Important Fireplace Safety Tips for Homeowners

Homeowners love fireplaces.  According to the U.S. Fire Administration more than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heating sources for their homes.

While the crackling of a warm fire can be great, there are certain risks involved with heating wood and other solid fuels in your home.

Every year …

• There are more than 25,000 chimney fires, responsible for 30 deaths and $126.1 million in property damage (Consumer Product & Safety Commission).

• Heating fires account for 36 percent of residential home fires in rural areas (U.S. Fire Administration).

• There are more than 150 carbon monoxide poisoning deaths related to heating systems and fireplaces (Chimney Safety Institute of America).

If your home has a fireplace, you need to take proper precautions to protect your home as well as your family.

Follow these important fireplace safety tips:

• Use Seasoned Hardwood – Never burn cardboard, paper or flammable liquids in your fireplace.

• Get a Chimney Inspection – Every year have a certified chimney specialist inspect your fireplace and chimney.

• Keep Front Area of Fireplace Clean – Make sure all flammable items are removed from the hearth of the fireplace.

• Keep Glass Doors Open – You’ll want to keep the glass doors open when a fire is burning.  Use your mesh screen to keep embers from jumping out of the fireplace.

• Close Glass Doors When Not in Use – This helps to keep air from the chimney opening from getting into the room.

• Keep Roof Clean – Keep your roof clear of twigs, leafs and bird nests.

• Store Firewood Away from Home – Try to keep stored firewood at least 30 feet away from your home.

• Check Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Change the batteries and test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at least twice a year.

Most importantly, never leave a fire unattended!  If a fire gets out of control, immediately contact the fire department.  Don’t try to extinguish an out-of-control fire.  Get your family out of the house and call 911.

At Hue & Cry Security Systems, we have worked side by side with fire departments and other emergency responders for more than 25 years.

When it comes to protecting your home, we have the experience in home security systems and fire alarms that homeowners and businesses in Northern California and Oregon count on.

To learn how to protect your home and family, give us a call today at 1-800-762-3196.

10 Ways to Prevent a Fire at Your Business

Business and office fires are more common than you may think.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, there were more than 98,000 fires in non-residential buildings last year.  Many of these were offices and small businesses.

The fires caused more than $2.6 billion in properly damage.

As an example, more than 80 firefighters battled a fire at a Citrus Heights, California Strip Mall in November 2011.  The fire wiped out several stores in the strip malls, causing thousands of dollars in damage.  You can see a video of the blaze below.

If you want to prevent a fire at your business, you should follow these 10 tips.

1. Avoid Overloading Outlets – Make sure you don’t overload your electrical outlets with multi-socket plugs and lots of office equipment.  Also avoid using extensions cords.
2. Keep Space Heaters at Home – Make it a policy to keep space heaters at home.  Space heaters are a potential fire hazard, especially when left unattended.
3. No Candles – This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many people bring candles into private, one-person offices and businesses.  Make sure no one has any candles.
4. Watch Paper Products – Keep your paper products and shredded paper stored away from heat sources.  If possible, store paper products near a sprinkler head in your office. 
5. Avoid Running Cables Under Carpets – Don’t run any cables under carpets in main walkways of your office.  The cables could fray and spark a fire.
6. Unplug Electrical Items in Kitchen – At the end of the day unplug electrical items such as coffee makers and toasters in your office kitchen.
7. Have a Strict No Smoking Policy – There are still people who will sneak a cigarette in the office bathroom or storage closet.  Have a strict policy that punishes people who get caught smoking.
8. Service Computers and Other Equipment – Have professionals service your computers and other equipment to ensure it’s properly working and safe to use.
9. Have Fire Extinguishers – Make sure your fire extinguishers are all properly working.  You may even want to have a few extra just in case.
10. Smoke Detectors – Every office should have several functioning smoke detectors in it.  Be sure to replace the batteries once every sixth months.

Finally, be sure to have your fire alarm system regularly checked by a professional.

At Hue & Cry Security Systems, we can help you with your fire and security needs.  We have long standing relationships with fire and law enforcement officials in Northern California and Oregon.

To learn more how we can help you, call us today at 1-800-762-3196 or visit the Hue & Cry Contact Page.

How To Prevent A Fire In Your Construction Trailer

The construction trailer is your central command center on a job site.  It contains valuable assets and resources to get the job done.

Too often, construction trailers catch on fire due to neglect or improper fire protection.  Just take a look at the video below.

