Monitoring
What is Monitoring?
The National Fire Protection Association suggests that any system with over 20 sprinkler heads be "monitored." What does that mean?
Basically, our Remote Central Station actively monitors the alarm control panel in your building. In the event of a trouble signal, our call center responds quickly and effectively to the specific issue, which can range from power loss to sprinkler activation to smoke detection. We are the intermediary between your property and the local fire department.
If you already have a fire monitoring system and are paying too much for monthly service, consider switching to ABP, where fire protection is all we do. Unlike other servicers who throw in other emergency services, our packages are only for fire-related issues. Lastly, we are one of the few companies that combines monitoring with annual testing of the alarm and supression systems. We licensed by the State of California to monitor all fire systems and our station is both UL listed and FM approved.
Don't have a monitoring system in your building? Continue reading on why you should install one immediately.
How Monitoring Can Save You Money
How a property owner approaches and mitigates potential liability and property hazards is extremely important to Insurance carriers. Carriers responses range from eliminating the property from the insurers underwriting appetite altogether (in the event of unsatisfactory mitigation) to reducing the premium paid by the owner when the property has sufficient protection measures. Considering that the vast majority of buildings in Los Angeles are of an age that is 25 years and older, the underwriting process heavily utilizes the Life Safety Code as an important criteria in evaluating risk.
The Life Safety Code is the most widely used source for strategies to protect people based on building construction, protection, and occupancy features that minimize the effects of fire and related hazards including smoke, heat, and toxic gases created during a fire. The Code also addresses protective features and systems, building services, operating features, maintenance activities, and other provisions in recognition of the fact that achieving an acceptable degree of life safety depends on additional safeguards to provide adequate egress time or protection for people exposed to fire.
Accordingly, a Centrally Monitored fire suppression system will remove any delay and immediately notify a dispatcher when the system is activated and or senses heat, in turn emergency services are alerted and when every second counts, first responders will be on the scene preventing loss of life and reducing property damage. Understanding that such protocols reduces their overall liability, carriers respond very positively to these systems. Property owners can expect a broader range of carriers competition for their business, and consequently lower premiums both for their fire and general liability policies.