Tag Archive for: commercial

Important Tips to Improve Security at Your Small Business

Improve Your Businesses Security

by: smallbiztrends.com

Use Keyless Entry

Looking for a better way than hanging keys on a belt or a hook at the office? There’s a whole host of locking devices available now to open and close office doors through a smartphone app.

Place Wireless Cameras at Entry Points

Portable security cameras can be placed where you need them. Wireless models can be placed in spots you can’t see from the front counter.

Check for Dark Spots

Adequate lighting is important. Check for any dark spots both inside and outside so criminals don’t have a place to hide.

Check Privacy Policies

Every business needs to be sure the security and privacy policies of companies they deal with are good. This is especially true when data is being transferred.  You can be held liable for any data that gets leaked.

Train Your People

You can have all the policies and procedures in the world, but your employees need to follow them. Constant training and refreshing should be the norm.

Use Motion Lights

Being proactive is an important element of security for your small business. Lurking criminals can be startled away by the blast of light from a motion sensor. Capturing them on camera provides a description for identification.

Cut Hedges Back

Hedges look great outside your small business. However, making sure they are trimmed and a reasonable height is one way to keep your business safe. Poorly kept trees and shrubs tell potential criminals your small business is being kept up.

Get a Remote Gate

Having a security gate that closes remotely is another option to consider. With fences, decorative points on top provide a deterrent that looks good too.

Install Bright Lights at Entrance Ways

Making sure all the entranceways to your small business are brightly lit deters criminals. If you don’t have a light above the doorway, installing a pole-mounted one that’s about 14 feet high works.

Close Blinds After Hours

Don’t give thieves the chance to window shop by leaving blinds open after you’ve closed your shop for the day. Making sure that you shut out the lights on the inside of your office won’t tempt any passing potential robbers.

Install Direct Walkways

Pathways should lead directly to the front of your small business. Having them meander around the sides or back can invite criminals looking for a way in. Keeping hedges and shrubs trimmed back on these pathways makes everything more secure.

Be Friendly to Customers

If you run a retail outlet, being friendly deters any potential shoplifters. Yep, there are actually statistics to back this up! According to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention, only three percent of shoplifters are “professionals” who are economically motivated. The vast majority are motivated by social or personal pressures.  A friendly attitude may help ease these pressures at least for the amount of time the person is in your store and discourage him or her from acting out. It’s also a good approach to boosting your bottom line.

Watch for Loitering

Being aware of any kind of business is important. It’s especially helpful to zero in on any customers that won’t make eye contact. Lingering for a long time without buying something should be another tip-off.

Tidy Up Shelves

Having shelving and flooring in your retail small business that is clean and organized is another deterrent. A store that looks disorganized tells potential criminals no one is paying attention.

Lock Fitting Rooms

Having locks on all fitting room doors is another security feature. Posting signs in these rooms is another shoplifting deterrent. It’s also a good idea to give employees the key that allows customers access.

Use an Updated Firewall

While you should have fire-retardant physical walls on your small business, this tip is also about cybersecurity. Making sure firewalls are up to date and working on your company computers protects against malicious viruses.

Change Passwords Often

Small businesses can lose important data through hacked passwords. It’s critical these get changed often. Small businesses should also consider multilevel authentication that includes another piece of information beyond username and password.

Back Data Up in the Cloud

Keeping sensitive online information at one location invites a security breach. Sensitive financial information and other data like human resource files can be stored in the cloud for optimal security.

Have a Privacy Plan for Mobile

Mobile devices are everywhere and small businesses can use them to their advantage. However, it’s important to have a security plan so sensitive business information is kept private and confidential.

Lockup Laptops at the End of the Day

Keeping your business computers locked in a secure location keeps unauthorized people from mining your information. Laptops should be locked up at the end of every business day.

Get Reinforced Steel Doors

Small businesses need to have the front-line protection of good physical doors. Steel or reinforced wood is preferable for the walk-in kind. Stay away from the ornate glass on the sides because it can easily be broken. If you have a garage, make sure to have proper padlocks on the sliding doors at the front.

Don’t Open Strange Email Attachments

More and more, small businesses use emails to correspond with customers and suppliers. These emails often have attachments with viruses in them. One good tip is to never open an attachment unless you are sure who it is from.

Of course, having good virus and spyware protection programs installed makes that environment safer.

Remove Ex-employee User Accounts

You may have parted ways with an employee under the best possible conditions. However, you should still delete their relevant small business accounts including usernames and passwords. They may not have any bad intentions, but even losing a smartphone can put valuable information in the wrong hands.

Use Inventory Front Door Keys

Some things you can do to increase security at your small business are simple. Not all of them involve cybersecurity and managing the physical keys you give out to the front door is essential. You should always number and code any of the keys to your business so that you can keep track of them.

