The fact that religious institutions aren't fireproof shouldn't
come as a revelation. In all likelihood your house of worship may
need more protection from fire than your own home. If a fire begins
at night there might be no one to sound the alarm. By the time the
fire is visible outside the building it may be too late.
Even when fires are spotted, people may assume that someone else
has already called the fire department. Precious minutes could be
lost, and firefighters might not arrive in time to save your building.
A Central Station Alarm (CSA) can provide the enhanced protection
your house of worship needs.
Advantages of installing a Central Station Alarm include:
-
Faster Response
Time - CSA systems can detect and report fires before they
become visible, allowing early intervention that reduces
the chance of human injury and property loss.
-
Reliability - CSAs
don't depend on people in or near your house of worship
to call in a fire. Instead, they use sensors that automatically
detect and report fires to the fire department.
-
Round-the-Clock
Coverage - These systems remain activated 24 hours-a-day, 7
days-a-week.
-
Economy -
CSA systems are available that provide protection against
both
fire and burglary, enabling the religious institution
to achieve a high level of security at a reasonable
price.
-
Member Retention -
If your facility is destroyed by fire, your congregation
may worship at another facility while your building
is being rebuilt. There's no telling how many members
you could lose. A CSA can help protect your religious
institution and its membership.
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Of course, having good insurance is also important. However,
in the event of a catastrophic fire, even the best insurance
can't replace your congregation's emotional attachment to their
existing house of worship.
Think of it this way. Insurance provides financial protection
should the unthinkable happen. A Centralized Fire Alarm System
helps ensure that it never does.
Choosing
Your On-Site System
In
general, modern fire detection systems are designed to detect
heat, smoke, or both. Don't choose a system that only detects
heat. They are not sensitive enough for houses of worship where
human safety is a prime concern.
Some fire detection systems can also shut down ventilation equipment
and activate sprinklers. Whichever type of system you choose,
all of the components should be listed by a nationally recognized
testing laboratory such as Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. (UL,
Inc.) or Factory Mutual (FM) to assure reliability.
Also, alarm systems should be inspected and maintained according
to manufacturers recommendations and in compliance with the standards
of the National
Fire Protection Association.
For more information, contact a fire alarm installation
company in your area, or call your local Utica National independent
agent
for a referral. If you would like a brochure on CSAs or
have questions about your insurance needs, please contact your
local
Utica National representative.
The information
and suggestions displayed here have been developed from sources
believed to be reliable. The Utica National companies accept
no legal responsibility for the correctness or completeness
of the material or its application to specific factual situations.
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