, or other Fireline products and services, contact Fireline by calling 410.247.1422 or click here today!

 Check us out on Facebook , Google+,and Twitter as well!

Source: Benefits of Portable Fire Extinguisher Training In The Warehouse

             Classes of Fire 83

In the early morning hours this past Saturday, Heritage Farm owner Art Hahn woke to discover his entire barn engulfed in flames.  Inside, 22 of his show horses perished.  Likely an electrical fire, the old wood barn stood little chance once the fire was started.  The horses, varying in value from $10,000 to $60,000 a piece, competed in various shows on the east coast.  With the facility and horse gone, Hahn is now stating that in a few short hours this fire put him completely out of business.

Fireline strongly recommends sprinkler systems to protect facilities such as barns and unsupervised wooden structures.  Currently installing two sprinkler systems in a similar facility, Fireline has the experience and expertise to prevent a tragic fire like this one from spreading.

For more information on the fire at Heritage Farms, click here.

Visit our sprinkler systems page here.

In the most recent issue of "Firewatch!", a fire suppression industry magazine, two important points were brought up in articles.  The first being that you should always hire a reputable company to handle your fire protection needs.  A Norfolk, VA business owner was arrested this past summer for improper work on suppression systems and extinguishers, including changing labels without actually testing. 

While choosing a trustworthy fire protection company is important, it is also the responsibility of the business to comply with local and national fire codes. Numerous businesses have been cited and fined this summer and fall for fire extinguisher compliance issues.  Fortunately for both businesses and customers most of these issues were discovered by inspectors before a fire occurred.  Even still, the fines ranged from $49,210 to $1.9 million for extinguisher violations including blocked or unmounted fire extinguishers and failure to inspect monthly.  Surprisingly, the most common violation was for a lack of employee fire extinguisher training.  Always remember that having protection available won't do much good if you or your employees don't know how to use it.

Schedule fire extinguisher training before it is too late by calling Lisa Malone at 410-247-1422 ext. 226