by Security Support | Jan 13, 2022 | Home Fire Alarm Systems
Put a Home Fire Alarm System at the Top of Your Priority List – Goals for 2022
While some fires begin naturally such as with lightning, most often fires are manmade and therefore preventable. Unfortunately, many of us are lax in using the most effective means of firefighting: smoke and heat detectors, fire prevention education, and fire exit drills. Consequently, fire is among the leading causes of accidental deaths in the home each year. Having a monitored home fire alarm system can save lives and property. You can read all about fire alarm systems here or contact our of our security experts today.
Prevention: The First Step in Fire Safety
While every room in your home has potential fire hazards, two of the most likely areas for a fire to start are the kitchen and garage.
In the Kitchen
Make sure all electrical appliances and tools have a testing agency label — either UL for Underwriters Laboratories or FM for Factory Mutual. Frayed or worn power cords and plugs should be replaced. Thoroughly dry hands before operating appliances, switches, or outlets. Never plug more appliances into a socket than it is designed to accommodate safely. Store only nonflammable items over the stove. Turn pot handles inward so children can’t pull them down. Have an appropriate fire extinguisher on a wall away from the stove.
In the Garage
Items to be saved should never be stored near the furnace or water heater. (Hint: many of these items can be stored in plastic or metal garbage cans, which are airtight as well as fire retardant.) Have heating equipment checked annually. Store gasoline and other flammables in tight metal containers preferably away from the house and NEVER near the heating equipment or a pilot light.
Smoke Detectors: Your Early Warning System
Since most fire deaths are caused by asphyxiation, and usually at times when people are sleeping, smoke detectors are the most effective piece of fire-fighting equipment you can have in your home. Smoke detectors should be installed in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and on each additional story of the family living unit. Monitored smoke detectors are the best. These devices will send a fire signal to a central monitoring station so that the fire department is dispatched immediately, whether you are home or not. After installation, smoke detectors should be tested at least once a month.
Solutions That Can Save Your Live
We have several smoke detectors to protect you and your family. We offer the SiXCombo wireless combination smoke/heat and carbon monoxide (CO) detector which is compatible with our Honeywell Home Pro Series or the 5806W3 Wireless photoelectric smoke detector which is compatible with our Honeywell Home Vista series. Whichever system you choose you can be alerted of any emergency on your smartphone with our award wining Total Connect app.
The A-B-C’s of Fire Extinguishers
When used correctly, fire extinguishers can keep small fires from becoming large ones. However, if there is ever a question of whether to put it out or get out, always opt for safety. Since there are three classes of fires, there are also three different types of fire extinguishers:
A-Type
For use on ordinary combustibles (paper, wood, cloth, rubber, many plastics).
B-Type
For flammable liquids (oils, gasoline kitchen greases, paints, solvents).
C-Type
For electrical fires (wiring, fuse boxes, motors, power tools, appliances).
A-B-C Type
There is also a multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher labeled A-B-C that is effective in putting out most types of fires.
Start Protecting Your Family Today
Don’t put it off contact one of our security experts today. Take these steps to protect your home and family from a potentially deadly fire today. Home fire alarm systems save lives.
by Security Support | Aug 30, 2021 | Commercial Fire Alarm Systems
What is the Difference Between Mass Notification Systems and Voice Evacuation Systems?
Mass notification systems communicate emergency situations involving non-fire emergencies to building occupants and individuals in the surrounding area of the building using audible and visual devices. Mass notification systems are governed by NFPA 72, Chapter 24. Chapter 24 covers requirements for mass notification systems, fire alarm voice evacuation systems, fireman’s telephone and radio systems, area of refuge communications, and elevator communications.
While mass notification systems and fire alarm voice evacuation systems both use voice messaging via speakers and visible strobes to alert building occupants, the difference between the systems is the action that the systems instruct the occupants to take. The fire alarm voice evacuation systems typically instruct the occupants to evacuate the building by a pre-recorded message such as, “there is a fire, please leave building.” Mass notification systems notify occupants of other emergencies that may not necessarily require building evacuation. Mass notification systems may give specific instructions based on the type of emergency. For example, for a tornado warning, the instructions may be to shelter in place, but for a chemical spill it may be to report to a specific safe area within the building. For both of these emergencies, having the occupants evacuate the building would not be the best action to take.
Similar Fire Alarm System and Mass Notification System Requirements
The notification requirements for mass notification systems have the same requirements as fire alarm systems do. Speaker/strobes are most commonly used for in-building notification, with the same mounting and spacing requirements as fire alarm. NFPA 72 permits using the same notification appliances for fire alarm and mass notification purposes, but the appliance must have no marking or be marked “ALERT”. A “FIRE” marking is not permitted for notification appliances used for both purposes to help avoid confusion.
System Types
Mass notification systems are classified as in-building and wide area systems. In-building systems provide occupant notification within a building. Buildings that require voice evacuation per the building code and have a need for mass notification as well will often install a combination mass notification systems/voice evacuation system like the Honeywell IFP-2100ECS which allows both functions to be performed by a single system.
The Honeywell IFP-2100ECS has the interconnection capability for up to 32panels. The system has two modes of operation, multiple panels covering one larger building, or multiple independent buildings. A separate network can be used for voice paging across all panels. The IFP-2100ECS supports a variety of devices, including RA2000, RA-1000 or RA-100 remote annunciators and IDP, SK or SD devices.