If even one of these keys is lost or missing from the inventory, business owners should replace each and every lock. Make sure that you get keys from employees that are leaving for whatever reason.

Walk Around the Outside of Your Building

It doesn’t matter whether you are discussing email security or physical security, small business owners need to stay vigilant. Walking around the outside and inside of your building on a regular basis will keep you apprised of any security concerns you need to fix.

Everyone including employees should keep an eye out when they are arriving or leaving work. Unfamiliar people should be questioned when they are on your company property.

For any questions feel free to contact FSP!

ERCES – Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement System

ERCES – Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement System

At Fire Systems Professionals our focus has always been to protect property and people. That includes First Responders who come to protect and rescue you in the event of an emergency. The ability to maintain communication is essential to make that possible. Despite improved coverage, it is still not uncommon to lose a signal for a cell phone call in a building. Imagine holding an emergency radio in that same building under an emergency situation and lose the ability to communicate! We can help correct that issue.

An Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement System is based on testing a building for deficient or spotty communications and putting a system in place to correct that deficiency. This is how it works:

Emergency responders communicate with each other over a specific channel or frequency. That signal is relayed by radio towers around the city.

Once they enter into a building the signal can be inhibited by the building materials like concrete and steel. Also today energy-efficient low-E (low-emissivity) glass is designed to reflect long-wave infrared energy, but it also reflects radio waves. On the far side of the building or in floors that are below grade the signal may no longer be strong enough to maintain communications.

 

 

This is where we can help by taking a strong signal and distributing it into all the parts of the building that are weak. This is done using a DAS – Distributed Antenna System. This signal not only is received by emergency personnel, but it also has to be transmitted. This is done with a BDA – a Bidirectional Amplifier. 

 

 

 

Because this is part of a life safety system it is regulated by the International Fire Code – IFC Section 510, and the National Fire Protection Association – NFPA 1221 Section 9.6, and is monitored by the Fire Alarm control panel.

 

 

At Fire Systems Professionals we continue to protect you, your property, and those who have dedicated themselves to keep you safe in an emergency. We are here to help install, service, and support your critical life safety systems.

4 Fire Prevention Tips for Your Business

by Justin Metz

Reducing the risk of a potential fire at your business is one of the most important things you can do to help protect your customers, employees, and property.

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that more than 111,000 nonresidential building fires occurred in 2017. Those fires caused 1,200 injuries and more than $2.7 billion in damages. For business owners, these damages can extend beyond physical repairs. It could mean weeks, or even months, of lost revenue while your property is restored.

So what steps can you take to help ensure a crisis like this doesn’t happen at your business? Give these four tips a try:

1. CHECK POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS.

According to the American Red Cross, there are a number of common hazards in any home or business that are likely to be the source of a fire. Conduct a survey of your business and examine these potential problem areas:

  • Make sure machines and equipment are clean and well maintained.
  • Keep any combustible objects away from space heaters or furnaces.
  • Properly store flammables away in cabinets and away from ignition sources.
  • Check appliance cords and replace any broken connectors or cracked insulation.
  • Use only one extension cord for each power outlet.
  • Allow room behind any appliances to allow air to circulate and prevent overheating.

2. ENSURE YOU HAVE THE PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT.

Every business should have functioning fire extinguishers. But it’s also wise to consider smoke detectors, sprinklers, or a fire alarm. Remember, the life expectancy of a smoke detector is only 8-10 years.

Look into a specialized fire suppression system if your business has large operations or machinery that is capable of overheating; commercial cooking equipment; or especially flammable materials on site.

3. MAKE SURE YOUR EQUIPMENT IS UP TO DATE.

Did you know that fire extinguishers have a shelf life of between five and 15 years – even if there is no expiration date listed? Over time, these pieces of equipment can lose their pressure. So make sure your extinguisher is working properly by checking the pressure gauge every month. If the needle is in yellow or red, it may need to be repaired or replaced.

Be sure to replace your extinguisher if you notice any of these signs:

  • The hose or nozzle is cracked, ripped, or jammed.
  • The locking pin is unsealed or missing.
  • The handle is missing or unsteady.
  • The inspection sticker or service record is missing.

4. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR STAFF.

Preparation is one of the most important elements of fire safety.  In a crisis, having an emergency plan is a critical element to successfully prevent injuries, loss of life, and property damage. To help keep your employees safe, be sure to regularly communicate your fire safety procedures.

  • Describe where they should go if evacuation is needed.
  • Explain how you will notify them of an emergency, whether it’s through voice communication or a sound like a bell, whistle, or horn.
  • Make sure your evacuation plans accommodate employees with disabilities, such as someone with hearing loss or who uses a wheelchair.
  • Provide training, such as fire drills, to practice your emergency plan.
  • Remind your employees not to store anything on stairways or along your fire escape routes.

