When it comes to fire, you should ensure that your business is always protected against it. That means hiring a fire protection company that will put up a system to prevent fire damage. A fire protection system includes sprinklers, smoke detectors, and others that all work together to put out and stop fires. Sounds complicated, right? Which particular system is the one that you should you get for your business? To make it a bit simpler, usually a Fire Protection Company (or a sprinkler company) handles to piping portion of a Fire Alarm System while a Fire Alarm Company handles the wiring portion to the Fire Alarm.
If you’re feeling a bit confused, that only means you should work with a company that understands your needs. After all, selecting the right company means your business is kept safe from the dangers of fire. And when it comes to hiring a company, here are some criteria to look for.
The company must have well-trained and certified employees.
When hiring anyone for a specialized task, you wouldn’t want to just get anybody, right? In the same way, the fire protection company you’re looking to get should have well-trained employees. They should also be certified when it comes to managing fire protection systems. Look for a certification from the NICET (National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technology). A lot of different places in the country require this certification for technicians working on commercial areas. The NICET is also a basis for an indicator of knowledge and experience. The company’s technicians should also be constantly learning new techniques as required by the fire code.
The company must offer a lot of different services, making it a one-stop shop.
Why a one-stop shop? Because remember, there are different kinds of fire protection systems. Imagine this scenario. You get one company to install a system to one of your businesses. Since they did a great job, you’ll get them for another of your properties, right? But then what if you find out they only offer on kind of fire protection system? You’ll have to get another supplier. And that will be very inconvenient, because you’ll end up talking to more than one company. It’s going to be a hassle to manage the time to talk to different people.
Another inconvenience of having to get different companies is that discontinuities may occur. For example, your system was installed by one company, but you get another company to test and maintain it. You can be sure that some errors will be missed, and the end result might by system failure.
The company ideally serves a wide range of industries.
Each industry has different needs when it comes to fire protection. Restaurants will have different requirements from a high rise building. Therefore, an ideal fire protection company is one that knows the requirements of each industry. That would mean that they will have everything you will look for in a fire protection company. It also means that they will be able to recommend to you a system that will suit your needs best.
The company must have plenty of years of experience under their belt.
As a business owner, you stand to lose a lot if you have inadequate fire protection. Therefore, it’s hard to hire just anyone to put up a fire protection system. Look, there’s nothing wrong with getting a startup fire protection company. They may have cheaper rates but can still provide you good protection. Of course, the problem with a startup is they don’t have enough experience yet. What if something really bad happens and they won’t be able to give you solution? Would you really want to risk that happening to your business?
It’s better to get a company that has had plenty of clients and is knowledgeable with national standards. Make sure to check out a fire company’s website and social media pages. If their start date is a long time ago, that’s a good sign! And if the company has glowing reviews, that’s an even better one.
The company must be the ones doing their advertised services directly.
There are some companies that claim they have the expertise to be the fire protection company to choose. They’ll come up with a lot of good marketing and advertising, saying they are capable of so many things. They have the personnel for engineering, installation, inspections, and more! But it’s best to do further research before contracting that company. Some fire protection companies might actually be outsourcing their jobs to other contractors.
There’s nothing wrong with subcontracting work, but it can get complicated for you as a client. For example, the fire company might be charging you higher so that both they and the subcontracted person earn money. Another is that the subcontracted person might not be the best in terms of quality. You might be spending money on subpar services that will cost you a lot more in the long term.
The company offers scheduled maintenance for your fire protection systems.
You have to admit that as a business owner, you rarely think about your fire protection system, right? As soon as it’s installed, you just go on with your life. But like with anything, systems need maintenance and monitoring. What if it suddenly doesn’t work when a fire breaks out, right? Of course, it’s a hassle to be the one to schedule maintenance with the company. You may know that the system should be inspected regularly, but you also have other things on your mind. So it’s better if you get a company that offers scheduled maintenance. That way, all you need to do is note down the date and time the worker will show up. It will be convenient and hassle-free for you.
The company can be easily reached 24/7.
There’s nothing worse than a system going wrong and your supplier not being reachable. You don’t have time to waste shutting down your business while your system gets repaired. It’s best to get a company that has a reputation for being reached no matter what time of the day. If you find one that offers a technician visit around the clock, so much the better. Repairs can be done immediately and you’ll save time and money.
The company is a member of various industry associations.
When choosing a company, it would be best to pick one who is a member of industry associations such as:
- National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (NAFED)
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- Fire Suppression Systems Association (FSSA)
These associations help keep their member organizations updated on methods, equipment, and code compliance. Choose a member of one of these, and you can rest assured you’re getting one with updated equipment and services.
Hire Fire Alarm Testing Inc. for Bay Area fire protection!
In the Bay Area and in the market for a protection system? If you’re looking for a trusted fire protection company that meets all the criteria, look no further than Fire Alarm Testing Inc. We install, inspect, maintain, and upgrade fire protection systems for a variety of industries, including yours. We not only preserve lives through our expert services, we protect businesses. We also do our best to give you a hassle-free, professional fire protection service. Contact us via our form on the website or give us a call at +1 (831) 247-9642. Let us help you protect your businesses and properties from fires.