Solutions by Industry
We have commercial mass notification systems and voice evacuation systems for all industries including; aviation, banking and finance, cargo & logistics, data centers, education, government, healthcare, hotels and restaurants, maritime, prisons and correctional facilities, public transportation, retail, stadiums and venues.
For more information on our industrial mass notification systems can be found here and information on our voice evacuation systems can be found here.
In Closing
We hope this article helped show the differences between a mass notification system and a voice evacuation system. Here at National Security Systems we engineer, install, service and monitor all types a mass notification systems and a voice evacuation systems. Please contact us to see what our team can do for you.
by Security Support | Dec 29, 2020 | Home Security Systems
Would you recognize a burglar if you saw one?!?
The past decade some serious efforts have been made to find out more about burglars and their habits. Research on the self-reported crimes of repeat burglary offenders has contributed to a comprehensive profile of the American burglar.
Burglars are Young and Dangerous
Over two-thirds of all burglars commit their first break-ins between the ages of eleven and twenty-five. Burglars are largely grouped in the sixteen to twenty-five year-old age group, with the majority clustering at eighteen to twenty-one. This means that your chances of being burglarized by a “seasoned pro” are relatively low. But it also means that the possibility for vandalism, violence and overreaction is high. In fact, over three-fifths of all rapes and one-third of assaults in the home are committed by burglars.
Family Life is Tough
Most burglars are unmarried, and many come from poor homes. However, poverty is probably not the crucial variable. Violence in the family seems to be a more accurate predictor of delinquency than poverty alone. Burglars tend to lead a lonely life with few attachments to family or friends. Many criminals live in the same neighborhoods as their victims. In fact, most break-ins occur within a five- to ten mile radius of the burglar’s own home.
How They Get In
Contrary to popular belief, fewer than ten percent of burglars pick locks. Kicking in a door or smashing a lock is by far the preferred way of gaining access for most burglars and the easiest. It also requires the least amount of skill. Most burglars say they would spend no more than ten minutes trying to open a door or five minutes for a window.
Do Drugs Increase Burglaries?
Yes! Out of all factors studied, drug use is most strongly associated with increases in residential crime. On average, 70% of all burglars use drugs within 24- to 48- hours of their crimes.
What Do Burglars Steal?
Cash 22%
Tools 15%
Home Furnishings 11%
Electronics 11%
Bicycles/Parts 11%
Jewelry, Fur, Silver 8%
Guns 6%
Here are some more numbers
Did you know that, according to the F.B.I., a residential burglary occurs once every nine seconds? The fact is, the average family has a three in four chance of being burglarized during a 20-year period! That’s the bad news but the good news is that a monitored security system is a proven way to dramatically improve these odds. Studies conducted by researchers at Temple University found that homes protected by a residential security system are 2.2 times less likely to be victimized by burglary than homes without a system. Businesses with a commercial security system cut their risk 4.6 times. So if you like those odds better, give us a call. We’ll show you how to keep you and yours from becoming another crime statistic.
What you can do today
If you’re like many of the rest of us, you may have put off installing or upgrading your security system. If that is the case, we would like to show you how easy it is to provide yourself and your family with the safety and peace of mind you deserve. Contact us today and see what a security system from National Security Systems can do for you. Please don’t let your family or business become a victim, take a moment now and look at the many solutions we have for commercial security systems, residential security systems and industrial security systems.
by Security Support | Jun 8, 2020 | Uncategorized
National Security Systems COVID 19 Update
Your Safety is Our Priority
As an essential services organization that is committed to providing life safety security services to the communities we serve, National Security Systems will be working diligently and safely throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
Like all of you, we will be monitoring this fluid situation and striving to maintain best practice safety protocols. If you need us, we are here for you please contact us.
Sincerely,
National Security Systems
by support | Feb 23, 2019 | Security
Please join us
Here you will find information and tips about the security industry. What are the newest trends are to embrace and what to stay away from. So from time to time you can check back here and see what is going on in the security world. Because we want you to know this information is coming from a company that is known for its commitment to the security industry we though it would be important for you to be able to read about our qualifications.
Statement of Qualifications
Founded in 1998 Nationals Security Systems has become an industry leader in worldwide installation and service of security alarms, fire alarms, access control systems, and CCTV. National Security Systems is one of California’s largest independent alarm installation and service company. With over thirty years of protecting lives and property National Security Systems has excelled in the installation of integrated security solutions. Our installation and service departments have remained on the cutting edge of the security industry and maintained the highest standards in the industry.
With installations worldwide, Nationals Security Systems has the experience to provide solutions and share experiences about the security industry that can help inform you about the decisions must make every day regarding the security of your business and or loved ones. We will grow and learn as we share our experiences about security that include higher education, airports, healthcare, government and corporate campuses to name a few. Our team of professionals is the most talented, dedicated and knowledgeable in the business and has the expertise needed to deliver customized, intelligent solutions that meet your unique challenges, improve operational effectiveness, increase cost efficiencies and achieve a higher level of safety and security for your organization.
We are very experienced with Bosch Security Systems, Honeywell, RS2 Technologies, Total Connect 2.0, Resideo Security, DSC, Napco, Ademco, Radionics, Detection Systems, ITI, GE Security, SDC, Schlage, Locknetics and many more. So please contact us with any questions you might have or any subject you would like us write about.