As a business owner, you expect your insurance to be there when things go wrong. But did you know that Fire Systems Professionals is here to help you reduce risks in the first place?

Contact our team of experienced professionals with over 20+ years in the business can help your business remain up to date and safe from potential hazards. Click Here to get in touch with us today!

How The Weather Can Affect Your Business

Weather significantly impacts businesses in different ways ranging from products, employees, customers to property. It is important for a business to stay prepared for challenging situations that could be caused by adverse weather conditions. All types of businesses can be directly or indirectly affected by bad and good weather. Below is a discussion of some of the ways your business can be affected by the weather.

Effects on Customers

  • You have to know the behavior of your customers during different times of the year. This is not only important for the tourism industry but also local businesses. A good businessperson should know the impacts of weather on customer’s buying habits to optimize sales. A business should invest in extensive research as well as weather predictions to set prices and offers that meet the demands of consumers.
  • You should not only identify the impacts of weather to optimize current business operations but also predict future performance. If your business performs well in one season, there is no guarantee that the same will occur on the next one. Understanding the different types of growth helps you to prepare for undesirable weather fluctuations that may happen in the future.

Product Prices

  • The prices of most commodities fluctuate depending on weather conditions. For instance, businesses based on agricultural productions are directly affected by seasonal yields. Some raw materials are expensive when they are not easily available during certain weather conditions. If you understand and predict such fluctuations, it can help in your financial projections.
  • The energy industry is also significantly affected by the weather. For example, all businesses are affected by oil prices during certain seasons. During winter, there is a high demand for oil hence its high prices. Transportation becomes expensive as well as the cost of products being transported.

Employee Performance

  • The performance of employees is affected by weather conditions. During warm winter, layoffs do not happen frequently. If the weather is conducive and people are extremely active, a business requires to employ more staff to cater to the need of consumers. The increased number of workers means increased expenses in terms of wages and salaries. If you are not well prepared for the seasonal increase in demand, you will face employee shortage thus reduced profits.
  • The weather also plays a major role in scheduling. The consistency of business operations is determined by the way it prepares for weather fluctuations. Delays in weather could result in delayed projects and slow operations. Catching up the work that was supposed to be done could be expensive thus cutting down profits.

Destruction of Property

  • Weather could also be destructive to your business. Some of the adverse weather conditions that destroy property include floods, ice, storms, strong winds. Other hazards such as fire could result from bad weather. You have to assess risks and protect your business from such terrible situations. You may as well consider visiting WeatherStationAdvisor.com to learn more about the factors to consider when buying a personal weather station that could help you predict weather fluctuations.

As discussed above, weather plays a major role in determining the success of a business. As a business person, it is your duty to study seasonal fluctuations and come up with the most appropriate measures and plan of action to keep your business going and your customers and employees safe!

Different Types of Commercial Fire Alarms

Different Types of Commercial Fire Alarms

Whether you are upgrading your fire protection systems in your building or need to install new fire alarms, it is important to understand the different types of commercial fire alarms available. From the automatic alarm systems to the manual alarms, there are quite a few things you should know before blindly choosing a system. Let’s take a look at some fire alarm systems you could choose for your commercial space.

The Categories: Automatic versus Manual Fire Alarms

There are two distinct types of fire alarms you can have in your commercial space. The first is an automatic fire alarm. When these alarms detect heat or smoke, they send an audio-visual alert throughout the building to alert the occupants of danger. The next type of fire alarm is a manual alarm. These fire alarms have pull stations stationed around your building. When a fire is seen or smelled by one of your employees, they simply pull the leveler and alert the occupants. Manual alarms come in a variety of designs and colors.

Types of Commercial Fire Alarms

Just as there are different categories of fire alarms, there are also different types. Let’s take a look at the types of fire alarms and the features they offer.

Conventional Fire Alarms

Conventional fire alarms include a number of different “zones” that are hardwired to your central control panel. These systems allow you to be able to put separate fire alarms in each section of your building and helps to monitor if an alarm is broken.

Addressable Fire Alarms

These fire alarms are also called “intelligent systems” as they monitor the fire alarms in your building. Addressable alarms allow you to choose between automatic and manual alarms. Each alarm installed in this system has its own address, which allows you to see which alarm is working and which are failing. Addressable fire alarms are more expensive because of the monitoring features.

Hybrid Fire Alarms

Hybrid alarms combine the hardwired zone features of conventional fire alarms with the addressable loops of the addressable fire alarms into a single panel. This combined technology fits some of the settings better than either the addressable or the conventional alarm.

When choosing a new commercial fire alarm, it is important to choose the alarm that is right for your space. Call a professional whenever working with fire systems to ensure the safety of you and your employees.

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Cited: FireLine.com