Fire Protection for Your Condominium Building

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All property managers who are responsible for condominium buildings need to put the building’s safety at the forefront of their maintenance and capital improvement needs. In some instances, you may need to make changes in order to be compliant with local regulations. In all situations, it’s imperative that you follow an integrated fire protection plan. Here are some important considerations that property managers should examine in order to make sure that their buildings are adequately prepared in the event of a fire.

Smoke Alarms

Buildings need to have smoke alarms that are hardwired and have a battery backup. Older smoke alarms have 9 volt batteries that require replacement, but most newer models have a lithium ion battery that lasts for ten years or longer. If the smoke alarms in your building’s units appear more than ten years old and are yellow from age, they probably need to be swapped out for newer alarms.

Alarm Monitoring

The alarms in your building’s common area should be connected to a control panel that provides for continuous monitoring and can dispatch assistance as quickly as possible. For help with fire protection and safety Rockland County NY, it’s best to work with a company that can address all of your fire protection needs. This will be more efficient and likely more cost effective than working with separate companies for each element of your fire protection plan.

Sprinkler Protection

If a sprinkler has been painted over, then it’s not going to pass an inspection from your fire department. Every sprinkler in your building’s units and common areas need to be free from any paint or rust. If you’ve observed problems with your building’s sprinkler heads, you should get a professional evaluation.

Operational smoke alarms, alarm monitoring, and functioning sprinkler heads are all integral components of a fire protection plan. Work with a company who can advise you about everything that you need to do to safeguard your building against fire.