This goes without saying, yet many companies delay upgrading their fire alarm systems. In the event of a fire, this can cost them thousands or millions of dollars as well as lost lives and resulting lawsuits. Fire alarm installation that includes some of the industry’s newest tech can alert managers and security personnel not just that there is a fire, but where it is. Here are some reasons it may be time for you to upgrade.

1.  Respect for Human Life

When customers and employees show up at your place of business, they are trusting you with their safety and their lives. This is a big responsibility that can lead to premises liability suits if you fail to rise to the challenge. If the system is outdated and there is documented evidence that consumers or workers raised concerns about this and you failed to act, the court may find you to be grossly negligent, which could lead to the awarding of much higher punitive damages.

1.  Protect Property

Fire damage is one of the most difficult to recover from and will include water damage from sprinklers going off. Not only will the physical building sustain damage, but computer systems and important files may also be lost. If the companies on site did not back up this information, the loss may be permanent. This can disrupt business for months to come.

1.  Lower Insurance Rates

Some insurance companies may provide discounts or lower monthly premiums after a new fire alarm installation that meets certain requirements. If your current insurance company does not provide a discount, consider shopping around until you find one that does. If possible, do this before upgrading. Ask what specific fire system alarm systems the insurance companies provide discounts for and choose that when upgrading.

Without a proper fire alarm installation, there may be a delay in alerting firefighters of the emergency. Fire can consume entire rooms in seconds, especially if there is an explosion, so every second counts. Reduce the possibility of property damage and risk to human lives by investing in a good fire alarm system.

Safety is crucial when it comes to multifamily buildings. These complexes have multiple individual housing units that accommodate different families. These buildings have many tenants and tend to see many guests. With so much traffic, it can be hard to keep track of who is who. How do you know who is a genuine visitor and who has bad intentions? Building surveillance can make all the difference. In fact, the security it offers can help you hang onto your tenants for longer.

It Acts as a Deterrent

No matter what kind of building you own, a camera may deter crimes. When people know that they are being watched, they tend to act accordingly. Criminals don’t want you to catch them. Hence, they are less likely to strike where there is a camera nearby.

It Attracts New Tenants

Tenants want to feel safe. Crimes can occur even in the safest neighborhoods. Your tenants deserve peace of mind. When you have a surveillance system, it serves as a safeguard for your residents. Many will choose a place based on security and safety.

It Assists in Crime Solving

If your neighborhood does fall victim to a crime, if you had a building surveillance system, it might make the difference in a case. If you have cameras throughout the building, police can use the footage later to piece together who the culprit for a crime was. In addition, many of these systems have remote surveillance, this means you can keep track and watch for crime from anywhere.

If you own a multifamily building, then you need to consider a strict security system for your place. This will not only deter criminals but also attract new tenants and help solve a crime if it does happen on your property. Building surveillance can make all the difference when it comes to creating a safe place to house multiple families.

Many business owners recognize the importance of keeping their commercial space protected from theft or unwelcome intrusion. Whether your property houses valuable assets, stores confidential information or you simply want to keep your employees safe, investing in a commercial security system is one of the best things you can do for your organization.

Controlled Access

With a controlled access system, anyone coming inside must have permission to access the premises. This can work by giving employees key cards to electronically scan or swipe at doors. If you do not want to administer key cards, another option is to use a password to unlock doors.

Alarm Systems

Alarm systems are ideal for stores or offices that keep strictly set business hours or operate in areas where safety is a serious concern. The alarm will immediately activate if anyone attempts to gain unauthorized access to the building. Alarm systems may be used in conjunction with other forms of commercial security and might even lower your insurance rates.

Closed-Circuit Camera System

Not only are closed-circuit cameras useful in the event of a theft or breach of security, but they also may act as a crime deterrent. Cameras may discourage unlawful or unruly behavior on the premises and help business owners keep track of shoppers, employees or others within the building.

Gated Entry

If your company is one among many within an office park or if you own an extensive area of private property, gated entry is an effective security option. Any vehicles entering the area must first pass through the gate, prohibiting any unwanted visitors from entering the premises.

Card Readers

Card readers work well within a high-security building that contains classified information. They are useful if only particular employees have clearance to access certain areas.

A professional electrical company can easily help your business get set up with a new commercial security system, so do not hesitate to contact a reputable electrician in your area. No matter what type of business you own, you and your employees deserve safety and peace of mind.