A construction trailer fire can significantly delay progress on the job.  If you want to protect your construction trailer, you need to follow the tips below.

Have A Fire Extinguisher

It’s important to keep a fire extinguisher in your construction trailer.  Make sure that your fire extinguisher is working properly.  You’ll want to check:

• The pressure level
• The pin and tamper seal
• For corrosion and leaking

Try to have your fire extinguishers tested at least one a month.  This will help to ensure that it works properly.

Also be sure to place your extinguisher in an easily accessible area.  You don’t want to make it difficult to get to it.  You’ll also want to make sure that you purchase the right fire extinguisher class.

Unplug Appliances

If you have coffee makers, microwaves, hotplates, etc. make sure that they are turned off or unplugged at the end of the day.  This will help to prevent a fire. 

No Smoking

Keep smoking outside of the trailer.  It’s not worth the risk.  A fire caused by a cigarette can do serious damage to your trailer and significantly delay progress on a job.

Smoke Detectors

Just like you have a smoke detector in your home, you also need one in your construction trailer.  Be sure to test the battery at least twice a year.

Secure Your Construction Trailer After Hours

Make sure all the windows and doors on your trailer are locked.  This will protect it against vandalism as well as fires.

Sometimes people break into trailers and start fires.

In Las Vegas, homeless people were camping out in a construction trailer.  This ultimately resulted in a construction trailer fire that caused more than $5,000 in damages.

In another case, a person walked into a construction trailer at a university and started a fire.

Don’t make it easy for people to get into your trailer.  Secure your construction site as well as your trailer.

Keep It Clean

If you want to protect your trailer, you need to keep it clean and organized.  Do not store flammable fuels or materials inside your construction trailer.

In Columbia, Missouri, oily rags caused a construction trailer blaze.  This fire could have easily been avoided if the oil rags were cleaned or hung outdoors.  Instead, the fire caused more than $3,500 in heat damages.

At the end of the day, do a check to make sure nothing that can easily start a fire is in your construction trailer.

Ideally, you should test the smoke detectors in your trailer before you start a new job.

Immediately Call For Help

If a fire breaks out in your trailer, immediately call 911.  If you call the fire department early enough, it’s possible your trailer won’t be totally destroyed.

In Virginia Beach, Virginia, fire crews quickly extinguished a trailer fire in 15 minutes because they were immediately alerted.  Fire fighters were on the scene in less than 5 minutes.

Don’t try to be a hero, call 911.  A few minutes can make all the difference.

Summary

Following these tips will help you protect your construction trailer from fires.

At Hue & Cry Security Systems, we know our way around a construction site.  For years, we’ve been helping contractors with their fire and security needs.

Contractors trust us for our quality work that is done on time and on budget.  To learn how we can help you, visit our Contractors Program Page on our website.

For more contractor tips, read the Hue & Cry Security Systems Blog and follow us on Facebook.

How New Communication Technologies Impact Your Security System Service

For many years, the standard telephone line was the only way for security systems to communicate with the central security monitoring station.

If you had a fire or a burglary, the alarm would alert the central monitoring station through the telephone lines.  Someone at the monitoring station then contacted the police or fire department.

Today, security companies still use telephone lines as a primary communication source.  However, new communication technologies are beginning to emerge.

Because of new technologies such as cellular and internet communication, companies like AT&T are beginning to slowly phase out landline services.  Even the government has announced plans for the country to eventually switch to an all-broadband network.

Obviously, this is going to impact home and business security systems.

So the big question is:  What does this all mean for your home and business security systems?

It means a lot.  But in short, it means you’re going to get better service and protection with these new cellular and broadband technologies.

Home and business security companies are already starting to include new technologies that help security systems better communicate with the central monitoring station.  These new technologies will allow you to keep your home and business more secure.

To help you understand the changes on the horizon, we will provide an overview of the new methods as well as the tried-and-true ways security systems communicate with the central monitoring station.

Phone Lines

As noted earlier, telephone lines have been the standard way for security alarms to communicate with the central monitoring station.

With standard telephone lines, there is one major problem.

If the telephone service is disconnected because of weather or because someone cut the phone line, the security system cannot communicate with the central monitoring station.

Similar problems also occur with telephone service via broadband internet.  Power outages can disrupt internet service, causing communication failure between the security alarm and the central monitoring station.

Some new technologies can help protect against this and enhance your security protection.  The two most popular are cellular and radio.

Cellular

Cellular technologies can work as a backup system for regular and cable phone lines.

