One of the most important decisions you will have to make for your office is what type of fire alarm system you will choose to install. There are many types of fire alarm systems, and each has its own advantages. It really comes down to which one will work best for you and your office. Your options may include pull stations, flame detectors, heat detectors, smoke detectors, and fire alarms. There are a variety of factors that can help influence your decision, but keep in mind that these are meant to save lives, and you should consider each type carefully.

Each type of detector, including smoke, heat, and flame, has specific capabilities to alert people to a potential fire. A smoke detector is very sensitive and will alert you if it detects smoke. Commercial smoke detectors differ from home detectors in that they send a signal to the fire alarm system rather than an alarm from the detector itself. A fire detector works slightly differently than a smoke detector in that it will detect the light emitted by the flames. This can help prevent numerous false alarms that a smoke detector can produce. Heat detectors act like the previous two but will only send an alarm signal if it detects an extreme increase in temperature. It is actually recommended to use a heat detector in combination with a smoke detector.

Manual fire alarms are used to alert an entire building in the event of a fire. These systems include glass break stations, traction alarms, and push button alarms. These systems rely on someone discovering the fire and alerting the rest of the building by properly activating the alarm system. Automatic alarm systems will use one of the detectors mentioned above to detect a fire and then activate automatically. Most automated systems have the ability to notify the proper authorities in the event of a fire.

Once a fire has been identified, there must be some type of notification system. In most cases this will include an audio and visual alert system. The audible tone emitted by a notification system will be loud and in some sort of pattern. The visual element of the notification will usually be a bright flashing light to help if a person who is hard of hearing is nearby. Some of the more advanced notification systems will include a voice giving instructions on the best way to evacuate the building.

Be sure to keep in mind that some building and fire codes require fire alarm systems to follow specific rules. These must be followed, so check the details of these before installing a system in your office. A good fire alarm system can be the difference between life and death, so be sure to take your time and do the proper research.