Beginner’s Guide to Fire Protection Systems

What is Fire Protection?

Fire protection includes practices and measures that are taken to reduce the impact of fires and help prevent the loss of life and property due to a fire. There are two different kinds of fire protection that are found in buildings to minimize the damage caused by fires: active and passive fire protection.

1. Active Fire Protection – An active fire protection system takes action against a fire by detecting and stopping fire. Active fire protection systems include fire sprinkler systems and fire alarm systems.
2. Passive Fire Protection – Passive fire protection typically includes structural measures in a building that are designed to prevent the spread of fire including fire doors, firewalls, and dampers.

To be best protected from fires, buildings should have both active and passive forms of fire protection.

Common Types of Active Fire Protection Systems

There are many types of active fire protection systems that are installed in buildings to help protect people and property from fires including:

• Fire sprinkler systems – This common type of fire protection system uses water to fight fires. When a fire is detected, sprinkler systems automatically activate and discharge water through the sprinkler head that is nearest to the fire.
• Fire suppression systems – A fire suppression system is installed in areas where water damage could be devastating or where water is not an effective way to suppress a fire. These systems use agents such as gas, chemicals, or foam to put fires out.
• Fire alarm systems – Fire alarm systems alert building occupants that a fire is occurring so that they can safely evacuate the building. Fire alarms can be manually pulled by someone in the building, or they could be activated automatically when a fire is detected.
• Fire detection systems – These systems detect the presence of a fire and activate the fire sprinkler or suppression system. Common types of fire detection include smoke detection, flame detection, and heat detection.

Benefits of Fire Protection Systems

There are many benefits to installing fire protection systems on your property including:

• Save lives
• Protect your property
• Minimize downtime after a fire
• Protect irreplaceable assets
• Reduction in insurance premiums
• Comply withNew local, state, and national regulations
• Reacts faster to fire than the fire department can
• Save money in the long run

Choosing the Right Fire Protection System

How do you know which type of fire protection system is right for you? The type of fire protection system that is right for your building will depend on the type of facility you have and the unique hazards that are present as well as building codes and insurance requirements. It is important to enlist the help of an experienced professional to figure out which system will be the best fit for your application.

Delta Fire Systems is an experienced fire protection contractor serving Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. We can help you determine the fire protection needs for your application and work with you to design, install and service your fire protection systems. We have been protecting businesses in the intermountain areas from fire since 1963. To learn more, contact us today!