Cellular technologies in security systems work a lot like standard cell phones.  Should a security system lose connection because of a cut telephone line or a power outage, a backup cellular signal can be sent to the central monitoring station.

With cellular signals, information can be sent one of two ways: directly or indirectly.

In the indirect form, your security system transmits a cellular signal to a third party – often a cellular phone provider – which then sends the signal to the central monitoring station.

In the direct form, known as GSM Primary, a cellular signal is directly sent from the security system to the central monitoring station.

Both of these technologies help to protect against downed phone lines.  However, each has its limits.  Cellular frequencies can sometimes take time to transmit, which can delay communication between the security alarm and the central monitoring station.

Radio Frequency

Radio frequency is becoming another popular option for security alarm communication with the central monitoring station.

Like the cellular communication, radio frequency is used as a backup when standard telephone service is down.  Unlike cellular communication, radio frequency is very fast.

No communication is needed with cellular networks.  This means messages between the security alarm and the central monitoring station are sent without delay.

What This All Means For You

Technology is improving home and business security.  Gone are the days of disrupted security service because of downed telephone lines.

As security system technology continues to change, Hue & Cry Security Systems will continue to stay ahead of the competition.   We will continue to provide you with top of the line security solutions that you can trust.

We already have incorporated these new technologies into our industry leading security systems.  This means faster response times for fires, burglaries and other security issues.

For more information about any of our security solutions, please visit the Hue & Cry Security Systems website.  You also reach us by visiting the Hue & Cry contact page.

Four Great Fire Safety Tips for Your Business

Fire can be devastating to any business, so it is best to make sure that you are protected the right way.

Having a fire alarm system installed can help stop destruction and prevent the loss of life.  Here are four excellent tips to help ensure fire safety in your business.

1). Fire Suppression System

In most businesses, and especially restaurants, you should have a fire suppression system installed.  They are strategically placed around the office building or kitchen and are triggered when the temperature changes to certain degrees.

Fire suppression systems can also be manually turned on to release chemicals that extinguish fires.  Restaurants and offices should have the fire suppression systems installed professionally and tested regularly.

2). Fire Evacuation Plan

Every business needs to have a fire evacuation plan.  Make sure that all the employees are aware of the evacuation route to take because the perfect plan is useless if only one person knows it.  Some other key points to be covered in the fire evacuation plan are:

• Include the correct exits to use and the number of steps to get to them in case of reduced visibility.
• Every business needs at least two exits in case one is blocked.

Post the fire escape plan where everyone can see it and perform fire drills until your staff can do it with their eyes closed.

3). Company Policies

Along with the right fire evacuation plan and fire alarm system, fire prevention depends on the proper mindset.  Follow these tips for proper business fire safety:

• Give breathing room to computers to reduce the build-up of heat.
• Never bend or crush cords under furniture.
• Unplug appliances when not in use.
• Smokers should always smoke in designated areas.
• Report any fire hazards to maintenance immediately

4). Comply with all Fire Safety Codes

Learn what the fire safety codes are for your city and state.  The Life Safety Code 101 has specific provisions on exits, fire extinguishers, and more. For example the Life Safety Code says:

• At least two exits must be provided in all buildings.
• Exits must be clearly marked and labeled.
• Exits cannot be obstructed.

Using these Tips

Business security systems can deter thieves from breaking in and taking your valuables.  Having the correct fire alarm solution is great for preventing a fire in your business.  Following these four tips can help to ensure your business doesn’t have to experience any unneeded losses due to fire.

How To Avoid Holiday Fires

The holiday season is upon us and with it comes Christmas trees, menorahs and presents. But before you get too wrapped up in the holiday season, take a minute to think about holiday fire safety.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, fires during the holidays claim the lives of more than 400 people and cause more than $900 million in damage. Common causes of holiday fires include:

• Christmas trees
• Holiday lights
• Candles
• Fireplaces

To help keep your family safe during the holiday season, we recommend the following fire safety tips.

Christmas Trees

• If you purchase an artificial Christmas tree, look for a fire resistant tree.
• If you purchase a real Christmas tree, be sure it is fresh and not dried out.
• Keep your Christmas tree away from fireplaces and radiators.
• Do not place lights with frayed wires on the Christmas tree.

Lights/Fireplace

• Never leave lights on when you leave your home or go to bed.
• Do not place electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become electrically charged and you can get shocked.
• Do not use nails or tacks to hang outdoor lighting. Use insulated staples.
• Use only three sets of lights for each extension chord.
• Avoid using candles. If you decide to use candles, do not leave them unattended.
• Never leave a fireplace unattended and do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace.

