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Fire safety is crucial for every business building located in Central Texas. When you set up your business, you install a fire alarm system, automatic sprinklers, a fire suppression system, portable fire extinguishers, and emergency lights for safety. These devices have served you well, but like most other building components, they can't last forever. Thus, many clients ask us, "What is a fire alarm retrofit?"  It's essential for every property owner to understand the significance of fire protection systems, how to know it's time for a retrofit, and what goals your upgraded system should accomplish.

Why Is A Fire Protection System Important?

·The importance of a fire protection system can be summed up in a single word: safety. Here's a more detailed look at why you should ensure your fire protection system is up to par:

  • Code compliance: When you obey local and federal fire safety regulations, you avoid potentially costly fines and degrading reprimands.
  • Fire and smoke detection: Sometimes, you can rely on people within your building to detect smoke and fire. That's what pull stations are for. But you also need fire and smoke detectors to ensure 24-hour protection.
  • Automatic fire suppression: The fire protection system is only complete with sprinklers, foam suppression, or another automated system to douse the fire without human intervention.
  • Timely evacuation: Audible and visual alarms promote life safety by alerting everyone in the building to evacuate.
  • Emergency personnel notification: Monitoring automatically alerts the fire department when the alarm goes off or a sprinkler head engages.

What Is a Fire Alarm Retrofit?

What is a fire alarm retrofit?

Retrofitting your fire suppression system is adding a fire protection system, including fire alarms, fire sprinklers, as well as the fire suppression systems, to an existing building that has never had one installed.

Retrofitting an existing fire protection system, like the installed fire sprinklers, fire suppression systems, and fire alarms, is typically handled by experienced fire suppression contractors with extensive experience.

Benefits of Fire Alarm Retrofitting

Just because you have installed a fire safety system in your building does not necessarily mean it's up to code. If the fire alarms were installed a long time ago, your building may have aged since then and left your alarms in the dust. To bring them back up to code, consider having fire alarm retrofits put in to keep your building safe. Here are some other big benefits of installing fire alarm retrofits.

They Will Cut Down on Your Losses in The Event of a Fire.

If a fire started in your building today, there's a decent chance that your existing fire alarms and fire suppression system wouldn't be enough to knock it down and put it out. When you install fire safety system retrofits, you can ensure your system will do its job during a fire. This will limit the amount of property damage that is done. It could also help save a lot of lives.

They Will Make the Fire Alarms in Your Building Look Better.

Do the fire alarms in your building look ugly? If they're decades old, they could bring down the aesthetic appeal of your entire building. Installing fire alarm retrofits will make them look modern again and prevent your fire suppression system from becoming a major eyesore. People will notice the difference right away.

consider having fire alarm retrofits put in to keep your building safe

They Will Bring Down Your Property Insurance Premiums.

Your old fire suppression system could cost you too much in yearly property insurance premiums. While you should check with your insurance company before installing fire safety retrofits, you can save a lot of money on insurance costs with them. Your insurance company will give you a better idea about how much you could save.

Why Replacing Your Old Fire Alarm Detection System Is Important

Financial Consequences

Even in the best economic climates, many businesses need help finding the capital resources to invest in new fire alarm and detection systems. Times like these make it difficult to see beyond operating and maintaining the existing equipment. However, if a fire occurs and the fire alarm or detection system's functionality is inadequate, the financial consequences of interrupted business can be devastating. The functional state of an aging alarm and detection system must be something other than an ecosystem's day-to-day operational-to-days of the gravity of the consequences of substandard alarm and detection.

Aging Fire Alarm And Detection Systems Become Unreliable

The basic precepts of any fire alarm system are that:

  • Warns occupants of abnormal conditions.
  • Alerts the appropriate first responders.
  • Initiates fire protection systems to protect people, plants, and property.

There are many reasons why an aged fire alarm or detection system's functionality can be compromised, from environmental factors to problems dating back to initial installation or imperfect design practices. A deficient inspection, testing, and maintenance program will also take its toll on equipment, accelerating its deterioration. As systems reach the concluding years of their life cycle, finding sufficient support and replacement parts can become challenging. Collectively, these issues undermine the systems' effectiveness.

In commercial applications, many areas within facilities have extreme conditions that put stress on all of the equipment. Factors such as high temperatures, corrosive elements, vibration, and dusty atmospheres can all be detrimental to the effectiveness of an alarm and detection system that is not properly maintained. Even in applications where systems are not regularly exposed to harsh conditions, the typical life span of control equipment and smoke detectors is approximately ten years due to natural deterioration.

New Technology Makes For Obsolete Equipment

While new fire alarm technology means more sensitive detection, advanced warning, and mitigated risk, it also equates obstacles for buildings with older systems. Manufacturers continuously develop technology to leverage their systems over competitors and present the most advanced product they can to the market. As this technology eventually prevails, updates are introduced into national fire codes, standards, and regulations, requiring properties and facilities to either replace their systems or make amendments to their existing equipment to remain compliant.

Signs You Should Retrofit Or Upgrade Your Fire Protection System

watch for these signs that it's time to retrofit
  • Installing a fire protection system is a good first step, but watch for these signs that it's time to retrofit or upgrade your existing equipment:
  • Failure of a part: When a vital component fails, you must repair or replace it as soon as possible to remain code-compliant and keep your building safe.
  • Frequent breakdowns: Repeat visits from a fire protection company disrupt business operations. Stop paying for repairs and consider retrofitting your system with new components.
  • Aging installation: The average lifespan of a fire protection system is 12 to 15 years. Beyond this, the system may start acting up more often, and replacement parts could become unavailable.
  • Building renovations: New elevators, floors, or wings may require additions and modifications to your fire protection system to remain code-compliant.
  • Code updates: Fire codes don't change much because of their longstanding history. However, even small alterations could affect your building's compliance status.
  • System incompatibility: You recently performed a retrofit but have discovered some complex components are incompatible. To restore fire safety, you may need to upgrade your system again.

Make Sure Your Fire Protection System Meets Certain Goals

Installing fire alarm retrofits needs sufficient planning

Installing fire alarm retrofits needs sufficient planning. Make sure the changes you make meet your building's fire protection goals. Here's what you want your retrofitted or upgraded fire protection system to accomplish:

  • Meet code requirements: This fundamental objective is the biggest motivator for many business owners. Consider exceeding code requirements where feasible to meet your other fire protection goals more effectively.
  • Save lives: The components you install should provide occupants with an adequate warning so they have time to evacuate. This means including advanced smoke and heat detectors and appropriate audible and visible alert systems.
  • Protect property: You undoubtedly hope to reduce downtime after a fire, requiring your suppression systems to kick in soon enough to extinguish the blaze before severe damage is done. You may need to go above and beyond code and insurance requirements to maximize property protection.
  • Preserve historical heritage: If you operate out of a historically significant building, specific fire codes apply regarding building preservation and special installation requirements to avoid destroying or detracting from the historical aspects of the facility. Even if your building is relatively new, you probably have important historical business records worth preserving in a fire.
  • Protect the environment: Firefighting sometimes requires special environmental considerations. For example, if a paint warehouse near a city's aquifer catches fire, chemically laden runoff from fire hoses could cause an environmental disaster if it reaches the water supply. Older building materials can also produce toxic fumes when burned in a fire, which may require a particular fire protection design to combat.

Schedule A Fire Protection System Retrofit Today!

If you recognize it's time for a retrofit or upgrade fire protection system, choose us here at Therrell Alarm Protection Service. We're in the business of protecting lives and property with top-of-the-line fire protection solutions. Please reach out to us today!