Why You Should Customize Your Fire & Security Systems

Every Business Needs Custom Solutions

Your business is unique. In fact, it’s one of kind, and your fire and security system should reflect that. As we head into fall, now is a good time to evaluate your system. Is it meeting the specific needs and goals of your business? Are there issues that need constant attention that cut into your productivity? What can you do to make sure your system is up to speed? Do you have confidence that it will perform as it should when the time comes and give you the data or information you need to solve problems or resolve issues?

The first step to getting answers to your questions is a consultation with your fire and security team. Brothers Fire & Security stands ready to evaluate your needs. Our experts can spot vulnerabilities in your system and know how to correct them. Technology updates are vital and we’ll show you where upgrades are necessary. We’ll also let you know what needs to be done if there are changes in buildings or locations.

Determining effective security of most businesses has commonalities, such as:

• Employee access for on-boarding and terminating employees (and different levels of that access); access for patients, parents, children, guests, etc.
• Internal and external monitoring of the property and building
• Emergency preparedness in the event of fire, adverse weather, gas leaks, electrical outages, intruders, and medical emergencies
• The number of buildings, nearby buildings, and external traffic
• Demographics, such as urban, inner-city, suburban, rural, industrial, commercial

Customized to Meet Your Needs

Those commonalities aside, fire and security systems differ greatly depending on your business, and a well-designed system needs to be custom-designed. Brothers Fire & Security will make sure you understand your business’s unique needs and how to achieve safety and security 24/7. To give you an idea of how, let’s take a look at three industries that have very different security needs.

Day Care Centers and Facilities

Day cares see a lot of comings and goings, which, unfortunately, is a factor in children being abducted by family members. The National Center for Abused and Exploited Children estimates 14,000 are taken yearly from their school or childcare center by family members. The good news is most are returned safe and sound to their legal guardians. But effective security will prevent abductions in the first place. Security considerations for daycares include:

• Building Access: Card access for staff; keypad access for parents (and keypad changes as needed)
• Monitoring reception areas, parking lots, playgrounds, classrooms, heating and cooling, basements. Will video recording data be stored internally or on external systems?
• The age of the building and multiple locations

Medical Clinics

A crucial safety priority in medical clinics is vulnerable patients so effective monitoring and quick response to emergencies could save lives. From 2011-2015, the National Fire and Protection Association (NFPA) reported an annual average of 620 fires in clinics. These fires caused an average of eight civilian injuries and $26.5 million in direct property damage. Fire and security considerations for clinics include:

• Internal and external monitoring in elevators, hallways, storage areas, the front desk, parking lots/ramps
• Staff access
• Emergency response protocol for disabled patients
• Number of floors
• Medical supply areas (e.g. hazardous material)

Education

We have seen in the news that emergency evacuations (fire), shelter in severe weather (tornadoes) and lock-downs are critical in saving lives in schools. NFPA reported 4,980 structure fires in educational properties in 2011–2015, annually; 69 percent in pre-school, elementary, middle and high schools. Security considerations in schools include:

• Emergency response protocols in place
• Fire, tornado, and lock-down drills involving faculty, staff and students
• Monitoring devices in critical areas

More Than the Bottom Line

Without a doubt, customizing, updating, and maintaining fire and security systems are crucial to protect buildings and their occupants. But there are more reasons:

• Poorly maintained security systems fail sooner and more often
• Systems in disrepair take users more time to perform tasks
• When systems don’t work, liability increases, but a completely functional security system passes audits
• A properly maintained fire and security system reduces false alarms and provides more accurate data
• Older cameras don’t see as well, especially if they are filthy. Also, a clean camera is a better looking camera. You don’t want an eyesore on your building and landscape. Older NVR’s and DVR’s are more prone to failure
• Staff understanding of a system allows for smooth upgrades and can prevent problems before they become emergencies
• System backups reduce downtime dramatically

And there you have it. Yes, there’s a lot to consider. But to help you wade through your needs, call Brothers Fire & Security. We’ll make sure you get the customized security systems you can depend on.

About Brothers Fire & Security

As one of the premier providers of fire and security solutions in the Upper Midwest, Brothers Fire & Security strives to build long-term, value-added relationships. We work with business owners and property management companies, as well as all types of public institutions to solve fire and security needs. By taking advantage of our integrated bundled services, many of our clients find that they can save 25-30% on their safety services, annual inspections and more. From a single location to franchises throughout the region and the country, our integrated approach saves our clients valuable time, money and stress. We provide fire protection systems, security systems, fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, 24-7 monitoring, fire extinguishers, card access and kitchen hoods.