Most importantly, make sure your smoke detectors are properly working during the holiday season.

Also, always be sure your home security system is properly working to help alert authorities. If you’re a small business owner also be sure to make sure your fire alarm system is properly working. You can apply these tips to your business as well.

Following these tips will help keep your family and home safe during the holidays.

Fire Alarm Systems Provide Early Warning To Employees And Fire Departments

We have talked a lot about business security solutions and the benefits of a home security system. However, it is important not to forget about fire alarm systems for your business.

The threat of fire for any business is real. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, direct property loss because of fires was estimated at $12.5 billion in 2009. A fire can be devastating to any business.

In August, a fire ripped through a string of buildings in Fullerton, Calif. According to the Orange Country Register, six businesses were destroyed with at least $2.2 million in damages. A clothing store, a restaurant and a hair salon were among the businesses lost in the fire.

To help prevent the catastrophic loss of valuable assets, lost revenue and most importantly life, a professionally installed fire alarm system can help provide early warning.

Benefits of professionally installed fire alarms include:

• Sprinkler system supervision
• Periodic inspections, testing and maintenance
• 24-hour monitoring
• Support initiating devices

If fire fighters arrive early enough, priceless business assets can be saved. When considering a fire alarm system be sure to consult with a professional to see what is best for your business.

Another benefit of having a fire alarm system professionally installed is the professional relationship some alarm companies have with local fire authorities.

When looking for a fire alarm company, you want to work with one that has a good-standing relationship with local fire authorities. This can help to prevent any code issues that can arise.

Why Most Fire Alarm Companies Stink…And What You Can Do To Get a Quality Fire Alarm Installation

A Contractors Guide to Hiring the Right Fire Alarm Company for Your Next Big Job

Let’s be honest…most fire alarm companies STINK.

Not only are they slow and unreliable; many of them are downright awful!

You’d be hard pressed to find a single contractor that doesn’t have a list bigger than a book filled with gripes and complaints about the problems they’ve had with FACs (Fire Alarm Companies).

Complaints like:

• “They can’t seem to get a single job done on time unless you ride their butt the whole way!”

• “Most fire jobs are a huge hassle with tons of punch list items.”

• “All FACs seem to do is run up costs and delay completion times. It’s like they have no clue what they’re doing!”

But you already know the problems with FACs and I’m willing to bet that you can add a lot more to that list.

Unfortunately, despite how bad most FACs are, you have little choice but to work with them. There’s no building a code compliant job without them, and that means that you need an FAC so that you can make money.

So what can you do about it?

How Successful Contractors Turn Terrible FACs into Amazing Partners

As a first or second tier contractor, it’s your neck on the line if one of your sub-contractors messes up.

Your reputation and your livelihood depend on completing each job on time, on budget, and with full code compliance.

When your FAC screws up, they’re taking money off of your family’s table!

And since screw ups seem to happen so often, there’s a good chance that you’re already feeling the pinch.

Fortunately, a select few VERY successful contractors have figured out some secrets that nobody else knows.

These secrets allow them to work with a nearly mythical group of FACs that finish code compliant jobs ahead of schedule and under budget. Even better, these companies don’t charge any more than their incompetent competitors.

As you keep reading, you’re going to discover their closely guarded secrets. You’ll learn what you can do to get a quality fire alarm installation and finally understand:

• Why FACs fail so often; no matter how many different contractors you try.

• How a few common mistakes with job purchasing can lead to very costly FAC screw-ups.

• Where to find those very rare FACs that actually deliver on-time, quality work.

• How to establish a strong relationship with your FAC that causes them to work harder and complete the project how you want it done.

• The quickest ways to destroy your chances of success when hiring and working with a FAC (and how to avoid them).

With so much money at stake when things go wrong, you need to read the rest of this report today. I promise that you won’t regret it.

Why Most Fire Alarm Companies Are Hurting Your Bottom Line

Most FACs aren’t filled with unskilled slackers. In fact, a lot of them are packed with very hard working and highly talented people.

Unfortunately, many just don’t have the right knowledge or mindset to accomplish your objectives effectively. By understanding this, you’re well on your way to figuring out how to correct the problem.

Here are some important things you should know about FACs:

• They Aren’t Contractors – These guys know fire alarms better than anyone but they’re not contractors. They don’t understand construction schedules, best practices, and protocols. They’ve never learned proper project management practices, job site safety, etiquette, or the other issues that come as second nature to contractors.

