Is your home security system realizing its full potential to protect your family?
Often homeowners forget that a home security system can also monitor for environmental hazards within the home, like fire and carbon monoxide (CO). Although you may already have smoke and CO alarms, you should consider adding this important equipment to your monitored security system.
Why should you add monitored life safety detectors?
Automatically contact the fire department.
When it comes to fire and CO, time is critical to saving lives. Smoke and CO detectors connected to a professionally monitored security system automatically contact the appropriate fire department. This minimizes the time between detection and alerting the fire department which improves their ability to save lives and minimize property damage.
Continuously monitor the monitoring devices.
A smoke alert’s failure to operate during a fire dramatically increases the likelihood of death from a fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), problems with smoke alarm power sources (dead/discharged/missing batteries) were the leading cause of smoke alarm failures to operate during a structure fire. Between 2014-2018, this explained failures in 2/3 smoke alarms that did not alert occupants of a fire. Smoke detectors connected to a security system alert the system of the low battery before they become critically low and unable to operate. This also means you won’t be searching for the detector with a low battery beeping at 2 AM.
No additional professional monitoring cost.
If you buy the equipment outright and already pay for professional monitoring, there is typically no additional cost to monitor life safety detectors connected to your system. Any additional monthly costs are typically due to “free” equipment paid over your contract period.
Your smoke and CO sensors need periodic replacement anyway
The sensitivity of smoke and CO detectors degrades with time. For this reason, the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) recommends replacing smoke alerts every 10 years and CO detectors every 5-7 years, or as instructed by the manufacturer. Therefore, even if your home has smoke and CO alerts, they may need replacement.
What life safety equipment is available?
Smoke Detector
Provides early fire detection through the presence of smoke particulates in the air (photoelectric or ionization).
Where to install: Minimum 1 detector per level. All bedrooms, sleeping areas, and common rooms for safety while you are sleeping.
Device Lifetime: up to 10 years
Do NOT install in: kitchens, bathrooms, barns, garages, or other locations with smoke/dust where false alarms are likely.
Heat Detector
Heat detectors monitor the rate of temperature increase (Rate-Of-Rise) to detect fire. This provides a later indicator of most fires than a smoke detector but is less prone to false alarms in locations where smoke, dust, and other particulates could cause false alarms. Some smoke detectors also incorporate a Heat Detector, but not all models separately signal smoke and heat detection.
Where to install: kitchens, garages, barns.
Device Lifetime: up to 10 years.
CO Detector
Provide the early detection of Carbon Monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless, and poisonous gas, and warn occupants to get to fresh air as soon as possible. CO is a byproduct of combustion and may accumulate from venting problems with your home’s furnace, dryer, hot water heater, stove, or fireplace.
Where to install: Minimum 1 detector per level. All bedrooms, sleeping areas, and common rooms for safety while you are sleeping.
Device Lifetime: up to 7 years
So what are you waiting for?
Contact us to schedule an appointment to add life safety equipment to your monitored smart security system.