When you need electrical work done on your commercial property, it’s important you trust the job to the professionals. Not sure who to call? There are many important things you can look for in a commercial electrician. The following are five to get you started.

1. Competitive Prices – A good electrician will have competitive prices. In the end, you may not go with the professional who had the lowest price, but with the individual who offered the best price for the quality products and services they provide. This doesn’t mean you have to go with the electrician who has the highest prices either. A high price doesn’t always mean high quality. Check the quality compared to the price for each bid you receive and hire the company with the best of both worlds.
2. Licenses and Qualifications – Electricians have to abide by certain rules and obtain certain licenses and qualifications before they can begin to work on commercial jobs. Check into the required qualifications before you go looking and make sure your electrician is approved for your kind of work.
3. Reliability – Reliability goes beyond the job itself and plays out in every aspect of your interaction with a commercial electrician. For example, you want to find a company that offers reliable billing practices. You want a company that you can rely on to be at the job site on time. You want a company with professionals who will answer your phone calls, give you the information you need and stay in touch for the duration of the job.
4. Experience – While there are some electricians who have an innate ability in the industry, it’s nice to find a professional with some experience under their belt. Of course longevity is an important quality, but after reading some reviews of their work, you should be able to tell if their short amount of experience is sufficient.

While this isn’t an all-inclusive list, it’s a start and should give you a good idea of what to look for in the next commercial electrician you hire.

When it comes to getting electrical work done, you may not know who to hire. There are many professionals out there who might proclaim to have the skills and qualifications necessary to get the job done, but do they really? This is when you need to consider hiring a commercial electrical contractor. A contractor is different than the typical commercial electrician. Although a contractor will often have electricians on staff and could have previously held that job title as well, a contractor has some additional benefits. They include:

• Education – Commercial electrical contractors spend years in technical colleges and other schooling to perfect their skills and learn how to run a business. When their formal education is finished, they have to become licensed to prove their education actually paid off.
• A Formal Company – A professional or group of professionals who are actual contractors will have a formal company, rather than just being your neighbor’s uncle’s friend who does electricity as a side job. You’ll generally receive better customer service because of this and can expect they are more committed to providing quality services.
• Many Services – Because of the formal training a commercial electrical contractor is required to attend, they will have learned many electrical skills, rather than just one or two. This allows you access to a professional who can construct, install and maintain an entire electricity system for your property.

As you can see, there’s a lot that makes an electrical contractor beneficial over a typical electrician, but keep in mind a job title doesn’t make a professional. Take time to compare company against company and professional against professional so you have the most qualified contractor handling your commercial job.

Without taking the necessary steps beforehand, you could find yourself backtracking unnecessarily, which could cost you more time, money and stress. Who has time for that? Not you! Check out some qualified commercial electrician contractors today and start comparing.

When you mention you need work done on your commercial property, you might have friends, associates and family members who immediately offer their opinion about which professional you should do business with. While it’s nice to have recommendations, you don’t want to hire a commercial electrician simply because someone you know said they do a good job. A good commercial electrical contractor has the skills, education, licenses and experience necessary to handle a wide variety of commercial electrical issues. The following are some ways it could really pay off to hire a contractor.

1. A Wide Variety of Skills – As was previously mentioned, actual contractors have the skills required to handle a variety of commercial situations. They have often done electrical work for different types of businesses and will know how to efficiently get your data center computers, break room refrigerators, outdoor lights and other electrical components running correctly. Wiring and power supply is different for each purpose and you want a licensed contractor who can distinguish between the right and wrong skills for each particular job.
2. Fast and Efficient Work – Hiring a commercial electrical contractor gives you the time you need to take care of business without having to worry about the electrical work. A real professional will understand there’s a lot you can’t do while the power is shut down and will minimize downtime so your business can continue to be productive and successful.
3. High Quality Results – When you take the time to compare contractors and hire one you know will do the best job, you can count on quality results. A professional won’t rush the job, but they won’t take too long either. They will use the right parts, implement proper safety practices and use tried and true techniques. With all these factors put together, your results will be high quality.

Clearly, it’s important to hire a commercial electrician contractor with the proper electrical, time-management and production skills. Find your perfect contractor today and experience the payoff tomorrow!

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