• They Lack Project Management Experience – Most FACs are used to smaller, simpler jobs. These small jobs don’t require the complicated project management details necessary for larger construction projects. Most FACs just don’t have the experience or knowledge to manage projects and handle schedules on new construction or renovation projects.

• National Company Personnel Turnover – National fire alarm companies go through so much downsizing, transferring, and employees working on multiple assignments at once that you’re lucky to see the same person in charge for more than six months! This can be a major problem on longer jobs that need one person in charge who is responsible for the project’s success.

• Business Model Doesn’t Support Construction – It’s common practice for most FACs to place all of their labor on a project and leave it there till the job is done. That’s great for short term jobs, but is very costly and simply not practical for major construction or renovation projects.

Contractors Are Part of the Problem

It would be nice to think that FACs hold all of the blame for any issues they’re involved with in a job.

Nobody likes to be blamed and it’s more comfortable to believe that we’re in the right than the other guy. However, successful contractors, the real stars, know differently.

They understand that there is always room for improvement and they are willing to critically evaluate their own practices to get ahead.

In particular, revaluating your buying practices can go a long way towards selecting the right FAC for your jobs. Here are some of the most common mistakes that contractors make during the buying process:

• Buying Jobs Based Upon Low Upfront Costs – Many contractors mistakenly believe a low upfront cost will save them money. Instead, you should consider projected ending costs, labor delay claims, penalties, and other costs that may drive up what you pay significantly.

• Focusing Exclusively On Project Design and Equipment – Too many contractors are so focused on the design and equipment elements of a job that they completely forget other important parts of a bid. Make sure to pay attention to their fire alarm installation execution history and work schedules as part of your overall evaluation.

• Misunderstanding the FAC’s Bid – By not paying close attention to each company’s bid for work, you’ll run into surprises down the line that can be costly. Pay special attention to the project management and installation costs as these are common areas of scope of work misunderstandings.

• Failure To Communicate Regularly – Communication is essential throughout the project, yet too many contractors take a “set it and forget it” mentality. Instead, you should maintain strong communication with your FAC from pre-bid all the way until the building is finished. Since changes happen to the project design far after initial bids are submitted, FACs must be kept in the loop in order for them to finish the job on time and without mistakes.

• Not Negotiating Aggressive Penalties – Establishing severe penalties for poor or late work sets a strong motivation for your FAC to do quality work in a timely fashion. Make sure to make penalties that start shortly after the bid has been accepted, not just for job completion.

How to Select a Top Performing FAC for Your Job

Now that we’ve uncovered the problems that lead to most fire alarm installation screw-ups, it’s time to learn how top contractors do things differently. It all starts with selecting the best FAC.

Choosing the right FAC is absolutely essential to completing your job on time and up to code. Just because MOST fire alarm companies stink, doesn’t mean all of them do.

While selecting a good one can be hard, it’s not impossible. Here’s how to do it right:

• Buy Local If Possible – With local fire alarm companies you’ll generally get more consistency with personal, the ability to talk directly with the owner, and less downsizing and leadership changes. Decisions happen quicker…there’s no corporate red tape to cut through…and you get the same bonding and performance as you do with the corporate giants.

• Use an Open Source System – Make sure that more than one company can work on the system being installed and supply parts to it. If you don’t have alarms that any qualified alarm technician can work on, you’re stuck with a company that can raise rates and cause problems without you being able to fire them. That is, unless you want to rip out their system and install a whole new one.
  

• Get All Aspects Of the Project In the Bid – Require that project management, execution, and documentation details all be included as separate line items on the bid. This way you know that the company you are considering has adequately covered these areas and has carefully considered them for your project.

• Lay Your Own Pipe and Pull Your Own Cable – Most FACs sub out this work, so by doing it yourself, you’re saving money and not having to rely on the work of an unreliable third party.

• Always Thoroughly Check References – Before you award a contract to an FAC, take the time to speak with references about the quality of work. Make sure that the people you talk to were part of projects with a similar size and scope as your own.

• Select a Winning Bid Based On Ending Price – Consider the quoted price but also include known design issues, anticipated change orders, probability of completing on time, and anything else that may change the final price. Often times the most valuable bid isn’t the lowest priced one going in. Your finished job costs are what counts.

• Discuss Possible Issues – There is always a possibility that something could go wrong on a job. By talking about potential issues upfront, you’re prepared and ready to act in case problems arise.

Common Mistakes When Dealing With FACs

We’ve nearly made it to selecting a great FAC for your next job. But you’re not out of the woods yet.

Even by following the rules above, there are still some common mistakes that can leave you with yet another terrible FAC. Avoid these common pitfalls and you’ll be ready to pick a winner:

• Ignoring Your FAC – With many projects going several months between a bid being accepted and the FAC actually starting to work, it’s important that you regularly update them on any changes that are being made to the site. You need their part done as quickly as possible. If they have to change the set-up at the last minute, you’ll lose a lot of time and money.
  

• Failure To Communicate – Without a regular flow of communication between you and the FAC, it’s impossible for them to know exactly what you need to happen. Regular communication prevents wasted time and major mistakes. Include communication time with your FAC in your critical path project schedule.

• Buying Solely On Quoted Price – It’s already been mentioned a few times but this is incredibly important. Never rely on the quoted price to make your decisions. Factor in risk factors, warranty costs, labor delay claims, false alarm costs, client inconvenience, and building occupancy issues.

• Going With Single Source Providers – By having only one company that can service your project, you are asking for trouble. Even if they are a great company right now, what happens down the line when they change management or want to double their price for service?

• Disregarding the Management Structure Of the FAC – Make sure you’ll be speaking to the person that can actually make decisions at the company and not just another crony without any real control. You also want to know that the person in charge is unlikely to be let go, terminated, or transferred elsewhere while your project is ongoing.

• Failure to Check Claims Made By FAC – Unfortunately, it’s far too common for companies to have outdated licenses, reduced bonding capability, expired personnel qualifications, and other similar issues. Always closely examine the company before offering them the job.

The Next Step

Now you know the secrets that have lead the very top contractors to continually find, hire, and effectively coordinate the top fire alarm companies to deliver fantastic work.

By making this part of every job run smoothly, they’re able to get increased profits, a better reputation, and significantly reduce their stress.

However, there is one final secret, and it’s an important one. The fact is most people who read this will not do anything about it.

That’s right, even though you now know how beneficial following this guide can be, and even though it’s not going to cost you any more money, many of you will not change one bit.

You may think this information was great but by the time your next job comes you’ll completely forget about it and do what you’ve always done. Or you may just think it sounds like too much extra work and consciously decide to ignore this advice.

No matter what I say, no matter how beneficial this is, there’s simply no changing some people. And that’s fine; you’ll get the same lousy results from your FACs as always and go on complaining about how awful they all are.

I challenge each of you to not be the person that disregards this. Stand out from the crowd, follow these simple rules, and discover how much easier your life becomes when you don’t have to worry about your FAC messing up.

If you want to work with an FAC that truly understands these issues and knows how to succeed with fire alarm installation jobs of any size, call Hue & Cry Security Systems at 800-762-3196 today. You can also visit our website to learn more about us. You’ll discover our track record for installing code compliant fire alarms, on time and with no hassle, for projects of all sizes in Northern California and Southern Oregon.

Critical Steps To Choosing A Strong Business Security System

Choosing a business security system can be a difficult and time-consuming process. It requires patience and collaboration among decision makers at your business.

There are several critical steps you need to follow when choosing a business security system.

Step 1: Discussion

• Have a period of time to discuss what type of security you want for your business. Be sure to discuss a budget. Take as much time as you need to talk during the discussion period. You want to have a clear plan of what security needs are most important.

Step 2: Security Cameras

• Discuss with your employees and managers if they would like surveillance cameras. For some, this may be too intrusive. Be sure to discuss locations. You may want cameras outside of your business.

Step 3: Access Control Cards

• Discuss if access control cards are the right fit for your business. Access control systems keep doors locked until an employee uses his or her access control card to remotely open the door. This is a good day-time business security solution.

Step 4: Fire Alarms

• Having a fire alarm is a very important safety feature. You will want to find a company that has good working relationships with fire departments across the country.

Step 5: Security Alarm

• You will need to have a discussion about what type of security alarm you want. Do you want motion detectors, 24 hour monitoring, etc. See what security features best match your business and your budget.

Once you have discussed various business security solutions, you will be able to work with a security system provider to help carry out your business security plan.

CALIFORNIA ADOPTS THE 2010 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the State of California, Building Standards Commission (BSC), voted 10-0 to adopt the new 2010 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5), which will include a historical chapter requiring the installation of fire sprinklers in all new residential construction including 1 and 2 family dwellings and townhouses.

Please let us know how you feel about this new requirement.

Michael Culmer